IgnitedNeurons

Our Mission is to inspire & ignite your spark & be part of your journey as you discover your true self.

We are an organization driven by a sense of purpose and a clear focus on delivering impact with every life we touch. The three values are a part of our DNA and are expressed in our every interaction, every action.
> Excellence श्रेष्‍ठता - the quality of being very good
> Empathy समानुभूति - the ability to imagine how another person is feeling
> Equality समानता - everyone has the same rights and advantages

We truly believe that each one of us has greatness within us. Our objective is to be with you on that journey to discover who you are and who you can be.

We provide the following services - 
1. Executive and Leadership Coaching
2. First Time Manager Coaching Journeys
3. Happiness Coaching
4. Sessions on Well-being, Finding Purpose
5. Co-create Journeys to Help Each One be their Best Self

Founder

The IgnitedNeurons Podcast

I am the host of The IgnitedNeurons podcast that aims at humanising leadership by building conversations with guests and amplifying their stories globally!

Podcast Host

Can We Talk

Learning and Development Manager

BetterUp

BetterUp partners with global enterprise customers to bring transformation experiences to their people and measurable growth to their organizations. At BetterUp, I coach executives from Fortune 500 companies across the globe to help them navigate workplace challenges and achieve professional goals for career success. The BetterUp experience brings together world-class coaching, AI technology, and behavioral science experts to deliver change at scale - improving individual resilience, adaptability, and effectiveness.

Fellow Coach

Associate Coach

Torch

Torch is an integrated platform for Learning and Development leaders to deliver, manage, and measure employee growth at scale. In this role, I will be an Executive Coach to the clients that Torch onboards onto their platform.

Executive Coach

Mentora

In this role, I am heading the India Office for the organization & working closely with clients in the Asia-Pacific region. I enjoy the challenge of keeping pace with the changing external conditions while staying authentic to who I am as an individual and we are as a team.

Director Of Operations & Client Development

Director Of Marketing

Director Of Photography

Production Manager

Narang Healthcare and Wellness

Director & Founder

Executive Coach | Your Copilot to a Fulfilling Life and Career Growth | Powered by the Ignite Life Method™ | Coached 1,200+ Leaders at Dropbox, Salesforce, Coinbase | Take the Quiz to See What Needs to Shift — Now

Do you feel that you are stuck in your career,
life overwhelmed with busyness, 
and you are disconnected from yourself... 
then we need to talk.

Most high achievers I coach aren’t broken — they’re just disconnected.

🚨 Disconnected from their purpose.
🚨 Disconnected from the work they once loved.
🚨 Disconnected from the life they truly want to live.

It shows up as: STUCK, FRUSTRATION, LOST.

❌ Career stagnation
❌ Constant firefighting
❌ Burnout masked as busyness
❌ Imposter syndrome despite success

I help ambitious professionals — founders, product leaders, and emerging executives — reignite clarity, rebuild courage, and create conscious impact using The Ignite Method™.

You don’t have to choose between growth and fulfilment. You can have both.

🔥 The Ignite Method™

1. Clarity Journey — Rediscover who you are and what truly matters.
2. Courage Building — Move through fear and start acting boldly.
3. Conscious Impact — Create a career and life that actually feels like success.
4. Cohesive Action — Align what you think, feel, and do every single day.

🎯 What My Clients Gain

✅ Unshakable clarity on what’s next
✅ Courage to make big, aligned decisions
✅ Confidence to lead teams or businesses with purpose
✅ Energy and ownership to thrive at work and at home

📍 A Bit About Me

- PCC Certified Coach (ICF)
- 1,200+ leaders coached in 18+ countries
- Clients from Google, Coinbase, Dropbox, Salesforce, Intel, EA Sports, Rubrik, Visa, Zynga and more
- TEDx Speaker: Can Fear Push Us to be Courageous? Google it!
- Founder, IgnitedNeurons — a platform helping build a culture of high performance, growth mindset and based in values!
- Building the IgnitedNeurons Podcast to extract lessons you and I can apply in everyday life

💼 If You’re Leading a Team or Organisation:
I also partner with founders, HR heads, and L&D leaders to design bold cultures, build values-driven teams, and humanise leadership.

📩 Ready to Take the First Step?
Take the free 5-minute Ignite Life Quiz to discover what’s holding you back.

Let’s ignite your next chapter.

Utkarsh Narang

Stuck isn’t a place. 
It’s a mindset.

At the start of 2025, I thought clarity would just show up.

Spoiler: it didn’t.

What worked instead? 
Courage. 
Curiosity. 
Imperfect action.

Now as the year closes, ask yourself: Am I where I want to be?

If not, don’t wait for January 1. Change begins the moment you choose.

