MBIFL 2027 preview: Manik Kaur and the art of bringing grace into everyday life

Etiquette is often associated with formal occasions, social conventions and the rules of polite behaviour. But for Manik Kaur, it goes well beyond knowing which fork to use or how to conduct oneself in a room. It is about the way people communicate, treat others and carry themselves through everyday life.

Recognised as India's first etiquette coach, Kaur has built her work around bringing together etiquette, grooming, communication and mindful living. A certified grooming and etiquette trainer from the British School of Excellence, UK, she is also a personality development coach, communication skills trainer, mindful living coach and motivational speaker. Her book, Everyday Elegance, published by Penguin, brings this philosophy to a wider readership.

Her work has taken her to some of India's most prestigious educational institutions, including The Doon School, Welham Girls' and Boys' Schools, Mayo College, The Scindia School and Modern School, Delhi. She has also mentored students at institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and Amity University, while conducting workshops for corporates and organisations including HSBC, P&G, JITO and FICCI FLO. A TEDx speaker, Kaur has made etiquette and personal development the focus of conversations across age groups and professional settings.

Her influence has also extended into the digital space. Through Mindful Living by Manik Kaur, she has built an organic following of nearly half a million people worldwide in just two years. Her writing has appeared in The Times of India, HT City and The Pioneer, while publications such as India Today, Femina and Outlook have featured her work. She was named among The Economic Times' Impactful Women Leaders of India 2025.

With an academic background spanning Lady Irwin College, the Goethe-Institut and Symbiosis, Kaur brings together different strands of learning in her approach to personal refinement. Her philosophy, 'Be Your Best Version Inside and Out', places equal importance on outward presentation and inner qualities such as empathy, compassion and self-awareness.

At the heart of her work is the idea that refinement should not be restricted to particular social circles or occasions. It should be accessible to everyone and reflected in the small interactions that shape everyday life. At MBIFL 2027, Kaur brings a perspective on etiquette that moves beyond rules and appearances to explore how grace, consideration and mindful behaviour can influence the way we live and relate to others.