The Happiness Hour For Leaders - Season 1

In Part 2 of this conversation of The Happiness Hour For Leaders, Rattan Keswani moves beyond career milestones into the deeper realities of leadership, growth, and self-reflection. He shares what truly drives people to go beyond their roles, especially in moments of uncertainty and crisis, and why culture, trust, and belonging often matter more than formal structures or training. The conversation...

What shapes a leader: 1. Clarity or Experience 2. Authority or Awareness In this episode of The Happiness Hour for Leaders, Ashu Khanna sits down with Rattan Keswani, a hospitality veteran whose journey spans over four decades across some of the most respected institutions in the industry. What begins as an uncertain career path unfolds into a story of learning, observation, and deep human connect...

What does it take to complete an Ironman not once, but five times and still remain grounded in purpose and happiness? In this episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna speaks with Nalin Moniz, investor, entrepreneur, and five-time Ironman athlete. Nalin shares how the mindset of an entrepreneur shaped both his professional journey and his passion for endurance sports. From discovering marathon ru...

What does a near-death experience on a mountain teach you about happiness? In this powerful episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna sits down with mountaineer Parth Upadhyaya, who summited Mount Everest at the young age of 24. Parth shares the unexpected journey that began after struggling in school and discovering the mountains during a trek to Kalsubai. From surviving a life-threatening climb...

In this thoughtful episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna is joined by Ross Swan leadership coach, author, and mentor for a quiet, honest conversation on happiness and how it shows up in everyday life. Drawing from decades of experience, Ross shares why happiness is not something to chase but something to consciously return to, especially during uncertainty and challenge. From leadership stori...

What if happiness is not something we chase, but something we remember?   In this deeply moving episode of The Happiness Hour , Ashu Khanna is joined by psychotherapist, grief coach, and lifelong student of the human spirit, Dr. Katie Eastman. With over four decades of experience and mentorship under the legendary Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Dr. Katie Eastman brings a rare blend of warmth, wisdom, and...

Amy Elizabeth Fox is one of the founders and Chief Executive Officer of Mobius Executive Leadership, a global transformational leadership firm. In this magical conversation, Amy shares her profound journey of healing and leadership, blending trauma-informed wisdom with deep love and service. She affirms how inner peace transforms not just individuals, but entire organisations. Together, we reflect...

In this thoughtful episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna speaks with Janet Harvey,  a master certified coach, author, and CEO of InviteCHANGE, on how awareness shapes the way one lives and leads. Janet shares how conscious choice, self-responsibility, and authenticity form the foundation of lasting happiness. The episode explores how a simple pause and mindful reflection open the door to grea...

In this powerful episode of  The Happiness Hour , Ashu Khanna talks with transformational coach Stephen McGhee a transformational coach, an entrepreneur, author and film-maker, about the art of leading through stillness. Together, they explore how conscious living, presence, and surrender can transform not just how we lead, but how we live. A deep, honest reflection on leadership, happiness, natur...

In this episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna speaks with Zia Mody, the Founder and Managing Partner at AZB & Partners, a well-respected Indian corporate lawyer, about being honest, succeeding, and having fun. Zia discusses how she was able to maintain her integrity, be present, and maintain her equilibrium while working in the highly stressful field of corporate law, and why she believes...

In this deeply touching episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna explores how to discover happiness through love, gratitude and purpose with Niren Chaudhary, Former Chairman/CEO Panera Brands, shares how the loss of his daughters altered his perspective on success, leadership and life. Niren shares how personal loss reshaped his view of success and happiness, teaching him that true fulfilment li...

In this episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna talks to Elizabeth Hamilton Guarino, who is a writer, coach, and founder of the Best Ever You Network. Elizabeth opens up about how she went from working in finance to building a global platform focused on gratitude, authenticity and joy. She recommends you to pause and listen to your gut, and be brave enough to accept change. A profound yet fun c...

In this episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna talks with Shaheen Mistri, the Founder and CEO of Teach For India, about courage, service, and happiness. Shaheen chose a path of purpose at the age of 18, dedicating her life to changing education for children from low-income backgrounds. She thinks about how hard it is to work in a place where hope is hard to find and why building communities is...

