Photographed by Priyanca Rao | Legacy Empowerment Project | Leadership and Workplace Belonging Expert, Coach, Consultant & Speaker
Dr. Surabhi Lal Is Building a Future of Work Rooted in Belonging
There is a version of leadership that gets taught in most schools and organizations — one built on hierarchy, output, and the assumption that people will simply adapt to the system as mere cogs in a machine. Dr. Surabhi Lal has spent her career pushing back on that orthodoxy. Her life’s work asks a different question: what if belonging wasn’t a nice-to-have, but the very infrastructure that makes strong and resilient organizations possible? And what if that understanding changed our systems to be more human and connected?
For Surabhi, that question isn’t theoretical. It’s the foundation of everything she’s built.
A Milestone Worth Marking
Surabhi’s Legacy session arrived to mark a meaningful moment — the completion of her PhD. It was a milestone many years in the making, and one she wanted commemorated in a vibrant and visual way. She embarked on her doctoral journey in the height of the pandemic when she was working, parenting, and schooling from the confines of her home.
Inspired by her family and by childhood, Surabhi grew up seeing belonging and connectedness as essential for creating better lives. Her multi-sector work experience guided her doctoral research and produced the Ecosystem of Workplace Belonging, a framework detailing the relational networks that impact how we experience workplace belonging and provides guidance on actions to drive a more human-centered employee experience.
It’s the kind of work that lives in people’s lives, not just in journals and conference rooms. She wanted her images to carry the origin story — a visual representation that showed not just what she’d studied, but who she is.
“I want the audience to get glimpses of my backstory, the richness of heritage, the journeys that shaped me, and my vision for a better future of work.”
Who She’s Building For
Ask Surabhi who she’s building all of this for, and the answer is easy — it’s for all of us. The path to sharing her vision is multi-fold: in organizations, classrooms, and the public stage. There are the organizations who are ready to do business differently and ready to treat workplace belonging as mission critical rather than a side initiative. There are the classrooms where she teaches leadership as a practice, not just a title. And there is a broader reach in public venues: the stages, the panels, the platforms, and the rooms where the research on the future of work meets the people who are ready to imagine and create a more human and humane way of working together.
“I am looking to speak on panels and stages with people who are ready to bridge the research and practice of a better future of work.”
A Legacy That Starts Before Her
For Surabhi, legacy isn’t a forward-looking idea alone — it begins with those who came before her. Her parents’ and grandparents’ journeys are central to how she understands the world — and how she chose items for her shoot to reflect that legacy. Her trips to India as a little girl taught her about inequity at an early age, and fostered a commitment to creating change. She shared that she carries the lineage of refugees, freedom fighters, risk-takers, and educators in her being — an inheritance she doesn’t take lightly.
Part of her inheritance is her name. When she moved to NYC in her late 20s, she reclaimed her name to its proper pronunciation. Her move was meant to be temporary — she always saw herself living in a small college town. She jokes that she has gone from a reluctant New Yorker to an insufferable one. For her it is NYC or Nowhere — it is a city where she found belonging to a place and the people through the everyday kindness of New Yorkers. The legacy of cultivating belonging wherever she goes comes directly from the connection to her ancestors and relatives who believed that they could create a better world.
“The legacy I am building is grounded in our shared humanity and cultivating belonging.”
Where Her Legacy Actually Lives
Ask Surabhi where her legacy shows up day to day, and she doesn’t point to titles or awards. She points to people — the tens of thousands she’s educated, coached, and mentored to understand their own leadership and career direction, as well as the communities she’s nurtured and friendships she has made along the way. Her impact extends far beyond the workplace, shaping the lives of people who know her. She sees her legacy alive in the programs she’s architected, which quietly become the foundation for stronger organizations and become part of daily operations. Her legacy continues through the vision that she’s bringing to life — a better future of work, made possible through workplace belonging.
“My legacy lives on through the tens of thousands of people I’ve educated and mentored to understand their own leadership and career direction.”
Where the Story Took Shape
Surabhi says, the deep-dive planning conversation — the place where vision, brand story, and intention all met before a single photo was taken — was illuminating. She points to Priyanca’s creativity in that session, and to the collaborative back-and-forth that followed: ideas presented, then refined, until they felt truly aligned with her story and her values.
Looking at her final images now, she sees more than portraits. She sees a body of work that tells her story. She’s still figuring out how to fully use the photos, proof that a Legacy session doesn’t end when the gallery is delivered.
“The photos are true to our planning and tell a story that travels from my childhood through the present day. I am still thinking about the best way to use them beyond social media.”
