Welcome back to Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life's Journey. Today, we will be exploring insights on creating space, navigating healing and transitions towards wholeness, and understanding 'liminal spaces'. We'll also be discussing the crucial need for individuals and organizations to reconnect by integrating body, mind and spirit. My guest’s motto is that “healing is a return to wholeness and creates a space for living and working in alignment with our true selves and purpose”

I'm so grateful for Jae Sloane who has agreed to share their wisdom with us today. Jae is an organisational development consultant, business and holistic coach, writer, speaker, and artist. Jae's diverse background and personal journey, which I recently learned about through their LinkedIn activity, made me eager to explore some of the themes in the podcast today.

Jae lives in Southwest Wales with their husband, Greg, and dog, Fred. Jae’s pronouns are they/them.

About Jae Sloan

Jae is an organisational development consultant, holistic coach, writer, speaker and artist with expertise in organisational health, human performance in the context of work, inclusion and diversity and leadership. They have 20 years’ experience working in a multinational pharma organisation as well as more than 5 years of professional experience working in education/non-profit community organisations. As an out queer person Jae has more than 10 years of leadership in inclusion and diversity with an emphasis on LGBTQIA+. Jae is a Co-Founder and current Co-Chair of the Proud Science Alliance, a collective of healthcare and life sciences sector LGBTQ+ networks and partners who work together to raise the bar on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their organisations and the sector as a whole.

While working in the corporate, non-profit and educational sectors for more than 25 years, Jae has integrated personal study and practice across the mind-body-spirit continuum. They have done this formally through graduate degrees, an MSc in Exercise Physiology and an MSc in Cell and Molecular Biology, gaining in depth understanding of how our bodies work. Building on this foundation, they have used other formal learning opportunities, workshops, reading and practices such as exercise, yoga, meditation and energy healing techniques to gain practical understanding of how our minds and spirits intersect with our bodies. With further formal training in interpersonal/group dynamics and Gestalt, Jae is skilled in working with individuals and groups to build knowledge and awareness of how we can better know ourselves, heal our bodies and stand in our power.

In this podcast we pose the following questions on healing, transitions and integrating body, mind and spirit.

• How have you shaped your work in recent years?

• I love this statement what makes you say, ‘Big change and transformation is possible at any age?’ Aren’t most people fearful of change?

• What does return to wholeness as a definition of healing mean?

• What is liminal space?

• How is your practice aligned with the work you do with your clients?

• Tell us about upcoming workshop on transitions and the use of photography as a tool for self-discovery and vision creation

• How do you get people to access their unconscious mind?

• What happens when people resist the work?

• What tips and insights would you give to people who want to start their own healing processes?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• HEADSHOT: A pause, a picture, a possibility – a workshop for those in transition using photography and coaching to help see what’s next - https://www.apiscg.com/headshot

• Jae’s photography: https://felinstudio.myportfolio.com/ or follow on Instagram @felin_studio

• Connect with Jae through their website [https://www.apiscg.com/] or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaesloan/

• Jae’s blog: https://www.apiscg.com/blog

Creating a Vibrant Space that brings Food and Community Together.

Welcome back to "Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life's Journey, the podcast. In today’s episode we will be exploring how a powerful inner drive, combined with a dash of purpose, passion and imagination, can transform a space into something truly special that has commercial success and as well as bringing communities together. Furthermore, we also tap into my guest’s leadership style, the importance of team working and shared responsibility.

About Suzy Nutt.

I am joined by Suzy Nutt. Suzy is the brilliant mind behind Pulp, a vibrant cafe and wine bar that has become a beloved hub for so many people in Ealing, West London. Now, Suzy isn't just a successful entrepreneur; she's a creator who's built her business on her own terms, with a philosophy that resonates deeply: "Treat others how you want to be treated, serve what you want to be served." It's a simple, yet powerful, idea. For Suzy it’s about creating a welcoming space where people can enjoy good food and drink and learn from each other irrespective of their spending power. Along with this, Suzy’s unconventional family background provided her with the foundation and how it influenced her fearless approach in pursuing the things she felt most passionate about.

In this podcast, we pose the following questions on Community, love of food and a strong work ethic

• So, let's start at the beginning. You've mentioned your unconventional family and how did this fuel your creativity?

• Where did the seed for Pulp first get planted? What was the moment or inspiration that made you say, 'I need to create this'?

