<p>Mindful leadership expert, author, and former urban monk Pandit Dasa helps organizations create a mindful work culture—leading to greater workplace happiness, employee engagement and retention, and stronger rapport with customers. </p><p>Pandit Dasa inspires organizations to create a more mindful workplace by encouraging them to lead by example, appreciate the contributions of their colleagues, communicate mindfully and manage one’s emotions. He knows that mindful workplaces can lead not only to improved employee happiness and retention, but also greater rapport with customers, which can lead to increased profits and repeat business. </p><p>Pandit’s parents migrated to the U.S. from India in 1980 with very little money. He was just a little child and one of the first things his parents did to earn an income was to set up a small shop on the boardwalk on Venice Beach in Los Angeles, where he began to experience American culture for the first time. </p><p>In his book, Urban Monk, Dasa explains that he didn’t just wake up one day thinking to live in a monastery without money and minimal possessions. </p><p>After a lot of soul-searching, he decided to take a break from everything he could to figure out what he really wanted to do. He bought a ticket for India and decided to spend the month living in a monastery. But he fell in love with the lifestyle of living simply and decided to spend the next six months in India. </p><p>After his Indian visa expired, he returned to New York and realized that he wasn’t ready to live life with a 9-to-5 job, so he ended up spending 15 years in a monastery in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Having learned so much from the monkhood, he began sharing that wisdom with college students around the country. Now, in his post-monk life, he has been sharing messages of resilience, leadership, stress management, and work-life balance with people around the globe.</p><p>He has spoken to Google, NASA, Citibank, IBM, State Farm, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Kellogg’s, Cadillac, ADP, Nationwide Insurance, Whirlpool, SAP, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, AMC Theatres, Intel, WeWork, Royal Bank of Canada, AMC Networks, Novartis, Comcast, TD Ameritrade, JPMorgan Chase, The World Bank, World Government Summit, SHRM National Convention, Oracle HCM Convention and many others.</p><p>Pandit is the author of two books,<em> Urban Monk</em> and <em>Closing the Apps: How to Be Mindful at Work and at Home</em>.</p>
Former Monk Inspiring Mindful Leadership and Positive Workplace Cultures
<ul><li><strong>Creating a Mindful and Positive Workplace Culture</strong></li><li>The growth and overall success of an organization is defined by its culture and leadership. A thriving workplace fosters collaboration, trust, and a shared sense of purpose, leading to higher engagement, productivity, and retention.</li><li>Effective leadership goes beyond strategy—it requires setting the right example. When individuals cultivate an environment that supports mental, physical, and emotional well-being, they enable teams to perform at their best while maintaining balance in their personal lives.</li><li>This keynote explores how to create a workplace culture where collaboration replaces competition, and appreciation takes precedence over ego-driven dynamics. By embracing mindfulness and emotional intelligence, organizations can foster a culture where individuals feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute to collective success. Grounded in research, this session will also highlight practical mindfulness strategies that enhance workplace well-being and effectiveness.</li><li><strong>Mindful Leadership: Walking the Talk</strong></li><li>Leaders don’t just shape strategies—they shape culture. The way they show up each day sets the tone for the entire organization. To truly inspire and bring out the best in their teams, leaders must do more than talk about values; they must embody them. Authentic leadership builds trust, drives engagement, and attracts top talent.</li><li>This keynote explores the critical role of leadership at all levels in fostering a people-first workplace. Leaders who actively recognize their teams, communicate with mindfulness, and lead with humility create environments where employees feel valued and motivated. It also highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and mental well-being in leadership, along with research-backed mindfulness strategies that enhance workplace culture and performance</li><li><strong>Thriving Through Change: Mental Health, Mindfulness, and Resilience for Stressful Times</strong></li><li>In today’s fast-paced and constantly changing work environment—especially with hybrid work and blurred work-life boundaries—stress and anxiety can easily take over. When employees struggle to adapt, it impacts focus, collaboration, and overall performance.</li><li>This inspiring session offers practical tools to sustain mental, emotional, and physical well-being while staying engaged, productive, and connected—even in times of uncertainty and change.</li></ul>