Neuroscientist of the Mind, Coach at the Core | Purpose-driven mindset Coach | NLP Practitioner | Researcher & Lecturer | Founder of The Courage Quest | PhD in Cognitive & Behavioural Neuroscience

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." – Nora Roberts
This quote isn’t just on my wall—it’s in every brave step I’ve taken. From leaving home to pursue a life built on science, service, and soul work, it’s been my anchor through fear, growth, and becoming.

Who I am:
I’m Dr. Srinidhi Desikan—a Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscientist, Lab Manager, Lecturer, NLP Master practitioner, and Life & Mindset Coach. My path bridges many worlds: the rigour of academia, the depth of the human psyche, and the quiet (yet loud) transformations that happen when someone remembers who they are.

What I do:
- I manage the VU Behavioral Lab, where I’ve built systems and community across faculties to support research in human behavior.
- I guide students through their academic and personal journey of discovery.
- I coach individuals—often those navigating identity, fear, and transition—through a non-profit, pay-it-forward practice that centers on growth over transaction.
- I write, speak, teach, and listen. And I hold space for people, even (and especially) when they don’t know what they need yet.

How I do it:
With both precision and depth. I bring together neuroscience, psychology, NLP, and lived wisdom.
My approach is raw and reflective—I go beneath the surface, gently but directly. We get honest. We get clear. We shift from “Why me?” to “Why not me?”

Why I do it:
Because too many people live beneath their truth. Because I’ve been there. Because I’ve watched science transform systems and life—and seen presence transform people.
And because I believe that courage, when met with the right support, creates lives that feel like home.

✨ Curious to work with me—on research, coaching, or something in-between? Just send a message.

Dr. Srinidhi Desikan

I’m Sabyasachi Sengupta - the current world champion of public speaking and an expert in behavioral change. I help high-level professionals turn their "madness" into a method. Working 15+ years with business leaders, I understand the friction between technical brilliance and human connection. This experience didn't just build my resilience; it honed my understanding of change as a deeply human process. Today, I help Leaders & Executives Master High-Stakes Communication & Presence

I specialize in "The Human Side of Transformation”, you can read more about the article on my Newsletter channel - “Human, After All”. 

I am coming up with a 13-Week Executive Presence through Public Speaking Course specially curated for business leaders, to take them beyond "tips and tricks" and to deep into behavioral change. 

This course will include:
1. Executive Presence: Commanding the room before you even speak.
2. Persuasive Storytelling: Turning data into a compelling narrative.
3. Stress Management: Reducing resistance during high-pressure transitions.

You have the expertise. But do you have the presence? 

Most leaders are brilliant at what they do, but they struggle to bridge the gap between their knowledge and their delivery. Whether it's a boardroom pitch or a global keynote, your impact is capped by your ability to communicate.

Why work with me? I’ve walked the path once, where you are right now! 

- World Champion of Public speaking 2025
- 2 times TEDx speaker on Change Culture and Networking
- Author of the book " What's Your Plan B?"
- Host of podcast "Method in Madness" since 2021
- 15+ years of banking experience across Finance, Change, and Innovation.

Some of my  clients include: 
Dominos Pizza
Universal Studio 
Linkedin
5 degrees
ING Bank
Uber
Shell
Nike

Are you ready to lead with impact? DM me now "Course" for details on the next 13-Week Intensive cohort.

Sabyasachi Sengupta

My first speech of 2026… and it had to be in my hometown. Kolkata — the city that shaped me, challenged me, and raised me.
Wearing the same red suit, standing on that stage, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. But nothing could have prepared me for the warmth, love, and energy that poured in from the audience.
The Toastmasters community here made it truly unforgettable. The smiles, the stories, the hugs — everything felt like a big, beautiful “welcome back.”
To return home not just to visit, but to speak, to share, to connect — it touched me in ways I’m still trying to find words for.
Thank you, Kolkata. Thank you, Toastmasters.
You made the start of 2026 feel like a powerful new beginning — full of heart, full of hope.

World Champion of Public Speaking - 2025 🏆 | Behavioral Change Expert | Founder, Method in Madness | Curator of “Speak like a Leader” - a 13-week, Executive Presence through Public Speaking- Now Open!

Do you get nervous before speaking in public? 
Good. That means you care.

There’s a saying: there are only two kinds of speakers- the nervous ones and the liars. Everyone feels it. Every single person feels it before they speak. 

The mistake is trying to eliminate nervousness. That never works. The real skill is learning how to manage it.

In this video, I share 3 simple techniques I personally use before every speech:

 • Understand your nervous reactions
 • Use the “fake smile” trick to reset your mindset
 • Detach from the outcome and focus on preparation

When you stop fearing the outcome, nervousness turns into excitement.

If public speaking makes you uneasy, this might help. 👇

#PublicSpeaking #Confidence #Leadership #CommunicationSkills #PersonalGrowth

The Toastmasters contest season is approaching! Every year, 30,000–40,000 speakers from around the world step onto the stage to compete.

I am getting questions, about how to stand out in the competition — so here are 5 things that helped me most in my own speech contest journey.

Hope they help you too!

10 years later, people still quote my closing line to me.

"I hope in your life, you razzle dazzle, but never get puzzled."

That wasn't luck. That was preparation & one of the 5 secrets I use before every speech.

