Neil Ghosh is an author, speaker, and civic engagement strategist whose mission is to build bridges among people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.
His commitment to service began at age fourteen, when he founded a grassroots organization to empower children and youth in his hometown of Kolkata, India. That early belief—that ordinary people can create extraordinary change through small actions—has guided a career spanning more than four decades across the nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and private sectors.
Neil’s journey has taken him from Kolkata to leading the Australian government’s investment and trade office, and from overcoming significant personal and professional setbacks to leading organizations that serve vulnerable communities in more than 50 countries. He has served as CEO of SOS Children’s Villages USA, executive vice president of the Global Fund for Children, and CEO of SNV Netherlands Development Organization USA. He currently serves as president of MGR Professional Services and senior advisor to the Ousri Foundation, Pro Human Foundation, and the Healthy Climate Initiative. His column Building Bridges can be found on Patheos, an online source of commentary on and by people of diverse perspectives worldwide.
Neil’s award-winning book, Do More Good: Inspiring Lessons from Extraordinary People, brings together remarkable stories from around the world to demonstrate that meaningful change begins with individual action. The book serves as both an inspiring collection of human stories and a practical guide for anyone seeking to make a positive difference.
Building on the book’s message, Neil founded Our Ripple Effect, a growing movement that encourages people to strengthen their communities through everyday acts of kindness, service, listening, and leadership. Through speaking engagements across the United States and internationally, he invites audiences to rediscover a simple but powerful truth: small actions create ripple effects that can transform lives, communities, and ultimately society itself.
A Journey Across Sectors, United by Purpose
Articles
Endorsements
This book contains Neil Ghosh’s experiences with people and shows how they have positively impacted him. May this book provide positive inspiration to its readers.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Do More Good is an inspiring reminder that in our interdependent world, everyone has the power—and the responsibility—to make a difference in the lives of others. It couldn’t come at a more important time.
President Bill Clinton
Do More Good is a playbook to do just that, offering inspiring lessons learned from global leaders from all walks of life who have looked inside themselves to identify new ways to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and take concrete steps to solve them.
Darren Walker
Do More Good by Neil Ghosh is thoughtful, well-written, and utterly engaging. In a world of rapid change, sound bites, social media anger, and alarmist screeds, Ghosh offers a quiet reflection. His book is a nice reminder of the humanity that binds all of us and the importance of listening. This is not just a worthwhile read. It is a restorative read, good for the soul.
Tessie San Martin
Uplifting…inspiring…and actionable, Do More Good is equally relevant to the world’s youth; leaders in business, politics, and the nonprofit sector; and regular citizens in this challenging time. Ghosh distills his recollections of thirty extraordinary people into the most important lessons he learned from each. Virtues of decency, empathy, hope, courage, purpose, and more come to life in these personal encounters. A must read.
Raj Kumar
This book is a recipe for a purpose-driven life. Neil Ghosh is a thought leader, and in this thoughtful and heartfelt memoir, Ghosh recounts milestones on his remarkable intellectual, professional, and spiritual journey through the intersecting worlds of business, government, and philanthropy. I found the book immensely helpful for my own personal journey.
Dirk Elsen
At a time of extreme income inequalities, burgeoning wars, polarized politics, corporate greed, spiritual anomie, and fragmented media, Ghosh provides hope and inspiration through examples of people who have made and are making a meaningful difference. It is a book to keep and to give.
Professor Muhammad Yunus
Neil’s Do More Good is inspiring and practical — it reminded me that small actions can lead to big impact. A thoughtful guide for anyone who wants to make a difference.
Cherie Blair
“Thank you for speaking to the Rotary Club on Wednesday. The message that you offer is impactful and I know your talk was meaningful to our club members and the students in the room.”
Jeff Stone
“Thank you for speaking to The Good Life club at Kellogg. Your perspective adds real value to our students’ learning experience and helps prepare them to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
Francesca Cornelli
" This book contains Neil Ghosh’s experiences with people and shows how they have positively impacted him. May this book provide positive inspiration to its readers. "
Dalai Lama
" Do More Good is an inspiring reminder that in our interdependent world, everyone has the power—and the responsibility—to make a difference in the lives of others. It couldn’t come at a more important time. "
" Do More Good is a playbook to do just that, offering inspiring lessons learned from global leaders from all walks of life who have looked inside themselves to identify new ways to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges and take concrete steps to solve them."
" Do More Good by Neil Ghosh is thoughtful, well-written, and utterly engaging. In a world of rapid change, sound bites, social media anger, and alarmist screeds, Ghosh offers a quiet reflection. His book is a nice reminder of the humanity that binds all of us and the importance of listening. This is not just a worthwhile read. It is a restorative read, good for the soul. "
" Uplifting…inspiring…and actionable, Do More Good is equally relevant to the world’s youth; leaders in business, politics, and the nonprofit sector; and regular citizens in this challenging time. Ghosh distills his recollections of thirty extraordinary people into the most important lessons he learned from each. Virtues of decency, empathy, hope, courage, purpose, and more come to life in these personal encounters. A must read."
" This book is a recipe for a purpose-driven life. Neil Ghosh is a thought leader, and in this thoughtful and heartfelt memoir, Ghosh recounts milestones on his remarkable intellectual, professional, and spiritual journey through the intersecting worlds of business, government, and philanthropy. I found the book immensely helpful for my own personal journey."
Development Organisation
" At a time of extreme income inequalities, burgeoning wars, polarized politics, corporate greed, spiritual anomie, and fragmented media, Ghosh provides hope and inspiration through examples of people who have made and are making a meaningful difference. It is a book to keep and to give. "
Muhammad YunusNobel Peace Laureate and
Founder of Grameen Bank
" Neil’s Do More Good is inspiring and practical — it reminded me that small actions can lead to big impact. A thoughtful guide for anyone who wants to make a difference."
international human rights lawyer and wife
of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“Thank you for speaking to the Rotary Club on Wednesday. The message that you offer is impactful and I know your talk was meaningful to our club members and the students in the room.”
“Thank you for speaking to The Good Life club at Kellogg. Your perspective adds real value to our students’ learning experience and helps prepare them to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
at Northwestern University
Bring Neil to Your Organization
Whether addressing executives, students, civic leaders, or community audiences, Neil brings a message that is timely, hopeful, and actionable.
To inquire about keynote speaking engagements, conferences, leadership retreats, or community events, please contact us