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Rashmi Airan

Rashmi Airan is an ivy-league educated attorney, Wall Street investment banker, serial entrepreneur, college professor, professionally trained vocalist, and a globally recognized transformation expert.

5.00 of 5

Top rated!

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5 of 5

Rashmi worked with the Coca-Cola team for an entire day. She created such a meaningful impact on the pivotal issues of accountability and vulnerability. Her diverse and unique view has propelled her as a leader on these topics. Rashmi shares a personal story that we must strive to live through uncertainty with conviction and navigate through the gray area. Her workshop truly helped our team learn how to thrive in chaos, be adaptable and remain curious while always focusing on the organization’s needs and long-term sustainability. Her story is relatable and she is truly a remarkable speaker and consultant!

Preeti Balwani

Former General Counsel & Global General Counsel, Coca-Cola, India & CRISIL Ltd.

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Why you should book Rashmi Airan for your next event

  • Acclaimed TEDx presenter who inspires audiences worldwide with her compelling narrative of resilience and personal transformation, offering a unique perspective on leadership.
  • Gain profound insights into ethical decision-making to elevate leadership standards and drive organizational integrity across all levels.
  • Collaborated with leading industry giants like Coca-Cola and Deloitte to drive significant change, fostering ethical practices and cultivating effective leadership.

Non-binding request for Rashmi Airan

Embracing Ethical Leadership Transformation

Rashmi Airan is a captivating and motivational speaker, consultant, and catalyst for transformation with a mission to foster organizational cultures centered around authenticity. Her powerful story transcends the pitfalls of making a life-altering decision; it's a tale of leadership, core values, and decision-making, capable of creating a safe haven for courageous and often challenging conversations.

As a first-generation immigrant of Indian descent raised with lofty expectations, Rashmi excelled as a lawyer, graduating with honors from Columbia Law School. After gaining experience at major corporations, she embarked on an independent law practice in Miami. During the housing boom, she developed an ethical blind spot collaborating with a real estate developer engaged in questionable practices.

Driven by her desire for success to provide for her children, Rashmi refrained from questioning her client's actions despite her inner voice urging caution. This led to a federal prison sentence for bank fraud.

During her six months in federal prison, Rashmi found inner peace and self-forgiveness. This humbling yet invaluable experience made her realize that while living with remorse is one thing, allowing it to define one's identity is another. Now a "recovering lawyer and investment banker," female leader, and community entrepreneur, Rashmi is an internationally recognized keynote speaker and TEDx presenter.

With over thirty years of real-world experience in finance, business and law, Rashmi Airan intimately understands the complexities modern leaders face. Her expertise is bolstered by years of research in behavioral psychology and collaborations with renowned global brands like Coca-Cola, Cardinal Health, Merck, Comcast, Sotheby's, and Hershey's. Deloitte has recognized the transformative power and relatability of Rashmi's journey, which spans from an Ivy League education to federal prison. 

Rashmi has partnered with Fortune 100 companies, financial services groups, CPAs, lawyers, real estate professionals, and dozens of women’s conferences and groups to share her transformational journey and create a RISE movement. She has been featured on ABC, PBS, in the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

An avid hiker, travel enthusiast, and proud mother of two teenagers, Rashmi serves on the Board of Directors for the Overtown Youth Center/Alonzo Mourning Foundation and is an Ambassador for The Key Clubhouse. Her inspiring journey instills the power to overcome obstacles and unleash human potential. 

Customer Reviews

5 of 5

Rashmi worked with the Coca-Cola team for an entire day. She created such a meaningful impact on the pivotal issues of accountability and vulnerability. Her diverse and unique view has propelled her as a leader on these topics. Rashmi shares a personal story that we must strive to live through uncertainty with conviction and navigate through the gray area. Her workshop truly helped our team learn how to thrive in chaos, be adaptable and remain curious while always focusing on the organization’s needs and long-term sustainability. Her story is relatable and she is truly a remarkable speaker and consultant!

Former General Counsel & Global General Counsel, Coca-Cola, India & CRISIL Ltd.

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

What Rashmi brought to us is real-life experience with emotion, authenticity, and courage for immediate value add in our individual organizations. As a group of CEOs of our companies, we typically don’t spend an entire day listening and engaging with one Coach/Consultant. Rashmi’s workshop and message were extremely effective and impactful, both personally and professionally. Even after an entire day with Rashmi, we all wanted more. I am definitely planning on bringing Rashmi back to work with my own leadership team at my organization.

