3. RAVI SINGH
“ THE CAMPAIGN GURU
“
OF THE TURBANT
Ravi Singh is the Campaign Guru of political campaigns all around the world. He
founded ElectionMall® with the idea that anyone could have the tools to win any
election through the internet. He was born in the US, but still wears a turban and
never cuts his hair. Ravi has given counsel to the most prestigious politicians in Latin
America and his fame as the Campaign Guru has been spread all around the globe.
By Gerardo Campillo Photography by Ravi Singh
Playboy: What do the politicians want Technology won’t work by itself, and
when they look for you? having technology does not guarantee
RS: I´ve been in politics for 12 years and anything. You can’t Tweet ‘just woke up,’
in most cases politicians are interested or ‘get drunk,’ or Tweet about your past
in the use of the internet for a more relationships, favorite program, etc.
effective way to reach the voters and be Because it will eventually revert on you.
elected. No one looks at the internet for There has to be a strategy. Make a clear
a way stay home but, for a more game plan and stick to it.
efficient way to reach voters. 4. Strategy. As a Campaign Guru I do
not do strategies. What I do is suggest
Playboy: In your opinion what would ‘Best Practice.’ I share the best manner
be the basic guide for any Politician to of their realization on each situation.
follow in order to win their respective The strategy must go beyond what the
elections? politician wants. I can help them and
RS: There are 4 basic principles that I teach them, but thinking that they are
think will make a difference to any going to win because they have the
Politician planning to get the best use ‘Know how,’ which has been done
out of technology. before, is a mistake.
1. Infrastructure. You need to have the
gadgets and respective tools in order to Playboy: Where did the nickname
be able to play the game. They need to teacher came from?
search for their inner nerd and arm it. RS: I teach. That’s why people call me
Without the infrastructure, it’s almost so. I share my knowledge and I think have commercial relations with
impossible to triumph. that´s a good Karma. God provide us important technology companies and I
2. Communication. You need to have knowledge not so we save it, but so we work with offices in Europe, USA, Asia
something to say. Having all the tools share it with people. and Latin America. It’s impossible not to
doesn’t mean that you have something feel grateful for that. Now we have to go
to useful say. I recommend that Playboy: How do you see your to the next level.
politicians say what they really feel, achievements? Do you feel proud?
instead being careful with single word. RS:I feel grateful. I never dreamed, not Playboy: What is the next level?
People appreciate sincerity, especially even in my wildest dreams, that an RS:My parents and mentors taught me
in an environment of open American that wears a turban to a that in business people should focus on
transparency. With the internet, it’s military academy will be directing saving or selling. Sometimes we forget
difficult to hide things and the truth will political campaigns all over the world. I that, because we are motivated by the
eventually be known. feel blessed because I have worked in passion. It is good to have passion. But
3. Organization. There has to be a plan. over 9 countries in less than 2 years, I to have a success in your business, you

4. CHARACTER
PLAYBOY
must save and sell. For example, Latin Americans uses campaigns, as in life, we can always
Playboy: Are politicians all the same internet for uploading photos and improve. In campaigns we have to
around the world? music. Meanwhile, Americans use make every event count, every speech
RS: All politicians have similar internet for search engines and weather matter, that every debate makes a
necessities and needs. First of all there is reports. We need to understand that. difference and that every activity sums,
the necessity of raising money for their Even though people use the internet, including Facebook and Twitter
campaign. After that, politicians need everybody is not browsing the same comments.
to generate awareness. things. The most important survey is the one
made on Election Day. That survey is the
Playboy: What is E-Democracy? Playboy: Have you worked with most important because it’s the one
RS: It is utilizing social networks sites, candidates that you knew they were that shows the real information of the
and all the facilities that technology going to lose? people who voted. When my path
offers, to get in direct dialogue with RS: I always tell the politicians that meets with a politician, I think it can
voters, citizens and campaign elections are won on Election Day. A bring out the best with my work. But I
supporters. E- Democracy is about survey that can predict the future can never assure someone that he or
empowering the people. We have to doesn’t exist. The fact that I use a turban she will win or lose.
understand that we are experiencing doesn’t mean I can predict it either. No
one of the most interesting moments in one should have a wrong idea on how Playboy: If you have the ‘Know how’
and the infrastructure, have you ever
considered running for a political
charge?
RS: The day which I could has already
passed. I really believe in destiny and
the faster you discover what you want
or what fate wants for you, you will be
better and happier. We have to accept
our destination, because it has been
written. This is what has been assigned
to me and I will do it with joy.
