Meet Neha Aswani

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Neha Aswani. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Neha below.

Hi Neha, 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?

My ability to empathize was shaped by the quiet, difficult moments – the ones that asked me to not only understand others, but also turn inward and truly understand myself.

As a child, I was never the one with a large group of friends. I was often bullied, mocked for my weight, my lifestyle, and simply for being different. I still remember the sting of certain moments, like the time a group of girls laughed because the zip of my skirt was open, and I hadn’t noticed for hours. I remember standing in the school bathroom, crying not just because I was embarrassed, but because I couldn’t understand why someone would choose to humiliate another person. At that age, it’s hard to process emotions like shame, confusion, or hurt.

At home, life wasn’t easy either. My father was unwell for many years, and my mother’s energy was fully devoted to caring for him. In that space, there wasn’t always room for emotional guidance. I didn’t have someone to tell me that those kids at school were also struggling in their own ways, or that what they thought of me didn’t define me. So much of what I understand now, I wish someone had said to me back then.

There were many days where I thought, “Maybe this is just how life is.” But now, when I look back, I see all of it as part of a much bigger learning. The Neha I am today holds deep empathy for the Neha I was then. And I’ve learned to extend that empathy to the children who hurt me too. Because I truly believe no one is born wanting to cause harm. People hurt others when they’re hurting themselves when they’re shaped by their own pain, insecurities, or unmet needs.

I began noticing that in myself too. When I lashed out at loved ones as a child, it wasn’t because I was angry at them. I was carrying frustrations from school, from loneliness, from things I couldn’t name yet. The realization that hurt often comes from unprocessed hurt was the beginning of understanding empathy.

Empathy, to me, is one of the most mature and beautiful acts of love. It invites us to respond to life with softness rather than defensiveness, to approach others with curiosity instead of judgment. It liberates us from resentment, from cycles of blame, from assuming the worst in people. And when practiced wholeheartedly, it reminds us that underneath all the noise, every human being is simply craving love.

The kids at my school were craving love. Emotionally distant parents are craving love. The angry partner, the jealous friend, the silent classmate, the critical relative, the rude stranger they’re all craving love. Even the version of you that once felt unworthy or unseen? That version just needed love too.
Most people aren’t “bad” they’re just carrying wounds, shaped by a lack of love, often passed down. A child raised in a home full of safety, kindness, and warmth doesn’t grow up hating. Empathy begins when we truly understand that.
But it also begins with the self. Because while it’s beautiful to empathize with others, it’s just as important to protect your own heart. Boundaries are an act of empathy too towards yourself

It is this deep, lived empathy that now guides my professional work as well. Today, I work in the space of mental health and wellness because I’ve seen what a difference love and understanding can make. With PACE, I’m developing a Mental Health First Aid Kit to support people in moments of emotional overwhelm. And through NOVA, my creative studio, my team and I help founders in the wellness space grow through thoughtful branding, content, and community-building because I believe stories, when told with heart, can heal.

I’m grateful for all of it now, the hard, the tender, the confusing because it shaped the lens through which I see the world. One where empathy is not just a response, but a way of being.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My work today is deeply rooted in my journey one shaped by my own experiences with mental health, identity, and healing. I’m building two purpose-driven ventures that sit at the intersection of wellness, creativity, and community.

The first is PACE – a Mental Health First Aid Kit in development. Born from the urgent need to make mental health support as accessible and immediate as physical first aid, because emotional crises deserve the same care. We’re working closely with mental health professionals, designers, and voices with lived experience to ensure it’s both safe and empowering.

And NOVA – a deeply committed creative studio that has spent the past four years helping purpose-led brands grow with intention and impact. We specialize in content management, brand strategy, and community building, offering everything from social media execution and storytelling to event ideation and visual identity.We partner with founders who care, turning their vision into a brand that people remember, connect with, and rally around.

