Biography

Audiences call Gayathri “A One woman hurricane of hope.” Her successful battle in overcoming life-threatening mental illness and her amazing recovery taught her that hope is a powerful force in healing chronic illness. Now, she shares that message with others. Her ability to transform trauma into triumph has inspired and empowered thousands of audience members regionally, nationally, and internationally. Individuals and organizations alike applaud Gayathri as an agent of hope and transformational change.

Gayathri is the President of Mind Beautiful, a mental health consultancy dedicated to empowering beautiful minds around the world. She is also the Founder and President of ASHA International, a non-profit organization. ASHA International’s mission is to promote global mental health awareness and foster communities of hope and recovery.

A long-time mental health advocate, Gayathri is relentless in her pursuit to promote mental health awareness, stop stigma and save lives. As a social entrepreneur and change agent, she is unstoppable in her efforts to transform the mental health system in America and abroad. Gayathri has served as a member of the Board of Directors at NAMI, Oregon, the State affiliate of NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, campaigned for the passage of mental health parity bill in Oregon, and was instrumental in spearheading the Inaugural NAMI WALKS for the Mind of America, a nation-wide walkathon and fund-raising event to raise awareness about our country’s need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness. Gayathri is also a trained presenter of NAMI’s phenomenal recovery education program – In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness.

With Mrs. Rosalynn Carter at the NARSAD Silver Ribbon Campain for the Brain dinner

Gayathri serves as a consultant to hospitals and mental health providers in fostering humane, “person-centered” systems of care. She facilitates local screenings of award-winning documentaries and films to destigmatize mental illness and promote cultural competency in mental health. And, she is a champion of the Silver Ribbon Campaign for the Brain.

In recognition of her many significant contributions to the cause of mental health advocacy, Gayathri was recently awarded the prestigious 2006 Eli Lilly Welcome Back Award for Lifetime Achievement and the 2006 Voice Award for Consumer Leadership.

Gayathri is also the winner of the 2008 Outstanding Alumna Award from her alma mater George Fox University.

Launch of the Rally For Recovery world tour, India

Gayathri received her first undergraduate degree in science from Bangalore University in India, a second undergraduate degree in Management and Information Systems and a Masters in Business Administration from George Fox University, USA. Gayathri is a professional speaker and a member of the National Speaker’s Association and the International Federation For Professional Speakers.

Gayathri is a consummate gardener, decorator, and cook. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Portland, Oregon, USA.