Meet the most impactful South Indian motivational speakers changing lives through passion, purpose, and positivity
Motivational speaking isn’t just about big words. It’s about people sharing experiences and life journeys with the public out there. South India is full of such incredible individuals who’ve lived through challenges, chased dreams, and come out stronger. From the tech hubs of Karnataka and Telangana to the spiritual centers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These South Indian Motivational speakers come from different walks of life to guide and inspire change.
Here are Top 11 South Indian Motivational Speakers who are there to guide you and change your perspectives towards life and the world with their wisdom and knowledge.
1. Sadhguru
Jagadish”Jaggi” Vasudev is a spiritual guru popularly known as Sadhguru by his followers. In 1992 he founded the Isha Foundation based in Coimbatore, India. The foundation serves as a platform for spiritual, environmental and educational activities. The Indian guru has been a author of Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy and Karma: A Yogi’s guide to Crafting Your Destiny. He has been a part of many environmental initiatives like Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling and Journey to Save Soil. In 2017 he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, for his contributions to spirituality and humanitarian services. The Tamil speaker is known for combining timeless knowledge with profound applicability to the modern world. He’s not your typical motivational speaker – he’a yogi, author and global thought leader. He speaks about mental health, leadership and inner engineering of one’s thoughts.
2. P.T. Usha
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha or P.T. Usha popularly known as “Payyoli Express”.The female athlete grew up in Payyoli and has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979.The Queen of the Indian track and field broke barriers in women sports across India by winning 4 gold medals and 7 silver medals in the Asian Games.This legendary Sprinter from Kerala is known for her sheer grit, speed and determination.She has won the Arjuna award in 1984 and Padma Shri in 1984 for her outstanding contributions to the sports industry.She is the also the first nominated MP in history to become the Vice Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and the President of the Indian Olympic Association is an inspiration for the young to never stop chasing their dreams.She is an institution in herself and her story talks about discipline, courage and pushing boundaries to achieve one’s goals.
3. Srikanth Bolla
Srikanth bolla is an Indian industrialist and the founder Chairman of Bollant Industries. Born blind he was denied the chance to study science in high school due to his disability. So he challenged the system and won the right to pursue his desired subjects and was the first visually impaired student in Management Science at the Sloan School of Management of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bolla was named by Forbes magazine in the list of 30 under 30 across all of Asia for creating opportunities for visually impaired people. He has been considered as an inspiration for all individuals who suffer from impairments and was celebrated with a film called Srikanth, starring actor Rajkumar Rao. His motivational talks will inspire individuals to dare to dream big and look beyond limitations and pursue their goals with sheer determination.
4. Mithali Raj
Mithali Raj also known as ‘Lady Tendulkar of Indian Women’s Cricket ” is a former Indian cricketer who captained the Indian team. Raj was also the batting consultant for India women’s national cricket team,and has played as a player-coach.She has received several national and international awards, including the WisdenLeading Women Cricketer in the World in 2017,Arjuna award in 2003, the the prestigious Padma Shri in 2015, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021.ESPN also ranked her as one of the greatest female cricketers of all time.The lady cricketer is known for her leadership and resilience and has transformed her journey from the field to the stage with her exceptional speaking skills.Her real life experiences showcases her resilience, integrity, and commitment to excellence, making her a sought-after speaker for motivation and guidance.
5. Pullela Gopichand
Pullela Gopichand is an indian former badminton player and a chief national coach for the indian badminton team.Initially, the sportsman was interested in playing cricket, but his elder brother encouraged him to take up badminton instead and that decision changed everything for him.Gopichand won his first National Badminton Championship title in 1996, and went on to win the title five times in a row, until 2000.He also won the All England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, becoming the second Indian to achieve this after Prakash Padukone. The coach has received numerous awards, including the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Khel Ratna Award in 2001, the Dronacharya Award in 2009, and the Padma Bhushan in 2014, making him the only Indian coach to win the “Honorable Mention” at the 2019 Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards. Gopichand imparts life lessons on discipline, focus, and resilience, highlighting his experiences in sports and everyday life.
