Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the founder of The Art of Living Foundation (1981) and the International Association for Human Values (1997), which are active in 180 countries. He also founded the World Forum for Ethics in Business, which regularly convenes through conferences in the European Parliament and around the world. All three non-governmental organizations hold a special consultative status with the United Nations‘ Economic and Social Council and are active in numerous other international bodies and committees in the areas of health, education and sustainable development.

Named as the fifth most influential Indian according to Forbes Magazine, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar together with his organizations has developed unique, impactful programs that empower, equip and transform individuals to tackle challenges at global, national, community and individual levels. A key component is the Sudarshan KriyaTM, a health promoting breathing technique that helps individuals get rid of stress, reduces negative tendencies and improves overall wellbeing.

An estimated 400 million people across 180 countries have been reached by his initiatives. For his international work he has been recognized with several awards, including state honors and honorary doctorates.