We live in an age where attention spans are shrinking and public speaking ranks among the world’s greatest fears. The pendulum has swung from the era of ancient Greek and Roman orators, who held audiences for hours, to a world of sound bites and scrolling thumbs. It is within this paradox that Professor Mihir Mankad has spent the last decade asking a single, persistent question: how can we communicate for maximum impact in a time-constrained world? That question would quietly shape not just his career, but thousands of voices across classrooms, boardrooms, and stages worldwide.

Over the past seven years, this has guided Mihir’s teaching, research, and creative work with more than 11,000 leaders and executives, 5,000 students, and professionals across 200 organizations and 20 graduate schools worldwide. His courses, known for their rigor and empathy, have empowered business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and diplomats alike. Across continents and contexts, his work centers on helping people win hearts and minds not through volume or performance, but through precision, presence, and intentional communication.

Mihir often describes himself as an accidental academic, one whose journey began not in lecture halls but on tennis courts. Born into a family of Indian sporting legends, his mother was the first woman to represent India at Wimbledon, while his father and grandfather both played on the national cricket team. Following this lineage, Mihir represented India on the junior national tennis team and later competed as part of Stanford University’s NCAA championship varsity team. Sports shaped his discipline and drive, even as curiosity quietly pulled him elsewhere.