Ravi’s journey as a rock star, aviator, cultural diplomat for the US Department of State, and now keynote speaker and founder of multiple educational and cultural enterprises is an inspiring example of how to pivot and “be the change you wish to see in the world” (Gandhi).
He is the first American-born descendant of India’s Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty. However, Ravi pursued his passion for music and in 1997 became the guitarist of triple-Grammy-nominee, Hanson, performing at the White House and Madison Square Garden, on Saturday Night Live and the Today Show, and many more.
Following the global financial crisis of 2008, he pivoted and became a pilot and aviation speaker sharing leadership lessons learned from the cockpit. In 2015, he pivoted again and accepted an invitation to serve as a cultural diplomat for the US Department of State, creating songwriting programs in Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Indonesia to unite people from traditionally opposed cultures and religions.
Today, Ravi is a highly respected keynote speaker on education and cultural issues. He is also the author of three books; Co-Founder and Vice President of Celebrating Heritage In the Arts, Inc. (C.H.I.A.)—an initiative recognizing, developing, and celebrating the passion and diversity of culture through music, technology and mainstream media (Canada); advocate for Shanti Bhavan—a residential school exclusively for children born into India’s lowest socioeconomic class (India); and Founder of Ravi Unites Schools—an international network of over 100 schools whose students participate in peer-to-peer cultural interactions online.
Visit Ravi Hutheesing here: raviunites.com
PIVOT: Empowering Students Today to Succeed in an Unpredictable Tomorrow
Education is more than just going to school
How can educators empower students to stay relevant in an ever-changing world? As globalization and artificial intelligence dramatically change the future of work, preparing students for a life defined more by who they are than by what they do is the most important benchmark of a modern education.
Pivot is an inspiring journey of self-discovery that reveals an insightful framework for creating self-directed, lifelong learners who can … pivot.
Born into one of the world’s most politically influential families, Ravi Hutheesing rejected the obvious choices presented to him, and instead, took ownership of his education. He propelled himself to the stage at Madison Square Garden as the guitarist of a world-famous band, to the skies as aviation’s go-to spokesperson for recruiting student pilots, to the complex geopolitical landscapes of Iraq and Russia as a cultural diplomat for the US Department of State, and now to schools and conferences worldwide as a dynamic keynote speaker leading discussions on reimagining education.
Ravi uncovers many ways that traditional schooling, real-world experiences, mentorships, and the arts will equip students with the skills they need to thrive in an unpredictable future. With actionable takeaways at the end of every chapter, Pivot reveals how school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, and students can maximize their roles … because educating the “whole child” is about much more than just going to school.