Drop your noise

We're living in an era of bite-sized information and big opinions. And most of us have no idea how little we're actually working with.In this solo episode, Kirti shares something she's been sitting with - the cost of reacting before we understand. Travelling between Dubai, Europe and the Caribbean, she's been in the middle of conversations where assumptions have replaced research, and quick takes have replaced real understanding.This one is about what it means to tame confusion. She talks about what happens when a community built on many cultures teaches you to listen first. Why directness matters. Why incomplete information is one of the quietest forms of harm we do to each other. And why she herself is stepping back from technology — not as a strategy, but as a necessity.Plus — a preview of what's coming with Lillian on leadership, change, and what it means to stay human when everything around you is disrupting faster than you can process. especially times like in geopolitcal tension in the Gulf region. Plus, get an exclusive introduction to the new Pause Phrases practice, a powerful tool for transforming inner conflict (like anger and guilt) into respectful, loving interactions.

Kirti sits down with Roshanak,an international lawyer with a vibrant multicultural story to talk about the real power of humanity, humor, and humility in negotiations and everyday life. From growing up between Iran and Italy, to building trust in Dubai’s diverse business scene, Roshanak shares how her family’s values shaped her approach to fear, belonging, and professional success. Expect real talk on how laughter helps break down barriers, why dropping your ego matters in high-pressure deals, and what it actually means to show up as yourself in a global world. Warm, candid, and practical.Keep in the loop: https://link.kirtana168.com/podcastRoshanak has lived a life shaped by movement, strong influences and high expectations, learning early on how to navigate different environments with curiosity and independence. Her experiences across countries and cultures have given her a wide lens on people, relationships and what really matters.Alongside a demanding professional life, she has always been drawn to art, culture and creative expression — interests that keep her grounded and offer a different way of understanding the world. These influences sit just as comfortably with her love for structure and problem-solving as they do with imagination and humour.She is married to Francesco, whose Italian dolce vita approach brings warmth and lightness into everyday life. Today, she balances intensity with perspective, ambition with enjoyment, and seriousness with an ability to laugh — at life, and often at herself.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-roshanak-bassiri-gharb-46471a15

What happens when fear, resentment, and inner noise flood your attempts to sell yourself and your work. Helen shares her journey from hating sales to realizing that shifting your thinking changes your results, and Kirti reflects on how easy it is to tie your identity to your business, losing sight of your value while trying to please everyone. Together, they unpack why women often avoid "salesy" behaviors, how consultative selling builds trust, and the power of pausing to rethink what value really means.
Deep Dive into Visibility: Https://link.kirtana168.com/connect
About Helen: Helen Tebay is a sales coach and founder of The Sales Lady. She helps service based business owners simplify sales, create consistency with their income, and make more money without it feeling heavy, awkward or pushy. Helen’s work is all about clarity, structure and doing less but better so selling feels good and supports the way you actually want to run your business. She has supported over 1,000 business owners to stop overcomplicating sales, build confidence in their offers, and create more predictable revenue without burning themselves out or becoming someone they are not.
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/helen-tebay-586947127Website - https://helentebay.podia.com/

Ever feel like every post on your feed is starting to sound the same, especially with all the AI-generated content out there? Kirti sits down with thought-provoking communication strategiest, Annie, as they dig into why our online voices are getting lost in a sea of sameness. Annie breaks down what a true personal voice is, why it matters (especially when AI is trying to imitate everyone), and how finding your authentic style can cut through the noise. If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out online, what “thought leadership” actually means, or why so many posts make you cynical, this conversation is for you. Tune in for practical, real talk about connection, writing, and finding your signatur, even if you think you don’t have one yet.

• 00:06:53 What is voice in writing, really?
• 00:12:21 Why does online content feel so repetitive now?
• 00:15:04 Is AI helping or hurting authentic communication?
• 00:17:26 The disconnect between your real self and your “online” voice
• 00:29:08 Personal branding vs. thought leadership—what’s the difference?