YPO

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi’s story illustrates the power of humility and transformation. Rashmi is an energy giver - whether live or virtual. She reminds us that we are all humans and fallible. I would recommend Rashmi, she is one the best speakers I have ever worked with and I will work with her again!

Former General Counsel, Hershey’s Inc.

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Touching. Bold. Almost moved me to tears!

Founder & CEO, MinimZero

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

The most mind capturing talk ever! 100% focused and visually present. Personable and relatable.

CEO/Owner, JLM Hotel Group

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi spoke to our senior leadership team and coaches at Georgia Tech. Her story and message around decision-making was incredibly impactful as it hit home the fact that good and smart people can make bad decisions with dire consequences. Rashmi helps shed light through her research in behavioral ethics. She provides a mental process for maintaining ethical vigilance in our decision- making and how to avoid the overconfidence bias that leads to the slippery slope. I highly recommend Rashmi to my friends and colleagues as she will inspire and help create substantive change in our athletic environments around integrity and ethics.

Georgia Tech University Athletics

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Thank you so much for the time you spent sharing your story with vulnerability, creating a space for us to do the same, and sharing insight applicable to both personal and professional life choices. Your messaging resonated in unexpected and practical ways. I admire the courage on display to speak from a place of such openness and high character.

Head Baseball Coach, Brown University

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

I attended Rashmi’s talk and I thought it was amazing. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to hear you speak. It was, without a doubt, the best session I have attended in my 40 years. I particularly liked your focus on our duty to the community and society as a whole.

Colorado Bar Association

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi was absolutely outstanding. I would highly recommend her to work with your team if you're looking to get better and really have an examination of what is valuable to your university, to your industry, to your business, or to you personally. She's an effective leader, she's inspirational, and she's given us a lot to think about in our own lives.

Athletic Director, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi pushed me out of my comfort zone. She shared deeply about herself, and paved the way for all of us to then dig deep and share our own highs and lows.

Corcoran Icon, California Association of Realtors

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi is truly inspiring!

Chief Marketing Officer, Best Western Hotel Group

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi’s gripping presentation to more than 50 of our lawyers transformed the subject of professional responsibility from a textbook experience to a compelling human drama with real-life consequences. It was eye-opening and gut-wrenching, and Rashmi’s willingness to share the lowest moment in her professional life and her takeaways was a real tribute to her character.

Managing Partner, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, LLP

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

In sharing her story, Ms. Airan is helping make a difference and helping to favorably shift the ethics paradigm in the legal profession.

Professor, University of Miami, School of Law

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Because Ms. Airan was only a few years older than the law students she spoke to and because she graduated near the top of her class, her impact on the students was powerful and immediate. I think her presentation gave students an entirely unique, more nuanced and certainly more vivid sense of how seemingly normal professional practice can cross the line over into fraud. She made a very valuable contribution to the students’ that others cannot duplicate.

Professor, Columbia University, School of Law

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Thank you so much for your presentation. We had a record turnout to hear your story of over 2,700 participants and more to come in our APAC region!

Senior Vice President, Cardinal Health

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Rashmi’s talk was authentic and really resonated with the entire audience. She was hands-down the #1 speaker we had over the course of our multi-day conference.

CTO and CISO, Merck

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

Your story is immensely compelling with some incredible takeaways.

CEO, Oregon Association of Realtors

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

I had the pleasure of working with Rashmi Airan as conference planner for the 2020 Tri-State SHRM Conference. Rashmi was scheduled to present two in person sessions for us, but due to COVID-19, she easily adapted and presented her sessions virtually. Her presentations centered around taking ownership of your actions, and business ethics. Rashmi’s ability to tell her story with candor, honesty and ownership makes her keynote(s) very relevant to business leaders. Thank you, Rashmi! Keep up the great work.

Maher Group, LLC, SHRM Association Management Professional & Convention Planner

Rashmi Airan

5 of 5

This was an incredibly powerful talk about perseverance, adaptability, mindset, and agility. Truly memorable.

CEO, Los Angeles Brands

Rashmi Airan

Rated 5.00/5 based on 19 customer reviews

Rashmi Airan Speaker Reel

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Against the Slippery Slope | Rashmi Airan | TEDxGreenville

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Ethics Keynote Speaker Rashmi Airan at HCCA

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Miami Dade College Sizzle

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Keynotes

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: RISE THROUGH IT™: A Lawyer’s Journey to Federal Prison & Beyond

Every day, leaders navigate an onslaught of challenges, pressures, and uncertainties. The instinct may be to avoid adversity—seeking comfort, quick fixes, or temporary escapes. But true growth doesn’t come from avoidance. It comes from rising through struggle, shifting our perspective, and evolving into stronger, more intentional leaders.

