Rita Kakati-Shah
Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Empowerment Coach & Mentor,
International Advisor, Guest Lecturer & Author
Hello, I’m Rita Kakati-Shah. Welcome to my website!
I’m an entrepreneur, businesswoman, and lifelong community volunteer, who is passionate about my family, and the world we live in. I was born and raised in London, have heritage from Assam, and live in New York City. I’ve spent more than two decades leading teams, advising corporations and policymakers, and empowering future generations and leaders through keynote talks, trainings and mentoring.
On January 7th, 2022, I was honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by US President Joe Biden for demonstrating a lifelong commitment to voluntary service. In 2021 I was named one of the top Global Women in Leadership by the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and am a three-time winner of the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and judge for the Middle East Awards. I am also a Distinguished Alumna of King’s College London and serve on the Advisory Council of King’s Business School.
I care deeply about gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and thrive on creating cultures of belonging where everyone feels valued. As a former finance and healthcare professional, I founded Uma in response to my personal journey, to empower unshakable confidence, inspire success, and build leadership and resilience in women and minorities around the world.
My goal is to empower others to feel empowered, confident, and have that inner “Goddess of Go-Getting” shine through!
Learn more about the work I do below and stay to up-to-date with my latest book which launched on March 8th, 2022, International Women’s Day, The Goddess of Go-Getting!
The Goddess of Go-Getting
Rita has authored books on empowerment, business, and diversity and inclusion. Her latest book, The Goddess of Go-Getting, was launched on International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2022, by the Consul General of India in New York, Mr. Randhir Jaiswal.
The book has already made headlines by becoming a best seller in three independent categories on Amazon! Click below to stay up to date with the latest!
Testimonials
Areas of Expertise
Strategic Consultant & International Advisor
Rita advises Fortune 500 companies, policy forums, corporations and academic institutions around the world. She serves on Boards and Advisory Councils, and also offers strategic consultations and training on gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
Keynote Speaker
Rita is a highly sought-after speaker at global events, policy forums, corporations, and academic institutions. She has opined on diversity, inclusion and empowerment strategies as well as gender equality, entrepreneurship, and company best practices. Rita is also an experienced moderator, chairperson, presenter, and Master of Ceremonies.
Guest Lecturer & Educator
From her broad industry and life experiences of 25+ years, Rita is a frequent guest lecturer at academic institutions. She has taught at business schools, post and undergraduate courses, and elementary schools around the world, on topics such as communication, confidence and negotiation.
Empowerment Coach & Mentor
Rita has been coaching and mentoring professional women, C-Suite Leadership, parents returning to paid roles, military veterans, survivors of domestic violence, schoolchildren, students and young women in STEM, on career, leadership, entrepreneurship and business strategy for 20+ years.
Media Contributor & TV show host
Rita hosts her own television show, The Uma Show, on Mana TV International, and is a sought-after expert, thought-leader, and media contributor. She has been featured and quoted in multiple TV broadcasts, podcasts, radio and print, such as The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Fortune, Bloomberg, CBS News and Fox News.
Author
Rita has authored books on empowerment, business, and diversity and inclusion. Her latest book is The Goddess of Go-Getting, due for release on International Women's Day, March 8th 2022. Stay up-to-date with exciting book launch info!
Founder of Uma
UMA is a global strategic consulting, coaching and advisory platform that empowers confidence, inspires success, and builds leadership and resilience in women and minorities around the world. Rita is the founder and CEO of UMA.
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