Nikita Thakrar

Nikita Thakrar is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker and mentor who is widely recognised for helping individuals and organisations create more inclusive, purpose-driven cultures. As the Founder of Journey from Karma to Dharma™, she has built a reputation for translating ancient wisdom into practical leadership strategies that improve wellbeing, resilience and performance. Blending mindfulness with modern workplace challenges, Nikita empowers audiences to move beyond unconscious patterns, embrace authentic leadership and foster environments where people feel valued, connected and able to thrive. Her engaging, experiential approach makes her a sought-after Diversity and Inclusion speaker for organisations looking to create meaningful cultural change.

Nikita’s professional journey began in the world of performance, where she spent more than two decades as an Indian classical dance performer, dharma educator and founder of her own dance company, which later grew into an award-winning studio. Her career took an unexpected turn following a significant health diagnosis in her mid-twenties, prompting her to step away from full-time performance and explore mindfulness, meditation, energy healing and spiritual psychology. Drawing on these lived experiences, she transformed personal adversity into professional purpose, developing an approach that helps leaders cultivate self-awareness, resilience and emotional intelligence. Over time, this evolved into a globally respected body of work focused on conscious leadership, wellbeing and inclusive organisational cultures.

Alongside her speaking career, Nikita is an acclaimed author whose book, Meditation Through Poetry, received an International Impact Award for its contribution to personal development. She has also created innovative learning frameworks including Reiki Ritual™ and the Dharma Diploma, combining scientific understanding with spirituality and embodied practice. Her distinctive keynote, Dance with Your Dharma, integrates storytelling, mindfulness and live performance to create memorable learning experiences. Continuing to expand her influence, Nikita launched a digital learning library and a podcast that ranked among the UK’s Top 50 spirituality podcasts, extending her message of purposeful leadership to audiences worldwide.

Nikita is hired as a Diversity and Inclusion speaker because she approaches inclusion through the lens of human connection, self-awareness and authentic leadership. She demonstrates how inclusive cultures begin with understanding unconscious behaviours, managing wellbeing and creating environments where individuals can contribute with confidence and purpose. Addressing themes including resilience, emotional wellbeing, belonging and purpose-led leadership, Nikita equips audiences with practical tools that strengthen both individual performance and organisational culture. Rather than delivering abstract theory, she combines personal experience with actionable strategies that inspire lasting behavioural change, making her an exceptional choice for conferences, leadership programmes and workplace inclusion initiatives seeking meaningful, sustainable impact.