Here are 25 ways to get unstuck before 2026 begins:
1.	Reconnect with your values.
2.	Follow curiosity.
3.	Reach out to old peers and mentors.
4.	Test-drive skills through side projects or volunteering.
5.	Build something of your own.
6.	Learn: courses, books, workshops.
7.	Shadow someone in a role you admire.
8.	Refresh LinkedIn and your CV.
9.	Explore a new industry.
10.	Start small, aim consistent.
11.	Join inspiring communities.
12.	Reflect: what’s working, what’s not?
13.	Protect your energy.
14.	Ask for feedback.
15.	Attend events,online or offline.
16.	Embrace imperfection.
17.	Find a mentor or coach.
18.	Tap into online resources.
19.	Research company cultures.
20. Sharpen soft skills.
21.	Track and celebrate wins.
22. Stay open to surprise paths.
23. Try coaching for clarity.
24. Take the risk you’ve avoided.
25. Keep going.

Progress is rarely perfect but it is possible.
And sometimes, one small step is all it takes to open the next big door.

💬 What’s one step you’ll take before the year ends?

♻️ Share this with someone who feels stuck right now.

👋🏼 I’m Utkarsh Narang, Executive Coach and lifelong learner. I share ideas on leadership, growth, and living courageously. Follow along for more.

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Talks about #personalgrowth, #bebettereveryday, #leadershiplessons, #utkarshbrainspark, and #leadershipcoaching

Executive Coach Helping Ambitious Professionals Breakthrough Stuck Careers & Inner Frustration | Ignite Life Method™ | Coached 1,200+ Leaders at Dropbox, Salesforce, Coinbase | Take the Quiz to Reignite Yourself

Your past doesn’t define you.

Your next choice does.

We spend so much of our lives replaying old memories: 
the job we left, 
the words we wish we hadn’t said, 
the version of ourselves we can’t seem to forgive.

Yes, your past shaped you.
Yes, it taught you lessons.

But it doesn’t decide who you become now.

The future? It’s a man-made illusion.

Will you or I even be here for it? No one knows.
And that’s the whole point. The only thing that truly exists is this moment, and the choice you make in it.

Viktor Frankl once said:

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

That space is where life changes.
It’s where courage replaces fear.
It’s where awareness turns into action.

Every time you choose with awareness, you rewrite your story.
You move from reacting to responding.
From surviving to living consciously.

If you’re at that point where you’re ready to choose differently, to build a life rooted in clarity, courage, and conscious impact, that’s exactly what we do through the Ignite Life Method.

Because your next choice can change everything.

💬 What’s one choice you’re ready to make, consciously, today?

Are you winning in life? I am. 
And yes, I don’t have the CXO title or a billion dollars in my bank.

If you want to win in life, 
you need to know what it actually means to win.

Here are 4 hard truths most people learn the hard way 👇

I promise that if you can put these into practice, 
You will get closer to winning life, and very few are lucky enough to achieve this.

1️⃣ You won’t be liked by everyone.
The moment you start choosing yourself, someone will call you selfish.
Let them.
You’re not here to be universally liked. You’re here to live truthfully.

2️⃣ Not everyone deserves access to you.
Your time, energy, and attention are currency.
Spend them on people who expand you, not those who drain you.

3️⃣ Growth means leaving people behind.
You’ll outgrow circles, habits, and even versions of yourself.
It’s not betrayal. It’s evolution.

4️⃣ No one is coming to save you.
Not your manager. Not your partner. Not luck.
The day you stop waiting for rescue is the day you start leading your own life.

Winning isn’t about having it all.
It’s about having the courage to let go 
of validation, approval, and old identities 
so you can finally become who you’re meant to be.

💬 Which one of these truths hit you hardest today?

If this resonates:
♻️ Repost it to help someone who needs this today!
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more.

“Utkarsh, I just don’t think I’m doing enough.” If I were paid a $ for every time I heard this, I would be a billionaire.

We’re all terrible at seeing our own gifts.

We focus on our flaws.
We dismiss our strengths as “just normal.”
We compare our struggles to everyone else’s highlight reels.

A few months ago, one of my coachees, a senior marketing leader, came to me and said:

“Utkarsh, I just don’t think I’m doing enough.”

She had built a high-performing team, led major launches, and earned deep respect across her organisation.

But all she could see were the gaps, what she hadn’t done, what she could’ve done better.

Through our coaching, we worked on rewriting her lens.
Every session, I asked her one simple question:

“If your best friend achieved what you did, how would you describe them?”

Slowly, something shifted.
The tone changed. The self-talk softened.
She began to see what had always been there. 
Her own brilliance.

Three months later, she didn’t just show up differently at work.
She showed up differently for herself.

Most people don’t need motivation.
They need a mirror, someone who helps them see what they’ve stopped recognising.

That’s what I do through The Ignite Life Method and help people move from self-doubt to self-trust, from noise to clarity.

If you’re constantly questioning your worth despite everything you’ve built,
DM me IGNITE, and let’s help you see yourself clearly again.

💬 When was the last time you gave yourself credit for how far you’ve come?

If this resonated with you, 
♻️ Repost it help someone who needs this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such insights!

Over the last 40 years, I have grown.
And that growth has come at a cost.

That's what makes growth so scary.
So painful.
So hard.

I have lost relationships, careers, opportunities, and more.

In pursuit of growth that aligns with who I am.

The new you will cost you the old one.
This is how I pay the price.

No one talks about what you’ll have to let go of to grow.
The habits that kept you safe.
The people who preferred your smaller version.
The identity that gave you comfort.
The validation that made you feel seen.