Rashmi Airan knows firsthand what it means to Rise Through It™. Her extraordinary journey—from the heights of Ivy League success to the humbling experience of federal prison—has revealed life-altering lessons in resilience, self-awareness, and transformation.

She has learned that our deepest struggles are often our greatest teachers, but only when we choose to face them, rather than trying to "rise above" and escape.

Through her powerful R.I.S.E. Process™, Rashmi empowers leaders with a bold and actionable framework to navigate adversity with intention:

  • Reframe – Shift your perspective to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than barriers to success.
  • Identify – Recognize the people who lift you, ground you, and are brave enough to hold up the mirror—especially when it’s uncomfortable.
  • Surrender – Release the illusion of control, the weight of ego, and the fear of judgment to create space for transformation.
  • Evolve – Step forward with courage, integrating new insights to become a stronger, more authentic leader.

Rashmi’s approach moves leaders from reacting to obstacles to rising through them with clarity, conviction, and resilience. By fostering a mindset of reflection, self-awareness, and adaptability, she helps leaders harness discomfort, unlock their inner power, and step into their full potential.

When we choose to Rise Through It™, we don’t resist adversity—we reframe, identify, surrender, and evolve into the bold, grounded, and visionary leaders we are meant to be.

OUTCOMES

  • Master the RISE Process™: Learn a proven framework to face challenges, transform obstacles into opportunities, and rise stronger.
  • Reframe Your Identity: Embrace that true success comes not from what we achieve, but from who we become in the process.
  • Cultivate Courageous Leadership: Create environments of safety and trust, where open communication, risk-taking, and vulnerability become strengths.
  • Turn Fear Into Action: Equip yourself to navigate uncertainty, alleviate anxiety (including AI-related fears), and build a future-ready, adaptable workplace.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan RISE THROUGH IT™: A Lawyer’s Journey to Federal Prison & Beyond

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: RISE LEADERSHIP: Rebuilding Culture from the Inside Out

Leadership is hard—and when it’s built on ego, certainty, or control, it eventually collapses. Most teams don’t need more strategy—they need more honesty. Culture change starts with the people at the top being willing to look inward.

Rashmi Airan lived the high-pressure, high-performance leadership life—until the pressure led her to compromise her values. After serving time in federal prison, she faced her choices, her blind spots, and the ego she had hidden behind. That reckoning became the foundation for a new kind of leadership—one rooted in courage, humility, and accountability.

Through the R.I.S.E.™ Process, Rashmi helps leaders reimagine influence and rebuild trust from the inside out:

  • Reframe – Redefine leadership as relational, not positional.
  • Identify – Know who the truth-tellers are—the people who challenge, ground, and support you even when it’s uncomfortable.
  • Surrender – Let go of the need to perform, perfect, or control outcomes.
  • Evolve – Become the kind of leader people trust, follow, and grow with.

This keynote helps leaders stop managing from the outside and start leading from within.

OUTCOMES

  • Lead with transparency: Build teams anchored in trust and truth.
  • Elevate your self-awareness: Grow into a leader who listens, adapts, and evolves.
  • Build feedback-rich cultures: Encourage courageous conversations and accountability.
  • Shift from power to purpose: Influence through authenticity, not authority.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan RISE LEADERSHIP: Rebuilding Culture from the Inside Out

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: RISE IN SALES: From Pressure to Presence & Purpose

Sales is changing. People don’t want to be sold to—they want to be understood.

But sales professionals are under pressure: meet the quota, beat the target, close the deal.

The grind can pull people away from authenticity and toward shortcuts that damage trust, especially when the “No’s” keep coming.

Rashmi Airan knows the weight of chasing results at all costs. She built a career driven by performance—until one compromised decision led to federal prison. That experience broke her open and rebuilt her perspective on what true influence really means.

Through the R.I.S.E.™ Process, Rashmi shows sales teams how to lead with connection and credibility:

  • Reframe – View sales as a relationship, not a transaction.
  • Identify – Surround yourself with mentors, colleagues, and peers who keep you aligned, challenge your blind spots, and support your growth.
  • Surrender – Let go of high-pressure tactics and manipulative scripts.
  • Evolve – Show up as someone your clients trust, respect, and want to partner with.

This keynote isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about showing up with clarity, integrity, and impact.

OUTCOMES

  • Build trust that lasts: Sell through value, not pressure.
  • Turn rejection into redirection: Handle “no” without losing your center.
  • Grow your mindset: Stay resilient and grounded in high-stakes conversations.
  • Align values and performance: Win without compromising who you are.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan RISE IN SALES: From Pressure to Presence & Purpose

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: RISE FOR GROWTH: Unlocking Next Level Growth

Chasing success can become a cycle you can’t escape—until it breaks you open.