• It's clear you have a real passion for food and wine where does that come from?

• How do you respond when I say you have created a sense of community with Pulp?

• Tell me little about not being afraid of failing where does that come from?

• "You mentioned your mantra, 'be calm and unafraid.' is really intriguing. What's the story behind it? Where did that philosophy originate?

• What's on the horizon for Pulp? What are your dreams and aspirations for its future?

• If you could distil your experience into one key piece of advice for someone wanting to build their own dream, what would you say?

  Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  https://eatdrinkpulp.com
  email: thenicepeople@eatdrinkpulp.com

  Work with me: connect with me through LinkedIn, Facebook, instagram www.nitasharma.com

  I’d love it if you could follow the podcast, share it with others, and let me know what you think! 🌟

Growing Female Leadership Talent

Welcome to our next episode of ‘Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life Journey’ podcast. In this episode, we will explore a coaching framework that introduces the Female Leadership Wheel, a self-perception tool designed to help women enhance their leadership skills. The Female Leadership Wheel is particularly focused on women working in companies or other organisations. It delves into self-awareness and emphasises the importance of women cultivating leadership skills and having choice as well a sense of agency, especially in male-dominated environments.

Joining me today is Lisa Ross-Marcus, a leadership coach for women, mentor to female startup founders and entrepreneurs, and an expert in intercultural communication. Lisa grew up in New York and has been living in the Netherlands for the past 40 years. She brings extensive experience working within global organisations.

In this podcast we pose the following questions on working with Female Leadership Talent.

• What’s been your journey that has got you interested in doing work with female leaders?
• What is your philosophy about Female leadership?
• What can you tell us about the Female Leadership Wheel?
• What does the research you have done tells us about Female Leadership today? What’s new and different or the same?
• What brings you joy to continue to do this?
• What tips, resources would you offer to others to become more empowered female leaders?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Website: link to more information about coaching with the Female Leadership Wheel

https://www.in-coaching.nl/coaching-with-the-female-leadership-wheel.html

Lisa offers a free 30-minute consultation on the Female Leadership Wheel

My LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7249018052976021504/

Blogposts:

Assertiveness: How emerging women leaders can get comfortable speaking up

Emerging Female Leaders: Take Time to Map Your Ambitions

Is that all? Negotiating to Bridge the Gender Pay Gap

Work with me : If you are interested in working with me connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, www.nitasharma.com.

If you enjoyed the podcast, why not consider subscribing on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from or leave a review?

Welcome to our episode of ‘Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life’s Journey’ podcast.

In today’s episode we're diving deep into the power of finding your voice and creating your own safe space. We'll explore how resilience, self-belief, and those unexpected moments of serendipity can truly transform our lives and empower us to make courageous choices. Imagine a life marked by significant challenges yet defined by unwavering strength. A life where a chance encounter on a plane could spark a profound transformation. That's exactly what happened to our guest today.

Joining me is Sangita Marda Agarwal, a woman whose story is a testament to the human spirit. Eight years ago, on a flight back from Heathrow, Sangita picked up Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." Little did she know that book would ignite a passion that has shaped her life ever since. But before we delve into her incredible work with Lean In, we need to understand the remarkable journey that brought her here.

About Sangita Marda Agarwal

Sangita is a sunrise lover and a storyteller. Her story begins 57 years ago when she was adopted by a remarkable couple. Adopting a female child was in those days. She enjoyed a privileged upbringing, lots of love and a solid education. But life took a devastating turn when she lost her parents at just 21. Soon after, she found herself in a marriage marked by domestic abuse for 8 long years.

Trapped by financial dependence which crushed her self-confidence and self esteem. But amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerged. Acts of kindness from other women, and a chance opportunity to join a door-to-door book sales training program, became a lifeline. Despite the hardships of being a single mother, Sangita rose through the ranks, achieving director-level success, and ultimately, gaining the financial independence she needed to create a safe haven for her two daughters.

Beyond her personal journey, Sangita boasts an impressive 29-year career in sales, marketing, and communication across three major companies. Today, she serves as a fractional CCO, providing expert consultancy. For the past eight years, she's dedicated herself to voluntarily building and running the Lean In Mumbai Network, after relocating from Kolkata to Mumbai with her daughters and her second husband. Sangita's story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we possess the strength to reclaim our voices and build safe spaces, not just for ourselves, but for others.