Growth isn’t about adding more.
It’s about shedding everything that no longer fits.
And in that shedding, you’ll lose applause. You’ll lose belonging. You’ll even lose yourself for a while.

But then…
One day, you’ll wake up lighter. Clearer.
And you’ll realise, you didn’t lose anything.
You just outgrew what was never meant to come along.

So if it feels lonely right now, that’s okay.
You’re not breaking down.
You’re breaking through.

🧠 Question for you:
What part of your “old self” are you finally ready to outgrow this season?

When I had 4,000 people in my LinkedIn community, I dreamed of 10,000. At 10,000, I started imagining 20. Now, at 23,000… 

I’ve realised the number was never the point.

There’s a past version of me, sitting behind a clinic desk, or staring at a blank screen, or doubting if my words mattered, who would be amazed to see what I get to do today.

Not because it’s perfect.
But because I kept showing up even when no one was watching.

I kept writing when the likes were low.
I kept coaching when clients were few.
I kept believing that impact begins long before attention arrives.

And that’s what I remind my coachees, too.
The goal isn’t to only scratch the surface,
it’s to go deeper.
To become someone your past self would be proud of.

If you looked back right now,
you’d probably see the same thing,
a younger you who’s stunned you made it this far.

Don’t rush past that version.
Honour them.
Because they’re the reason you’re here.

And you’re not done yet.
Not by a long shot.

💬 What would your past self thank you for today?

If this resonated with you:
♻️ Repost it to help someone who needs it.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such insights!

LinkedIn

Most professionals give everything to a job that would replace them in a week.

I am not against that. Hear me out.

82% of professionals say they live with the constant fear of being laid off.

If you are lucky enough to find the sweet spot between your passion, profession, 
And a culture that values it…
Don’t let go.

But if you are someone who 
‼️Dreads Monday morning
‼️Feels that the weeks are long and the weekend is a myth
‼️Does not know what they ‘really’ do at work

Then you must pause. 
Pause and ask yourself…

Who are you?

We’ve tied our identity to our job title.
Our self-worth to our performance review.
Our security to a company that can change its mind overnight.

This is why it hurts so much when people lose jobs,
because they don’t just lose income,
they lose who they thought they were.

Work is important.
But it’s not your oxygen.

You existed before your job.

You’ll exist after it.

If you’re reading this and feeling the weight, 
start investing in yourself, not just your company.

Learn. Reflect. Build something that no layoff can touch,
your clarity, courage, and capability.

Because if you don’t define who you are beyond work,
someone else will.

➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more content that hits hard.

Last weekend, I had the joy of coaching my 11-year-old son’s basketball game. Before tip-off, I told the boys something simple…

 👉 “That’s the basket you’re scoring in.”
They laughed, of course, they knew that.
But in the second half, something happened.

In all the excitement, one of our players sprinted across the court, dodged defenders beautifully, and scored in the wrong basket.

The crowd gasped. 
The kid froze.
He’d done everything right… except one thing.
He’d lost sight of direction.

And that’s when it hit me - we adults do this all the time.
We sprint through life,
chasing goals we didn’t choose,
burning energy in the wrong direction.

Imagine Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating after scoring in his own net.

Or Serena Williams smashing the perfect ace on the wrong side of the court.

Ridiculous, right?
Yet, that’s what so many of us do every day
moving fast, 
going nowhere.

Speed feels good. 
Progress looks good.
But if you’re not clear on where you’re headed,
you’ll end up exhausted, not evolved.

So here’s my reminder:
If you’re moving fast but going nowhere, slow down.
Because in the long game of life,
direction will always matter more than speed.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

We live in a world where everyone is talking…
but almost no one is telling the truth.

We message, reply, react, “circle back,” drop emojis, soften edges, and avoid anything that might create discomfort.

We communicate constantly.

But honest conversations?

Rare. Painfully rare.

We need to bring truth back.

Truth with empathy.
Truth with courage.
Truth that builds, not breaks.

Because when people start saying the real thing… cultures transform. Teams breathe again. Leaders become human. And individuals feel free.

This week, try asking yourself:
✨ What honest conversation have I been avoiding?
✨ What truth (with kindness) could change everything?
✨ What reality am I finally ready to acknowledge?

Honesty isn’t the risk. Avoidance is.

Follow Utkarsh Narang and subscribe to the newsletter!

Welcome to another beautiful week. When an idea sparks that I think is worth sharing, it becomes this weekly newsletter. If something hits home, write

A world full of communication but starved of conversations

'A-Players' are not born. They are made. 
The world needs more A Players.

Here’s what the research says 👇🏽

Harvard and McKinsey found that the top 20% of people create nearly 80% of results.

They’re not just more talented.
They’re more intentional.

When I watch a Roger Federer, an Usain Bolt, a Serena Williams... I wonder, what is different about them and I think it comes down to their insatiable appetite for growth.

A Players:
 ✅ Own outcomes, not excuses.
 ✅ Seek feedback, not comfort.
 ✅ Compete with their potential, not their peers.
 ✅ Turn pressure into progress.