Playboy: So, everything has been
written?
RS: Not everything has been written,
but we think it has been written so
every morning we wake up to find what
world´s history. What the Greeks were elections work. All politicians look for has been chosen for us. We need to
pursuing is being fulfilled: the direct someone to secure their victory, but learn to recognize the little miracles of
participation of the people. that is impossible. Transparency is more life.
important than honesty, and we should I remember the anecdote of wreck.
Playboy: Why does Ravi Singh the all be transparent. All the facts must be After sinking the ship and being the
Campaign Guru have so much success on the table to be able see the place only one alive, the guy didn’t know how
in such different places? and circumstance that we are dealing he was going to survive. Then he saw a
RS: First of all, I believe that my success with. We need to study numbers and table passed beside him, but he didn’t
is actually based on observing the decide if mathematically it is possible to grab it, because he saw a new ship
culture of each country. What works for win. We study if there is enough time, if coming. The Ship takes a lot to get to
United States is not necessarily the team has enough intelligence and him so he drowns. When he meets with
functional for Colombia. Second of all I how much money the politician has to God in the afterlife, he tells him: “The
observe customs and behaviors of each invest. ship never arrived on time and you
country, because they are different and didn’t saved me” and God answered: “I
they change depending on each place. Finally we have to remember that in sent you a table, and you didn’t

5. CHARACTER
PLAYBOY
grabbed it” In the other side I enjoy life as a trip. I try because even though it is there, they
to get as much benefit of each situation don’t know how to use or take
Life gives us daily miracles and most of and enjoy everything. Because that was advantage of it.
the times we don’t see them and we how I was educated. And as long as the
don’t appreciate them. No matter what trip doesn’t expire, everything is all Challenges for politicians grow when
faith you have or what religion you right. (Laughter) citizens are more involved in what
belong, you should always be thankful. Playboy: But you do not fear death, happens in the world through
right? technology. For example, in Cairo I saw
Playboy: What should we believe in? RS: Exactly. I think that the only certain Egyptians who, supported by
RS: In God, in ourselves and in what you technology, staged a revolution in a
can see. short time. If internet didn’t exist or
Egyptians didn’t have the ability of
Playboy: Have you ever felt any regrets using it, they could have not been able
for what you did in the past? to achieve and build a revolution as
RS: I am a human being as everyone effective and as fast as they did.
else and I feel tempted for diverse Technology has empowered people to
reasons as anyone. My parents taught change things, governments or
me that what I do in life must have a inclusive dictators, as they did in Egypt,
purpose. And I always work for that without using an AK-47 or a knife.
purpose. On the other hand, I enjoy life,
I enjoy the trip. I try to get as much as I Playboy: So you are not involved in the
can of each situation, I try to enjoy and message, but in how it reaches its
have as much fun as possible, because destination?
that was the way I was educated. And RS: Exactly. I´m a distributor. When I
while the trip doesn’t expire, everything work with political consultancies, I am
will be fine (laughter) humble enough to recognize that I am
things in life are: death and taxes. Those not from the country and that I do not
But you do not fear death, right? two things are guarantee. Beyond that I understand the local politics of it.
Exactly. I think that the only certain love my work. It is great to share However if they tell me what the
issues in life are: death and taxes. Those knowledge and it’s nice to share it with message is, I can find the best tactics to
two things are guaranteed. I love my all the voters in the world. I always implement in their strategy. I went to a
work. It’s cool to share knowledge and it repeat that I have the best work in the military academy for four years and I
feels good to share with the world of world. understand perfectly the difference
voters. I always repeat that I have the between tactics and strategies. They
best work in the whole world. Playboy: What types of campaigns do generate the strategy and I select the
you promote? The ones that talks good best tactics for distributing and having
The title of guru is about us and bad about others? a big impact in the selected public. The
earnedevery day. RS:I want to clarify something: I am
ElectionMall.com´s founder and we are
idea is to win on Election Day.
You bome a Guru a technology based company focused
when you know on electoral campaigns. Housewives Playboy: Thank you for the interview if
what you do and presidential candidates, both are
entitled to benefit from technology,
some day we decide to run for
president, we will definitely call you
through the and that’s the reason of ElectionMall. (Laughter)
blessings of the real RS: (Laughter) Thank You for the
Guru that is God The last couple of years I have opportunity.
Almighty. concentrated on high-level elections. I
have also helped political parties and
candidates to benefit from technology,