Indian-American entrepreneur and technology leader Poonam Gupta-Krishnan has officially launched her debut book titled “VARNA: Know Your Why”, alongside a newly introduced leadership model called the Varna-CQ™ Leadership Alignment Framework. The framework, which is currently patent-pending, aims to reinterpret ancient Indian philosophical concepts for application in modern organizational and leadership environments.
The launch event took place on May 30 in the greater Chicago area, a location that holds historical significance due to Swami Vivekananda’s influential speech at the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions. Organizers highlighted this symbolic connection, noting that the city has long been associated with the global introduction of Indian spiritual thought.
The event brought together diplomats, academic scholars, corporate executives, and prominent public figures. Among the distinguished guests was Padma Bhushan awardee Professor Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, who attended as the chief guest. He praised the initiative, describing it as a meaningful attempt to connect India’s ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary organizational challenges. He further noted that the book presents a reinterpretation of “Varna” as a concept of alignment rather than hierarchy, addressing issues of modern workplace imbalance and inefficiency.
The event was hosted by the non-profit organization Bharathi Theertha, which focuses on education, environmental awareness, and healthcare initiatives. Other notable attendees included Padma Shri awardee Dr. S. V. Rama Rao, an acclaimed artist and educator, along with Kriti Das Thokchom, Deputy Consul General of India in Chicago.
According to organizers, the book received strong engagement at the launch event, with all available copies being sold. Additionally, nearly 90 percent of attendees reportedly enrolled in a complimentary assessment based on the Varna-CQ™ framework, reflecting significant interest in the concept.
The Varna-CQ™ Leadership Alignment Framework is described as a cognitive and behavioral assessment tool designed to identify individual strengths, decision-making patterns, and role suitability. It draws inspiration from Vedic philosophy, including teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, and integrates more than two decades of organizational research conducted by the author.
Gupta-Krishnan explained that the idea behind the framework originated from observing how many skilled professionals often feel misaligned in their roles despite achieving career success. She emphasized that true performance, according to her approach, depends on harmony between individual strengths and work environments.
Poonam Gupta-Krishnan, founder and CEO of IYKA Enterprises, leads a woman-owned technology firm that serves government and enterprise clients across the United States. She is recognized as a 2023 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Woman in STEM and has received over 35 awards along with delivering more than 200 keynote speeches globally.
The initiative aims to contribute to global discussions on leadership effectiveness while highlighting the relevance of Indian philosophical traditions in addressing modern organizational challenges and workplace transformation.
