Papa CJ

Papa CJ has performed thousands of stand-up shows in more than 40 countries, from Carolines on Broadway in New York to the Sydney Opera House, and treats every one of them as a laboratory for understanding leadership and human behaviour. A stand-up set demands creativity, audience awareness, experimentation, resilience, storytelling and decisions made under pressure. Those disciplines form the foundation of his work with leaders.

An award-winning comedian, leadership facilitator and published author, he has partnered with more than 50 blue-chip organisations over two decades, including the leadership teams of HSBC and PwC in India. He runs strategy offsites, leadership immersions, executive coaching and interactive programmes on communication, influence, innovation, culture, negotiation and high-performance teams. He received India's Top Mind Award for Leadership Development and Executive Coaching, has spoken at Harvard Business School and has written for Harvard Business Review.

He holds an MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and is the author of Naked. At First Bridge, he helps students find their voice: to communicate with clarity, read a room and lead with confidence.