But here’s the truth most people miss -
Being an A Player is a choice.
Not everyone wants to go there.

But if something inside you whispers, “I was made for more,” then staying in your comfort zone will always feel like betrayal.

Because a few decades from now, 
you’ll meet one of two versions of yourself:

Your default self or your designed self.

Which one will it be?

Answer in the comments and let's have a conversation.

Follow Utkarsh Narang for more!

What It Takes to Become an 'A' Player

7 costs of entry you must pay to get the life you want
(most people quit at #3)

1️⃣ Rejection — Airbnb
Rejected by investors 20 times. They turned cereal boxes into cash to survive.

2️⃣ Embarrassment — Howard Schultz (Starbucks)
His idea was laughed at 242 times. He kept pouring the coffee anyway.

3️⃣ Uncertainty — Netflix
They offered to sell to Blockbuster for $50M and were turned down.
That moment of uncertainty birthed a $200B empire.

4️⃣ Discipline — Jeff Bezos
Every year he writes the same shareholder letter: “It’s still Day One.”
Boring consistency beats bursts of brilliance.

5️⃣ Loneliness — Sara Blakely (SPANX)
No one believed in her idea for women’s shapewear.
She sold door-to-door with a smile and grit.

6️⃣ Faith — Walt Disney
Bankrupt twice. Rejected hundreds of times.
Still believed in the magic he wanted to build.

7️⃣ Ego Death — Steve Jobs
Fired from Apple. Built Pixar. Came back stronger.

Sometimes you must lose what you built to rediscover who you are.

The cost of the life you want?
A true belief in who you are and what you aspire to build.

Everything fake, easy, or familiar.
But on the other side of that payment… is freedom.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

7 costs of entry you must pay to get the life you want 

Don’t preach what you can’t practice.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
 
Ralph Waldo Emerson said that.

I lived that.
Most people don’t know this, but my career didn’t move in a straight line.

It looked more like a crash course in starting over.
✅From Physiotherapy - three clinics, full house, “successful” by every measure.
✅To Video Production, where I filmed 400+ hours of leadership content, with no roadmap, just curiosity.
✅To Sales, where I learned the art of rejection and resilience.
✅To Coaching, where I finally found alignment between who I am and what I do.

Every chapter felt like burning down an old version of myself, with family, kids, bills, and responsibilities whispering, “play it safe.”
But something louder inside said, “You were not born to play small.”
Reinvention isn’t about being fearless.

It’s about being honest. Brutally, unapologetically honest,
about the fact that comfort kills dreams.

And every time I chose growth over fear, I found a deeper version of me waiting on the other side.
If you’re in a season of doubt, remember this…
The world benefits nothing from your pretending.

Your kids, your team, your future self, they’re all watching you choose.

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a free 90-minute masterclass: Unapologetically You

It’s for those who are done hiding behind titles, roles, and expectations and ready to build an unapologetic mindset.
Because the greatest accomplishment is not success.

It’s becoming yourself and staying that way.
👉 Register now. Don’t wait for life to force you into clarity. Choose it.

—

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

Everyone has a signature.
Few ever live it.

A thumbprint. A voice. A rhythm.

Even that scribble at the end of your email — uniquely yours.

And yet, somewhere between fitting in and growing up,
most of us became templates.

Every time you mute your truth to please the room,
you erase a line from that signature.

The goal isn’t to be perfect —
it’s to be distinct.

To bring your flavour, your courage, your weirdness, fully alive.
Because nobody remembers the photocopy.

They remember the original.

On Dec 12 at 12 PM, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Why Be Ordinary When You Can Have Your Signature?

An engineering manager I worked with once told me,

“Utkarsh, I’ve been trying to move into people leadership for 5 years, but nothing’s shifting.”

He was smart, capable, and respected.

But he couldn’t move upward because he couldn’t influence
not stakeholders, 
not decisions, 
not outcomes.

Through our coaching, we discovered something powerful:
He already knew how to influence.
He did it everyday, with his friends, with his family, in his personal life.
He listened deeply. He understood others. He made people feel seen.

But the moment he walked into work, that shifted.
He feared judgment.
He tried to sound “smart” instead of being real.
He started performing instead of connecting.

That’s what most people get wrong about influence.
It’s not about talking louder, dressing sharper, or being in every meeting.
It’s about creating space for others to succeed around you.

Once he broke through that fear and showed up the same way at work as he did outside it.
He was unstoppable.
Within three months, he’d built trust, led with empathy, and earned the leadership role he’d been chasing for years.

If you’re reading this and you’ve been:
•	Stuck in the same role for years
•	Doing great work but still unseen
•	Unsure how to influence upward

Then it’s time to stop trying to “act” influential and start becoming it.

That’s exactly what we do through The Ignite Life Method.

We help leaders build clarity, courage, and conscious impact - the real foundations of influence.

DM me IGNITE, and let’s unlock your next level.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Facebook Fitness Fanatics.
That was the first community I ever built, more than a decade ago.

I had no playbook. 
No followers. 
No clue what “content strategy” even meant.

Just a deep desire to share, connect, and grow.

