Ruchira Gupta is an Emmy-winning journalist and founder of the anti-sex trafficking NGO Apne Aap, which empowers women and girls to exit systems of prostitution. I Kick and I Fly is her debut fiction novel. Her most recent middle-grade novel, The Freedom Seeker, was released in 2025 with Scholastic Canada.
She has been awarded the French Ordre National du Mérite, the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and the UN NGO CSW Woman of Distinction, among other honors, for her contribution to the establishment of the UN Trafficking Fund for Survivors, the passage of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act and her grassroots activism with Apne Aap. She also holds a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Smith College. She has co-written a book with Gloria Steinem, As if Women Matter and edited two anthologies, River of Flesh and Renu’s letters to Birju Babu.
Ruchira has worked for the United Nations in Nepal, Thailand, Kosovo, Iran, and the USA. She occasionally teaches at the New York University’s Center for Global Affairs as a visiting faculty. She divides her time between New York and Forbesganj, her childhood home in the foothills of the Himalayas, where she furthers the work of Apne Aap and paints her mother’s garden.
Ruchira’s work uniquely intersects with the DEI space through her advocacy for ‘The Last Girl’, who stands at the crossroads of gender, race, caste, and class discrimination. Her approach extends DEI principles by focusing on those most neglected and marginalized, aiming to create truly inclusive and equitable environments through systemic change.
Speaking Topics
Ruchira Gupta’s eloquence as an author and her compelling storytelling reveal the resilience of the human spirit, moving audiences to action and imbuing them with the tools to create a future that honors every individual’s rights and stories. Her talks are a call to action, urging all sectors of society to forge pathways that are just, inclusive, and humane.
The Belonging Imperative
Elevating ‘The Last Girl’ to the forefront, Ruchira pushes the boundaries of DEI, fostering environments where the most marginalized are central to the conversation.
Social Justice & Emerging Technologies
With expertise in using AI for good, Ruchira Gupta reveals how innovative tech can be a force multiplier in the fight against human trafficking.
The Art of Storytelling for Social Change
Harnessing her Emmy-awarded documentary “The Selling of Innocents” as a catalyst, Ruchira delves into storytelling’s power to enact policy reform and ignite grassroots movements.
Advocating for Change
From amending international protocols to transforming grassroots realities, Ruchira equips changemakers with strategies for enduring impact.
Corporate Culture & Ethical Leadership
She guides corporations in marrying ethical leadership with profitability, advocating for a corporate culture that champions human rights and sustainable progress.
To book Ruchira Gupta, contact Rob Firing at speakers@transatlanticagency.com.