Follow us on Subtack: https://kirtana168.substack.com for deeper insights around this subject.
ABOUT ANNIE: Annie Meikle is a communications strategist with 17 years of experience helping brandsand senior leaders articulate their narrative with clarity and confidence. She began hercareer at the start of the region’s social media era, where she helped establish theSocial@Ogilvy practice at Memac Ogilvy. As Head of Content at OgilvyOne, she led workfor global brands including Sprite, IBM, SAP, Volkswagen, Kotex and Sony Mobile, shapingcontent designed for real audience engagement in the Middle East.In 2016, she co-founded The Social Shop by Aurora, a Dubai-based social media agencyfocused on corporate and consumer communications in sectors such as technology,aviation, retail, and health. Over time, the agency developed a niche in delivering high-impact social strategies to B2B companies.In 2023, Annie launched Meikle Communications to focus on strategic thought leadershipfor corporates and senior executives — particularly on LinkedIn — alongside employeeadvocacy and social media enablement programs. Her work blends narrativedevelopment, executive positioning, and practical execution frameworks that help leaderscommunicate with influence and purpose.Connect with Annie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniemeikle/

If you’ve ever felt pressure to be visible, especially as a woman- yet worry about criticism and losing control, you’re not alone. Kirti lays out her candid story of wrestling with “the ick” of being noticed, from childhood expectations to teaching yoga and navigating jealous colleagues.
By introducing “Pause Phrases” and reframing visibility as a choice, Kirti gives you simple strategies for regaining control of your words and your public self. Ready to feel genuine and build trust? Listen and start your Strategic Composure Audit or Join our Pause Community: https://link.kirtana168.com/connect

Is it possible to slow down and still keep up?Feeling anxious, unheard, or stuck comparing yourself in a world that never stops? Kirti gets real about pausing, processing, and finding your own voice, especially in a noisy, fast-scrolling world. Are you just over it : New year , new you? And you are still wondering well how can you focus in 2026 and be more intentional. This is the episode for you. I share about my 20 years of helping people speak up (and her own story of moving beyond yoga and endless small talk). I talk about the hard-won reflections on why we avoid hard conversations, what’s hiding between “how are you” and “what do you do,” and practical ways to slow down, even if just for 10 seconds. This isn’t a list of tips, it’s a human take for 2026 on connection, trust, and presence, whether you’re talking to a friend, a stranger, or yourself.

If you’re asking about how diversity’s changing, especially in leadership and tech, or you’re wondering what role critical thinking plays now that AI is all over the place, there’s a pretty good conversation about this on the podcast Drop Your Noise 2026. Host Kirti and guest Benedicte talk about everything from echo chambers, algorithm bias, pushing for real diversity (not just gender or race, but how people actually think), and ways families and schools can encourage open minds.
They dig into why it matters to ask ‘why?’ and ‘does it make sense?’- especially now when AI shapes what we read, see, and think. The episode covers how women’s voices are still fighting for space in tech boards and why mixing STEM studies with humanities might be a big part of the solution. If you’re looking for practical, human stories about navigating these change
What did you walk away reflecting in this weeks episode? Join oursubstack and share it in the chat or leave a comment below.
About Benedicte HenneboFrom Philosophy to Technology. Benedicte is an accomplished executive with over 25 years’ experience in marketing, strategy, and business development, specialising in B2B business transformation and international growth. Her diverse sector expertise spans ICT, IoT automation, transport, logistics, and energy transition, with leadership roles at Vontier (a Danaher spin-off), Honeywell, BT Group, and Dun & Bradstreet. Fluent in English, French, Dutch, Italian, and with basic knowledge of German, Spanish, and Arabic, she brings a multicultural perspective to assignments and have worked across Europe, Middle East and Africa, India and Asia-Pacific.She is known for her ability to navigate ambiguity and her customer centric obsession to problem resolution. Major achievements include driving $500M in new market opportunities through strategic account planning, boosting order growth across key markets in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and repositioning brands into higher-margin segments. Benedicte holds a master degree in philology, an MBA, an MIT/Sloan certificate in AI and Robotics, and is a Certified Advisory Board Chair. Based in Dubai since 2008, she is also committed to mentoring, university lecturing, and promoting women in tech leadership. Outside work, she enjoys cycling, contemporary art, and family adventures in the desert.

