Dr. R. Balasubramaniam is a development scholar, public policy advocate, author and leadership educator with over four decades of grassroots experience. He is the founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a development organization working at the intersection of health, education, and community empowerment in India. He is also the founder of GRAAM, a public policy ‘Think & Act’ tank.

A physician by training and a Harvard-educated public leader and former faculty at Cornell University, he has a Doctorate in Management & Leadership. Dr. Balu brings a unique blend of experiential knowledge and academic insight into his work.

His work spans advising governments on governance reforms, strengthening democratic institutions, and building state capacity. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including i, the citizen, Voices from the Grassroots, Leadership Lessons for Daily Living and Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi, reflecting his ability to bridge spiritual wisdom, public policy, and leadership practice. His current writing explores leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita, integrating Indian philosophical thought with contemporary leadership theory. He has also written over 500 columns in both Kannada and English newspapers.

He is currently the Member-HR in the Capacity Building Commission of the Government of India. He is also the Chairperson of the Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee of SEBI.