A leader must have a compelling, life-supporting vision – one that inspires enduring commitment, much like Lincoln’s dedication to preserving the Union. Essential traits include authenticity, courage, and fearlessness, which naturally arise when one is devoted to a meaningful, long-term goal. Leaders should also be unwavering in their commitment to truth, providing transparency and integrity. This commitment diminishes any desire for conflict, as the vision seeks unity rather than opposition. Additionally, a leader must remain open to diverse perspectives and adaptable in strategies to achieve their mission.
For Dr. Anil Maheshwari, Professor of Management & Information Systems at Maharishi International University, the vision of world peace is deeply personal and drives every endeavor. His commitment to world peace has been a guiding force throughout his life, deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and decades of association with Gandhian principles. Dr. Anil integrates this commitment into his professional work by providing a culture of empathy, ethical responsibility, and conscious leadership.
As an academic leader, he strives to shape future leaders who are skilled and compassionate. Through research, teaching, and community initiatives, he aims to inspire others to pursue peace as a foundation for meaningful societal progress.
The Journey from Technology to Academia
Dr. Anil Maheshwari was born in Nasirabad, a small military town in Rajasthan, India, and grew up with his parents in New Delhi. As a child, he was shy yet bright, surrounded by limited resources and often a lack of peace within his family, which instilled a sense of intensity and rebelliousness in him. Dr. Anil aspired to become a medical doctor but instead joined the top technology institution in India.
Those five years of technical education helped shape his confidence, and he was then accepted into India’s premier business school. The years at business school were transformative, implanting a deep sense of knowledge. He thrived in various pursuits, from singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments to rollerblading. After graduation, he entered the field of sales and marketing with a leading IT company, followed by a sales manager role at another firm, both of which came with challenges.
He explored IT consulting, where he found greater comfort professionally. However, the drive to complete a Ph.D. led him to apply to several universities, and in 1990, he moved to the United States to pursue the next chapter.
Navigating New Beginnings
Dr. Anil Maheshwari faced many challenges during his early years in the United States. He completed his Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University and took on academic positions in Cincinnati and New York City. As Dr. Anil worked, he started reading more about leadership, psychology, and other subjects. He then moved to a startup focused on telecom and databases, and later relocated to Austin, Texas, to join IBM.
His first years at IBM were promising. He successfully ran a marathon and was elected as a leader in his ethnic community. However, despite these accomplishments, he felt unfulfilled in his goal to create peace for himself and the world. This feeling of stress negatively impacted his health, leading to severe ulcerative colitis.
In search of a sense of purpose, he moved to Chicago in 2009 to work with smaller companies but again found himself feeling unfulfilled in those roles. Ultimately, he decided to return to academia.
The Transformative Journey at Maharishi International University
In 2012, Dr. Anil Maheshwari started a new chapter in his career as the Director of the Information Systems program at Maharishi International University. Although the salary was not high, he found great personal satisfaction and opportunities for growth, regularly meditating in the university’s golden domes. This meditation practice boosted his creativity, and in 2013, he launched a blog called Blissful Living at anilmah.com.
The following year, he published a book on data analytics on Amazon Kindle, which quickly became the #1 recommended book worldwide. It was later published by McGraw-Hill and translated into Chinese, marking the beginning of a successful writing career. In 2016, he had a moment of enlightenment that inspired his book Moksha. Since then, he has written several books on topics like Big Data, Marketing, and Transformative Leadership.
Impact on Global Leadership
In 2018, Dr. Anil Maheshwari created the V-Theory of Transcendence to help raise people’s consciousness levels. He traveled extensively to share his insights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he organized a successful international online conference focused on consciousness-based leadership and management, which resulted in several academic publications on this topic.
In 2023, he felt honored when he got elected to a prestigious leadership position within the Academy of Management. He also published four books and earned a spot in Marquis Who’s Who in America. Additionally, he began giving lectures on the Yoga Sutras and World Peace at various universities, including Harvard, a focus that has grown stronger over the past five years.
Recently, he decided to concentrate on building wealth to better support his efforts toward world peace. He undertook a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, which was a deeply transformative experience and a significant step toward achieving self-realization and understanding pure consciousness.
“I am a transcendentalist, and I believe that everyone has the birthright to a peaceful and fulfilling life,” Dr. Anil says.
Integrating Spirit and Success
One of the biggest challenges for Dr. Anil Maheshwari has been encouraging others to integrate spirituality into their lives, particularly in business and technology education. Many people only make this change when their life circumstances or age force them to do so. He explains this shift as realizing that “an alive me is more valuable than a rich me.” At this point, the conditioning from society and business starts fading, allowing spirituality to guide their actions and connect them with their dharma, or higher purpose.
By creating environments focusing on well-being and purpose, Dr. Anil has helped others gradually accept spirituality as an important part of a balanced and fulfilling professional life.
