Leadership advisor, author and former monk — speaker on focus, resilience and difficult decisions.
Kamal Sarma has had one of the more unusual career arcs of any Australian leadership advisor. He spent years as a monk in a Vedic meditation tradition before becoming a McKinsey consultant, executive at a major pharmaceutical company, and founder of Rezilium, a leadership and high-performance advisory firm. He's the author of 'Mental Resilience' and a long-time advisor to senior leaders across financial services, healthcare and government.
What makes his speaking distinctive is the synthesis. The contemplative training shows up in how he talks about focus, attention and the inner work of leadership. The consulting and executive years show up in how he talks about decision-making, negotiation and performance under pressure. Audiences get both, in plain language.
Kamal is a strong fit for senior leadership audiences, particularly events focused on the human dimension of high-stakes leadership work.
Kamal Sarma is a keynote speaker based in New South Wales who speaks on business strategy, leadership and mental health & wellbeing. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Harnessing Artificial, Analog, and Ancient Intelligence
Are you leading with intelligence that matches the complexity of today’s world? We’re living in a time where Artificial Intelligence is rapidly accelerating decision-making, automation, and information flow. But as AI advances, the human mind is under pressure—bombarded by data, distracted by noise, and stretched beyond its natural capacity.
The modern leader must do more than adopt digital tools—they must also understand and master the three forms of intelligence that drive sustainable leadership:
• Artificial Intelligence – The digital tools that process faster than we ever can
• Analog Intelligence – The unique rhythms and limitations of the human brain
• Ancient Intelligence – The neurochemical drivers that shape how we lead, relate, and perform
Are you in charge of sculpting your mind? Or is your mind being hacked?
Digital transformation has been revolutionary. It has given humans the ability to consume whenever and wherever. We are now entertained endlessly, more informed and constantly stimulated.
As a species, our tools have evolved from the simple hand axe, to the always-in-the-palm-of-your-hand phone.
We are aware of digital disruption, digital Darwinism and the impact that technology can have on our lives. However, our carbon brains do not change at the same rate as silicon digital devices.
Without truly understanding the impacts that technology has on our minds, we are powerless against our minds being hacked. This 'hacking' can lead to digital distraction and ultimately, digital depletion.
To make sure organisations, teams and individuals can perform in a digitally transformed world, we must be able to use technology in a beneficial way, sculpting our minds and remaining digitally resilient.
In this session, Kamal Sarma will cover
1. How we as an analogue species, need to shift our mindset and behaviours to thrive in a digital world
2. How to master digital productivity and recognise digital addictions.
3. How to curb digital distractions to avoid depletion
4. How to debug our minds once they have been 'hacked'
5. How to lead your-self to be able to lead digital transformation in your business
RAFFT: Resilience, Anti-Fragility, Flow, Flourishing, and Thriving
Are you thriving by design—or just surviving by default?
Uncertainty is no longer a phase—it’s a feature of modern life. Disruption, pressure, and change are no longer the exception—they’re the environment we operate in daily. Yet many individuals and teams are still using outdated mental models and stress responses to navigate this new world.
Most people are taught to be resilient—to bounce back. But what if we could go further? What if challenges made us stronger, smarter, and more alive? This is the shift from surviving to RAFFT—a new framework for developing emotional stamina, energy mastery, and mental fitness in a world that’s always “on.”
Our nervous systems weren’t designed for this pace. But they can be trained.
RAFFT gives you the tools to regulate, reset, and rise—again and again.
In this session, Kamal will cover:
• How to build true resilience: not just bouncing back, but bouncing forward with insight and energy
• Why anti-fragility is the future —and how to get stronger with every setback
• How to flow through life, not force your way through it—using neuroscience-backed energy management tools
• What it means to flourish, not just function—both in your personal wellbeing and your professional performance
• How to thrive unconditionally—developing deep inner momentum and purpose that isn’t dependent on external wins or validation
Organisational and personal resilience are 2 of the most powerful traits you can develop in response to the challenges of today and tomorrow. When you can command your awareness and focus your resilience results will flourish.
Kamal has more than 20 years experience helping people developing one of their most precious assets – the mind.
As the author of Mental Resilience – The Power of Clarity - How to develop the focus of a warrior and focus of a monk.
Kamal draws on his personal experience as a monk and professional work with leaders and teams to facilitate a new level of growth and resilience
During this session Kamal will unpack:
1. How to develop personal and professional resilience
2. When faced with challenges and change how do we build resilient people and organisations
3. How to maintain focus and clarity to make better decisions
4. Tools to sustain your resilience
In this ever changing world we need to develop better ways to connect, communicate and collaborate. We exist in an age where new exponential technologies are transforming how we live, work and play. Undeniably the evolution of digital technologies is mind-blowing, yet counterintuitively, the fundamental shift is in human connection.
Today's dynamic landscape requires us to cultivate and exercise human connection as a skill and a mindset. Neuroscientists, Psychologists, Anthropologists and Researchers agree we are hard wired to connect. So then why are we never taught one of the most important skills? How to connect with ourselves and one another.
We can have the best business structure, strategy and technology, but if our people are not able to connect with leaders, teams, clients and customers how successful can we truly be? Teams who understand and implement the skills of connection are primed to gain a competitive advantage and thrive. If we put people first they will build deep and sustainable relationships and experience a higher level of satisfaction and performance.
Audiences will walk away from this presentation with a tool kit for human connection designed to future-proof individuals, teams, clients and relationships. By exploring:
* A framework for future human connection. The mindset, toolsets and skill sets to apply
* How to have conversations that drive connection at a every team and client level
* How to deepen relationships and improve results
* The areas where connection can break down and how to rebuild it
* Connection for today's Digital, Analogue and Hybrid world
This presentation is designed to be customised as a keynote and/or workshop to your industry, leaders, managers and teams.
Strong leadership of self and of your organisation is imperative for the future of work and business. Leadership is an ongoing challenge globally and presents limitless opportunities for growth.
To progress your personal or professional journey Kamal believes you need to un-learn many things you have been taught previously.
He has identified 7 essential principles and suggests that un-learning these will accelerate your Leadership Journey.
On the Leadership Leap Journey Kamal will explore:
1. The 7 Principles of Leadership to un-learn
2. The new principles of Leadership
3. How to build Leadership that inspires people to follow
4. How to transform people and culture through Leadership
In a world of complexity, change and disruption your ability to communicate on a deeper level is vital. WinWin is designed to deliver a competitive advantage because those who can influence relationships and results positively in the future will thrive.
WinWin will help you become agile and flexible in your thinking while offering new ways of communication that can transform relationships and results.
Teams who have adopted WinWin have experienced an upward shift in performance. The practical content is ideal if you are looking for an edge in engagement and communication.
In this presentation Kamal explores:
1. What is a WinWin Conversation
2. How to build a culture of WinWin
3. The 7 Principles of WinWin Conversations
4. How to transform existing and build new relationships
5. How implementing WinWin can improve results
Kamal was great and as expected.Richard Lloyd Finance and Accounting Recruitment
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