We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Niki Kay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Niki below.
Niki, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Over time, I’ve learned that confidence is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. I stopped waiting for the “perfect moment” or for fear to disappear. Instead, I trusted that I would figure it out as I went.
But it wasn’t always like that. Growing up, I was incredibly shy. I can still remember days in school where I didn’t speak a single word—the whole day just passed me by in silence. I was so shy, I was practically mute. It wasn’t because I didn’t have thoughts or feelings; in fact, I had so much I wanted to say, so many insights and ideas that just lived inside me. But I couldn’t express them. That shyness held me back from connecting with others, and I didn’t have many friends because of it.
At some point, I had a realization: no one was coming to save me. If I wanted a better, more fulfilling life, I had to show up and do the work. I couldn’t wait for someone to come along and hand me confidence or pull me out of my comfort zone. If I wanted better, I had to do better.
That’s when I started showing up for myself—scared. I pushed myself into situations that made me uncomfortable, even though my heart was racing, my voice was shaky, and I felt like running the other way. Whether it was speaking up in a room, saying yes to events where I didn’t know anyone, or deciding to take my first solo trip at 26, I did it all while being scared. I told myself that the only way to become comfortable was to face the discomfort head-on.
Showing up scared was a turning point for me. It was in those uncomfortable moments that I proved to myself how capable I am. Every time I did something I was afraid of, I chipped away at my fear, and my confidence grew little by little. I realized that courage isn’t about not being afraid; it’s about taking action despite the fear.
Now, looking back, I’m so proud of that shy, quiet girl who decided to show up scared and take one small step at a time. She didn’t let fear win. And she taught me that confidence is built—not in the easy moments—but in the ones where you dare to believe in yourself, even when it feels impossible.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Niki Kay – a traveler, writer, content creator, podcaster, and group trip host. My journey began over a decade ago with a love for storytelling that has remained a consistent thread throughout my life. What started as sharing small, personal moments—like what I had for breakfast or how I was studying for exams in college—evolved into something much greater. Back then, I didn’t have the means to travel the world or indulge in luxuries, but telling these little stories brought me immense joy and made me realize that storytelling is an intrinsic part of who I am.
Fast forward to today, storytelling remains at the heart of everything I do, and its scale and impact continue to grow. After five years of building a corporate career that enabled me to fund my own travels, In 2020, I began exploring the world and sharing my experiences. Traveling became more than just an adventure—it became a deeply spiritual journey of self-discovery. Through my content, I aim to authentically communicate the emotions, lessons, and courage it takes to embrace diversity, connect with others, and step into the unknown.
Traveling the world has shown me that despite our differences in race, culture, and gender, there’s a common thread that connects us all as human beings. This realization inspired me to create opportunities for others to experience this connection without putting their travel dreams on hold or waiting for someone to join them. I began hosting group trips to culturally rich destinations like Morocco, Thailand, and Greece, with Peru on the calendar for 2025.
While several group travel communities bring people together based on race or ethnicity, my trips are designed to celebrate diversity and inclusion. They foster cultural exchange, allowing travelers to learn about and celebrate different cultures while exploring beautiful destinations.
My travels also sparked a mindfulness and spiritual journey, leading me to launch Mindset Mentress, a podcast dedicated to helping people navigate pivotal moments in life. Whether it’s offering motivation, perspective, or guidance, my podcast is a platform where I share lessons from my own failures and successes, showing listeners that transformation is possible for anyone willing to embrace it.
As someone who believes in continuous growth, I’ve recently enrolled in NYU’s Modern Journalism certification program to refine my craft and become an even more impactful storyteller. My mission is to inspire others—through my travels, podcast, and group trips—to embrace freedom, self-discovery, and the profound beauty of human connection. For those interested, sign-ups for my Peru 2025 group trip are open until mid-February and can be accessed through my social media pages.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
While there are many qualities required for success, here are three that I have found myself returning to throughout my journey.
1. The courage to be unique and to be disliked: It’s easy to follow the crowd, but real growth comes from embracing what makes you different—even if it means not everyone will agree with you. The ability to stand firm in your uniqueness, regardless of external validation, was crucial in finding my own path.
2. Focus on building success based on authenticity: I’ve learned that being true to yourself is the foundation of real, long-lasting happiness and fulfillment. When you align your work and life with your true values and passions, success comes from a place of purpose and meaning, not just external achievements.
3. Never give up, but be flexible with your approach: Persistence is key, but so is adaptability. There will be setbacks and moments when things don’t go as planned. Being willing to pivot, change direction, or tweak your approach is what allows growth to happen and keeps you moving forward.
For those early in their journey, my advice would be: Don’t be afraid to embrace what makes you different, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Authenticity is everything—build your path on your own truth, and success will follow. And remember, the road won’t always be straight, but if you stay open to change and adjust as needed, you’ll find your way.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was making the courageous decision to leave everything they knew behind in India and move to the USA to build a better life for us. Watching them take that leap of faith has shaped my entire perspective on life. It wasn’t just about seeking better opportunities—it was about resilience, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that we deserved a better future. In doing so, they not only provided for us materially, but also instilled in me the core values of integrity, ethics, principle, and self-respect. They taught me to stand up for myself, never give up, and most importantly, to never compromise my morals, principles, and ethics in the pursuit of success. Their courage and determination to create a life for us in a completely new world continue to inspire me every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindsetmentress.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niki.kay/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niki-kay-292058316/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindsetmentress
Image Credits
All images are owned by Niki Kay
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