Your opening line matters. But your closing? That's where legends are made.

Here's what I do before every speech (whether it's a boardroom or the World Championship stage):

1️⃣ Know the WHY - Entertain? Inform? Inspire? Your energy follows your intent.
2️⃣ The 10-Word Rule - If you can't explain your message in 10 words, you have a mess, not a message.
3️⃣ Captivate in 60 Seconds - Sometimes you need a word. Sometimes a gesture. (I once kissed the stage.)
4️⃣ Follow a Structure - Problem → Agitation → Solution. Clean. Clear. Unbeatable.
5️⃣ End with a Zinger - Never ask permission. Just drop the line and let it land.

Which of these 5 do you struggle with most? Let me know below. 👇

P.S. We teach the full Speech Architecture framework in Module 2 of our 13-Week Intensive: Executive Presence through Public Speaking for Leaders (EPPSL). Link in the first comment.

#PublicSpeaking #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipCommunication #SpeechWriting

The most boring answer a leader can give is: "It depends."

When an employee or a client asks for your stance on a complex topic like AI or pricing, they aren't looking for a neutral fence-sitter. They are looking for leadership. 
But what if there really isn't a clear "Yes" or "No"?
That’s where Contrasting Narratives come in.

Instead of a flat answer, try providing two "Visual Stories":
1️⃣ The "Revolution" Story (The benefits, the ideation, the admin wins).
2️⃣ The "Reality" Story (The errors, the judgment calls, the mistakes).

By painting both pictures, you make your point valid. You make it visual. And most importantly, you make it memorable.

Don't be a "half-cooked" speaker. Give them the contrast.
Ready to turn your "it depends" into a powerful narrative? Details for the 2026 Masterclass are in the first comment. 👇


#LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipDevelopment

Every coach will tell you to "tell a story." They say it makes you memorable. And they’re right.

But after years of standing on stages from Mumbai to the World Championship, I’ve realized something even more critical:

It’s not just about storytelling. It’s about Story Searching.

A story told at the wrong moment isn’t a gift; it’s a distraction. It can actually hurt your credibility if the room isn't ready to receive it.

In this video, I share the 3 specific moments when a story acts like magic:
✅ When you need to bridge the emotional gap.
✅ When a complex idea needs a visual home.
✅ When the energy in the room starts to dip.

Because at the end of the day, stories bring us back to that childlike sense of wonder. And that is where real leadership begins.

P.S. Knowing "when" to speak is the core of our 2026 Masterclass. I’ve put the registration link in the first comment below. 👇

Want to sound more confident, clear, and compelling?
Here’s a secret: pause more. I’m sharing why silence might be the most powerful tool in your communication kit.
It’s time we give pauses the spotlight they deserve.

Pauses. -The most underrated speaking skill

Public speaking looks like a solo stunt but it’s actually a team sport.
The more you listen, support, and help others speak better, the better you become.
Let me share what I learned from my experience at the finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Behavioural change consultant | Helping leaders reduce stress & resistance during transition | Founder @ Method in Madness| World Champion of Public speaking 2025

There’s a popular myth about public speaking that most of us secretly believe. It goes something like this: public speaking is a stunt. One person on 

Open article: One Myth About Public Speaking by Sabyasachi Sengupta • 2 min read

Some messages are understood. Some are felt. The difference?
A powerful analogy.
In this post, I break down why analogy is one of the most underrated tools in leadership, change, and communication—and how one simple comparison can make your message stick when logic alone fails.

Using Analogy to Make Your Message Stick

This episode is really special as I welcome my Red suit buddy from the 2025 World championship.  We shared the stage on the semi finals, finals and now he joined me in the podcast- my buddy Mas Mahathir Mohamad

Today's guest is Mas Mahathir Mohamad. I had the honor of sharing the world championship stage with him in 2025. He was awarded the 1st runner in the competition. Mas is also the founder of MicFront. He is a fantastic speaker and a very dear friend. 

https://lnkd.in/gSCZEC86

“If you can drive in my city, you can drive anywhere.”
Ever noticed how everyone says that?
Turns out, it’s not just about traffic—it’s a storytelling trap we fall into at work, too. Full blog here

You know that moment when someone says, “If you can drive in my city, you can drive anywhere”? I’ve heard this in New York (where the traffic is crazy

Open article: The myth of Exceptionalism: Why every city thinks it’s the toughest by Sabyasachi Sengupta • 3 min read

The myth of Exceptionalism: Why every city thinks it’s the toughest

Let’s face it, some presentations are a cure for insomnia. But what if data-heavy didn’t have to mean deadly dull? Here’s how to turn flat into fascinating—without losing your message.

How Do You Turn a Flat Presentation Into a Fascinating One

The Dutch are known for their directness, no sugarcoating, no fuss.
And yet this week, we witnessed perhaps the most tactful, diplomatically restrained move by a Dutch leader I’ve seen in years. Mark Rutte didn’t just manage a moment, he mastered it. Here’s a short reflection on what wasn’t said, and why that mattered more than anything that was.

In high-stakes moments, especially when the air is thick with tension and the world is watching—the true mark of leadership is often what is not said.

Open article: When words are all you have: The Quiet calculus of Leadership
 by Sabyasachi Sengupta • 2 min read

When words are all you have: The Quiet calculus of Leadership

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The Battle

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