To begin, tell us a little about yourself—your background, your journey across industries, and what shaped you as a person.

My journey began in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group, where I also completed my post-graduation. Growing up in Mumbai, both the city and my alma mater, IMH Mumbai, instilled in me a strong sense of discipline and ambition.
Thanks to my father’s career as a flight engineer with Air India, I had the opportunity to travel extensively. That early exposure, along with a grounded upbringing, shaped my independent and curious outlook. As an only child, I often turned to books, music, and sports—tennis, swimming… These along with Indian classical music became important parts of my life.
I met my husband during my time at the Oberoi Group and we married young. We grew together—personally and professionally—and two years after our marriage welcomed our daughter.
Over time, I found myself drawn to Learning & Development, setting up a college, and working with the central industry body, FHRAI. As the industry shifted, I moved into training and development at General Electric in GECIS, and later to telecom with the Reliance Group. To consolidate my position in Human Resource, I also completed my Masters in Human Resources from IMT Ghaziabad and joined the world’s leading Fintech company, FIS. I had a wonderful stint of 14 years here where I helped scale the business from 4,500 to 25,000 employees—leading operations across India, the Philippines, and eventually pan-Asia.
After 35 long years of work, I stepped away to support my husband in building our Ayurvedic wellness retreat, Mekosha. But when COVID hit, we lost both the business and, heartbreakingly, him. In time, I reopened Mekosha and now run it alongside my grief support work—both focused on healing, myself and others.

You’ve led demanding roles across industries—how did you balance work and personal life during those years?

With great difficulty. We moved homes and cities often, managed with limited finances, and had stricter work environments and less managerial support than today.
I had to draw strength from within. It led to physical tolls—like cervical issues and fatigue—but I managed.
Thankfully, my daughter was a happy child, and my husband was always supportive. Domestic help made a difference, and when needed, my mother or mother-in-law would step in.
It sounds like you had a close-knit and supportive family, especially your husband. How would you describe the partnership you shared—personally and professionally?

Professionally, we had our separate domains and respected them.
Personally, he filled a deep loneliness. We learned and grew with each other—often without realising it.
Our world was the three of us, and in hindsight, that was our greatest treasure.

The sudden loss of your husband during COVID must have been shattering. Can you take us back to that time—what changed in you, in your life, and in the world around you?

The world stopped. The ground vanished beneath my feet. I felt half-dead.
We had finally found the time and money to take trips together. We had even made a list. But life had other plans.
In that stillness, I found my heart, empathy, and resilience. I built a circle of soul companions—others navigating grief and healing.
I found my Guruji, the Bhagavad Gita, and reconnected deeply with music. I never questioned God. My bond with Lord Krishna only grew stronger—I knew He was with me, in darkness and light.

In addition to the emotional loss, you also faced a significant financial setback with Mekosha shutting down. How did you begin to cope with that dual crisis?

We had already scaled down operations, which helped. There were some reserves in the business, and I had my own savings from 35 years of work.
My daughter, who had worked briefly with my husband, helped me restart the retreat. That gave us both the confidence to carry forward his legacy.
Wellness is here to stay. In a world racing forward, practices like Ayurveda offer the stillness we need. Faith, hope, and healing perspective saw us through. After such a deep personal loss, financial setbacks seem easier to navigate.