Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai is a renowned Indian author, leadership expert, and academic. He is best known for his work on Chanakya, the ancient Indian philosopher and strategist. With 24 bestselling books to his credit, Dr. Pillai has a wide readership across all age groups and countries. His first book, Corporate Chanakya, became a record-breaking bestseller. He has since written several other acclaimed titles, including Chatur Chanakya for children and his recent release, Chanakya’s 100 Best Sutras, which won the Crossword Bookstores’ Most Popular Book Choice Award.
He is the Founder and Director of the Chanakya International Institute of Leadership Studies (CIILS) at the University of Mumbai. The institute is known for launching the world’s first Master’s program in Leadership Science (MA-LS), which integrates ancient Indian wisdom with modern leadership education.
Dr. Pillai has delivered over 1,000 lectures at leading institutions such as the National Defence College (NDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE), Adani group, Municipal Corporation (MCGM) and Aditya Birla. He also teaches as a visiting faculty at various universities and institutes in India and abroad.
As a leadership and strategy advisor, he has worked with more than 500 organisations, including major corporations, government bodies, and non-governmental organisations. His clients include Indian Oil Corporation, HPCL, BPCL, Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Aditya Birla Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and various police academies.
Dr. Pillai has received several prestigious awards, including: ● Aavishkar Research Award (Governor of Maharashtra Fellowship) ● Sardar Patel International Award for contributions to industrial development ● Rotary International Award in Education ● Lokmat Award for Best Teacher of Philosophy ● Litofest Award at the House of Lords, British Parliament.
He has also contributed to several national and international projects with the Government of India. He served as the chief convenor of the first International Yoga Day Academic Conference in the USA, organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Hindu University of America (HUA) and the Consulate General of New York.
He has presented academic papers in over 20 countries. Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai has been recognised as one of India’s Top 50 Management Thinkers by Thinkers50.com. He is committed to bringing the timeless principles of Indian knowledge into modern leadership and management practices.
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Transforming Leadership | Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, Abhijeet Mukherjee and Dr Srinath Sridharan | OCLF
On 23nd Nov 2025 02.00 PM TO 02:40 PM
This thought-provoking OCLF panel brought together three leading voices on leadership, strategy and organisational transformation. Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, Abhijeet Mukherjee and Dr Srinath Sridharan joined moderator Dr Puja Bang for a powerful conversation on building leaders who can think deeply, innovate boldly and plan sustainably.
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai connected timeless Chanakyan principles with modern corporate and entrepreneurial challenges, showing how ancient texts continue to guide leadership choices today. Abhijeet Mukherjee discussed innovation as a mindset shift and shared how entrepreneurial thinking builds adaptability. Dr Srinath Sridharan highlighted the role of governance, clarity and structured succession in ensuring continuity across organisations and family businesses.
Together, the speakers explored behavioural leadership, decision-making, leadership accountability and the importance of blending tradition with forward-looking strategy. Audience questions added depth, touching on entrepreneurship, business responsibilities and long-term planning.
The session closed with a clear message: leadership thrives when ancient wisdom, innovation and succession planning align to create sustainable growth.
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Beyond Growth | Building Future-Ready Leaders and Legacy Institutions with Ambi Parameswaran, Harit Nagpal, Ajit Joshi and Radhakrishnan Pillai | OCLF
On 22nd Nov 2025 03.00 AM To 03:40 PM
The session "Beyond Growth: Creating Future-Ready Leaders and Legacy-Driven Institutions" brought together Ambi Parameswaran, Harit Nagpal, Dr Ajit Joshi and Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai for a forward-looking conversation moderated by Dr Ashutosh Paturkar from G H Raisoni Skill Tech University. The discussion explored leadership, decision-making, institutional excellence and the qualities needed to build organisations that last.
Ambi Parameswaran highlighted the value of data-driven decision-making while reminding young leaders of the importance of creativity, curiosity, risk-taking and learning agility. Harit Nagpal encouraged the audience to focus on a to-be list rather than just a to-do list, a shift that promotes purpose-driven leadership. Dr Ajit Joshi spoke about innovation, the role of artificial intelligence in managing large data systems and the emerging challenges of digital ecosystems. Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai emphasised the need to create leadership models that can be replicated across institutions to build lasting impact.
The session offered practical insights for students, educators and professionals aiming to lead with clarity, adaptability and long-term vision.
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Walking with Chanakya to Build Leaders for Tomorrow | D Sivanandhan and Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai | OCLF
On 23nd Nov 2025 12.00 PM TO 12:40 PM
This insightful OCLF session brought together two respected voices in leadership and governance: former DGP D. Sivanandhan and leadership mentor Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai. Moderated by Dr Sanjiv Chugh, the conversation explored the intersection of Chanakya’s strategic wisdom and the lived realities of modern public administration.
D. Sivanandhan shared powerful experiences from his decades in Maharashtra Police, reflecting on crime, crisis management, and the need for structural reforms in law enforcement. He spoke about the difference between strategy and action, and how true leadership demands clarity, speed, and firm decision-making under pressure.
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai connected these insights to Chanakya’s timeless frameworks, explaining how ancient thought continues to guide ethical governance, organisational discipline, and leadership behaviour in complex systems.
The session blended philosophy, frontline experience, and practical leadership lessons, offering young audiences a deeper understanding of what it takes to build strong, accountable leaders for the future.