We posted workouts, motivation, messy progress photos,
and in that small corner of the internet, I learned what creation really feels like.

Since then…
 🎥 I’ve made YouTube videos.
 💬 Written hundreds of LinkedIn posts.
 🎙️ Launched a podcast.

Different hats. Different platforms.
But one thing stayed constant — I kept showing up.

There were days it felt pointless.

Posts no one read. 
Videos no one watched.

But I kept going.
Because creation, for me, was never about applause.
It was about aliveness.

Looking back, I realise…
What you see today started in silence, not success.

It started with a habit, not hype.

So whatever you’re building today 
do it with joy and consistency.

Because in the long run,
systems will always beat emotions.
And consistency will always beat luck.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Why be ordinary when you can have your signature?

Each of us is born with a unique pattern that no one else has.
A thumbprint.
A voice.
A rhythm.
Even that scribble at the end of your email that says PFA, your signature, is uniquely yours.

And yet… most of us live templated lives.
We work like everyone else.
Speak like everyone else.
Even dream within the same safe boundaries.

Somewhere between fitting in and growing up, we lost our originality.
We started seeking validation instead of expression.

But here’s the truth…
Your signature is your story in motion.
It’s your way of saying,
“I was here. I mattered. I left a mark.”

Every time you suppress your ideas to please the room,
you erase a line from that signature.

The goal isn’t to be perfect.
It’s to be distinct.
To bring your flavour, your truth, your weirdness - fully alive.

Because nobody remembers the photocopy.
They remember the original.

On Dec 12 at 12 PM, I’m running a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.”
It’s for those tired of living the default version of themselves,
ready to reclaim their signature, at work, in life, in impact.

Your signature isn’t what you write.

It’s how you live.

👉 Save your spot. Be remembered for being you.

If I had one thing to tell my 25-year-old self, it would be this:

You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need to be aligned.

At 25, I was already a father.
A physiotherapist with one clinic.
Hungry to create impact but unsure what success even meant.

Back then, I thought the answer was in doing more.
More clients. More credentials. More work.

But over the last 15 years, I’ve learned something far simpler and far truer.
You don’t need to know where life will take you.
You just need to know who you are and what feels true inside.

Because when you act from alignment,
your path unfolds, step by step,
without a master plan.

If I hadn’t learned this,
I’d still be living someone else’s life.
Still avoiding conflict.
Still mistaking success for validation.

Today, I’ve changed 
not because I figured it all out,
but because I found peace in not knowing.

Have I achieved everything I want to?
No.
Do I have regrets?
None.

Because the moment you start building from who you are,
not what you should be,
life becomes blissfully, beautifully yours.

⸻

💬 If you could tell your 25-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

Most people don’t have a technology problem.
They have a self problem.

We keep asking:
 “How do we make AI better?”
 
But rarely ask:
 “How do we make ourselves better so AI can actually help us?”

This week on the IgnitedNeurons Podcast, I sat down with Barbara Wittmann — an IT leader turned philosopher and the founder of the Digital Wisdom Collective.

And this conversation shook me.

We spoke about:
 🔸 Why freedom is an inner state, not a career choice
 🔸 How limiting beliefs sabotage our potential
 🔸 Why self-image can be dangerously misaligned
 🔸 The “cleanup of the self” and why it must happen before we build better machines
 🔸 How to identify your unique superpower
 🔸 And why the future belongs to the wise, not just the smart

Barbara’s take is simple but profound:
 If we don’t upgrade our inner operating system, AI will only amplify our limitations.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by the future, or unsure how to navigate the world we’re stepping into, you’ll want to hear this one.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify 
 
If it resonates, please support the podcast by following IgnitedNeurons and sharing the episode with one more person who needs it.

Let’s build wiser humans for a wiser future.

Award-Winning Author & Interim CIO | Pioneer of Digital Wisdom — the OS for AI and Transformation Success

Most people don’t realize how fragile the world really is until someone explains it with clarity.

This week on the IgnitedNeurons Podcast, I sat down with Irina Tsukerman, one of the most fascinating voices in human rights, national security, and information warfare.

From childhood curiosity to becoming a globally recognized attorney, Irina’s journey is a reminder that the world is shaped not just by power but by people who choose to think critically.

We spoke about:
 🔸 Why geopolitical fragmentation is accelerating
 🔸 How social media quietly manipulates our perception of reality
 🔸 The balance between human rights and national security
 🔸 Why dialogue matters more than ever
 🔸 The importance of empathy in disagreement
 🔸 And the one thing we still underestimate: our personal agency

Irina’s insights are sharp, honest, and much needed in a world drowning in misinformation.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand what’s really happening behind the headlines, this episode will open your mind.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

 If the conversation resonates, please support the IgnitedNeurons Podcast by following, sharing, and sending it to one person who needs to hear it.

Your support goes a long way.
Let’s build a world where nuance still matters.

