We’re celebrating inspiring entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.
Welcome to Kickin’ it with Sidekick - our series that celebrates inspirational entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. Our goal is to motivate others through stories, successes, advice and actions. Never miss a Kickin’ it with Sidekick by following us on LinkedIn.
Meet Prasanna Ranganathan (he/him) – intrapreneur, lawyer, diversity and inclusion consultant and lead, social media strategist, and speaker. His illustrious background is marked by working as a human rights lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the entertainment industry, and in tech. Some highlights about Prasanna:
He’s a Consulting Producer and Associate Producer on various entrepreneur-based films including the 2021 docuseries Born for Business and Dream, Girl that premiered at the Obama White House in 2016.
He was a red-carpet correspondent at the 2019 Academy Awards and 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards and designed social media campaigns for Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington.
Proudly identifying as an LGBTQ2+ racialized person with a disability, he has spoken on diversity and inclusion at the 2017 Walrus Talks Canada 150 tour, the annual Toronto International Film Festival inclusion and accessibility workshops, and the 2019 International Women’s Day Summit on Parliament Hill.
A chef in his spare time, Prasanna co-authored a new cookbook with his mother, Prema, entitled Made with Prema: A celebration of vegetarian cuisine featuring 300+ recipes rooted in South Indian cuisine with global dimensions with all profits going to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
We are inspired by Prasanna and his incredible accomplishments, and we know you will be too! Keep reading to find out more about what keeps him inspired:
What are your sources of motivation and inspiration? How do you stay motivated/keep your cup full?
My sources of inspiration are people who live their lives in service to the world. People, across all industries, roles, spaces and places, who move forward in the world with a commitment to sharing light and being of service to others. What keeps me motivated is my gratitude journal where I write 5 things from each day for which I am grateful. I learned about this practice from Oprah Winfrey during The Oprah Winfrey Show and it has completely transformed my life. It has moved me away from ruminating on the negative to noticing and appreciating the positive.
Do you have a personal ethos that helps guide your decisions and choices? What is it and where did it come from?
Love is the invisible thread that connects us all. Community is the process by which we make that invisible thread viscerally real. This lesson was brought to life by my parents who showed me that there is nothing more powerful than living a life filled with love.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on your intrapreneurial journey so far?
One of the most powerful things we can do is to bear witness. To the people we work with. To the communities we serve. To the world in which we live. By bearing witness, we connect to one another, develop empathy, and we emerge committed to driving change.
What advice would you give to future intrapreneurs looking to make their mark on the world?
The best piece of advice I ever received is to be present and focus on the next right step. While goals are beautiful beacons taking us forward to the future of our dreams, focusing on the next right step enables us to avoid overwhelm. It also allows us to realize that happiness is not tied to the achievement of a future goal. Instead, happiness is found in the moments and memories that make up our lives.
We are inspired by Prasanna’s deep and impactful words, incredible achievements and actions. Stay up to date with all of the wisdom he has to share by following him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
(Image description: Image of Prasanna standing and laughing wearing glasses, a green jacket, and a blue pattern shirt)
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