What makes this whole journey extra exciting is that both my ventures are rooted in something bigger than just business. Yes, building something profitable is great but building something that actually helps people feel seen, supported, and a little more human? That’s the real win. Making money while making the world a softer, kinder place? I’ll take that any day. And honestly, the people I get to work with make it even better – therapists, designers, photographers, and writers. It’s like building in a little universe of thoughtful, weird, wonderful humans and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

And if there’s one more thing I’d love folks to know – it’s that someone like me, working in this space with all these big feelings and beliefs, is always open to a good, soul-stirring conversation. Whether you’re a fellow founder, a creator, or just a curious human with ideas and heart, I’m always up for chats that spark something bigger. Me and my team genuinely light up when we’re in rooms (or Zooms) where ideas are flying, values are aligned, and we’re dreaming up ways to make the world even a little bit better. So if something about this resonated reach out. Let’s talk, build, or simply share stories.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Self-awareness
I truly believe that everything you’re seeking begins within you. Self-awareness has been a guiding light for me helping me understand not just what I feel, but why. Here’s a perspective I often hold: when something about someone annoys you or triggers you deeply, ask yourself why. What is it touching within you? Is there something that still needs healing? Of course, it’s not always easy to think like this in the heat of the moment but even reflecting later with honesty can be a powerful act of service to yourself and, in turn, to the world around you. The more aware we become of our patterns, the more consciously we can live and lead.

2. Gratitude
Gratitude is my ground. It’s not just a feeling – t’s a practice, a mindset, and a deeply practical habit to build. We’re often caught up thinking about everything we don’t have or still need to achieve. But gratitude teaches you to pause and recognize all that’s already in your hands and everything that’s possible from here. Personally, I also love expressing gratitude for the things I want to call into my life, as if they’re already happening. It makes my mind believe that I’m getting closer to those desires each day. Gratitude invites abundance. I keep a small journal and write down five things I’m grateful for every day, it keeps my heart centered and my perspective clear.

3. The skill of speaking to strangers
This might sound unusual, but I think being open to having conversations with strangers is one of the most underrated life skills. When we allow ourselves to be curious about others, we open doors to unexpected friendships, opportunities, perspectives and sometimes even the answers we’re searching for. I make a conscious effort to talk to strangers, even when I feel shy or self-conscious. Our minds often create stories or assumptions about people that aren’t true but connection helps us break those walls.
Just a few weeks ago, I was working at a café and started chatting with two women sitting next to me. At first, I questioned if they’d even want to talk, but I went for it and what followed was a beautiful hour-long conversation about psychology, work-life balance, and Boston. They were visiting from Dallas, and we connected so well that they invited me to visit—and now I’m flying there soon to build on that new friendship.
I’ve also ended up finding clients for NOVA through random conversations just by being open and showing up as myself. You never know who’s looking for what you have to offer.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I cry let’s start there. For me, overwhelm begins with acknowledging the feeling, not resisting it. Our minds have a way of exaggerating situations and making them feel heavier than they really are, and I’ve learned that trying to fight those feelings only makes them louder. So my first step is to allow myself to feel it fully sometimes that means sitting with it quietly, and sometimes it means crying it out. It’s just energy that needs somewhere to go.

Once I’ve felt it, I slowly begin to break things down. I remind myself I don’t need to climb the entire mountain today—I just need to take one small step forward. One task at a time, one hour at a time. That’s often what helps me shift from chaos back into clarity.

I also try to not believe every thought that comes up when I’m overwhelmed. I’ve learned to let my thoughts float by without attaching to them like clouds passing through the sky. Some of them are just noise, and that’s okay.

That said, overwhelm looks different for everyone. We all have different coping mechanisms, and what works for me may not work for someone else. But if I had to offer one gentle piece of advice, it would be to explore daily rituals small grounding practices that make you feel more like yourself. For me, that’s meditation. Even a few minutes a day makes me feel a little less scattered, a little more rooted. It’s not about doing it perfectly it’s about having something to return to when things feel too loud.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, start with presence. Start with softness. And remind yourself: you’re not meant to carry it all at once.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nehaaswani.com
• Instagram: @gratefully.neha
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-aswani09/