Courage Talks

🌟 Join us for an Inspiring Episode of Courage Talks with Sankari Sudhar! 🌟

Thrilled to announce the next guest on Courage Talks: Sankari Sudhar, the visionary Founder & CEO of Overqualified Housewives!

🚀From a small village in Tamil Nadu to a trailblazing entrepreneur, Sankari’s journey is a testament to resilience and reinvention.

A B.Tech graduate from MIT Chennai, she thrived as a software engineer in top IT firms for 8 years before taking a career break in 2020 to embrace motherhood.

Facing post-partum challenges, societal biases, and the “motherhood tax,” she refused to let her skills and ambitions be sidelined. Inspired by the untapped potential of millions of skilled women, Sankari launched Overqualified Housewives on August 15, 2022—a platform empowering women to return to work with flexible, meaningful opportunities.

Her impact?

Phenomenal:

✅ Over 34,000 women registered from across India, including Tier 2 and 3 cities.

✅ Helped 6,000+ women secure jobs with salaries from ₹8,000 to ₹80,000/month.

✅ Partnered with 600+ companies to offer roles in content, design, marketing, HR, and more.

✅ Upskilled thousands through sessions on communication and employability.

A TEDx speaker at TEDxSIST (Feb 2025), Sankari shared her insights on “Resilience: Exploring the Human Experience,” inspiring audiences with her story of turning personal challenges into a movement for women’s financial independence.

Featured on CNN-News18, YourStory, Rediff, and more, she’s breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes about women who take career breaks.

Incubated by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore, Sankari’s bootstrapped venture broke even in just three months and continues to grow, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where women uplift each other.

Her mission? To ensure every woman can reclaim her career, confidence, and purpose—no matter the odds.Tune in to hear Sankari’s story of courage, innovation, and impact on Courage Talks!

🎙️ She’ll share how she turned setbacks into stepping stones and why empowering “overqualified housewives” is her passion.💬

What’s your take? How can we support women returning to the workforce? Share your thoughts below!

#CourageTalks #WomenEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #OverqualifiedHousewives #Resilience #WomenInLeadership #Podcast

Courage Talks S7E4: Safira Halani - Running Towards Resilience

Join us for an inspiring episode of Courage Talks S7E4, where we dive into the incredible journey of Safira Halani, a Toronto-based fitness leader, actress, and community builder who embodies courage through her transformative fitness journey.

From overcoming personal struggles with weight, peaking at over 200 lbs before 2018, Safira discovered strength training and running during the challenges of COVID, turning adversity into empowerment.

As a proud representative of Team Canada, Safira qualified for the 2025 Global Encounters Jubilee Games in Dubai, securing first place in the 1500m and 800m at the national qualifiers.

She’s also made her mark in competitive fitness, placing 11th in her age group at Canada’s first-ever Hyrox in Toronto and clinching 2nd overall at Turf Wars Toronto in 2024.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Safira leads Toronto’s Midnight Runners, a vibrant run club where she fosters community through music-driven runs and innovative exercise challenges, including a viral Bollywood-inspired Ankh Maare workout adopted by chapters worldwide.

As a key figure at City Shred, Safira helps orchestrate Canada’s largest fitness events, connecting thousands with top trainers and wellness brands.

Her Instagram presence radiates positivity, inspiring others with her story of resilience and community-building.

Tune in to hear how Safira’s courage fuels her mission to uplift others, one step, one rep, and one connection at a time. 🌟 #CourageTalks #SafiraHalani #RunWithPurpose

🎉 Thrilled to announce our next Courage Talks (S7E3) guest – the phenomenal Chitra Singh, Founder & Chief Mentor at SalesWomentoring, India's only exclusive sales community for women! 🚀

With 27 years of leading high-performance sales teams at powerhouse banks like Kotak and ICICI, Chitra has transformed from sales leader to sales revolution catalyst. She's mentored over 1,000 women, helping them not just break barriers, but rebuild the sales landscape entirely. 💪

🌟 Her impact is undeniable:

• HerRising Award 2023 winner for Women in Sales, Marketing & Content
• Featured among 23 Extraordinary People Living Inspiring Lives by Guiding Voice
• Only Indian recognized in Sales Collective's "Women in Sales to Follow 2024"
• 3x LinkedIn Top Voice & host of the acclaimed Unstoppable Women In Sales podcast

From her signature Negotiating for Impact masterclasses to LinkedIn for Sales Visibility programs, Chitra doesn't just teach sales—she reshapes how we think about customer relationships and data-driven growth.

