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 
 
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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

Whetstone Business Solutions LLP

Co-founder & Business Consultant - Earthmoving, Construction and Material Handling Industry

School of Inspirational Leadership

Partner

ThinkingCraftsman Consultancy Company

Consultant

Guest Speaker

1) Indus Business School, Pune
2) Indira School of Business Studies, Pune
3) Various Mid Size Corporates

EQUIP9™ - Future Digital Marketplace

Mentor

Jury Member

1) Concrete World Awards
2) Equipment India Awards

Equipment India Magazine

Member - Editorial Advisory Board

Atal Innovation Mission Official 

Mentor of Change - Atal Innovation Mission

Whetstone Global Edge LLP

Rapido Asset Solutions

Member - Advisory Board

Business Consultant - Construction, Earthmoving, Material Handling, Sales Management | Motivational Speaker | Trainer | Storyteller | Personal Mission: To help 10,000+ sales professional excel... |

With over 35 years of distinguished experience in Sales and Marketing, I have forged my expertise within the Construction, Earthmoving, Material Handling, Concrete Equipment, and Mining industries, extending my impact across Pan India and Southeast Asia. 

Throughout my tenure, I've had the privilege of collaborating closely with over 1500 sales executives, operating seamlessly within both company teams and dealer networks. My contributions have extended to over 10,000 sales transactions, solidifying partnerships with more than 32 esteemed dealers. This extensive experience has afforded me the unique ability to discern critical gaps in the Indian approach to this industry.

In response to these observations, I've meticulously crafted specialized training modules tailored for Construction Equipment OEMs. These modules are meticulously designed to bolster individual and organizational performance and enhance productivity.

Training modules I've conceptualized and delivered:
1.	Salesperson Effectiveness: Empowering our sales force with the differentiation strategies crucial for success in this industry.
2.	Annual Plan Preparation: Crafting and executing victorious, product-specific annual plans to attain challenging goals effectively.
3.	Salesperson's Effectiveness: Equipping sales professionals with techniques to channel their focus exclusively towards selling activities, thus elevating efficiency.
4.	Territory Planning: Implementing an innovative approach to optimize territory plans, resulting in maximum customer outreach and a reduced "order per km travel" ratio.
5.	Art of Prospecting: Instilling scientific prospecting methodologies to ensure we seize the initiative in reaching potential customers.
6.	Sales Manager Role: Guiding sales managers in assuming the role of territory CEOs, transcending from senior sales roles to strategic management.
7.	Market Share: In-depth exploration of the constituents of market share, along with strategies to control and enhance factors within our sphere of influence.

In the past three years, I've had the distinct privilege of delivering these impactful training programs to esteemed organizations, including Tata Hitachi, Doosan Bobcat, Manitou India, Ammann India and Hailstone Innovations, while also training over 400 sales executives. 

Beyond these endeavors, I am deeply committed to sharing my insights and expertise as a Guest Speaker at prestigious Management Institutes, where I've addressed over 500 students. Many of these students maintain regular contact with me, seeking guidance and mentorship.

Sanjay Pendharkar

Men Took 34 Seconds. Women Took 18. Here's Why.

A short video of a simple contest revealed a powerful lesson in problem-solving.

Eight men and eight women were given the same task: pass a 1-meter ring from the first person in line to the last without breaking the chain of hands.

The men struggled, twisted, and pushed their way through. They completed it in 34 seconds. 

The women looked at the problem differently. The first lady used her free hand smartly to hold the ring, allowing others to pass through easily. They finished in just 18 seconds, almost half the time. 

This wasn’t about strength. It was about strategy. And the more we look at it, the more it becomes a lesson for workplaces, teams, and leadership.

✔ The Power of Perspective
A problem that looks tough from one angle becomes simple from another.
The women didn’t try harder; they simply saw the gap the men missed.
Leaders who pause, observe, and rethink often outperform those who rush into action.

✅ Doing the Task vs Understanding the Task
The men focused on completion.
The women focused on method.
In professional life, method determines speed, quality, and efficiency.

💡 Smart Work > Hard Work
Hard work is essential but only after the direction is clear.
When teams jump straight into execution without thinking, they waste time and energy.
Smart work reduces friction, confusion, and rework.

