Ep. 30 : Being Authentic, Resilient & Responsible - with Ami Ganatra

The Impressive Empress Podcast

Ami Ganatra is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) and VJTI, Mumbai

She is the author of 2 bestselling books on Itihasa: Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser Known Facets of a Well-known History and Ramayana Unravelled: Lesser Known Facets of Rishi Valmiki's Epic. Her books are not retellings or imaginations, but an attempt to go back to the original Itihasa and present the story, learnings, and nuances for what they are, and make the epics accessible to all.

She is a devout yoga practitioner, a certified yoga instructor, and a student of Sanskrit and Indian knowledge systems. She has taught and spoken about Yoga, Itihasa, and Indic knowledge on multiple forums and has conducted workshops with students as well as working professionals, including in places such as VJTI, IIMA, IITs, Hong Kong University, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Dallas and many others in India and outside. She has also featured as a guest on multiple podcasts of following and repute. She is a proficient communicator in English, Hindi, and Gujarati and fairly decent in Marathi. She has also spoken on the TEDx platform. On the professional front, Ami has 15 years of experience as a business strategist and management consultant working and living across four continents and multiple countries with MNCs such as Infosys, Bain, BASF, and Bridgespan. Now she is dedicated full-time to studying and sharing treasures from the vast and profound Indic wisdom traditions.

What sets Ami apart is not just her storytelling but the authenticity and courage she brings to it. She reclaims the nuances of ancient narratives while staying deeply connected to her voice, even when it challenges conventional interpretations.

Ami’s work is rooted in purpose and passion—showing how these timeless stories can guide us in our own lives. With her unique blend of knowledge, empathy, and individuality, she inspires her readers to explore not just the depth of these epics but also their true meaning and the enduring values they hold for humanity.

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Ami shares her transformative journey from a successful corporate career to embracing storytelling rooted in Indian heritage. She discusses the challenges and self-doubt faced during this transition, emphasizing the importance of courage and resilience. The conversation delves into the mission of connecting with Indian culture through storytelling, the significance of authenticity, and the lessons of empowerment found in ancient texts like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Do make sure to listen in till the end as she talks about some exhilarating stuff.

Feel free to jump to any section you may find interesting...

Chapters

00:00 From Corporate to Storytelling: A Journey of Transformation
08:15 Navigating Challenges: The Transition to Independence
12:41 Courage and Resilience: Finding Strength in Change
16:20 Understanding Identity: The Quest for Cultural Roots
23:25 Authenticity in Storytelling: Balancing Tradition and Modernity
28:14 The Price of Authenticity: Navigating Public Perception
34:06 The Responsibility of Storytelling
38:01 Lessons from Ancient Texts
43:58 Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
50:20 Empowerment in Ancient Epics
55:56 Redefining Success
59:24 Rapid Fire Insights
You can read more about Ami Ganatra here
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ami-ganatra-910a7b4/

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