Dr. Subra Mukherjee - Public Speaking Is an Art (Founder @Map Ur Mind)

Preparing and choosing to deliver a TEDx talk requires careful thought, planning, and a deep understanding of the message you want to convey.

1. Tell us more about what you do and what led you to speak on this platform (TEDx).

After teaching and mentoring youth for more than 13+ years, spending several years in extensive research, and embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, I realized and strongly believe that every human deserves to lead a more happy, awake and beautiful life and the one thing that stops us from achieving our fullest potential and living a joyful life, is our ‘Own Limiting Belief.’

Since then, I, Dr. Subra Mukherjee, the Professor turned Mind Mapping Coach, and founder of Map Ur Mind, have been on a self-proclaimed mission of touching one million lives by helping people explore their true potential and live the life they deserve and desire.

Hence, currently, I help individuals embrace a joyful and mindful life through my writings, books, Keynotes, Speeches, and mind-mapping initiatives.

Every day I work towards doing something to help people break their yokes and achieve their fullest potential.

In 2021 March, when I wrote my first book- ‘The Invisible Yoke’ not only did it become an Amazon bestseller within its first month of release, but it got a very heart-warming response from people across the action. 

Soon, I started getting invitations to speak at various events and share my journey. I started receiving messages from many women expressing how my book and my journey inspired them…They saw it as a journey of resilience, empowerment, and self-discovery

Things further gained momentum when my second book was published in July 2021.

I am a big fan of TED talks and watch a lot of them.

Growing up I always believed in the transformative power of stories. Stories when shared with the right message and intention, had the potential to inspire, motivate, and educate.

And what better than the Global platform- TEDx.

Through my TEDx talk, I wished to inspire individuals to break free from societal constraints and embrace their authentic selves, irrespective of gender, background, or circumstance. By sharing my journey of transcending gender biases, cultural norms, and personal struggles, I seek to ignite a spark of empowerment and self-discovery in others. My goal is to encourage women, to realize that they possess the innate power to shape their own destinies, challenge limitations, and pursue their dreams fearlessly.

 

2. How do you choose and prepare for a talk?

Preparing and choosing to deliver a TEDx talk requires careful thought, planning, and a deep understanding of the message you want to convey.

Being invited/nominated to deliver a TEDx talk is an opportunity to share your insights and inspire change.

We must stay true to our message, be authentic, and embrace the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the TEDx community and the world at large.

 

3. How can one become a public speaker? What are the best public speaking tips that have worked for you?

Public Speaking is an Art. Like any other art form, it requires a combination of skills, practice, and dedication to the art.

Here are 10 tips that can help you embark on your journey to become an effective public speaker:

• Identify Your Niche: Choose a niche that aligns with your experiences, interests, and the message you want to share.
• Embrace your own speaking style: Authenticity and originality will help you stand out and connect with your audience.
• Develop Strong and Clear Communication Skills: Work on your articulation, tone, pacing, and clarity. Practice speaking clearly and confidently.
• Build Content Expertise: Deepen your knowledge in your chosen field. Read books, research, attend workshops, and engage with experts to build a strong foundation in your subject matter.
• Practice Speaking: Start small by speaking in front of a mirror, recording yourself, or delivering short speeches to friends and family. Gradually increase the audience size to build confidence.
• Craft Engaging Stories: Incorporate personal anecdotes and stories that resonate with your audience. Stories make your message relatable and memorable.
• Practice Active Listening: Develop strong listening skills. Be an Observer.
• Improve Nonverbal Communication: Work on your body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Maintain eye contact and open body posture to convey confidence and approachability.
• Overcome Nervousness: Nervousness is normal, even for experienced speakers. Practice relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and visualization to manage pre-speech jitters.
• Secure Speaking Opportunities: Start by speaking at local events, workshops, or community gatherings. As you gain experience, you can aim for larger conferences, seminars, and eventually TEDx events.

And above all, stay humble and open to Growth. Keep a growth mindset, acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and strive to improve with every speaking opportunity. Becoming a skilled public speaker is a journey that requires patience and dedication. Embrace opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow, and enjoy the rewarding experience of connecting with audiences and sharing your message.

 

4. When did you first decide that you wanted to create content and how did you start?

Well, writing is something I have always enjoyed. I started penning down my thoughts as early as nine or ten years old. Whether it was writing my daily journal writing articles for magazines and publications, or just sharing my experiences and thoughts through writing or speech, storytelling and content creation came naturally to me.

But the journey from being a writer to becoming a published author to public speaker and content creator wasn’t easy.

But I love the process and enjoy doing it!

 

5. How and where do you find inspiration to churn out content?

Being a keen observer has always been an intrinsic part of my nature, driving my fascination with stories and conversations.

My insatiable appetite for reading further fuels this curiosity. My content, whether it takes the form of books, social media posts, speeches, or more, draws its roots from the life experiences I've accumulated, my continuous learning journey, and the everyday emotions, challenges, fears, desires, and inner turmoil that resonate with individuals like you and me.

By looking at the world with attentive eyes, one can uncover inspiration in the most ordinary moments. Whether it's waiting for a bus, engaging in a coffee conversation, reflecting on a past memory, or simply observing nature's intricacies, inspiration is ubiquitous, waiting to be discovered.