⭐ Why Teams Fail Despite Best Efforts
They don’t question the “obvious way” of doing things.
They assume more effort means better results.
They ignore the creativity of team members who might see a simpler path.

🌱 What Women Demonstrated in This Challenge
Lateral thinking — looking beyond the obvious
Resourcefulness — using the free hand as an advantage
Coordination — making it easy for everyone, not just the first person
Empathy — ensuring the process worked for the whole chain
These are the exact qualities high-performing teams need.

🔵 Lessons for Leadership
Encourage people to challenge standard routines.
Invite diverse thinking, different minds unlock different solutions.
Ask “Is there a smarter way?” before saying “Let’s start.”
Build a culture where ideas matter more than hierarchy.

🎯 Practical Takeaways for Daily Work
Take 30 seconds to think before acting, it saves minutes or hours later.
Don’t struggle through a task when a small adjustment can simplify it.
Use every available resource, sometimes a “free hand” is all you need.
Observe what others miss; innovation often hides in plain sight.

In the end, the video wasn’t about men versus women. It was about mindset versus muscle. The team that thought won over the team that tried. And in professional life, this difference decides who moves fast and who falls behind. When we learn to pause, observe, and rethink, we transform ordinary actions into extraordinary results.

“Success belongs not to the strongest, but to the one who sees what others overlook.”

#sanjayinspiresindia

VC: Unknown on social media. I am not the owner.

You're Not Broken—You're Blooming

I recently watched a powerful AI-generated video about a mother who carries two pots to the river daily, one perfect, one cracked. While everyone questions why she keeps the broken pot, she reveals something profound: the leaking water has been nurturing a trail of beautiful flowers all along. This simple story holds a transformative lesson for anyone navigating personal or professional life.

What the Cracked Pot Teaches Us:
✅ Your "flaws" might be your unique advantage, that introverted team member? They're often the best listeners who catch details others miss. The colleague who overthinks? They're preventing costly mistakes through careful analysis.
🌟 Stop comparing your chapter 3 to someone else's chapter 20–The "perfect pot" looks impressive, but it's creating nothing new. Your journey, with all its imperfections, is cultivating something others can't replicate.
✔️ Your struggles are fertilizing future success–every setback, every challenge you've faced has been preparing the ground for opportunities. The rejection that hurt? It redirected you toward something better.
💡 Authenticity beats perfection every time– In leadership, showing vulnerability builds trust faster than projecting flawlessness. People connect with real stories, not polished performances.
🎯 Your background is your breakthrough– Coming from a non-traditional path? That's not a disadvantage; it's a fresh perspective your industry desperately needs. Your "different" is your differentiator.

How to Apply This at Work:
✅ Reframe your weaknesses – Not great at public speaking? Maybe you excel at one-on-one mentoring. Slow decision-maker? Perhaps you're thorough and thoughtful.
🌱 Share your journey – Your story of overcoming obstacles inspires others facing similar challenges. Your transparency creates psychological safety in teams.
💪 Stop hiding the cracks – Pretending to have it all together is exhausting and inauthentic. The energy you spend hiding imperfections could fuel actual growth.
🔥 Look for the flowers – What unexpected good has come from your hardest moments? Career pivots often lead to better-fit roles. Failed projects teach invaluable lessons.

The Bottom Line:
The cracked pot didn't need fixing, it needed perspective. The same is true for you. Your hesitation might be thoughtfulness. Your unconventional path might be innovation. Your sensitivity might be emotional intelligence. Stop trying to patch every crack and start noticing what's blooming because of them.

In a world obsessed with perfection, your willingness to show up authentically, cracks and all, is revolutionary. The path you're walking is leaving behind something beautiful. Others will find nourishment in the trail you're creating, even when you think you're falling short.

You're not broken. You're blooming—exactly as you should be.

#sanjayinspiresindia

VC: Unknown on social media. I am not the owner.

Little Graduate, Big Dreams: Capturing the Joy of Achievement

In a heartwarming video that's capturing hearts online, a young kid around 7-8 years old demonstrates what pure, unbridled joy looks like. 

During what appears to be a primary school graduation ceremony, complete with miniature caps and gowns, this little graduate couldn't contain his excitement when his name was called. 