A national security & human rights lawyer, Fellow at Arabian Peninsula Institute, Fellow at Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Board Member at The Washington Outsider Center for Information Warfare

BNI India Official

 Member

CareerBubble

TC Global

- Provided tailored guidance to students on Study Abroad plans, ensuring high-quality placements for over 70 students in top 100 ranked universities, including Columbia, Wharton, Cornell, and LBS.
- Assisted in essay brainstorming and academic/visa interview preparation, significantly enhancing applicants' chances of success.
- Spearheaded the "Profile Building" initiative, empowering over 50 students to strengthen their candidacy for dream universities.
- Maintained strong relationships with global institutions, staying updated on admission criteria and course offerings.
- Organized Global Education Interactions to facilitate direct student-university connections.

Relationship Manager

Silver Fern Education Consultants

Worked as a career and overseas education counsellor, organised and conducted profile building activities for students from 9th to 12th, personality development sessions, and assistance in overseas application guidance.

Junior Career Counsellor

Merushri.bakes

Entrepreneur

LSU Cook 'n' Bake Society

President

Loughborough University

Representing my university overseas and communicating with prospective students coming to the university and telling them about my experience.

International student helper

Seed

Worked as a student brand ambassador for Prime student at my university.

Student Brand Ambassador

Struggling to get into your dream university?

Well, I got you. 

If you:

- Lack industry connections 
- Aren’t aware what to do next 
- Don’t have practical experience 
- Have anxiety/stress about the timeline
- Are overwhelmed by the application process 

You’ve come to the right place. 

Hi, I’m Merushri, your friendly neighborhood career counsellor & mentor!

And here’s what I do:

- Provide personalized mentorship 
- Target the top universities in the world 
- Connect students with industry professionals
- Make students university-ready and confident
- Tailor services to get students into the best-fit universities

Not convinced?

I am certified in Career Coaching by UCLA+Mindler. 

AND 

I’ve also received a Green Belt Certification in Career Counselling by Global Career Counsellor Program

So what are you waiting for?

DM me “Career” and let’s get you in your dream uni!

Merushri Baboota

If careers had a GPS, 90% of us would still choose 'Recalculate route'.


Because even when people know the path, they won’t choose it until it feels emotionally aligned.

That’s the secret nobody tells you:

Your career doesn’t follow logic first.
It follows courage.

You know what to do.
You just don’t feel ready to do it.

My work is simple -

I help people trust their internal GPS again.

The one that whispers before it screams.

And every time someone finally chooses the turn they avoided for years…
their whole life catches up.

Guiding individuals to Grow with Clarity | Career Counsellor, Consultant & Soft Skills Trainer | Founder@CareerBubble™ | BNI Member

If careers had a ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, most of us would still overthink the notification.

Because the real problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do…
it’s that we don’t trust ourselves when we finally know it.

- We second-guess.
- We ask five people.
- We wait for a sign.
- We wait for the “right time.”
- We wait till the moment doesn’t even feel right anymore.

And here’s the honest part nobody posts about:

Half the clarity people are searching for…
is sitting right behind one uncomfortable decision they’ve been postponing for months.

My work is basically this, helping people stop muting the decisions they already know are right.

Because the minute someone finally acts on the thing they’ve been avoiding…
their whole career moves forward like it was never stuck.

We’ve been told we must ‘stick to one thing’ to succeed.


But the most interesting careers today are built by people who didn’t.

People who tried 5 skills, 3 ideas, 2 failed attempts
and realised their path is a mix, not a single line.

Exploration isn’t distraction.

It’s data collection.

You’re not confused.

You’re collecting the pieces you need for the bigger picture.

85% of your career problems aren’t skill issues…they’re soft-skill issues.


Crazy, right?

We spend years learning tools, degrees, frameworks…
but the real problems usually come from things nobody teaches:

• saying the right thing at the wrong time
• reading the room
• handling conflict without crying or exploding
• asking better questions
• not sounding defensive in meetings
• actually listening (not pretending to)
• explaining your ideas without a TED Talk

And here’s the funny part:
Once people fix their soft skills, their hard skills suddenly start looking STRONG.

Because half of your career growth isn’t about being the smartest person in the room…
it’s about being the person everyone likes working with.

Soft skills aren’t EXTRA
They’re the MULTIPLIER.

Work on them quietly for 90 days…
and watch how loudly your career changes.

81% of companies focus on skills-based hiring.

But here’s the question:
Is hiring only for hard skills the right move?

You might bring in someone technically brilliant…

…but something just doesn’t click.

Collaboration feels forced. Culture suffers.

That’s why soft skills are becoming a bigger priority.

According to Forbes, these 15 soft skills matter most:

Integrity
Patience
Empathy
Flexibility
Teamwork
Leadership
Relatability
Negotiation
Good manners
Active listening
Sense of humor
Communication
Conflict resolution
Open-mindedness
Emotional support
And above all: being easy to work with.

Hard skills can be taught.

But attitude, emotional intelligence, and how someone shows up?

That’s what truly makes a difference.

Hire for who they are, not just what they know.

You’ll build stronger teams:
And get better long-term results.

P.S. What soft skill do you value most when hiring?

Everyone is obsessed with:


How do I learn AI?
How do I get better at coding?
How do I write faster?

Cool.

But here’s the plot twist nobody expects:

Your career grows faster when your soft skills do.

