Avinash Kaul
Former Network18 CEO and author of The Next Mountain, speaking on leadership, resilience and purpose
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Avinash Kaul
On the night of 19 January 1990, Avinash Kaul left Kashmir on the bonnet of an overcrowded bus. He completed his schooling in a makeshift tent in Jammu. Decades later, he tells that story in The Next Mountain: Notes on Resilience, Leadership and Purpose, published by HarperCollins. The book reached No. 1 in six categories on Amazon India and went back to print within ten days.
Avinash began his media career at WPP and Discovery before leading Times Television, whose channels include Times Now and ET Now. He went on to serve as CEO of Network18’s broadcast and publishing business, home to CNBC-TV18, CNN-News18, Forbes India and History TV18. His experience across broadcasting, publishing and international media partnerships also informs his talks on how businesses can work with the media and what senior leaders should understand about the Indian market.
On stage, Avinash brings together two perspectives on resilience. He knows what it takes to rebuild a life after being forced to leave home, and what it takes to lead an organisation when other people are looking to you for direction. His keynotes explore how people regain a sense of agency after disruption, how leaders sustain commitment over the long haul and how their priorities can shift once they’ve reached a career milestone.
His speaking engagements include a CEO fireside conversation for The Marketing Academy’s CMO Fellowship in Mumbai and leadership panels for Xplore by XLRI. He also moderated the launch of Indomitable at the Bombay Stock Exchange.
To book Keynote Speaker Avinash Kaul, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Exile, Ambition and the Next Mountain – From leaving Kashmir at 17 to becoming a media CEO, Avinash shares what his own experience taught him about rebuilding after upheaval and finding the confidence to start again.
Leadership and the Long Climb – Drawing on 16 years as a CEO, Avinash explores the decisions and habits that help leaders give teams direction and sustain commitment over time.
The Next Mountain: Purpose Beyond the Peak – What happens when you achieve the goal you’ve spent years working towards? Avinash explores how to decide what comes next and use what you’ve learned to make a contribution beyond your own career.
Business and Media: Making the Partnership Work – An insider’s perspective on what media organisations and business leaders need to understand about each other to build productive partnerships.
India: The Market Every Board Is Asking About – A perspective from inside Indian media on the questions senior leaders should ask as they assess opportunities in India.
Here you can find links to books by Avinash Kaul. For bulk book orders for your event please speak with a member of the team.
Client Feedback
"A standout closing session... His perspective truly hit home."
Chandigarh University AI Fest
"An inspiring and high-impact gathering."
BMW Group India
"A brilliant session!"
The Marketing Academy
"Hearing about your own career journey gave me confidence that where we begin doesn't define where we can reach."
Xavier Institute of Communications
"What struck me most was his warmth, his clarity of thought and how generously he shares what life has taught him. I came back genuinely inspired."
PeeSafe
"What a powerful and positive speech. Hats off to you. What a journey."
Chandigarh University
"If I had to list the 25 best moments of my life, this moment would definitely feature in it, and Avinash, who came in as Chief Guest, is one of the biggest reasons."
The LIT School