Her work with industry giants like Kimberly Clark, KPMG, Dr Reddy's, and TVS Motor proves her methodologies drive real results. 🌍

What makes this episode special? Chitra will share how she's building a movement that's changing the face of sales in India, one woman at a time.

Expect actionable insights on courage, leadership, and creating lasting impact in traditionally male-dominated spaces.

🎤Don't miss this powerful conversation about turning challenges into catalysts for change!

#CourageTalks #WomenInSales #SalesLeadership #ChitraSingh #SalesWomentoring #WomenEmpowerment #SalesStrategy

Courage Talks S7E2: Asmitaa Aggaarwal’s Bold Journey in Fashion & Journalism

🎙️ Fresh Episode Drop! Dive into Courage Talks Season 7, Episode 2, featuring the trailblazing Asmitaa Aggaarwal, an award-winning journalist with 32 years of redefining fashion and lifestyle storytelling.

From her early days at The Times of India to editing powerhouses like Hindustan Times (HT City), India Today, and the iconic French couture magazine L’Officiel, Asmitaa has left an indelible mark on India’s media landscape.

In this episode, she opens up about the courage behind her bold moves: launching India’s first indigenous bridal magazine, Bridal Asia, with a unique aesthetic vision; relaunching the historic Patriot newspaper; and setting up influential fashion blogs for Koovs and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).

Hear about her daring 2004 stint at India TV, transitioning from print to television, and how she navigated challenges to interview stars like Harbhajan Singh.

As a mentor, Asmitaa has shaped future editors at Pearl Academy for 14 years and launched NIFT Delhi’s creative writing course, earning her a 2021 mentoring award and a 2022 “Best Style Writer” honor.

Now, she’s captivating the Middle Eastern diaspora with her work at NRI Focus and contributing to Khaleej Times, all while reflecting on her 13-year weekly fashion column for Dainik Bhaskar and co-authoring Chrysalis, launched at Jaipur Literature Festival. Tune in to discover how Asmitaa’s fearless creativity and resilience continue to inspire!

🔊 Listen now to this captivating story of courage.

#CourageTalks #FashionJournalism #LifestyleMedia #PodcastLaunch #Season7 #InspiringStories

Courage Talks S7E1 - Sonal Bahl
🚀 Kicking off Courage Talks Season 7 with a powerhouse!
Join us for S7E1 featuring Sonal Bahl, the world-renowned Career Strategist who left a high-flying HR career at Fortune 100 giants like GE and PwC to launch SuperCharge.
From Belgium, Sonal empowers senior and mid-level executives globally to land dream jobs, nail promotions, and master career pivots.
With an INSEAD MBA, fluency in four languages, and a LinkedIn Top Voice 2024 title, she’s transforming lives through her chart-topping podcast, How I Got Hired Podcast, a YouTube channel boasting 150,000 followers (and a Silver Play Button!), and accessible digital courses.
Sonal believes a fulfilling career is everyone’s birthright, not just the elite.
Tune in to hear her bold journey and grab practical tips to supercharge your career!

Vineet Agarwal is the Founder and CEO of T10 Sports, one of the fastest-growing sportswear and athleisure brands in India.

Under his leadership, T10 Sports has become a prominent player in India's sports and athleisure wear, having a presence in 20 + countries in Retail, Teamwear, sportswear and schools.

They are also associated with major sporting properties in India like the Indian Premier League, India Super League and some of the Major Running and triathlon properties in India like Tata Steel World 25k, Tata Ultra, Hyderabad Marathon, Ironman GOA and many more.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Agarwal is an accomplished endurance athlete. His athletic achievements include completing Ironman and Ultra Ironman triathlons and ultra-distance trail runs spanning 160 km, 220 km, and 338 km.

