Nicky P. Kaur, a successful entrepreneur with over 21 years of leadership experience, shifted her focus from business to a cause close to her heart: standing up for those who can't. This passion led her to start Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, where she serves as founder and CEO. Her journey of faith has resulted in a unique and holistic rehabilitation center in India dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Today, Chandigarh Spinal Rehab stands as a beacon of hope, providing comprehensive care and life-enhancing support under Nicky's visionary leadership.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Flowing Karma, Band on Wheels.
• Need for Meaning and Substance in life.
• Shifting Mindset from Pity to Recognizing Abilities.
• Handpicking the Team, Strength of the Organization.
• Paraplegia is a multi-disability, not a condition present from birth.
• The Camaraderie, Strength, and Positivity as a catalyst for change.
• Helping find a life of Dreams, Exposing to a World of Possibilities.
• Faith and Trust that inspired the journey and continue to sustain it.
• Sounding Boards in the journey: Daughters in the past, Team in the present.
• Daughters are an integral part of life, leaving a significant void when they move on.
• Laughter is very important; it bids goodbye to many woes without conscious effort.
• No need to seek validation or explain oneself to society; Judgments will always exist.
• Challenging for any woman to step out of her comfort zone and stand up for her vision.
• Unwavering support and encouragement from my father to become a woman of substance.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Sita Kapadia is Professor Emeritus of English, Asian Literature, and World Literature at the City University of New York. Born and raised in India, Sita grew up in a progressive and humanitarian family deeply rooted in Gandhian values, with her father's principles and her mother's extraordinary artistic talent shaping her worldview.

Sita's journey has taken her from India to Singapore and Malaysia and finally to the United States, where she has made significant contributions to education. She is the author of The Woman Beside Gandhi: A Biography of Kasturba, Wife of the Mahatma, a work deeply connected to her family's values and her childhood desire to meet Kasturba Gandhi.

In addition to her academic achievements, Sita is a self-trained artist, sculptor, and master gardener. Now almost 88 years old, she continues to embody resilience, creativity, and a lifelong passion for learning. Her life and work are a testament to the enduring power of art, education, and storytelling.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Every day might bring something new to learn.
• The importance of having invincible faith and belief.
• Acknowledging the regret of not cultivating certain friendships.
• Resilience, humility, and quiet leadership learned from Kasturba.
• If the soul is eager and there is a desire, anything can be achieved.
• An unusually progressive upbringing where equality was at its core.
• My experience as a teacher in the prison was deeply humane and enlightening.
• The spark to write Kasturba's story came from a drive to seek more answers.
• Literature is a medium that cuts through life's busyness, revealing core truths.
• A feisty spirit from the mother and progressive Gandhian values from the father.
• If the soul is eager and there is a genuine desire to help, anything can be achieved.
• A true Vaishnava follower of the Lord is one who understands the pain of another.
• Patience and support from a partner enabled the pursuit of interests and ambitions.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

In this episode, Enma highlights Perseverance as the first key success factor to emerge from the stories of the Atalanta’s on the podcast. She reflects on how Perseverance has influenced her life and the journeys of the remarkable women she's interviewed, revisiting some of the impactful moments from past episodes.

Through the lens of Perseverance, the episode highlights the stories of four inspiring women from different fields:

• Mridula Jain revolutionized India's shawl industry by breaking through Legal Barriers. (Episode 38)
• Vanessa Van Ameyde navigated imposter syndrome through Strategic Preparation.(Episode 79)
• Radha Kessar conquered self-doubt despite an exemplary Academic Career. (Episode 20)
• Abha Narain Lambah transformed fear into a driving force for Heritage Conservation.(Episode 32).

This episode acts as a guide, offering a moment to reflect on the perseverance that has carried you through your own challenges. Through these stories, Enma provides an opportunity to pause, consider, and gather new insights that will help you continue to Persevere on your path.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Rina Singh's roots are in rural North India, where she was raised within a culture of family and community craftsmanship, which continues to influence her. She has experience researching and developing indigenous Indian textile techniques with NIFT Gandhinagar, where she worked as an assistant professor. She gained international fashion insight through her travels and work with an international design studio based in Prato, Italy, and with Wills Lifestyle, where she headed the women's wear category.

