MEET DESIRAE
Desirae Pillay is a powerful storyteller, mental health advocate, and resilience trainer whose voice speaks directly to the heart of what it means to show up as a woman in today’s demanding world. As a mother, caregiver, entrepreneur, and professional, Desirae does not just talk about resilience — she lives it.
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Her story is not one of polished perfection, but of perseverance, grit, and grace. Drawing from her lived experience of parenting a child with multiple disabilities while building a career, navigating trauma, and managing mental wellness, Desirae brings deep authenticity and clarity to every stage she stands on.
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Today, she equips audiences with tools to thrive in the face of life’s ongoing pressures. Her signature keynote, 'The Hats We Wear', unpacks the emotional labour and invisible roles that we carry. Her workshop, 'Grit and Grace', helps teams learn how to develop grit and compassionate leadership in the workplace. She believes to lead others well, we must learn how to lead ourselves well.
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Desirae is the founder of A Million Beautiful Pieces, an online platform that supports caregivers, women, and families living with disability or who are grappling with the impact of trauma. Through this space and her regular engagements on the October Health app, she offers insight and solidarity to others navigating stress, burnout, and identity shifts.
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Whether leading a training session, delivering a keynote, or speaking on a panel, Desirae brings a unique voice — one that bridges the gap between resilience and mental safety, purpose and pain, productivity, and authenticity.
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This is Desirae’s superpower: to ignite possibilities that shift horizons personally and professionally.
The Hats We Wear
In this keynote Desirae gives your audiences the space and permission to reconsider the “hats” (roles) they are wearing to change to one that is personally and professionally impactful
The Marshmallow Effect
A profound keynote talk on how to strengthen the backbone of your organisation that transcends all aspects of business.
Grit and Grace
In this workshop, Desirae teaches delegates how to develop Grit, a key character trait to be successful in seasons when business and life goes your way, and when it does not.
TOPICS
Desirae Pillay
What People Say>
...once again a brilliant morning to attend!
Tess Grobbelaar
WHAT DESIRAE DOES
EMPOWERMENT
Desirae believes that we can learn how to shift in any circumstance to reach the destination that best serves us. She is passionate about teaching others how to live with both grit and with grace to maintain and improve our earning potential despite challenging circumstances.
MENTAL HEALTH
Desirae serves various platforms to encourage mental and emotional wellness. She shares her own journey to mental fitness to educate individuals and teams so they too can learn how to embody both joy and grief without compromising their ability to work and to be parents.
PARENTING
Desirae is a parenting expert who helps parents listen deeply to their children’s both spoken and unspoken words and behaviours. She equips parents on how to be authentic and vulnerable without giving up parental control.