6. P.V. Sindhu
PV Sindhu is an Indian badminton player and is considered as one of the most successful athletes in the Indian diaspora.Sindhu started her career at a young age of 14 in the year 2009 and won the bronze medal at the 2009 Sub-Junior Asian Badminton Championships held in Colombo. She is the first Indian to win two consecutive Olympic medals in badminton and the second to become the world champion.Sindhu has been awarded several high civilian awards, including the Arjuna Award (2013), Padma Shri (2015), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2016), and Padma Bhushan (2016). As a motivational speaker, Sindhu, shares her journey of success, emphasizing the importance of never giving up, despite facing self-doubt and pressure.Sindhu can share her learnings, importance of hardwork and mental resilience.Her relatable words will resonate with athletes and students who are willing to chase their dreams.
7. Kanika Tekriwal
Kanika Tekriwal is a female entrepreneur and the founder of JetSetGo which is a India’s first aircraft leasing organization.Her venture is also referred to as the “Uber of the skies”.She was diagnosed with cancer at the mere age of 22 but that did not stop her from chasing her passion for aviation.She is listed among the youngest richest woman in Hurun Rich and also featured Forbes 30 under 30 list.Her story goes beyond success in entrepreneurship but talks about transforming hardships into opportunities.Her entrepreneurial journey provide priceless lessons about perseverance, innovation, and shattering stereotypes.As a motivational speaker she can encourage people to follow their aspirations despite all the obstacles they face in life
8. Vani Kola
Vani Kola is an Indian venture capitalist born in Hyderabad, India. She is the founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital which is an Indian early stage venture capital firm. The lady had an 22 year successful career as an entrepreneur in the Silicon valley and then moved to India to start a venture capital firm. Kola is known for investing in startups like Myntra, Dream 11, Urban Ladder and Snapdeal. She was also awarded the NDTV Women of Worth for leadership excellence in business and entrepreneurship. Vani was recognized as one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2016. Kola has also been a meditation practitioner for over two decades. Her journey from an engineer to a venture capitalist demonstrates determination and foresight, offering valuable lessons on navigating entrepreneurship challenges, making strategic decisions, and leading with integrity.
9. Tanuja Abburi
Tanuja Abburi has 20 years of experience as a Human Resources leader. She has played a pivotal role in aligning HR strategies with organizational goals across India and the US. She is the founder of Beyond Pinks, a consulting firm which focuses on gender diversity, inclusion, and empowering women in the workplace. With experience in leadership roles at major organizations like NTT Data, Bank of America, and GE. She significantly contributes to their diversity and human resource initiatives. She currently serves as the DEI Lead at Amazon, where she continues to drive impactful initiatives.
Tanuja’s journey shows a mix of great professionalism and a strong love for social change. Blending corporate success with a real passion for creating inclusive spaces. With every talk, she can empower people to lead with empathy, embrace diversity, and become changemakers in their own worlds.
10. VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman also known as ‘God of 4th Innings” is an Indian cricketer and cricket commentator. He is one of the few cricketers who played 100 Test matches without a Cricket World Cup appearance. The cricketer is recognized for his stroke play and fast scoring. Despite being slow, he was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year in 2002. He was considered part of the original “Fab Four.”Laxman is currently the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the head coach of the India Under-19 team. Laxman was also awarded the prestigious Padma Shri. His talks emphasize the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and continuous learning in building high-performance teams. Drawing parallels between sports and life’s challenges, Laxman’s journey embodies dedication and passion. As a motivational speaker, he inspires individuals to embrace resilience and pursue their goals with unwavering commitment.
Southern Wisdom
Motivational speaking isn’t just about big words, it’s about people sharing experiences and life journeys with the public out there. South India is full of such incredible individuals and South Indian Motivational Speakers who’ve lived through challenges, chased dreams, and come out stronger.
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