Kabir Sehgal is an American author, composer, musician, music and film producer, navy officer, military veteran, investment banker, and financial executive. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of 23 books. He has also earned 14 Grammy Awards, 5 Latin Grammy Awards, and multiple Emmy Awards as a record producer, engineer, composer, or arranger. He was previously a vice president at JPMorgan Chase and worked at First Data Corporation.Best Sellers The New York Times. February 10, 2015 National Endowment for the Humanities. February 10, 2015
As an author, Sehgal has written works of nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature. His titles include Coined, Jazzocracy, A Bucket of Blessings, Festival of Colors, and Thread of Love, released by major publishers including Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. Sehgal has co-authored books with public figures, such as Ambassador Andrew Young (Walk in My Shoes), Congressman John Lewis (Carry On), Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus (Legion of Peace), and Deepak Chopra (Home: Where Everyone Is Welcome). He has also co-authored twelve picture books with his mother, Surishtha Sehgal, which introduce readers to Indian culture and festivals.
As an artist, Sehgal has released 20 albums and 2 EPs across jazz, pop, world, and meditation genres. He has collaborated with artists such as President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama, Harry Belafonte, Lil Jon, Jon Batiste, Andra Day, Keb' Mo', Maggie Rogers, Darius Rucker, and Rufus Wainwright. His projects include Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration featuring President Carter, a solo classical guitar album Guitar Spring: Music for a New Season, a series of meditation albums with Lil Jon and Deepak Chopra, and lo-fi instrumental albums. A jazz bassist, composer, and librettist, Sehgal created Angela's Ring: An Opera Revue of the European Debt Crisis, and performed on Swing States by Regina Carter.
As a music producer, Sehgal has produced more than 100 albums across jazz, world, classical, and spoken word, including American Dreamers by John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA artists, Presidential Suite by Ted Nash, Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico by Arturo O'Farrill and Chucho Valdés, and Fandango at the Wall by Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. He has produced recordings for Amjad Ali Khan, Deepak Chopra, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Karrin Allyson, and Tony Succar. His productions often explore cross-cultural collaborations, social themes, and historical and humanitarian narratives.
As a film and television producer, Sehgal has earned multiple Emmy Awards, with projects focused on music, culture, and global connection. He produced, co-wrote, and appeared in the documentary Fandango at the Wall, released by HBO, which follows musicians performing at the U.S.–Mexico border and explores the role of son jarocho music in bridging communities. Sehgal also directed Close the Loop, which debuted on opening night of the Atlanta Film Festival at the Carter Center.
Education Sehgal was born in Atlanta, Georgia and attended The Lovett School.Dodd, D. Aileen Metro Atlanta's private schools offer variety in programs, personalities The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 10, 2015 Lovett Magazine, Fall 2014. February 10, 2015 He attended Dartmouth College and was a staff columnist for the university newspaper The Dartmouth, bassist for the university jazz band, and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.Donnelly, James Dartmouth sophomore Kabir Sehgal: Jazz virtuoso, entrepreneur and, now, Global Leader The Dartmouth. February 10, 2015Givner, Sarah Barbary Coast bids fond farewell to its seniors The Dartmouth. February 10, 2015Barnes, Lindsay Marsalis and Orchestra dazzle Spaulding crowd The Dartmouth. February 10, 2015 He completed his postgraduate degree with distinction from the London School of Economics as a Reynolds Scholar.
Career Kabir Sehgal is the Founder & CEO of Tiger Turn Productions, a multimedia production firm specializing in music, film, and multi-media projects.
He worked in corporate strategy at First Data Corporation, a global payments firm, which completed the largest initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2015. Previously, Sehgal was a vice president at J.P. Morgan in the emerging markets equities group, where he helped place the Alibaba initial public offering, the largest in history.Sehgal, Kabir 3 Things JPMorgan Chase Vice Chairman Jimmy Lee Taught Me The Street. September 4, 2015 He began his career by starting an online education company in India with a friend, but it failed.
Literary career His first book, Jazzocracy: Jazz, Democracy, and the Creation of a New American Mythology was published in 2008 by Better World Books.Jazzocracy! April 25, 2008 Jazzocracy explores the relationship between jazz music and the concept of democracy. He drew upon his experiences serving on the John Kerry presidential campaign and touring with Grammy-winner Wynton Marsalis. The book was later the inspiration for a university course at Baruch College. The book later served as the basis for a TED Talk.
