Description
Few people have made the journey from monk to venture capitalist. Kamal Sarma’s extraordinary path has given him unique insight into both Eastern philosophy and business excellence, and it makes Kamal Sarma a sought after leadership speaker for organisations in Australia and around the world.
As founder and director of Rezilium, a strategic leadership firm, Kamal transforms leaders and organisations by bridging ancient Eastern wisdom with modern business demands. He spent six years training as a monk. He then held senior executive roles at McKinsey & Company, Eli Lilly, St.George Bank and AMP Capital Investors. Together, these experiences give him a rare perspective on resilience and clarity in a fast paced world.
Kamal is known for his ability to catalyse breakthrough performance. For two decades he has helped global teams navigate complexity with customised frameworks that deliver measurable results. His clients include Google, Facebook, Bank of New York Mellon, the Reserve Bank of Australia, PwC, EY, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and ING.
His thinking is captured in three books. These are the international bestseller Mental Resilience: The Power of Clarity, The Leadership Leap, featured on Talks at Google, and WinWin Conversations: The Art and Science of Human Connection. As a serial entrepreneur, he has also co-founded two venture capital firms in the IT and biotech sectors.
Kamal currently chairs the R U OK? Conversations Board. He also serves on the boards of MindUP Australia and The Fathering Project. In addition, he was recognised internationally for his peace work between the Chinese and Tibetans.
This rare mix of holistic thinking, business acumen and social commitment makes Kamal a compelling voice for change in leadership, culture and wellbeing. As a result, event organisers book Kamal Sarma as a leadership speaker for conferences, leadership offsites and staff events. Connect with Kamal on LinkedIn.
Keynote Topics
The Future of Human Connection
New exponential technologies are transforming how we live, work and play. Yet the fundamental shift is not digital. It is in human connection. Neuroscientists, psychologists and anthropologists agree we are hard wired to connect, but few of us are ever taught how.
A business can have the best structure, strategy and technology. However, it will struggle if its people cannot connect with leaders, teams, clients and customers. Teams that learn the skills of connection gain a competitive advantage, build lasting relationships and lift both satisfaction and performance.
Audiences leave with a tool kit for human connection, including:
- A framework for future human connection, with the mindset, toolset and skill set to apply it
- Conversations that drive connection at every team and client level
- Ways to deepen relationships and improve results
- Where connection breaks down and how to rebuild it
- Connection in today’s digital, analogue and hybrid world
WinWin Conversations: Challenging Conversations with Clarity and Confidence
In a world of complexity and disruption, the ability to communicate on a deeper level is vital. When people navigate challenging conversations with clarity and confidence, they help themselves and others thrive.
WinWin steps away from the usual business communication teachings. Instead, it focuses on human connection and transforming relationships. Teams that adopt WinWin have seen an upward shift in performance, culture and results.
Kamal explores:
- What a WinWin conversation is
- How to build a WinWin culture
- The seven principles of WinWin conversations
- How to transform existing relationships and build new ones
- How WinWin improves results
The Leadership Leap: Why You Need to Unlearn and Relearn
Technology, generations and attitudes to work have changed, and expectations of leadership have shifted with them. Strong leadership of self and organisation is now essential for the future of work.
Kamal has identified seven leadership principles that leaders need to unlearn. By replacing them with more effective ones, leaders build the mindset, toolset and skill set that inspire followership and performance.
On the Leadership Leap journey, Kamal covers:
- The seven principles of leadership to unlearn
- The new principles of leadership
- How to build leadership that inspires people to follow
- How to transform people, culture and results through leadership
- How to close the gap between management and leadership
Resilience: Develop the Focus of a Warrior and the Clarity of a Monk
We all face constant demands on our time, complex decisions and difficult personalities. Organisational and personal resilience are two of the most powerful traits people can develop in response.
When people clear their minds of repetitive, unhelpful thoughts, they make better decisions. Likewise, when they learn to manage stress and stay clear in any situation, they lift their own lives and the lives of those around them. Drawing on his experience as a monk and corporate professional, Kamal helps leaders and teams reach a new level of growth, resilience and psychological safety.
During this session, Kamal unpacks:
- How to develop personal and professional resilience
- How to build resilient people and organisations through challenge and change
- How to maintain focus and clarity to make better decisions
- Tools to sustain resilience and improve results
- How to create a culture of resilience and psychological safety
Digital Resilience: Thriving in a Digitally Transforming World
Digital transformation has been revolutionary. We are entertained endlessly, better informed and constantly stimulated. However, our carbon brains do not change at the same rate as silicon devices.
Without understanding how technology affects the mind, we leave our minds open to being hacked. This leads to digital distraction and, ultimately, digital depletion. To perform in a digital world, organisations, teams and individuals must use technology in a way that sculpts the mind and keeps them digitally resilient.
In this session, Kamal covers:
- How we, as an analogue species, can shift our mindset and behaviours to thrive in a digital world
- How to master digital productivity and recognise digital addictions
- How to curb digital distractions and avoid depletion
- How to debug our minds once they have been hacked
- How to lead yourself so you can lead digital transformation in your business
Book Kamal Sarma as a Leadership Speaker
As a leadership speaker, Kamal Sarma customises every presentation as a keynote or workshop for your industry, leaders, managers and teams. Explore more leadership keynote speakers and wellbeing keynote speakers.