Because…

- A calm person beats a genius who panics.
- A good listener beats a loud talker.
- Someone who can explain things simply beats someone who knows everything.
- A person who keeps their ego in check beats the “I know it all” guy.

Soft skills are not “extra”.

They’re the silent engine behind every opportunity.

The people who rise aren’t just smart - they’re patient, self-aware, consistent, emotionally intelligent, and easy to work with.

Hard skills get you hired.
Soft skills get you remembered.

And when people remember you, they recommend you.

Master the way you speak.
Master the way you handle conflict.
Master the way you show up.

That’s the real power.

Started alone. Stayed consistent. Became unstoppable.


People think solopreneurs blow up overnight.

But every “overnight success” is really made in those silent seasons where no one is watching... 
just you, your laptop, and the decision to not quit.

When I started working with people across different stages of their career, one thing became clear:

Clarity doesn’t come before starting.
It comes after you’ve already taken 10 messy, imperfect steps.

Your career, business, personal brand...they all grow the moment you stop waiting for perfect and start moving with whatever you have today.

If you’re a solopreneur or want to be one, remember this:

✨ Start small
✨ Stay sharp
✨ Show up daily

And your consistency will speak louder than your follower count.

If there’s one thing 8 interns taught me in one afternoon, it’s this:

We complicate everything.

I realised this while conducting a session for an AI-based healthcare company.

I had 8 interns to induct.
Trained them on basic sales etiquette, communication, teamwork.
Played a few games too...always works.

And Somewhere between the activities and conversations, it became clear:

People don’t get stuck because the work is hard.
They get stuck because they overthink the easy stuff.

Most challenges aren’t actually challenging.
We just make them complex in our head.

- Etiquette is underrated.
- Good communication is underrated.
- Teamwork is underrated.

Yet these are the things that take you the longest way.

Simplicity + etiquette = unfair career advantage.

Career plan in the head vs career plan in real life:

In the head:

Step 1: Choose path
Step 2: Become expert
Step 3: Boom, success

In real life:

Step 1: Nope
Step 2: Try again
Step 3: Maybe this?
Step 4: Why am I crying?
Step 5: Take guidance because… help 😭
Step 6: Oh wait this actually works
Step 7: Personality upgrade unlocked

Honestly, clarity is just chaos that finally starts making sense.

People think confidence magically appears once things start working out.


Actually, it’s the opposite.

Confidence appears when you do things that might not work out and you survive anyway.

It comes from:

• asking the awkward question
• trying the risky idea
• speaking even when your voice shakes
• showing up when it’s easier to hide

Success doesn’t create confidence.

Confidence creates the space for success to enter.

You'll never feel ready.

So honestly? Just start.

Most of us keep stalling because we’re waiting for the “right” moment… right skills… right confidence.

But nothing magical shows up.

You start → you feel lost → you learn → you get better.

That’s literally the whole game.

I wasn’t ready when I tried something new.
I wasn’t ready when I posted my first piece of content.
I wasn’t ready when I launched my first offer.

But doing it messy is what actually moved me forward.

“Ready” is just a fancy word for procrastinating.

People who grow fast aren’t more talented...they just take action quicker.

And having the right system helps you move without overthinking:

A simple plan you can actually follow.
A direction that removes guesswork.
A system that helps you make progress even when you feel clueless.

That’s what turns chaos into progress.

My toxic trait? 


I think everyone’s life can be fixed with a 30-minute clarity session.

Friend stuck in a job?
“Come here, tell me your strengths.”

Cousin confused about career?
“Okay, let’s map this.”

Stranger at an event tells me they’re lost?
my brain instantly opens a Google Doc

I can’t help it.

I genuinely believe every person has a version of themselves they haven’t met yet and I love being the bridge.

Some people collect hobbies.
I collect people’s potential.

And honestly?

It’s the happiest obsession I’ve ever had.

Solopreneurship isn’t about doing everything alone.


It’s about learning what’s worth your time.

Here’s the mindset shift that saved me months of burnout:

👉 Delegate tasks that drain your energy
👉 Automate the repetitive
👉 Obsess over what makes money or builds reputation

You can’t scale chaos.
You can only scale clarity.

What’s one thing you’ve learned as a solopreneur that no one told you before?

Workplaces don’t have a Gen Z problem. They have a “nobody says what they actually mean” problem.


Some days the modern workplace feels like a giant game of Chinese whispers.

Managers say one thing.
Gen Z hears another.

And the truth disappears somewhere between Slack pings and silent expectations.

We keep throwing around the word “professionalism,” but most people aren’t unprofessional, they’re just following two completely different rulebooks.

Older managers learned by observing.
Gen Z learned by asking.

So when they say, “How do you actually want this done?”
Managers hear attitude, while Gen Z is simply trying to avoid a mess.

And here’s the real kicker:

people rarely fail because they lack skills.
They fail because the expectations were never said out loud.

- You can’t enforce rules written in invisible ink.
- You can’t demand excellence from instructions that live only in someone’s brain.
- And you definitely can’t blame confusion when your processes still look like they’re from 2012.