In May 2010, Sehgal's Walk in My Shoes: Conversations between a Civil Rights Legend and his Godson on the Journey Ahead was published by Palgrave Macmillan.Dwyer, Devin Post-Racial America? Not Yet, Civil Rights Legend Andrew Young Says ABC News. February 10, 2015 The book is co-written by former Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young, his godfather, who offers his thoughts on leadership, civil rights, love and faith, among other topics.Civil Rights Leader Andrew Young Shares Life Lessons With New Generation PBS NewsHour. February 10, 2015 President Bill Clinton wrote the foreword to the book.What We're Reading, May 11–17 NPR. February 10, 2015
Sehgal's book A Bucket of Blessings was published by Simon & Schuster on April 29, 2014, and reached the New York Times best sellers list. A children's book, it chronicles the story of Monkey, a character who tries to bring water to his village at a time of drought, but fails when water leaks out of the bottom of his bucket on his journey. The foreword to the book was written by Maya Angelou.Catts, Everett UPDATED: Sandy Springs woman, son write children’s book Neighbor Newspapers. February 10, 2015 The book was adapted for a stage production at the Alliance Theatre, which ran from January to February 2016.A Bucket of Blessings Alliance Theatre. September 4, 2015
His book, Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us, was published on March 10, 2015, and was one of Business Insider's top 15 business books coming out in 2015.15 Of The Best Business Books Coming Out In 2015 Business Insider. February 10, 2015 It examines how and why money has come to play such a central role in everyday life.Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us Publishers Weekly February 10, 2015 Topics such as the neuroscience of money behavior and the archaeology of coinage are also examined from and anthropological and historical perspective.Rivoli, Petra ‘Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us’, by Kabir Sehgal The Financial Times. February 24, 2015
In March 2015, Coined became a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller.Best-Selling Books Week Ended March 15 Wall Street Journal. March 20, 2015Best Sellers – Hardcover Nonfiction March 29, 2015 New York Times. March 20, 2015 The New York Times said of Coined, "If you've been waiting for an economic version of 'Eat, Pray, Love,' this may be it." The Financial Times called Coined, "An eclectic and sometimes personal inquiry into the roots of finance takes in everything from Galápagos turtles to Apple Pay."
His children's book The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2016. Publishers Weekly described the book as, "a wonderfully accessible introduction to daily life in another place."The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk Publishers Weekly. September 4, 2015
Kabir Sehgal wrote a book of poetry with Deepak Chopra, Home: Where Everyone is Welcome, which was published by Grand Central Publishing in August 2017. The book is composed of 34 poems inspired various American immigrants such as Albert Einstein and Madeleine Albright.Home a Unique Collection of Poems and Songs July 2, 2017 The book became a Publishers Weekly bestseller.Juris, Carolyn. This Week's Bestsellers: September 11, 2017. Publishers Weekly. September 8, 2017.
Sehgal's book Fandango at the Wall was published by Grand Central Publishing in October 2018. It describes the Mexican traditions of fandango and son jarocho music. It comes with a music CD that combines Afro Latin Jazz and son jarocho music. It also details the history of the relationship between the United States and Mexico. The foreword to the book is written by Douglas Brinkley and the afterword is by Andrew Young. The book was nominated for an Audie Award for Best Original work in 2019.
Simon & Schuster published Sehgal's children's book Festival of Colors, which is about Holi, the Indian festival of colors in January 2018. It was named a Favorite Picture Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble and book all young Georgians should read in 2018 by Georgia Center for the Book. Simon & Schuster published Sehgal's children's book Thread of Love, which is about the Indian tradition of raksha bandhan, in October 2018. It was named a Best Children's Book of 2018, according to the Seattle Public Library.
Sehgal co-wrote Legion of Peace: Twenty Paths to Super Happiness with Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize Recipient in 2006, Monica Yunus, and Camille Zamora. Hachette published the book in December 2018.
Sehgal's children's book P is For Poppadoms! was published by Simon and Schuster in November 2019. It is an Indian alphabet book.
Sehgal, with his father R.K. Sehgal, co-wrote the book Close the Loop: The Life of an American Dream CEO and His Five Lessons for Success, published in May 2020 by Hachette. It is a biography of Sehgal's father talking about his journey as an Indian immigrant, coming to the United States and working his way to become a businessman and government official. It became a Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle bestseller.
Sehgal co-wrote Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation with John Lewis. The memoir was published in 2021 by Grand Central Publishing, a year after Lewis' death, and became a National Indie Bestseller. The audio book, read by Don Cheadle and produced by Sehgal, won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2022. It was nominated for an Audie Award for Best Business and Personal Development book.
In 2022, Sehgal and his mother, Surishtha Sehgal, released Mother Goose Goes to India, published by Simon & Schuster, followed later that year by It’s Diwali. Their 2023 book Bhangra Baby was praised by Kirkus Reviews as "an entertaining introduction to the fundamentals of bhangra and a sweet tribute to Punjabi culture."
In 2024, Sehgal and his mother published Seven Samosas, which Publishers Weekly described as having "rhythmically propulsive language and vibrant, naif-style digital illustrations," and the book was selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick.
In 2024, Sehgal and Lil Jon published Manifest Abundance: Affirmations for Personal Growth, which is an interactive workbook.
Sehgal and his mother wrote Himalayan Nights, which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. The School Library Journal wrote, "This may become the most circulated work of this genre."
His book Hello India is scheduled for release in 2026, while Our Big Indian Family is scheduled for 2027.