In this episode , Kirti sits down with Benedicte for a fresh, honest conversation about women in leadership, lateral thinking, and the real meaning of confidence at work.
Together, they unpack what it’s like to step out of your “comfort thinking,” tackle imposter syndrome (and whether it ever really goes away), and why unconventional perspectives—especially from fields like philology and linguistics—are powerful assets in today’s AI-driven world.They get real about the challenges women face in multicultural boardrooms, whether true “sisterhood” exists between women at the top, and how language—yes, philology, not just linguistics—shapes the way we lead and connect. They talk about critical thinking, feedback that actually makes a difference, and how our strengths can sometimes turn into stumbling blocks if we aren’t self-aware.If you’re curious about leadership, cultural context, unfiltered career stories, and communication that cuts through the noise, this conversation is for you. Expect practical reflections (not just advice), stories you won’t hear anywhere else, and a gentle nudge to trust your unconventional strengths.
Did you have some thoughts around this weeks epsiodes? WHy not share it with us : https://link.kirtana168.com/podcast
About BenedicteFrom Philosophy to Technology. Benedicte is an accomplished executive with over 25 years’ experience in marketing, strategy, and business development, specialising in B2B business transformation and international growth. Her diverse sector expertise spans ICT, IoT automation, transport, logistics, and energy transition, with leadership roles at Vontier (a Danaher spin-off), Honeywell, BT Group, and Dun & Bradstreet. Fluent in English, French, Dutch, Italian, and with basic knowledge of German, Spanish, and Arabic, she brings a multicultural perspective to assignments and have worked across Europe, Middle East and Africa, India and Asia-Pacific.She is known for her ability to navigate ambiguity and her customer centric obsession to problem resolution. Major achievements include driving $500M in new market opportunities through strategic account planning, boosting order growth across key markets in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and repositioning brands into higher-margin segments. Benedicte holds a master degree in philology, an MBA, an MIT/Sloan certificate in AI and Robotics, and is a Certified Advisory Board Chair. Based in Dubai since 2008, she is also committed to mentoring, university lecturing, and promoting women in tech leadership. Outside work, she enjoys cycling, contemporary art, and family adventures in the desert.

I noticed Martha Stewart (in her masterclass.com class) avoids the word “change.” She likes “evolve” instead, and I get it. Change feels loaded, as if we’re always measuring ourselves against someone else’s standards. Evolving, though, lets you claim your own process and pace. That’s what I’m exploring here, and why it matters—especially at times when everyone’s chasing resolutions. I talk about taking inventory, pausing, and deciding what matters, rather than forcing transformation. If you’re sick of pressure, this story might help you rethink what growth feels like.
Would you like to practical approach on how to think.talk.thrive in 2026. Consider joining our Whatsapp channel: https://link.kirtana168.com/podcast

hat do you really want to leave your child? Nick shares how his journey from Pakistan to Dubai, and now Canada, reshaped his definition of security for his daughter, from financial stability to self-belief and equal opportunity. We explored themes of identity, parental influence, and the challenges of belonging as an immigrant. You’ll hear real stories about raising empowered girls, redefining family “success,” and why recognizing our shared hopes can help us “drop the noise” of difference.

• [00:00:48] Why Security Meant Money—And What Changed
• [00:02:23] The Gift of Belief: How to Raise a Child to Know Their Power
• [00:06:08] What If Things Don’t Go as Planned? Navigating Struggle
• [00:10:54] Art, Talent, and Choosing a Different Path
• [00:14:06] Moving from Dubai: Why Opportunity and “Home” Matter
• [00:19:15] Rights, Equality, and Why Canada Was the Answer
• [00:25:12] Passports, Bias, and The Power of Belonging
• [00:33:01] The Noise We Need to Drop—Seeing Our Shared Humanity
• [00:39:41] Are Gen Z Lazy or Just Rewriting the Script?
• [00:44:24] Security for the Next Generation: What Really Matters

Ready to rethink what security means? Listen in for practical insights, honest stories, and fresh ideas on building a legacy that outlasts money.
Want to share your story? Drop your thoughts in the comments or reply, your voice matters!
Think. Talk. Thrive. in modern times.