 

6. What impact do you want to make in the world?

I am not some extraordinary person who is here to preach or even advise you; I am an ordinary girl who grew up in a small town situated in northeast India and

I am simply a person who wishes to learn and share my experiences with others in the hope that they would also break boundaries, nurture their dreams, and live a life of joy and fulfillment.

I simply want to share my transformative experience- the day I started believing that I am an equal being, the day I started respecting myself and my choices, the day I broke my yokes, I started creating an impact in my own life and in the life of others.

I believe every human has the potential to do that.

Therefore, I am on a self-proclaimed mission of touching one million lives by helping people break their yokes, explore their true potential, and live the life they deserve and desire.

Bio:

Dr.Subra Mukherjee

Mind Mapping Coach,

Author of two Books

TEDx Speaker, Educator

Founder @Map Ur Mind

Here are some highlights of her career:

• She has worked for 10+ years as a Senior Assistant Professor at a renowned university, teaching engineering graduate and postgraduate students.
• She is a Licensed Tony Buzan Instructor in Mind Mapping.
• She is currently a Mind Mapping Coach who helps individuals and organizations break their yokes and achieve their fullest potential using the power of Radiant thinking and Mind Mapping.
• She has trained 2000+ people in Mind Mapping in the past 25 months.
• She is a TEDx speaker- Her first TEDx talk -“Break the Invisible Yoke and Embrace Uncertainty,” where she talks about how anyone can break limiting beliefs by breaking the inner Invisible yokes and embracing uncertainty.

Here’s the link to her TEDx talk

She is the author of two Amazon bestselling books.

• The Invisible Yoke
• The Power of Self-Awareness.

She was nominated as the best Life & Relationship Author, 2021 India Author’s Award organized by NMCBI (MUMBAI) for her first book- “The Invisible Yoke”.

She has been awarded as  World Women Icon 2022 under the “Women in Leadership” category organized by Global Triumph Foundation, DELHI

She has 13+ of experience in the teaching and coaching industry.

She has published 30+ Research papers and articles in International Journals, Book Chapters, magazines, and newsletters. She has also presented her research findings at several national and international conferences.

Dr. Subra has done her Bachelor's and Master's in Electronics and Communication Engineering. She has been awarded double gold medals in her Master’s Degree.

She has done a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (specializing in Optical Sensing for precision agriculture)

Her research interests currently include Mind Mapping, Mindfulness, the Power of Radiant Thinking, the Power of Visualization, and Emotional Intelligence.

 

Here are Highlights of Speeches, Sessions, Workshops, and Keynote Addresses by Dr.Subra Mukherjee in the past 24 months

 

1. Keynote Address on “Mind Mapping for Personal and Professional Mastery” at Assam Downtown University, November 2022, attended by 200+ Live Audience

2. Webinar on “Mind Mapping for Effective Teaching and Learning” at Parul University, Gujarat, December 2022

3. Presented Four Webinars for Biggerplate.com (the World’s largest Mind Mapping Organization) based in the UK, comprising of audience from across the globe.

 

· Mind Mapping for Mastering Life- December 2022

· Mind Maps to Unlock Human Potential- March 2021

· Simplifying Academic Writing with Mind Maps- June 2022

· Why Teachers Must Mind Map- March 2022 

4. Presented Session at Toastmasters International, Charismatic Club on “Simplifying Public Speaking Using Mind Maps”

5. Mind Mapping Intensive Workshop for Teachers, Train the Trainer Program at Alethia School, Hyderabad, July 2022.

 

6. Keynote address on “Mind Mapping for Educators” under Leadership Development Series, Project Enable (Super 60), GBTC Foundation, January 2022

7. Masterclasses/Webinars taken for various executive coaching communities (comprising corporate professionals from across India and neighboring countries)

· Mind Mapping for Self-Expression, November 2022

· Mind Mapping for Public Speaking, January 2023

· Focus and Productivity Using Mind Maps, May 2022

· Mind Mapping your way to TEDx, April 2022

· Goal Setting and Vision Mapping using Mind Mapping, January 2022, 2023

· Story Telling for your Brand using Mind Mapping, February 2022

· Unlock your Creative Potential using Mind Mapping, September 2021

· Unlock your Potential using Mind Mapping- March 2021

· Self-Awareness using Mind Mapping, October 2021 

8. Several Workshops/training programs/webinars have been conducted, here are the highlights

· Mind Mapping for mastering COCP- Clarity, Organization, Creativity, Productivity

· 3 days program on Mind Mapping for Beginners

· 30-Day Mind Mapping Challenge for Working Professionals

· Mind Mapping Intensive Program for Executives, Coaches, and Trainers.

· How to Mind Map your book in 8 weeks

· Creative Writing using Mind Mapping

· Mind Mapping for Productivity and Creativity

· Mind Mapping for Project Management

· Mind Mapping for Better Communication and Collaboration

· Presentation mastery using Mind Mapping

The above list is just the highlights of the sessions taken by Dr. Subra Mukherjee between 2021 March -2023 March, to give you an overview of her work profile and experience.

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Interviewed By - Himanshi Ahuja

Edited By - Aarya Gode