In 2011, Rina Singh launched "ekà," primarily working with textile craftspeople in rural Western and Eastern India to develop natural and sustainable fabrics in modern yet enduring silhouettes.

Eka` means one in Sanskrit and describes a one-of-a-kind product for women who wear their hearts on their sleeves and attitude in their clothes.

Rina Singh made history as the first designer from India to collaborate with the global apparel conglomerate Uniqlo for the launch of its first-ever Kurta collection, available across stores globally, for the AW19 and SS20 seasons.

She received the Chairman's Scholarship from Wigan & Leigh College to study fashion in the UK in 1998. In 2015, she was awarded the Elle India Graduates Award. In 2016, she was a runner-up at the Vogue India Fashion Fund and a regional finalist from India for the prestigious International Woolmark Prize. In 2019, Rina Singh was awarded the Vogue Power List - Minimalist Designer of the Year and featured as Harper Bazaar's Women of the Year.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Education was not a right, and she had to earn it.
• Creating the Eka Tribe and building the community.
• Rina's relationship with her different mentors, her confidant.
• Strong women are often silenced more than empowered.
• Discover how Rina's scholarship paved the path to where she stands today.
• How reading served as a refuge during challenging times, an escape.
• She recognized her place in the world of fashion and that everyone rises together.
• Fashion is not just an attire but a means of expressing one's personality and individuality.
• Values of simple village life, rural surroundings, and elements like earth, water, air, and nature and their influence on Rina's work and perspective.
• Highly skilled and dexterous craft should not merely survive but thrive and become a form of art.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Vinita Gursahani Singh is the Founder and Managing Trustee of We, The People Abhiyan, and she has dedicated over 28 years to advancing social development in India, with a focus on livelihoods, human rights, and active citizenship. Her work is grounded in the belief that empowering individuals with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to address their own challenges is crucial for societal progress.

Vinita naturally excels in exploring issues and solutions through active dialogue and consultation, striving to build meaningful engagements with stakeholders at all levels—from grassroots communities to government agencies, corporations, and civil society organizations. Over the past 25 years, she has worked tirelessly to educate and inspire citizens to understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities, fostering a deep pride in democratic values.

With a management degree from SP Jain Institute in Mumbai and an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics, Vinita blends academic knowledge with hands-on experience to drive impactful change in India through the Constitution.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Social cohesion and solidarity.
• Feeling fear, holding on to faith.
• Celebrating success, even the smallest wins.
• Navigating risks when challenging the machinery.
• Discrimination against women remains a real issue.
• Constitution is a long word and an incredibly powerful word.
• The State is a duty holder; citizens need to challenge for access.
• Believing in the goodness of people is an important state of mind.
• With the right information and mindset, transformation is possible.
• Challenge ourselves to take ownership and bring our voices forward.
• When one's back is to the wall, there's only one way, and that's forward.
• Demonstrating, to inspire Gen Z to consider a career in the social sector.
• Professional commitments and personal life, not trying to strike a balance.
• Lack of access is a barrier; even with the desire to make a change, possibilities remain unknown.
• Independence provided us with political democracy, but social democracy requires people to change for themselves and others.
• The Constitution empowers us to make a difference and bring our own voices to the table.
• Once you open someone's mind, you have to accept their perspective.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Monica has been a technology entrepreneur since 1999 and a social entrepreneur since 2015. As a founding board member of Nisum Latam, she played a crucial role in its growth and international expansion, transforming it from a Chilean startup into a global firm with 100 employees from over 25 countries, specializing in complex software development for the U.S. market.

Currently, Monica serves as the Executive Director of Kodea Nonprofit, which focuses on digitally empowering Latin Americans. Kodea promotes inclusive tech development, female digital empowerment, early innovation, and the integration of Computer Science in classrooms to foster digital talent.