Many high-achievers are operating in overdrive, disconnected from themselves, unsure of what the next level really is.

Growth isn’t about more. It’s about deeper.

Rashmi Airan had the resume, the status, the story of success—until she lost it all. 

After serving time in federal prison, she had to rebuild everything from the ground up. What emerged was not just a comeback—but a complete transformation of how she saw herself and the world around her.

Now, through the R.I.S.E.™ Process, Rashmi challenges audiences to stop performing and start becoming:

  • Reframe – See setbacks as invitations to realignment, not reasons to spiral.
  • Identify – Get clear on who will walk with you, challenge you, and help you stay rooted in who you’re becoming.
  • Surrender – Let go of the need to get it “right” and make room for growth that’s real.
  • Evolve – Step into a truer, freer version of yourself—one that doesn’t need to prove, just live.

This keynote is for those who are ready to grow from the inside out.

OUTCOMES

  • Break the success mask: Discover who you are beyond the titles.
  • Cultivate self-compassion: Replace performance pressure with grounded confidence.
  • Build support systems: Identify the people who will reflect your truth and hold you accountable.
  • Redefine achievement: Grow on your own terms, in your own time.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan RISE FOR GROWTH: Unlocking Next Level Growth

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: RISE TOGETHER: Creating Brave Community Through Struggle & Connection

People are craving connection—but we often avoid the real stuff: the mess, the truth, the vulnerability. Teams are filled with people who are silently struggling, pretending everything’s fine, and disconnected from each other. Real community isn’t built in comfort—it’s forged in shared struggle.

Rashmi Airan knows this firsthand. When she went to prison, what got her through wasn’t toughness—it was the people who showed up with honesty, compassion, and accountability.

Now she helps organizations create that kind of culture—one where people rise together, not alone.

Through the R.I.S.E.™ Process, Rashmi offers a roadmap to build communities where people belong, not perform:

  • Reframe – See struggle as an opportunity for connection, not something to hide.
  • Identify – Know who your people are—the ones who will hold space, speak truth, and show up even when it’s hard.
  • Surrender – Drop the armor. Let people see the real you.
  • Evolve – Create spaces where people lead with trust, not titles.

This keynote is for organizations that want real belonging—not buzzwords, but brave spaces.

OUTCOMES

  • Build trust from the inside out: Create spaces for honest conversations.
  • Disrupt isolation: Cultivate a culture where people are seen and supported.
  • Strengthen team bonds: Identify the anchors who keep your community grounded.
  • Foster psychological safety: Let vulnerability lead to stronger results.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan RISE TOGETHER: Creating Brave Community Through Struggle & Connection

Keynote by Rashmi Airan: OPPOSITES ATTRACT: The Power of Turning Enemies into Allies

Customers and employees are struggling with the prevalence of technology and the lack of the human touch, leading to worsening turnover, and lower sales affecting business performance entirely. Establishing relationships is a cornerstone of sales and business growth, reflecting the fundamental principle that people prefer to do business with those they know, like, and trust. This concept underscores not just a transactional interaction but a relational dynamic that can significantly impact the bottom line and long-term success of a business.

Join us for an extraordinary presentation where Rashmi Airan, a former federal defendant, and Joseph Capone, the former federal prosecutor who investigated her case, come together to share their incredible journey.

Rashmi's transformative experience has inspired her to become a corporate motivational speaker, fearlessly spreading wisdom about decision-making and leadership. Despite their past adversities, Rashmi and Joe have developed a unique bond built on mutual respect and continuous growth.

Get ready for an engaging discussion as Joe provides his prosecutorial perspective on the case, focusing on key moments of decision-making. Collaborating now as allies, Joe and Rashmi will lead an interactive conversation, offering valuable insights into how adversaries can become allies. Their story is living proof that transformation and reconciliation are possible, leading to a relationship unimaginable several years ago.

The importance of establishing relationships in sales and business cannot be overstated. It's a strategy that pays dividends not just in increased sales and business growth, but in building a sustainable, reputable, and resilient business that stands the test of time.

OUTCOMES

  • Embrace a culture of transformation by proven framework to build relationships.
  • Discover how adversarial relationships can evolve into alliances.
  • Empower change by gaining insights from the collaboration between former adversaries.
  • Establish the power of relationships and drive sales and growth through specific skills.
Request a quote: Rashmi Airan OPPOSITES ATTRACT: The Power of Turning Enemies into Allies

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