Indian-American Entrepreneur Poonam Gupta-Krishnan Unveils ‘VARNA: Know Your Why’ in Chicago

• Poonam Gupta-Krishnan launches book VARNA: Know Your Why in Chicago
• Introduces patent-pending Varna-CQ™ Leadership Alignment Framework
• Padma Bhushan Prof. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad calls it a “civilizational contribution”
• Nearly 90% of attendees sign up for leadership assessment at launch event

GG News Bureau
Chicago, 2nd June: Indian-American entrepreneur and technology leader Poonam Gupta-Krishnan has launched her debut book, VARNA: Know Your Why, along with the Varna-CQ™ Leadership Alignment Framework, a patent-pending system that seeks to apply principles from the Bhagavad Gita and Sanatan Dharma to contemporary leadership and organisational challenges.

The launch took place on May 30 in the greater Chicago region, a city historically associated with Swami Vivekananda’s landmark 1893 address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, which introduced Indian spiritual thought to a global audience.

The event drew diplomats, scholars, corporate leaders and distinguished public figures, including Padma Bhushan awardee Prof. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, who served as the chief guest. Describing the work as a significant contribution, he said the book creates a bridge between India’s ancient wisdom traditions and the demands of modern organisational life.

In the foreword to the book, Prof. Prasad wrote that Gupta-Krishnan had “offered a civilizational contribution” by reinterpreting the concept of Varna as a framework of alignment rather than hierarchy. He also described the work as a response to modern challenges of organisational and societal misalignment.

The event was hosted by Bharathi Theertha, a non-profit organisation focused on education, environment and health. Among the notable attendees were Padma Shri Dr. S.V. Rama Rao, acclaimed artist and educationist, and Kriti Das Thokchom, Deputy Consul General of India in Chicago.

According to organisers, all available copies of the book were sold during the event, while nearly 90 per cent of attendees enrolled in a complimentary Varna-CQ™ Leadership Alignment Assessment, indicating strong interest in the framework.

The Varna-CQ™ Framework is presented as a leadership and cognitive assessment model that seeks to identify an individual’s natural tendencies, decision-making style, role alignment and growth pathways. The framework draws upon Vedic philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita and more than two decades of organisational observations by the author.

Speaking about the origins of the project, Gupta-Krishnan said the framework emerged from a long-standing question about why talented individuals often feel misplaced or disconnected despite professional success. She argued that achievement depends not only on skill but also on alignment between an individual’s natural strengths and their environment.

Gupta-Krishnan is the founder and CEO of IYKA Enterprises, a woman-owned technology company serving government and enterprise clients across the United States. A 2023 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in STEM honoree, she has received more than 35 national and international awards and delivered over 200 keynote addresses worldwide.

Organisers said the initiative aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on leadership, organisational effectiveness and the relevance of Indian philosophical traditions in addressing contemporary global challenges.