Monica has represented Chile on the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) since 2022 and has been a Business Director and columnist for Economy and Business at El Mercurio since 2019. Her accolades include the Chiletec Women in Technology Award (2015) and the Service Export Award (2016). She has been honored as one of Chile's 100 Women Leaders and, in 2021, received the Woman in Tech Lifetime Achievement Award and the Women that Build Awards from Globant. Additionally, she served as an ambassador for the Chile Brand and, with her Kodea team, won the JK Visionaries award in 2020.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Operating as a Pleaser
• From Chile to New York
• A Round Peg in a Square Hole
• All the Limits Are in Our Mind
• A Lonely Journey and Naysayers
• Focus on Excellence, Money Follows
• Unpacking Pain and Self-Acceptance
• Sharing Your Problems, Your Fragility
• Resolving Conflict, Creating Safe Spaces
• Promoting Chile and Breaking Stereotypes
• Understanding Why We Act the Way We Do
• From Tech Entrepreneur to Founder of Kodea
• Risks of Poor Planning, Leading to Desperation
• Finding Your tribe, People with the Same Mindset

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

With over 20 years of international experience spanning Asia, North America, and Europe, Simran has been at the forefront of delivering transformative technology solutions across various industry verticals, including Education, Non-Profits, Retail, Real Estate, Media, and Shipping & Logistics. Her career has been dedicated to driving business operations towards a "digital first" approach, harnessing the power of technology to innovate and optimize.

Simran attributes her personal competitive advantage to a blend of pragmatism, ambition, intuition, trust in people, and an appreciation for data. Her commitment to closing the loop on any challenge that comes her way has been a key factor in her success.

Recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Leadership Voice," Simran has made significant contributions through her insightful writing and engagement on the platform.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Simran is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion for women, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and literacy. She actively supports women-led businesses as an angel investor and serves as a Limited Partner (LP) in private equity firms focusing on Climate Tech, Healthcare, the Future of Work, and Retail Reinvention.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Control is an illusion.
• Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
• Finding joy in work helps you endure difficult days.
• Growth comes from stepping out of comfort zones.
• Clearing the mind is a superpower for a long, sustained career.
• Meditation and yoga have the power to rewire the brain and thoughts.
• Introverts make great leaders, which is important to mastering extroverted skills.
• Choosing risky options over safe choices where there is potential for growth.
• Conveying understanding is more important than accents in language learning.
• Don't second-guess why you have a seat at the table. Focus on preparing for that role.
• Money is a tool; especially women should focus not just on earning but also on investing.
• Having an independent mind allows one to have different opinions and still move forward together.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Vennesa Van Ameyde serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Kasasa, an award-winning fintech and marketing services company that provides reward checking accounts people love, the first-ever loan with Take-Backs™, and ongoing expert consulting services to more than 600 community financial institutions nationwide.

As COO, Vennesa manages the day-to-day operations, marketing, creative services, client implementation & support services, internal application infrastructure, operating standards, people programs, and culture at Kasasa.

She is a senior operating executive with demonstrated talent for transforming and scaling organizations by developing the operational infrastructure, systems, processes, reporting, and organizational strategies to foster rapid growth. Vennesa is a people's champion, passionate about creating a best-place-to-work culture via the development of innovative programs that focus on talent attraction, development, leadership training, engagement, reward and recognition, community outreach, and DE&I.

She holds an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich University and a BS in Political Science and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. Vennesa received Lean Six Sigma training from the University of Michigan College of Engineering and studied Theory of Constraints for Operations at The Goldratt Institute. She has been honored to receive recognition by the Austin Business Journal as a “Profiles In Power & Woman Of Influence” Finalist in 2015.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Leadership lessons from team sports.
• Knowing your value, knowing your worth.
• Not letting perfect get in the way of progress.
• Emotional leadership and business leadership.
• Advocating for other women, providing allyship .
• Imposter syndrome, to be worthy of sitting at the table.
• Communication tools, emailing vs meeting, when and why.
• Leaning in, leveraging an opportunity before it passes you by.
• Being human, being vulnerable and being willing to talk about what you're capable of and being able to ask for help.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli’s website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/