Rising to Lead in Challenging Times

When global leaders are facing crisis or excited to unlock opportunity, they turn to ANITA MENDIRATTA. Globally respected as an executive advisor, author, diplomat, speaker and on-air personality in Tourism and Development, Anita runs a successful London-based international consulting firm ANITA MENDIRATTA & ASSOCIATES - WWW.ANITAMENDIRATTA.COM through which she is trusted to work closely with senior leaders in governments, businesses, and international organisations as a strategic partner central to effective ideation, innovation, collaboration as well as conflict resolution.

Originally from Canada and with international professional foundations with IBM, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, Anita possesses over three decades of professional experience across almost all continents with unique expertise in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. As a result of her acutely focused, hands-on and heart-open approach to engaging with leaders across the globe, Anita is admired for having an innate ability to feel the ‘heartbeat’ behind the economic, social, political and environmental dynamics of nations.

Most recently, Anita has taken on a critical role of trusted advisor, guiding leaders and educators for knowledge upliftment and decision-making vital to inclusive, and sustainable recovery of global Travel, Tourism and Aviation in a post-COVID world.

Directly aligned to this position of leadership, Anita is honoured to be:

• SPECIAL ADVISOR to the Secretary General of the UNITED NATIONS WORLD TOURISM ORGANISATION (UNWTO)
• STRATEGIC ADVISOR to CNN INTERNATIONAL
• EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE at the University of Surrey, UK
• VISITING PROFESSOR at Cranfield University, UK

Anita’s global impact has resulted in her securing a respected position within the international leadership community including being recognised year after year as a global example of purposeful, inspiring leadership including:

• 'Most Influential Woman in Tourism’ in 2019,
• ‘Top 25 Inspirational Executives in Travel/Hospitality’ in 2021,
• ‘Most Innovative Women Leaders Inspiring the World’ in 2022, and
• ‘Top 25 Inspirational Executives in Travel/Hospitality’ in 2023.

Importantly, her determination to ensure that her work is making a positive impact on the lives of those does not stop with the work of her firm. Through her UK registered charity, The Anita Mendiratta Foundation, Anita works to restore early childhood education in tourism-based economies and communities around the globe suffering from crisis. Established in 2018, the ANITA MENDIRATTA FOUNDATION has been working across the globe and alongside trusted local organisations to create a lasting, positive impact on the lives of young children, their families, and their communities in dependent on Tourism recover from a crisis. Why? We all know that without warning and without mercy a crisis – natural disaster, economic collapse, social unrest, act of terror, healthcare calamity – can strike. Often the hardest part of recovery is rebuilding community activity and wellbeing once first responders have moved on. Established in 2018, the Anita Mendiratta Foundation works in tourism-dependent countries across the globe, creating a lasting, positive impact on the lives of young children, their families and their communities as they work to recover from a crisis. Through the Foundation’s efforts in rebuilding and strengthening early childhood education and related development programmes, the greater community ecosystem is able to be supported structurally, operationally, financially and emotionally. Anita Mendiratta Foundation are there with the community and for the community, because no child victimised by crisis should be told to wait for hope. For more information please visit anitamendirattafoundation.org.

The Call to Leadership: Unlocking the Leader Within in Times of Crisis by Anita Mendiratta (2023)

Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go by Matthew Barzun (2021)

Leading With Emotional Courage: How to Have Hard Conversations, Create Accountability, And Inspire Action On Your Most Important Work by Peter Bregman (2018)

Leading with Edge: Activate Your Competitive Advantage Through Personal Insight by Jose Costa (2018)

Choosing Leadership: A Workbook by Linda Ginzel PhD (2018)

The Confidence Effect: Every Woman's Guide to the Attitude That Attracts Success by Grace Killelea (2016)

The Art of Authenticity: Tools to Become an Authentic Leader by Karissa Thacker (2016)

The New Advantage: How Women in Leadership Can Create Win-Wins for Their Companies and Themselves by Howard J. Morgan and Joelle K. Jay (2016)

Broad Influence: How Women Are Changing the Way America Works by Jay Newton-Small (2016)

Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution by Brené Brown (2015)

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg (2013)

The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William N. Thorndike (2012)

The Virtual Executive: How to Act Like a CEO Online and Offline by Debra Benton (2012)

How Remarkable Women Lead: The Breakthrough Model for Work and Life by Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston (2011)

360 Degrees of Influence: Get Everyone to Follow Your Lead on Your Way to the Top by Harrison Monarth (2011)

CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization by Debra Benton (2009)

Executive Presence: The Art of Commanding Respect Like a CEO by Harrison Monarth (2009)

Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions by Michael Watkins (2009)

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith (2007)

How to Act Like a CEO: 10 Rules for Getting to the Top and Staying There by Debra Benton (2003)

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936)