Mr. Sam Pitroda is an internationally respected telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker who has spent 49 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments.
Credited with having laid the foundation for India’s telecommunications and technology revolution of the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the global digital divide. During his tenure as Advisor to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Pitroda led six technology missions related to telecommunications, water, literacy, immunization, dairy production, and oil seeds. He was also the founder and first Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission. In these plural roles, Mr. Pitroda helped revolutionize India’s development philosophies and policies with a focus on access to technology as the key to social change.
As a way to induce the second phase of India’s technology revolution, in 2005 Mr. Pitroda headed India’s National Knowledge Commission (2005-2009), to provide a blueprint of reform for the knowledge-related institutions and infrastructure for the 21st century in the country.
Recently, Mr. Pitroda served as Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
He serves as the Chairman of the Smart Grid Task Force, as well as the committees to reform public broadcasting, modernize railways, deliver e-governance, and other developmental activities.
He is also a founding Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development and Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union’s m-Powering Development Board that looks to empower developing countries with the use of mobile technology.
Sam Pitroda Definition Of Success | Success is all about the ability to decide what kind of work you enjoy doing and the satisfaction and fulfillment derived from it. This definition of mine has not changed over time.
I Am Driven By | Excitement to work on different interesting and challenging things.
My Highlights | Opportunity to work in two great democracies of the world, simultaneously- America and India.
The Difference Between Good And Great | The amount of time, energy, and passion they spend on what they want to do.
A Key Talent | Ability to love people and appreciate the best in everyone while ignoring their shortcomings. To replicate this, first you have to be comfortable with yourself and love what you do. Then you have to respect others for what they are and genuinely learn to love them like your family and friends.
Principles I Live By | Character, morals, ethics, truth, discipline, hard work
Critical Skills I Develop | Constantly learning from my environment, others, and quality reading to review, reflect, and redefine yourself.
How I Use My Mind | Be focused, consistent, and determined with perseverance to pursue against all odds.
Lessons I Have Learnt | Never be in a hurry to celebrate success nor be discouraged by failures. What goes up must come down, and if you are down, you must come up. Keep doing what needs to be done. Don’t worry about destinations and results, but enjoy the journey in the process.
Dealing With Doubt | Build better self and self-esteem to look for strength and motivation inside and not outside. After great success in India I had a heart attack, I was broke financially, and my friend Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi got assassinated. That was the lowest point in my life. I had no other option but to rebuild, redefine, and redirect myself to build a new foundation. It was possible only through positive attitude, determination, and hard work.
Performing At My Peak | You don’t have to perform all the time at your peak. It is ok to have peaks and valleys in life.
Resources I Use To Stay Inspired | I normally read the WSJ and the Economist and watch, when time permits, PBS news.
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | At my age of 73, I want to focus on making the world better, safer, richer, and cleaner for my children and grandchildren to enjoy.
The Meaning Of Life | Work and love.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | Don’t trade anything for your character.
Advice On Building Wealth | Don’t focus on growing rich and building wealth only, but focus on building a good self, being a good human being with capacity to work hard and love.
On Inspiring Others | I come across in life many talented young people, and I give them challenging work, love them, let them make mistakes, and allow them to grow with me.
I Am Inspired By | Gandhi and Einstein.
The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | My two great children, and hundreds of great friends and family members.
Roman Rezac is a prolific South African retail entrepreneur with 25 years experience in a constantly evolving environment. He was an International knee-board surfer before he made his passion for beach lifestyle into a career. He opened his first Surf store in 1993 in Durban with borrowed capital and with hard work and perseverance he […]
Beatrice Witzgall is the CEO and founder of LumiFi, is an accomplished, award-winning lighting designer with more than 20 years of global experience. She has worked on countless lighting design projects alongside renowned architects including Frank Gehry and Steven Holl. Having worked as a German trained architect and graphic design and digital media teacher, Beatrice […]
Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer and the World Cup winning coach of the Indian Cricket Team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. He has recently established a cricket academy named the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy (GKCA). Kirsten […]
Lance Brown author of “The Driver of Change” is a living testament to his “Creating Opportunities” philosophy and presentations. Growing up in Mitchells Plain, a Cape Town suburb where dreams rarely stretch beyond one’s street corner, Lance dared to reach for the stars. From a small seed of a basic job as a delivery driver […]
Amit Virmani’s debut, “Cowboys in Paradise”, was one of the most talked-about Asian documentaries in recent years. The controversial film was featured on CNN, BBC and various international media, and is regarded as a valuable counterpoint to “Eat, Pray, Love”. His follow-up, “Menstrual Man”, was a Netflix audience favourite at Hot Docs and will be […]
Jon Boynton-Lee has it all! He is a South African actor, model, television personality and director who shot to fame in 2012 when he entered the Top Billing Dream presenter search and emerged the winner. This was followed up in 2014 when he was named as South Africa’s sexiest man by Cosmopolitan magazine as well […]
Nadine has been known as a key success element in major projects she has worked on. She is a senior executive with 24 year professional experience in the advertising, branding and design industries. Representing her companies at an international level she has managing high caliber national and international clients, projects and brands. Nadine a brand […]
Ernie Els has 70 professional career victories to his name, including four Major Championships, two World Golf Championships and seven World Matchplay titles. He is ranked No.1 in all-time career earnings on the European Tour and is known as “The Big Easy” due to his imposing physical stature, along with his fluid golf swing. I […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
