About Diya Kapur Misra

About me

I am a LEADERSHIP IMPACT COACH. I enable organisations and leaders to thrive in the challenging BANI world, and create a sustainable positive impact.

My Unique Approach

I have touched more than 2600 leaders in my consulting and coaching career so far. THE POWER OF i is my evolved model of leadership for the new, BANI world.

It is a product of synthesis from my professional experiences over the last twenty-five years as a leader, leadership advisor and coach AND my personal journey as a parent of seventeen years.

It is my vision for transformation of organisations and leaders – to make the world a significantly happier and more progressive place for us and our children.

Years of Experience

Organisations Impacted

What Makes Me Different

” It is my firm belief that each one of us has our own superpowers. We just need to discover and hone them! “

I believe that my superpowers are my vision and matching passion and ability to enlarge everything that I apply myself to, and to enable others to do the same. This stems from my purpose to make an impact in the world, and is fueled by the joy I derive from investing in a variety of experiences and relationships.

I am an AND person, willing to confront paradoxes, and able to straddle and leverage dichotomies: strategic vision & attention to detail, scientific rigour & art of intuition, rational prowess & relationship focus… As one of my clients put it beautifully, “Diya, you bring a unique combination to the table – passion and care of an insider coupled with objectivity and courage to ask difficult questions, like an outsider!”

While working in the corporate sector since 1999, I have always looked for ways, big and small, to create a social impact. I have spawned a movement to channelise gifting (giving and receiving) into sponsoring the education of girl children through Mahindra Foundation’s Nanhi Kali. I am also contributing my professional skills and perspective through advisory board positions with Child in Need Institute – CINI (www.cini-india.org) and Ashraya Initiative for Children (www.ashraya initiative.org)

My Accomplishments

One of the things that I think makes me stand out is my continuous pursuit of excellence, and the resultant quality of output and impact I am able to deliver across roles and situations in my life and career. This has been borne out by my academic and professional track record, testimonials from my clients, colleagues and teachers, and some of my accomplishments over the years, such as:

Touching more than 2600 leaders across 46 organisations & 15 industries, over my career
Developing strong client relationships & best in class delivery, resulting in 80% Repeats Clients and 90% Client Endorsement/ Referral
Being named a LinkedIn Top Voice on Gender Equity in 2022
Leading 5 successful runs of up! SURGE - Journey to the C-suite, by XLRI for Women from 2021 - 2024, groomed 660 women leaders across 135 companies for CXO roles across India
Being the Batch Topper and a Double Gold-medalist at XLRI Jamshedpur, 1997-99 and receiving Nestle’s Women in Management Award
Spearheading the feasibility and establishment of a new chapter of AIESEC in Jaipur, in 1995-96
Being awarded the title of ‘Miss Modern 1994’ while passing out of school, for excelling in academics, extra curriculars and leadership.

My Professional Certifications

Successful completion of the ‘Women on Boards’ program, by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Governance Counts and Dasra.
Innovation Coaching Certificate Program (ICCP), ACSTH – ICF recognised, by The Painted Sky
Collective Genius from Dr. Linda Hill, Paradox Strategies, USA
TalentX7 Learning Agility Assessment from Dr. Kenneth De Meuse, Leader’sGene Consulting
Coaching Certificate Program, ACTP (ICF-recognised) and Team Coaching by Erickson Coaching International
Hogan suite from Hogan Assessment Systems
LA 101, Voices 360, viaEdge, Interview Architect, Decision Styles Inventory, Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential (KFALP), KF4D and Leader as a Coach (LAC) from Korn Ferry
LSI, GSI and OCI from Human Synergistics
MBTI from the MBTI Institute
Lumina Spark by Lumina Learning
Selected for and currently undergoing the one-year, INSEAD Leadership Program for Senior Executives

Fueling My Passion

I thrive on VARIETY – of experiences , opportunities and relationships.
This is reflected in the various things I learn and do, beyond business too

Singing

Having sung by ear since I was 8, I started formal voice training at 41! And haven’t looked back since. In 2023, I passed the Trinity Grade 1 exam for Rock & Pop Vocals with a distinction.

Drama

Early immersion in drama sowed the first seeds of ‘inclusiveness’ in me. It remains a powerful perspective builder in my life.

Writing

I love writing about things that touch me. Read my blogs and look out for my upcoming business articles and book!

Travel

Travel is joy, right from the planning to new sights, flavours & conversations of each journey - rich fodder for my DEI work and writing.

What my Clients and Colleagues Say

Diya is a true thought leader in leadership transformation and DEI. It’s been a real pleasure partnering with her and experiencing the energy, organization and thoughtfulness she brings to everything she does. Diya works incredibly hard to maximize value for her clients and partners. Her leadership of the up! Surge Program is a masterclass in how to develop high quality programs with tangible and sustained impact.

Anuradha Rai

Founder, PeopleWorth Pte Ltd; formerly Vice President at Credit Suisse

Diya is a client focused competent HR professional... She brought conceptual ability, super customer focus, flexibility, rigour and agility to the table. Over a period of time, Diya established an excellent professional rapport with several members of the Leadership Team and was also trusted by them as a knowledgeable and capable Partner. Diya is also able to constructively challenge existing thought processes whilst continuously aligning her model to the client's reality - an act that many Consultants fail to transcend.

Joydeep Mutsuddi

Business Builder | Global CHRO | Advisor and Investor | Equity and Inclusion Advocate| Sustainability Practitioner, erstwhile CHRO at Becton Dickinson

I got to know Diya well during her stint as the Commercial Business Partner in Kraft-Cadbury India. To use a cliche, Diya 'adds value' (& substantially at that), to whatever she partners or works upon. She has a genuine interest in doing the right thing for the business & brings a very solution oriented attitude which is very unlike the typical HR person! While her conceptualization abilities are what are most talked about, what’s not so well known is that she does the execution equally well.

Naveen Keswani

Growth Leader - Infilect Tech. & Meteora Consulting - Driving growth for CPGs; former, AVP Customer Marketing at Kraft-Cadbury

I have had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Diya since 1999, and working with her across different situations. Her client focus and commitment to excellence make her an asset to any team or organisation. She has tremendous energy and drive, as well sound critical thinking and analytical capabilities. Leveraging her vast and varied experience, she creates and designs beautifully and also executes effectively. Diya is a deeply reflective and naturally gifted people's person, with strong business acumen and outstanding communication skills - this makes her a unique and highly impactful professional.

Harish Devarajan

Leadership Coach (MCC) & Consultant, Former CHRO of Hindustan Unilever