Creative Educational Initiatives
Dr. Anil Maheshwari has developed several groundbreaking initiatives, including a unique way of writing educational materials and a new theory on development of consciousness. He wrote a data analytics book in a holistic style that allows executives to gain key insights in just two hours, while students can explore the material over an entire semester. This approach, inspired by Maharishi’s methods, starts with a brief overview that presents the main ideas and then gradually reveals more details, similar to how the petals of a rose open.
One of his most significant initiatives was organizing the 2021 Conference on Consciousness-Based Leadership and Management (CBLM). This conference echoed the spirit of Maharishi’s 1971 Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI) conference. The event resulted in video lectures, several books, and research publications designed to help leaders and researchers understand the importance of consciousness in leadership and organizational development.
The Fusion of Consciousness and Data Analytics
Dr. Anil Maheshwari encourages students to view the development of consciousness as a way to expand their inner abilities, while technical knowledge helps fill that expanded capacity. At his current university, meditation is smoothly incorporated into everyday classroom routines, allowing students to experience the joy of pure consciousness. As they gradually feel calmer and less stressed, they naturally begin to embrace these practices. This balance between technical learning and consciousness development leads to academic growth, resilience, and mindful living, enhancing their professional and personal lives.
Dr. Anil naturally combines his passion for consciousness and leadership with the technical fields of data analytics and management. This blend reflects his interests, background, and approach to personal and professional growth. As a scholar and seeker positioned at the intersection of leadership, technology, and the wisdom of the Vedas, he finds that each area enriches and informs the others. His formal education has provided a solid foundation across these domains, giving him the tools and perspectives necessary to approach them holistically and interconnectedly.
Merging Academic Pursuits with Social Responsibility
Dr. Anil Maheshwari believes that balancing academic excellence with the greater goal of social good, such as world peace, involves seeing these pursuits as complementary. At a relative level, it is important to fulfill one’s material responsibilities, like providing for family and gaining recognition. However, a higher understanding of dharma connects individuals to their source, or pure consciousness, aligning personal goals with societal needs. In this way, dharma creates a flexible framework that brings together material and spiritual objectives. Regular meditation helps Dr. Anil maintain this balance by allowing him to step back, letting things develop naturally, and creating a smooth flow between his academic work and efforts that have a positive social impact.
Embracing AI for Personalized Learning Journeys
Education is crucial for developing talents and providing deeper creativity, allowing individuals to lead fulfilling and joyful lives. Academia needs to adapt to advancements in AI, which can now offer personalized tutoring across various subjects for students of all ages. However, true education meets students where they are in their unique developmental journeys, supporting them in a holistic way. Great teachers are still essential; their passion and deep knowledge inspire students, sparking a lifelong interest and love for learning. On a global level, education shapes leaders who are skilled, compassionate, and adaptable, equipping them to tackle complex challenges.
Transforming Consciousness for Global Harmony
Dr Anil Maheshwari’s commitment to peace is rooted in his upbringing. His father, a lifelong UN diplomat, believes in the concept of the One World government and encourages him to write about this vision. He sees the development of Oneness consciousness as essential to creating a peaceful world. As more individuals rise in consciousness, they begin to see humanity as one family, realizing that harm to another is ultimately harm to oneself. This collective shift could make global unification achievable. The Yoga Sutras (2:35) states, “In the presence of one firmly established in nonviolence, all hostilities cease.”
“Our ancient scriptures have given us timeless guidance; we need only to commit ourselves to study these teachings and apply them to our fullest potential,” he says.
The Uplifting Vision of Vedic Leadership
Dr. Anil’s leadership philosophy is based on an uplifting vision that naturally encourages commitment and raises the spirits of everyone involved. Consciousness-based leadership is built on three main principles:
- Consciousness is the foundation of everything.
- Love, compassion, and teamwork are essential since everyone is fundamentally pure consciousness
- Leaders should continually work to expand their consciousness, often through practices like meditation.
When leaders embrace these principles, they inspire positive change, creating a ripple effect that spreads throughout the organization and into the wider community. He calls this approach “Vedic Leadership,” which promotes unity and the idea that the world is one family.
Impact & Legacy on Students and Society
“Thinking about legacy feels premature, as everyone’s impact fades over time,” Dr. Anil says.
Like influential figures such as Gandhi, Buddha, and Lincoln, Dr. Anil Maheshwari hopes to leave a lasting legacy of strong commitment to world peace, viewing himself as a humble supporter of this cause. He is keen to build a global coalition of practices and practitioners devoted to world peace.
As an educator, he wishes to be remembered for inspiring his students with a fearless love of data and helping them gain confidence in mastering it as a useful tool. Many students have expressed that they no longer fear data, and he considers this one of his greatest achievements.
“Personally, as my commitment to my purpose has strengthened, I have also experienced a profound liberation from fear. I would be honored if, in some small way, I’ve inspired others to find their own courage and purpose,” Dr Anil concludes.