Speak the expectations → work gets smoother.
Give context → ownership goes up.
Update the systems → frustration goes down.

It’s not Gen Z vs managers.
It’s clarity vs assumptions.

And assumptions will always take you down the wrong road.

Meet in the middle.
Say things clearly.

Because when clarity enters the chat, performance finally follows.

Everyone thinks clarity comes from making a solid plan.


But here’s the twist nobody tells you...

planning is not what gives you clarity.

Movement does.

You can journal, overthink, colour-code, highlight…
and still feel stuck.

But take one imperfect step?

Instant direction.

Clarity doesn’t come from thinking harder.
It comes from doing something small that gives your brain new data.

You don’t need a plan.
You need a first step.

Kids get clarity faster than adults.


Crazy, right?

I realised this while sitting with a bunch of them during a vision board workshop I took yesterday.

Tiny hands cutting pictures…
big dreams being taped down…

and me just thinking:

We lose clarity as we grow up
and then spend years trying to get it back.

But here’s the part we never talk about...
your vision isn’t supposed to stay the same forever.

If it does, you’re not evolving.

I update mine every few months.

Not because I’m lost,
but because every new version of me needs a new direction.

Honestly, most of the goals I’ve hit today?
They were once random pictures on a board
I made while convincing myself “let’s just try.”

- Short-term goals.
- Long-term dreams.
- Things that feel too big, too weird, or too bold...
everything goes on that board.

And watching those kids reminded me of something important:

Clarity isn’t a one-time moment.

It’s a practice.
A habit.
A muscle you build.

If a 10-year-old can sit down and decide what they want next…
maybe we adults just need to start again...with scissors, glue, and a little courage.

If your interview prep still looks like "top 10 questions to crack any interview"...we need to talk.


Because hiring managers catch memorised answers quicker than you catch feelings for the wrong person.
It’s instant. Obvious. And trust me… they know. 🫣

And interviews in 2025?
They’re not impressed by “My strengths are XYZ…”

They’re basically asking:
“So… who are you really and why should we bet on you?”

That’s where most people panic.

Not because they’re not capable...
but because they walk in sounding like every other “highly motivated, hardworking team player” on Earth.

Interviews don’t work like that anymore.
And your prep shouldn’t either.

So here’s what I’m doing...

I’m hosting a free, power-packed workshop with ResumeGuru™ - Resume Writing Services, where I break down the REAL interview game:

- how hiring managers judge you within seconds, what signals they pick up, and what actually makes someone stand out without trying too hard.

Think of it as:

• the behind-the-scenes of how interview decisions are made
• the stuff YouTube tutorials never mention
• and the confidence boost you need before 2026 opportunities roll in

🗓 30th Nov | 4–5 PM | Online | Free
Comment “Interview” and I’ll send you the link personally.

Let’s make your next interview the one that finally feels like you’re in control,
not just answering questions… but owning the room.

My biggest failure in productivity became my greatest success. 

Here's how...
I created the 'perfect' productivity system: 

- complex task matrices, color-coded calendars, and 5 different apps syncing together.

It was a beautiful disaster.

I spent more time maintaining my system than actually working.

When it all crashed (literally, I lost all my data), I was forced to simplify.

I grabbed a notebook and wrote down just 3 priorities each day.
No more, no less.

That forced simplicity tripled my output.
Sometimes our elaborate systems become the very thing holding us back from true productivity.

What part of your productivity system might actually be slowing you down?


#Simplicity #FocusedWork #ProductivityHacks

You’re not bad at your job.
You’re just bad at writing about it.

Most people undersell themselves like it’s a hobby:

👉 “Worked on projects”
👉 “Handled a team”
👉 “Responsible for client communication”

Okay… but what happened because of you? 

Your resume shouldn’t sound like a job description.
It should sound like proof that you did something worth hiring again.

Stop writing “I was part of the marketing team.”
Start writing “I helped a 5-member team drive 2x engagement in 3 months.”

That’s not bragging.
That’s clarity.

And clarity gets callbacks. 

What’s the most overused line you’ve seen on resumes lately?

Most people don’t fail interviews because they’re not capable.


They fail because they can’t communicate their capability under pressure.

And nobody prepares you for that part.

Not college.
Not your resume.
Not YouTube videos.

But the truth is simple: 

 interviews are not a test of your answers.
 They’re a test of your clarity, confidence, and presence.

This is exactly why I’m hosting a free workshop tomorrow.

 One hour of learning how to:

 • answer without rambling
 • speak calmly even when nervous
 • frame your strengths clearly
 • handle unexpected questions
 • leave a strong, memorable impression

If you’ve been underperforming in interviews despite being talented, this is for you.

📆 30 Nov
⏰ 4–5 PM
💻 Online | Free for All

Comment “Interview” and I’ll send you the link personally.

Let’s make your next interview your breakthrough moment.

taplio

The Battle

Utkarsh Narang

Merushri Baboota

Followers

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Performance ScoreUtkarsh Narang's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMerushri Baboota's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Utkarsh Narang

Merushri Baboota

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Utkarsh Narang's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMerushri Baboota's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreUtkarsh Narang's LinkedIn Performance