He has also served as a pacer in events like the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, where he guided runners in the 1.50-hour and 2:00-hour pacing groups.

Agarwal's educational background includes studies at St. Xavier's High School, Loyola Hall, and H.L. College of Commerce in Ahmedabad.

🎙️ Welcome back to Season 6 of Courage Talks — the podcast where we celebrate stories of grit, transformation, and the relentless human spirit. I’m your host, and today’s episode — Episode 5 — features one of the most inspiring endurance athletes India has ever produced.

Gaurav Makkar isn’t just an Ironman — he’s a phenomenon.

He has completed 12 Ironman races across the world — from South Africa to Israel to Vietnam. He is the first and only Indian to have conquered the EPIC5 Challenge — five Ironman-distance triathlons in five days, across five Hawaiian islands. If that wasn't enough, he has also represented India’s at the Ultraman World Championship, one of the toughest ultra-endurance races on the planet.

What sets Gaurav apart isn’t just his finish times — though those are jaw-dropping too. A sub-3:30 marathoner, a podium finisher in multiple triathlons, and a Limca Book of Records honoree, he once completed an Ironman race just three days after a bike crash left him with a broken nose and 42 stitches. Pain, clearly, does not intimidate him — it fuels him.

From the blistering heat of the Desert 500 ultra-cycling race to the treacherous open waters of the Goa Swimathon, Gaurav has consistently pushed the limits of mind, body, and spirit. He’s not just chasing medals — he’s chasing mastery.

In a world obsessed with shortcuts, here’s a man who’s chosen the long, hard road — again and again.

This conversation is not just about endurance sport. It’s about resilience, mindset, and the audacity to dream beyond pain.

Let’s welcome the one and only — Gaurav Makkar — to Courage Talks.

🚀 Courage Talks S6E4 – Ashish Kasodekar: The Man Who Redefines Limits! 🏃‍♂️🔥

What does it take to run 60 marathons in 60 days? Or to conquer Badwater 135, La Ultra 555 km, and Everest Marathon?

Ashish Kasodekar (@ashishkasodekar) is synonymous with grit, endurance, and an unstoppable spirit. From setting a Guinness World Record to cycling from Khambat to Khardung-La, he lives by his mantra:

💡 "Think Insane; Stay Raw!"

A long-distance runner, cyclist, basketball player, and travel entrepreneur, Ashish has explored extreme terrains across the globe. His record-breaking ‘Low to High’ run from Kerala to Ladakh (4,005 km) and victory at Vijay Diwas Run 2023 (273 km in 53 hours nonstop) showcase his indomitable will.

Beyond personal feats, Ashish aims to spread fitness, adventure, and positivity, inspiring kids, senior citizens, and communities through Simple Steps Fitness. Through Edgeover Holidays, he curates offbeat travel experiences, proving that adventure is a way of life!

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:

✅ His insane endurance challenges & world records

✅ The mindset needed to push past limits

✅ Lessons from extreme running, cycling & adventure

✅ How he balances being an entrepreneur and an athlete

🔥 Tune in to Courage Talks S6E4! 🔥

Get ready to be inspired, awed, and motivated to push your own boundaries! 🚀

#CourageTalks #EnduranceAthlete #UltraRunning #IronMind #GuinnessWorldRecord #AdventureLife #FitnessMotivation #Podcast 🎧

🎙️ Courage Talks S6E3 – Conquering Heights: Jafar Ismail’s Journey to Mt. Everest 🏔️💪

What drives a person to keep pushing their limits, to embrace discomfort, and to stand atop the highest peaks on Earth? For Jafar Ismail, it all began with a trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2012—a trip that sparked a relentless passion for mountaineering.

Since then, Jafar has taken on some of the world’s most formidable mountains, including Mt. Elbrus (Europe’s highest peak), Mt. Aconcagua (the tallest mountain outside of Asia), and finally, the ultimate challenge—Mt. Everest in 2024.

