Srikumar Rao

Srikumar Rao is a renowned author, speaker, and former business school professor who specializes in personal transformation and leadership development. Born in Bombay, India, in 1951, he pursued studies at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, before earning his MBA and PhD from Columbia Business School. Rao is best known for creating the groundbreaking course Creativity and Personal Mastery at Columbia, which has influenced thousands of students worldwide. His work integrates insights from Vedanta, Zen, Stoicism, and modern psychology to help individuals achieve deeper fulfillment and resilience in both personal and professional life .

Rao is the author of several bestselling books, including Are You Ready to Succeed? and Happiness at Work. He also created the audio program The Personal Mastery Program, which has been widely praised for its practical tools and transformative impact. His TED Talk, Plug into Your Hard-Wired Happiness, has garnered millions of views and challenges the conventional "I'll be happy if..." mindset, encouraging audiences to recognize that happiness is an innate state rather than a future goal .

Among his notable quotes, Rao emphasizes the power of mindset in shaping our experiences: "Your thoughts create your reality, so choose them wisely" . He also advocates for a shift in perspective: "Think of the universe as a benevolent parent. A child may want a tub of ice cream and marshmallows, but a wise parent will give it fruits and vegetables instead. That is not what the child wants, but it is what the child needs" . These insights reflect his belief in the importance of aligning one's inner world with outer actions to cultivate a meaningful and joyful life.