Instead of the typical formal walk to receive his certificate, he danced his way to the teacher and back, transforming a routine ceremony into an unforgettable moment of celebration. 

His spontaneous expression reminds us all about the true meaning of achievement and the importance of celebrating life's milestones, no matter how small they might seem.

What We Can Learn From This Little Graduate
🌟 Authentic Joy Matters: In a world where we often suppress our emotions, this little boy shows us that genuine excitement is beautiful. He didn't hold back his happiness; he expressed it fully and freely.
✨ Milestones Deserve Celebration: Whether it's graduating from primary school or achieving any other goal, taking time to acknowledge our accomplishments is essential for building confidence and motivation.
🎓 Children's Perspectives Are Valuable: To adults, a primary school certificate might seem minor, but for this child, it represented a significant achievement worthy of a dance. His reaction reminds us to value accomplishments through the eyes of those experiencing them.
🧠 Learning Can Be Joyful: The boy's excitement demonstrates that education and achievement can be sources of happiness, not just responsibilities or obligations.
💃 Movement Expresses Emotion: When words weren't enough to express his feelings, this young graduate turned to dance, reminding us that sometimes our bodies can communicate joy better than our words.

How Parents and Educators Can Foster This Spirit
✅ Create Celebration Rituals: Establish traditions that honor achievements, big and small, making children feel valued for their efforts.
✅ Encourage Authentic Expression: Give children space to express their emotions in their own unique ways, whether through dance, art, or words.
✅ Document Joy: Capture these spontaneous moments of happiness, as they become precious memories and powerful reminders of childhood's pure emotions.
✅ Focus on the Journey: Help children understand that the process of learning and growing is just as important as the certificate or reward at the end.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from this little dancing graduate is that achievement without celebration is incomplete, and that sometimes, the most appropriate response to success is simply to dance.

#sanjayinspiresindia

Video courtesy: Unknown on social media. I am not the owner.

The Most Powerful Force in the World is a Team in Sync.

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
— Michael Jordan

We often celebrate individual brilliance—the star salesperson, the lone genius, the heroic leader.

But watch this 27-second football clip: five players pass the ball in rapid succession, each touch under one second, confusing the opposition, building momentum, and scoring a goal without hesitation. No ego. No delay. Just perfect unity.

This isn’t just sport. It’s a masterclass in what happens when a team operates in true sync. And that same force can transform your work, your relationships, and your results.

Here’s what “a team in sync” teaches us about life and leadership:

✔ Shared Purpose > Individual Glory
When everyone knows why they’re playing, not just what to do, decisions become instinctive. In business, teams with crystal-clear goals move faster, adapt quicker, and outperform those chasing personal KPIs.

✅ Silent Trust Is Louder Than Meetings
These players didn’t huddle mid-play. They trusted each other’s timing, role, and intent. In your team, build that trust before the pressure hits—through consistency, reliability, and respect.

⚡ Speed Comes From Clarity, Not Chaos
Less than a second per touch? That’s not recklessness—it’s precision born of practice and alignment. Similarly, high-performing teams cut through noise because they’ve already agreed on priorities, processes, and boundaries.

🎯 Ego Exits, Excellence Enters
No one tried to dribble, shoot early, or “shine.” They passed—because the goal mattered more than the glory. In sales, projects, or leadership: ask, “Am I holding the ball too long?”

🤝 Sync Isn’t Sameness—It’s Complementary Strength
Each player had a unique position, yet their movements blended seamlessly. Great teams don’t need clones—they need diverse talents working in harmony toward one outcome.

💡 Preparation Makes Spontaneity Possible
What looked like magic was actually months of drills, feedback, and shared learning. Real-time brilliance is always built offline—in how you train, communicate, and support each other daily.

The truth? You can’t fake sync. It’s built in the small moments:
When you listen more than you speak
When you credit others before yourself
When you choose “we” over “me”—even when no one’s watching

And the payoff? Teams in sync don’t just win. They create environments where people feel seen, valued, and unstoppable.

So ask yourself today:
In my team are we moving together… or just moving near each other? 

“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success.”
— Henry Ford 

#sanjayinspiresindia

Video Courtesy - Unknown on social media

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The Battle

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