Honesty About the Hesitations
Surabhi didn’t walk into her Legacy shoot without reservations, and she doesn’t pretend otherwise. Makeup was a big one — she didn’t want it, knew the camera would need some, and wanted the final images to look unmistakably like her. Getting there took more back-and-forth than she expected, and more convincing than she would have liked. On top of that, her shoot date was moved to earlier than planned, leaving her feeling rushed — with less time than she wanted to mentally prepare and, later, to sit with her images before choosing.
It’s a candid admission, and an important one: even a milestone shoot comes with real logistics and trade-offs.
“The team did a great job of making sure that the photos looked like me. It took some work to get there.”
What She’d Tell the Next Woman
If another woman, standing where Surabhi once stood, asked whether a Legacy session was worth it, her answer wouldn’t be a simple yes. It would come with real preparation: be ready to think deeply, and be ready to be nudged out of your comfort zone. Know — or at least start to imagine — what you’re going to use the photographs for. And then let them breathe. Give yourself room to trust yourself and figure it out on your timeline.
“It is important to know what you are going to use the photographs for and to let them breathe as you figure it out.”
Dr. Surabhi Lal’s Legacy Project Experience
“I want people to feel authenticity, joy, playfulness, and power in the images.”
Participating in the Legacy Project gave Surabhi a way to mark a milestone that mattered — the completion of her PhD — with images that reflect not just her research, but her roots. Through the deep-dive planning process, her vision took shape alongside Priyanca’s creative direction, resulting in a gallery she describes as true to who she is.
Her story is a reminder that legacy isn’t only about looking back or looking forward, it’s the combination of both. It’s about the frameworks we build, the people we mentor, and the future of work we’re still actively shaping — one relationship, one organization, one honest conversation at a time.
About the Legacy Project
The Legacy Project was created by Priyanca Rao, an award winning branding photographer who believes every woman’s story deserves to be seen, celebrated, and remembered.
More than pretty photos, it is an opportunity to reflect on your journey, share the experiences that shaped you, and create a lasting record of the legacy you are building. Through thoughtful conversation and luxury branding photography, you’ll walk away with powerful portraits that reflect not just what you’ve achieved, but who you are.
The Legacy Project celebrates women whose stories inspire others and reminds future generations that every life leaves an impact.
Apply to be part of the Legacy Project here.
Work With Surabhi
Surabhi works with organizations navigating change, helping leaders place belonging, empathy, and curiosity at the center of their culture and leadership practices — and helps individuals understand their own leadership strengths and career direction along the way.
About Dr. Surabhi Lal
Surabhi Lal, PhD, cultivates workplaces where human connection and strategic performance thrive together. An organizational strategy consultant, adjunct professor at NYU Wagner, and speaker, she helps organizations navigate change by positioning belonging, empathy, and curiosity at the center of leadership practices. A recognized expert on workplace culture, Surabhi’s doctoral research resulted in the Workplace Belonging Ecosystem framework, examining how relational dynamics, equity, and trust shape organizational performance.
A boundary-spanning leader, Surabhi has more than two decades driving social impact across startups, higher education, workforce development, and the arts. As the founder of SL Collaborative Ventures and a Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, she advises executive leaders, designs strategy, and facilitates high-impact workshops on culture, equity, and team dynamics. She teaches strategic leadership to mid-career professionals and mission-driven leaders at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Along the way she has worked with Tony Award-winning Broadway productions, interviewed best-selling authors, and was integral to the launch of a global career advancement platform and women’s community.
She holds a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, an MEd from The University of Vermont, and bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech. Based in NYC, she feeds her creativity through food markets, cooking, travel, and parenting an active teen.
Connect with Surabhi | Workplace Belonging Strategist & Speaker:
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As part of the Legacy Empowerment Project by Priyanca Rao, we were honored to photograph Dr. Surabhi Lal, an inspiring consultant, adjunct professor, speaker, and workplace belonging strategist whose work aligns deeply with our mission to celebrate women in leadership through intentional, powerful legacy making imagery. Priyanca Rao Photography specializes in CEO headshots and personal branding photography tailored for women in executive, creative, and leadership roles, including recruiters, CEOs, COOs, consultants, speakers, podcast hosts, small business owners and founders, thought leaders, non-profit founders, HR professionals, experts, women’s leadership coaches, corporate C-suite executives, marketing executives, professors, and authors. Known as a top NYC and Westchester photographer, Priyanca also serves clients throughout Connecticut (CT), New Jersey (NJ), and Long Island, delivering branding photos that elevate websites and social media presence. Whether you’re a founder, educator, or change maker, this women’s empowerment project continues to spotlight authentic voices through meaningful portraiture designed to help you stand out and lead with confidence. These Westchester and NYC branding photos hopefully help inspire and empower other leaders who are entrepreneurial and want to grow their impact. Know that you can do it too!