In this Podcast, We Pose the Following on Building Resilience and Self-belief

• Sangita, your story is one of remarkable resilience. When did you first become aware of your own strength and self-belief?
• In those incredibly challenging times you faced, what kept you going? What was your anchor?
• Tell us about that moment at the airport. How did Sheryl Sandberg's book, 'Lean In,' speak to you so profoundly?
• "You've been running the Lean In network for eight years. For those who might not be familiar, can you tell us what the network does and its mission?
• In the Indian context, what are some of the key themes you're seeing and hearing around women's empowerment?"
• What tips or resources would you offer to someone who is facing personal challenges and wants to begin their journey of self-discovery and empowerment?"

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

1. Books: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
2. Lean In - For joining or starting a Lean In Circle from wherever you are in the world.
3. Movies - Queen ( Hindi)
4. The Mel Robinson Podcast

Work with me : If you are interested in working with me connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, www.nitasharma.com.

If you enjoyed the podcast, why not consider subscribing on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from or leave a review?

What Can Learning about Your Mother Teach you about Yourself?

Welcome to our episode of 'Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life's Journey' podcast. Today, we're diving deep into the powerful and often complex relationship between mothers and daughters. Our guest, Janet, shares her incredibly personal story, after the death of her father; in her mission of getting to know her mother better, a journey that unexpectedly opened a Pandora's Box of self-discovery. Through exploring her mother's experiences and the cultural expectations from Hong Kong shaped her upbringing, Janet began to unravel the threads of her own identity, leadership style, and those nagging feelings that have surfaced at stressful times in both her personal and professional life.

About Janet Standing

Janet Lung Standing, Founder CEO of Janet Standing Consultancy Ltd. Born in Hong Kong. A seasoned global leader with over 30 years of business experience, held senior suppliers-facing roles at major corporations, including Mars and Danone, and most recently served as Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson Matthey, a market leader in sustainable technologies. In January 2025, she founded her advisory practice to guide businesses with high growth ambition in how to become successful suppliers to the big corporates. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she integrates these values into business practices, believing that success is built on strong relationships and collaboration. Janet holds a First-Class Honors degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London and has completed General management and Leadership programmes at IMD. Outside of work, she enjoys making pottery.

In this podcast, We Pose the Following Questions About Janet’s Journey with her Mother:

1. Janet, what sparked this journey for you? (Father’s dying wish, to not fight my mum – brutal awareness of my own mortality – I had a desire to build a good relationship with my mum) Be by her side to grief and get through the grief curve together.
2. Tell us a little about your mother? What do you admire about her?
3. How spending deeper time with your mother opened the box further into your self- discovery? (I had discussion with her as woman to woman sharing in our experience and insights as women leaders).
4. How did cultural expectations that you carried influenced your own upbringing?
5. From your reflection, how has this “prior programming” have shown up in your corporate life and influenced your leadership style, how you behave at work?
6. What were the unexpected discoveries you made through this journey with your mum?
7. What is the biggest takeaway you have from this experience?(power of truly knowing yourself !!)

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Leading by Alex Ferguson Transitions by William Bridges, The Choice by Edith Eger
• The Gift by Edith Eger, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• Living the Leadership Lifestyle by Ross Emerson Care to Dare by George Kohlrieser Websites: Facetofacetraining.com Cheetah-stories.com
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Work with me : If you are interested in working with me connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, www.nitasharma.com.

If you enjoyed the podcast, why not consider subscribing on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from or leave a review?

In today's session, we are going to explore how the landscape and perspective on mental health and wellness has evolved through the different generations. Each generation has something valuable to contribute to our understanding of mental wellbeing. From the resilience of the 'Silent Generation' to the advocacy of Millennials and Gen Z who are often more vocal about their needs. Are there things we learn so much from each other? We'll examine these different approaches, looking at what works, what's changed, and how we can combine the best of both worlds to support our mental wellbeing aids healing for all.

About Sophia Otasowie

I am joined today by Sophia, who is based in Los Angeles, California and serves as the Director of Programs at Olive Support Services, a nonprofit that provides vulnerable communities with evidence-based classes for behavioral wellness. She shares about mental health from her experience working with OSS and as a national Mental Health First Aid instructor. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has a background in education policy research. With a commitment to empowering individuals and families, she looks forward to sharing insights that promote awareness, resilience, and practical support.