In this significant episode of "The Happiness Hour," Ashu Khanna speaks with Ajay Piramal, a prominent industry leader and philanthropist. He is the Chairman of the Piramal Group and is recognized for creating a worldwide business empire. In this conversation, Ashu talks to Ajay about his spiritual beliefs and his view on how business serves as a platform for providing services rather than merely...

Walid Malouf is a transformation coach, writer, and entrepreneur who helps first-time startup CEOs shift from survival mode to empowered leadership. We highly recommend tuning in to this episode of The Happiness Hour, where Ashu Khanna engages in a compelling conversation with Walid Malouf, who shares insights on transforming significant challenges into unexpected sources of joy. Walid's journey u...

This episode of The Happiness Hour features an inspiring conversation with Izabella Niewiadomska. With three decades of experience, Izabella has become an award-winning leader, coach, speaker, and bestselling author in the fields of wellness and mindset. Her path to becoming a wellness coach emerged from overcoming personal hardship and a strong drive to live with wholeness. At 23, a severe panic...

Join Ashu Khanna on a moving episode of "The Happiness Hour" as she talks with Amit Chandra, the Chairperson of Bain Capital’s India office and co-founder of the ATE Chandra Foundation. They explore the powerful connection between giving, personal values, and finding your true calling. Amit shares the spiritual beliefs that have guided him throughout his life, from the teachings of Guru Nanak to l...

In this soulful episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna sits down with Leon VanderPol — master transformational coach, founder of the Center for Transformational Coaching, and author of A Shift in Being — to explore the deeper layers of human consciousness, personal purpose, and inner transformation. Leon shares how true happiness isn't found in success alone but in becoming — the courageous pa...

What does it truly mean to be happy? In this episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna sits down with renowned Columbia professor, leadership expert, and mystic seeker Hitendra Wadhwa, author of Inner Mastery, Outer Impact. Together, they explore the evolving nature of happiness - not as a fleeting emotion but as a soul-aligned state of being. From studying Maths at St. Stephen’s to founding Ment...

In this soul-stirring episode of Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna is joined by her spiritual teacher and guide, Swami Swatmananda of Chinmaya Mission, to explore the profound yet misunderstood concept of surrender. What does it truly mean to surrender in today’s world? Is it a form of weakness or a gateway to inner strength? Swamiji shares timeless wisdom through vivid metaphors and real-life applicati...

In this heartwarming and reflective episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna is joined by Harish Mehta — a pioneer of India's tech ecosystem, founding member of NASSCOM, author of bestseller The Maverick Effect, and founder of Onward Technologies. Together, they explore the ever-evolving idea of happiness, touching on how it shifts with time, and perspective. Harish shares his belief in savoring...

In this illuminating episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna is joined by the profoundly insightful Gauranga Das—leadership coach, spiritual teacher, and director at ISKCON's Govardhan Eco Village. Together, they explore a timeless yet urgent question: What is true happiness, and how can we sustain it in a chaotic world? Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita and Vedic wisdom, Gauranga Das discusses tw...

In this deeply engaging episode of The Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna sits down with Ashwin Damera, Executive Director at Emeritus and a passionate entrepreneur driven by purpose. Together, they explore the meaning of happiness, the journey of finding purpose through impact, and how Ashwin’s pivot into entrepreneurship led him to revolutionize access to education for adult learners globally. Ashwin s...

In this enlightening episode of Happiness Hour, Ashu Khanna sits down with Swami Swatmananda, a revered spiritual teacher from Chinmaya Mission, to explore the essence of happiness through Vedantic wisdom. Swamiji shares his transformative journey from commerce and software engineering to dedicating his life to spirituality. They discuss the myths surrounding spiritual practice, the right time to...

In this insightful episode of The Happiness Hour, host Ashu Khanna talks to media maven and happiness evangelist Raj Nayak, the founder of House of Cheer. Raj shares the fascinating story behind his cheerful persona—how an unexpected twist in life led to his digital identity as Raj Cheerful and eventually to the creation of a company dedicated to spreading joy. He reflects on the power of serendip...