We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Riya Narayan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Riya, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
Founding Treats & Tunes has been the greatest teacher of empathy for me. I get the privilege of interacting with senior citizens every event, and I have learned so much from our conversations and time together. There is a special kind of wisdom you can learn senior citizens who have experienced so much of life. For me, each Treats & Tunes event is a masterclass in empathy. By singing and performing for older citizens, I am able to witness their reactions—joy, nostalgia, or even tears— which helps me understand their feelings and experiences authentically. Their stories and memories often come to life during our performances, and I realize how much we can learn simply by listening and being present with them. Treats & Tunes has taught me that empathy is not just about understanding someone’s feelings—it’s about connecting deeply with people from all walks of life, recognizing humanity, and valuing stories. Every event reinforces the power of music and human connection, making me more compassionate and aware of the shared experiences that unite us across generations.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
The mission of Treats & Tunes is to create a space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can showcase their musical talents while giving back to their local communities. I started Treats & Tunes with the vision of offering engaging activities and entertainment to senior residents in Assisted Living communities. Music has always played a significant role in my life—I’ve been singing and playing instruments since I was young, and it’s been my go-to for relaxation and stress relief.
Older adults, especially those in memory care centers, often face loneliness, and as we age, staying engaged becomes essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As a science student, I understand that music can stimulate neural activity and trigger dopamine release in the brain. With Treats & Tunes, my aim is to foster a sense of community and bring happiness to those living in assisted care facilities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the first quality that proved really important in my journey with Treats & Tunes is resilience. It is a very daunting thing to start a project entirely on your own. Things will not go exactly the way you expect, and in my journey founding Treats & Tunes, there were many setbacks. Giving up or choosing the easy way out is always the most convenient option, but sticking it out and persevering through the initial setbacks and difficulties is the most rewarding one.
The next two qualities that were impactful in my journey go hand in hand: empathy and open-mindedness. When I say empathy, I mean empathy not only towards the people you are interacting with on a daily basis in the workplace, at school, and while launching your organization, but also towards yourself as you start a journey for the first time. I also say open-mindedness because in my time launching Treats & Tunes, I had a lot of help and shared ideas with my peers and collaborators. If I wasn’t open-minded about changing things, the organization likely wouldn’t have had the impact it did.
So, my advice for people who are early on in their journey is to stay committed, stay curious, and to carry yourself with tons of empathy and care.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Our team at Treats & Tunes is always looking for partners. Whether you are an assisted living center interested in having our students perform, or if you are a student yourself interested in getting involved, there is a place for you in our community. If you are interested in learning more about Treats & Tunes, check out our website treatsandtunes.org.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://treatsandtunes.org
- Instagram: treatsandtunes
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