About the Author

Surinder Kumar is currently Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at TruEats Modern Baking Company. Surinder has more than forty years of experience in senior management positions in Fortune 100 companies. He has been a global R&D and innovation leader at some of the finest consumer product and pharmaceutical companies in the world, including Quaker Oats, Mead Johnson, PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, Warner Lambert, and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.

He is an honored and distinguished member of Who's Who worldwide. He has been awarded 17 patents, published many scientific papers, and has served on several advisory boards. These include Board of Trustees member, International Life Sciences Institute; Scientific Advisory Board Member at Penn State University, DePaul University, Rutgers University, and The Ohio State University. He has also worked as an adviser to the CEOs of many non-profit associations including IEEE and ISACA.

Surinder received the Distinguished Alumni award from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where he received his Ph.D. He has an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago. He has taught innovation and leadership courses at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University; University of Chicago, DePaul University, and the University of North Texas. He has authored several pa- pers on innovation and leadership and a book on leadership, Riding the Blue Train: A Leadership Plan for Explosive Growth, which has been published in the USA, India, Turkey, and South Korea.

Reviews

"EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS WITHIN YOU is such a fascinating and inspirational story of Surinder's family's personal struggle to survive. Surinder lives the principles he was taught every day. He is a testament to his father's teachings. For many, reading this book will make you grateful for where we were born. It will bring back memories of what we all have been taught as children by our parents and grandparents.It is a must read for all."--Jim Wisniewski, President, Culinary Focus/Spice Guild

"As the saying goes, 'the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.' I worked with Surinder at both Pepsi and Pizza Hut and the self-belief that his father instilled in him helped make him a world-class leader. The compelling story of his father's life and wisdom is inspirational. You never know what you're capable of."--David Novak

"Author Kumar is an incredibly successful leader of industry, recruited to C-suite positions at five major corporations. He reveals his philosophy for achievement based on work ethic and honest effort. Tracing his roots to an impoverished, near-death childhood in war-torn India, the strong teachings of his father, Bauji, forged a family who achieved the elusive American dream. This is a must-read for self-improvement with interesting self-evaluation tools following each chapter of principles. His personal first-hand account of life events is compelling, but this important writing serves as an inspirational text to guide students or immigrants who seek to make our world a better place. This professor will place this work in the library of students who should be inspired by Kumar's insights."--Dr. Ken Lee, Professor, The Ohio State University

"Everything You Need is Within You is a book that reminds us that simple leadership principles are forever green. Applying the 16 principles presented in this book has helped me to be a better person and leader. I have become more intentional about pursuing my life's purpose to help others realize their dreams."--Matt Loeb, Executive leadership coach and former CEO

"I am a strong believer in the basic principles presented in this book. Having led the Human Resources department in the Wrigley Company, I saw how strong leadership and empowering beliefs can transform an organization. The path to success starts with the belief that we are not constrained by lack of resources and that everything we need to succeed truly lies within us."--Duke Petrovich, Ret. President, Wm. Wrigley Jr Company

"Looking for a heartfelt, authentic leadership book that conveys the message using real life stories? Then this is the book for you. Surinder's 16 principles have made a difference in my leadership, and I bet they will make a difference in yours too."--Cheri Warren, Former Board Member, National Grid USA, Former Board Chair and Head of Office of the CEO, GlobalSpec

"My father Kanshi Ram Arora truly believed that everything we need to build a great life resides within us. He believed strongly in education and lifelong learning. His simple principles and insights transformed a poor small village and its residents from being victims of India's Partition to victors. The book captures the key insights and shows how an inspirational leader can influence the destiny of many generations."--Om Parkash Arora, Eldest son of Kanshi Ram Arora

"Surinder is one of the most thoughtful business leaders of the present. This book tells a timeless story while imparting wisdom to all ages and circumstances in a hugely relevant manner. There is not a more poignant message for us all at this time than the title of this book. Yes, we can make a difference and that should be our purpose however we choose to define it."--William "Beau" Wrigley, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Surterra Wellness, Former Executive Chairman, Wm.Wrigley Jr. Company

"This book shows that life is what we decide to make it. Children from a poor village with no running water, dirt roads, and no electricity rose to unexpected heights because a teacher really believed that they had everything they needed to be successful even when they hardly had food to survive. A guide for parents and an inspiration for the young who choose to make a meaningful difference in the world today!"--Bill Perez, Managing Partner, FamGen, Former President and CEO, SC Johnson & Company, Former CEO, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

"This rags-to-riches story is much more about a journey than a destination. It's a story about having a strong moral compass, about perseverance, mutual support, and respect. It's about the birth of the largest democracy in the world and its more recent emergence as a leading intellectual powerhouse. Kanshi Ram Arora would be very proud of his legacy."--Dr. James Prendergast, Ret. Exec Director, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

"When I was Surinder's boss at Pepsi 25 years ago, I learned more from him than he got from me. After reading his book yesterday, the dynamic hasn't changed 25 years later."--Mike Lorelli, Former PepsiCo President