Every leader has a story. Most never learn to tell it.
I work with CEOs, coaches, consultants and founders to shape their lived experience into narratives that build trust, authority and influence, using Nabagunjra, a nine-move storytelling framework rooted in a fifteenth-century Odia telling of the Mahabharata.
- 1000+ pieces written
- 50+ clients
- 10+ books edited and ghostwritten
- Keynote speaker, Future Leaders Forum and Future Tech Congress 2026
one framework
Most leadership communication sounds the same.
Most leadership communication sounds the same, because leaders try to fit themselves into a mould. The perfect pitch. The keynote opening. The impactful ending.
In that mould-fitting, the story gets pushed behind.
I work on bringing that story back to the centre stage the next time a leader communicates. Raw. Unstructured. True.
Three ways to work with a story.
1
Storytelling & Narrative
Keynote spines, boardroom narratives, pitch and personal brand stories for leaders, speakers and founders.
2
Writing & Book Mentoring
Idea-to-manuscript mentoring, editing and ghostwriting for executives and consultants building a book as a credibility asset.
3
Mandala for Creative Wellbeing
A reflective practice I have used in my own work for six years, now offered to leaders and teams as a tool for clarity before strategy.
One creature. Nine forms.
Navagunjara is a nine-form creature from Odia mythology. A rooster's head. A peacock's neck. A bull's hump. A lion's waist. An elephant's foreleg. A deer's hind leg. A tiger's hind leg. A serpent's tail. A human hand, holding a lotus.
When Arjuna first sees it, he raises his bow, afraid of what he does not recognise. He lowers it only when he sees the whole creature at once.
NABAGUNJRA takes that structure and turns it into nine storytelling moves: the structure behind every keynote, pitch and chapter I help shape.
See the full framework →Who This Is For
Coaches who sound like every other coach
CEOs and CXOs preparing keynote, succession or culture narratives
Speakers without a signature talk
Consultants whose expertise is not yet visible
MSME owners who cannot articulate their brand story
Founders shaping an investor or origin story
What Changes
Scattered experience becomes a signature story
A good track record becomes a compelling pitch
An unclear keynote opening becomes a structured spine
A manuscript idea becomes a finished, publishable book
What clients say
I would highly recommend Sushma for her exceptional content writing skills. She is talented, understanding, polite, and patient, making her a pleasure to work with. A true asset to any team.
Sushma takes the time to truly understand a brand's voice, adapting her writing style to match. Her in-depth research skills are evident in every piece, always bringing fresh perspectives.
Sushma Tripathy is one such highly creative and compassionate person. You get more than what you asked for, and much better than what you could visualise.
Your story is already there.
Thirty minutes is enough to find where it begins.
Book a Discovery Call