Pooja Desai

Keynote Speaker, Author, Poet, Writer & Entrepreneur

Pooja Desai is a keynote speaker, author, and leadership strategist who empowers individuals and organizations to thrive through mindset development, emotional wellness, and human-centered leadership.

Drawing on more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience across diverse regions, she brings a unique ability to translate complex challenges into practical, people first solutions.

As the author of the children’s book series, Tia Bua is implemented in healthcare and educational settings, Tia Bua supports young readers in building emotional resilience and navigating high-stress experiences with confidence, clarity, and tools.

Her work extends beyond the page, her books are integrated into hospitals, homes, guidance counseling offices, and bereavement programs, helping children find calm, process emotions, and cope with uncertainty.

Through school, library, national Read Across America and Barnes and Noble tours, as well as accessible digital content including a free animated video adaptation of her work, she ensures every child can engage with emotional wellness tools regardless of circumstance.

Pooja is also the co-founder of Heels and Boots on the Ground, a cross-industry platform focused on democratizing knowledge and accelerating leadership development, workforce retention, and community impact. Their approach emphasizes accessibility, cross-sector collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership that delivers measurable results.

Blending executive insight with the power of storytelling, Pooja equips leaders to cultivate resilient teams, strengthen culture, and drive sustainable performance. Her work has taken her to national stages, including the American Dream stage, as well as international venues and children’s experiential spaces, where she brings stories to life through live readings and performances.

Featured across multiple media outlets, amplifying her mission to make emotional wellness and mindset as a foundational driver of engagement and success, Pooja continues to guide organizations and communities in building environments where people and especially children can thrive.