Ravi Singh

Ravi Singh is the CEO and founder of ElectionMall Technologies, a pioneer company in the field of online politics. Ravi Singh is the first American with a turban to graduate from a US Military Academy and the first Asian American and Sikh with a turban to run for office in the 42nd Illinois General Assembly. He has dedicated his life to the promotion of e-democracy, which earned him the name of Campaign Guru. Singh has been profiled in Business Week Magazine and many others and has served as technology adviser for current Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, among other world leaders.

Ravi Singh – Family, Education and Career

Ravi Singh is easy to spot in a crowd. Not many powerbrokers in Washington, D.C. wear a turban and a long beard. Add being an Asian American and a practicing Sikh in post 9/11 America to the mix and politics just got interesting. Considered the “campaign guru” in a recent USA Today article, Singh is proving that Asian Americans have influence and can impact the American political scene.

Born to immigrant parents, Singh like many sons of immigrants was prepped to become a doctor or engineer. But just as James Joyce gave up medical school for writing, Singh found his art in politics. His experiences are chronicled in his 2002 book “Leadership by Turban” available at amazon.com.

As the CEO of the leading non-partisan technology company that catapults candidates and political organizations to the top, Singh has turned ElectionMall Technologies, Inc. (http://www.electionmall.com) into the fastest growing company in the e-democracy space. And why not — with over one million candidates running for political office in the United States from School Board to President an estimated nine billion will be spent in 2008. Singh expects to be the market leader with his company valued over 17 million dollars.

Ravi Singh – First Turbaned Sikh to Graduate from U.S. Military

Singh plunged into politics at age 14 when he was told that he could not wear his turban at the Marmion USA Military Academy. His response was to write legislation which was then signed by President Reagan enabling a Sikh American to graduate from a U.S. military institution with a turban. Singh makes headlines wherever he goes, launching the first “online chat – town hall meeting” in campaign history. At age 25, Singh lost a race for the Illinois legislature because when asked by his party to look less “foreign” and remove his turban and beard, Singh’s response was, “If I do that, I will not be true to my faith and will not be true to my work … this is who I am. If I give up my identity and values, I’ll not be Asian. I’ll not be an American. I’ll be nobody.” Ravi Singh is hardly a nobody in Washington.

At age 34, Ravi Singh graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant for the US Armed Forces, ran for political office, worked on campaigns all across America, has been involved in three presidential campaigns on both sides of the aisle, authored two books on leadership and campaign strategies, has been a guest and commentator on MSNBC’s “Power Lunch”, and is founder and CEO of ElectionMall Technologies, considered a company to watch in Business Week Magazine.

Ravi Singh’s wide-spreading success in boosting political participation has been recognized by his recent commission as a Kentucky Colonel by the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This high honor is reserved for individuals who make significant contributions to society. Other notable Kentucky Colonels include Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Regan, English Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Tiger Woods, and Muhammad Ali.

“By utilizing business know-how and technology, we offer campaigns a cutting-edge solution. I believe we can empower every candidate or voter regardless of party affiliation, agenda, or race and provide them a chance to win and increase political participation not only in the Asian community, but for the greater public,” Ravi Singh, CEO of ElectionMall.com.

Although it is decidedly difficult for children of immigrants to win elections in a country that is suspicious of foreigners, Ravi Singh demonstrates that by openly living his heritage and his beliefs, he continues to power and influence democracy in this country. Asian Americans can take Ravi’s lead by participating in elections and sharing their powerful voice in public forums. Clearly America is listening.

Ravi Singh – Winner of  ‘Sikhs in Media Award’ at the 2011 Sikh Awards

Ravi Singh was awarded the prestigious Sikhs in the Media Award at the 2011 Sikh Awards in London, England on Sunday, October 9th. The Sikhs Awards are the world’s only awards recognizing Sikh contributions across society for their contributions to business, sport, entertainment, charity, the media, service to others and education, as well as a People’s Choice award and one for lifetime achievements. The ceremony was held at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The awards were organized by the Sikh Directory, an organization that aims to build and strengthen a vibrant, international Sikh community. Guests attended from all over the world, including India, the United States, Dubai, Hong Kong and countries in Africa and Europe.

The Sikhs in the Media category, for which Mr. Singh was awarded, includes newspapers, magazines, websites, radio and television stations and all other media platforms.

Mr. Singh, who was named as one of “50 Outstanding Asian Americans” in 2010 by the Asian American Business Development Center, Inc. and a “Rising Star” by Campaigns and Elections Magazine, was nominated through the Sikh Award’s website. He was then selected out of more than 100 nominations from all over the world by a panel of five respected citizens from the Sikh.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the Sikh in Media Award and to be included with a prestigious group of so many fellow Sikhs making a positive difference across the globe,” Ravi Singh said, CEO and Founder of ElectionMall Technologies. “At ElectionMall we make it our business to advance e-politics and e-participation in political campaigns around the world. I couldn’t have been even considered for this award for it not for the dedicated and thoughtful employees, friends and family who stand with me everywhere I go and in everything I do.”

Tagged as: Author, First Turbaned Sikh US Military, Military, Ravi Singh, Sikh Awards Winner, Technology