In this podcast, we pose the following questions on Wellness and Mental Health.

1. What got you into health and well-being as a practitioner?
2. How has the understanding of mental health and wellness changed across generations?
3. What are some of the subtle nuances of health and well-being that we are seeing today?
4. What can each generation learn from each other’s approaches to health and well-being?
5. What role does technology play in mental health, both positively and negatively, for different age groups?
6. What are some the challenges for health and well-being that we need to tackle?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Mental Health First Aid - Find a Class: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/find-a-course/

sophia.otasowie@olivesupportservices.org

Work with me : If you are interested in working with me connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, www.nitasharma.com.

If you enjoyed the podcast, why not consider subscribing on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from or leave a review?

Welcome to our episode of Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life’s Journey podcast. In this episode, we will explore how to navigate your career to find your purpose, make a meaningful contribution, and have a lasting impact. Finding your purpose involves understanding your passions, strengths, and values.

About Jignasha Kanani

Today, I am joined by Jignasha Kanani where we will discuss strategies how she aligned her career with her personal goals and values, ensuring that her work is not only a source of income but also a fulfilling.

Jignasha has worked for over 20 years in Commercial Banking in Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group, Jignasha has held a number of different roles, including Relationship Manager and Credit Officer. Understanding that she is driven by making a difference and helping others, Jignasha chose to change the direction of her career moving towards People orientated roles. She is currently a People Delivery Manager, with a core focus on Next Generation Talent.

Jignasha ’s mission is to make Lloyds Banking Group (and the wider Banking industry) a great, inclusive place to work by sharing experience, facilitating opportunities for colleagues to talk about their experience and supporting leaders with their knowledge, understanding and implementation of inclusive practices. She wants to inspire the next generation, break down barriers and create a safe, inclusive environment where her friends and peers can thrive and be fulfilled in their ambitions.

Jignasha has been recognised both internally and externally for her focus on DE&I and helping others. Most recently, Jignasha has been named an Empower Future Leader 2024.

In this podcast we pose the following Finding Purpose in your Career

• What made you go into banking?
• What’s been the positive impact of your career and what might be some of the challenges you have overcome?
• What been the impetus for you getting involved in ERG and DEI work?
• What role do you think culture and society play in shaping how we show up in our carers?
• What insight/advice would you give to people regarding their careers?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Women in Credit keynote speech and panel session: here and here
• Voice it Out podcast recording: here
• The Value Exchange podcast: here
• Empower Future Leaders post - here

Podcast - What Makes You Who You Are?

Welcome to our episode of ‘Reach Minds: Thoughts for Your Life’s Journey’ podcast. In today’s session, we will explore the leadership point of view, in respect of what makes you who you are and how does this manifest in your leadership and how you lead others. A key question we ask is that “why do I do the things that I do”?

About Asha

Asha has over 20 years’ experience in the fields of end-to-end talent management, learning and development and organisation development. She has worked in the fields of IT Education, BPO and Retail.

Asha has been responsible for developing and implementing talent management programmes, including career mapping for IT teams, development of high potential talent as well as coaching leaders to identify, mentor and develop their teams. She has worked on various programmes, where she was the HR ‘face’. As stream leads on these programmes, Asha was tasked with designing and developing workshops, proposing team structures as well as writing job descriptions.

Asha has coached individual contributors and middle managers on navigating cultural differences and communicating and building effective cross-cultural relationships. She has led large teams of trainers and she has experience in training trainers to the standards set by the organisation.

As a consultant, Asha has worked with clients on ensuring that their policies in Asia are legally compliant.

Asha lives in Hong Kong with her family. An avid reader and photographer, she loves travelling, gardening and writes on her favourite theme of self-leadership and taking accountability for making change happen in her spare time.

In this podcast, we pose the following questions on what makes you who you are.

1. What drew you to do the work in leadership and coaching?
2. Over the years what you have observed about leadership and some of its trends?
3. How can we exercise the power of choice?
4. What resources and tips can you offer others.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

1. Change your questions, change your life – Marilee Adams
2. The 7 spiritual laws of success – Deepak Chopra
3. Servant Leadership – Ken Blanchard
4. Leadership Profit Chain – Blanchard Companies
5. Dr. William Glasser’s Choice Theory

asha@activecommunication.net