Teens often call me their “Safe Space”—a mentor, mental health consultant, or therapist. My journey here has been anything but conventional. From two decades in sales and marketing with multinationals in Mumbai to becoming a director and partner in an IT firm in Kenya, I eventually found my true calling in adolescent mental health.

When I first approached schools and parents with my vision—bridging the gap between clinical therapies and the rising mental health challenges in teens—I wasn’t taken seriously. The questions were predictable: “Have you studied psychology?” “Have you worked with teens?” “Are you a mental health counselor?” My honest answer? No.

Yet, I persevered. I built The Empower Teens Program, placed it in schools, pursued my master’s in psychology, and became a licensed psychologist, deeply embedded in adolescent mental health.

I attribute this journey to three key ingredients: Clarity and Knowing, Unwavering Self-Belief, and a small but powerful team who reflected that belief back to me—especially my husband, whose faith in me never wavered. These elements transformed an idea into a movement, shaping the way we approach teen mental health today.