His journey to Everest was no ordinary feat. Leaving his home in Leonia, NJ, he embarked on a gruelling 7-day trek to Everest Base Camp, followed by six weeks of intense acclimatisation.

Out of the eight climbers in his team, only five made it to the top. The mental and physical toll was immense, but Jafar’s unwavering determination, rigorous training—including completing the New York City Marathon in 2023—and sheer grit kept him going.

But Jafar’s journey is even more inspiring because he shares his passion with his family. From trekking to Everest Base Camp with his 14-year-old son to climbing Mt. Cotopaxi in Ecuador with four of his children, Jafar isn’t just chasing summits—he’s shaping experiences that foster resilience, courage, and a thirst for adventure.

In this episode of Courage Talks, we dive deep into Jafar’s Everest experience—the physical preparation, the psychological battles, the dangers of high-altitude climbing, and the profound lessons he has learned. He also shares what it takes to cultivate a fearless mindset, the role of endurance sports in his training, and why stepping outside our comfort zone is the key to true growth.

🚀 Whether you’re a mountaineer, an endurance athlete, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Tune in for an episode packed with adventure, resilience, and the true meaning of courage. 🎧🔥

#CourageTalks #JafarIsmail #MtEverest #Adventure #Resilience #Endurance #KeepClimbing #MindOverMatter

Adil Nargolwala: The Relentless Endurance Athlete & PhilanthropistAdil Nargolwala is a powerhouse of endurance, resilience, and leadership. A celebrated Parsi Zoroastrian athlete and corporate leader, he has pushed the limits of human potential across running, triathlons, and ultra-endurance sports.🏆 Athletic Achievements:First & only Indian to complete:Ultraman (10km swim, 424km cycle, 84km run)Ironman (3.8km swim, 180km cycle, 42.2km run)Marathons on all 7 continents, including AntarcticaAbbott World Marathon Majors (New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, Tokyo)Triple Super Randonneur – Completed 200km, 300km, 400km & 600km cycling challenges thriceLimca Book of Records holder for:Completing 60 long-distance races in 52 weeksRunning 165 half marathons (record as of May 2020)Completing all triathlon distances in a single year (Sprint to Ultraman)Guinness World Record participant – Most runners in a single mountain run (Satara Hill Half Marathon)First Indian (50-54 age group) to finish Ironman 70.3 Goa (2019)Sub-4-hour marathon finisher (3:57) & Half Marathon PB: 1:41🌍 Adventurer & Extreme Athlete:Kili Double – Summited Mt. Kilimanjaro & ran the Kilimanjaro Marathon back-to-backRan in 15 countries & 39 Indian cities, from the Himalayas (14,000 ft) to the coastal terrains of KeralaCompleted Antarctica Marathon with a broken hand – proving his unmatched resilience🤝 Philanthropy & Social Impact:Raised $8,500+ for Special Olympics MassachusettsFundraised for NYRR Team for Kids (New York) & Sense UK (for people with complex disabilities)Led WNS Cares Foundation initiatives for underprivileged children’s education & cyber safetyEstablished a mobile computer library for rural schools👔 Corporate Leadership & Mentorship:Senior Vice President, WNS Global Services – Leads global talent acquisitionHeads WNS Sports Division – Drives employee participation in sports, sponsors event entriesPacer at major marathons – Helps runners achieve their race goalsFormer President & Board Member – Beverly Park 2 Gurgaon RWA, led infrastructure upgrades🏁 Motorsports & Racing:Former Yamaha Racing Team Rider – Selected at age 17, competed at the highest levelRally Car Steward & Volunteer at India’s first Formula One eventAwarded Dr. Dadi Balsara Sports Award (1990) for outstanding achievements in motorsportAdil continues his father’s legacy in progressive Parsi community leadershipFrom conquering the toughest races on the planet to empowering communities, Adil Nargolwala is a true embodiment of grit, endurance, and giving back.Catch his inspiring journey on Courage Talks S6E2! 🎙️#Ironman #MarathonRunner #EnduranceAthlete #CourageTalks #Inspiration