Interview with author, visionary and thought leader Mynoo Maryel
Read our interview with Mynoo Maryel, an acclaimed author, a visionary and thought leader. She is also considered by many a mystique, life coach, global influencer, spiritual confidante, and business mentor.
What is your career background?
I started my career as a software development professional, earning my degrees in India and London. I then transitioned into a serial entrepreneur, focusing on creating subscription-based networks for CIOs of major corporations.
My first business bridged the gap between IT and the board, eventually selling it to a major corporation. I then founded the Inspired Leaders Network, conducting a six-year study funded by the UK government and the EU, exploring whether inspired leaders are born or cultivated. This led to the discovery of the Seven Habits of Inspired Leaders and the Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership.
I expanded my career into producing Bollywood and English movies, and became an early investor in a VoIP calling system, a precursor to Skype. Later, I took on prestigious real estate development projects and mentored high-growth businesses. During this time, I faced a personal health challenge that prompted a spiritual journey to Bali, where I stayed for nine years. There, I developed the Flourishing Codes, integrating business and spirituality.
Now, I lead programs in higher education, helping young adults and women become flourishing leaders. These programs focus on transforming anxiety, turning failures into successes, and fostering flourishing lives, relationships, and workplaces. As an author, I continue to share these insights globally.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
The idea for my business, FLOW (Flourishing Leaders of the World), originated from an extensive study I conducted in the UK. This study focused on leaders who consistently achieved extraordinary results. I discovered that these leaders lived flourishing lives, driven by seven distinctive habits they implemented consistently. This insight inspired me to think about the transformative impact these habits could have if made accessible to today’s business leaders.
I saw firsthand how these principles not only transformed businesses but also profoundly impacted the leaders themselves. This realization sparked the vision to extend this knowledge to educational institutions, starting with colleges. By integrating these habits into the curriculum, we could nurture both teachers and students to become flourishing leaders.
Recognizing the pivotal role of women in creating nurturing environments, I expanded the program to focus on mothers, sisters, and daughters. This dual approach aims to ensure every child is nurtured, improving the quality of life for leaders, businesses, and workplaces.
Thus, my business venture is rooted in the mission to transform leadership through education and empower women, fostering a flourishing world for all. This journey began with the belief that there is a different, more impactful way to lead both life and business.
How did you move from idea to actual business?
I have a defined methodology for converting an idea into a business. First, I identify the problem my idea aims to solve and assess its prevalence. In this case, the problem is widespread burnout, anxiety, and stress among professionals, women at home, and students, all seeking a way to balance flourishing careers and lives.
Next, I gauge the scope of this issue. Recognizing its pervasive nature in the business world, households, and educational systems, I envision a solution. My vision involves creating a program that addresses these challenges and promotes a flourishing life.
The third step involves defining the business model. I outline how the solution will generate revenue, cover costs, and achieve profitability. This clarity ensures the idea is not only viable but also scalable.
Once the vision and business model are clear, I detail the delivery mechanism. I explain what the program offers and why my team and I are uniquely positioned to deliver it. This builds confidence in our capability to execute the vision.
Finally, I evaluate our current resources, identify gaps, and determine the external resources and funding needed. This systematic approach ensures a logical flow, providing a clear understanding of the problem, solution, execution plan, and expected impact, transforming the idea into a successful business.
Who is your target audience?
My target audience is very precise, encompassing various people who are at an inflection point experiencing a significant transition in their lives. For Flow Education, the focus is on teachers and students within the educational system. This includes faculty development as well as student empowerment, aiming to foster a nurturing and growth-oriented environment. Both teachers and students transform to become Flourishing Leaders of the world.
For Flow Women, the program is designed for women experiencing pivotal moments of change. This could include transitioning through a health crisis, hormonal changes, becoming a parent, navigating a change in their relationship, starting a new career or seeking to get unstuck in their business, life or relationships. The program equips them to become flourishing leaders of their own lives, empowering them to navigate these transitions effectively.
Additionally, we target corporations that are genuinely committed to the full spectrum well-being of their workforce. These organizations understand the value of nurturing their employees’ mental, emotional, and physical health, and they seek comprehensive programs to support this vision.
In essence, my target audience includes educators and students, women in transition, and forward-thinking CXOs and their corporations dedicated to holistic well-being. Each group is provided with a curated program we call FLOW- Flourishing leaders of the world, equipped to overcome their personal blocks, and build flourishing lives, relationships, businesses and the world.
How do you spread the word about what you do?
We believe in the power of word-of-mouth and referrals to grow our business. We actively encourage our customers to share their transformative experiences with others.
By leveraging a combination of traditional media and social media, we amplify these personal stories to reach a wider audience. However, our most significant growth comes from building strong relationships, networking, and forming joint venture partnerships. These connections allow us to expand our reach organically and authentically, ensuring that our message resonates deeply with those who hear it.
Through these efforts, we continue to spread the word about our mission and impact, inspiring more people to join our journey towards flourishing lives.
What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome is the prevalent mindset that focuses solely on making money, without recognizing the importance of a full-spectrum existence as flourishing, living, breathing human beings. People often see the value in holistic well-being but don’t prioritize it.
However, since I’ve been doing this work for a while, I’ve gathered numerous examples of businesses experiencing significant growth – sometimes eight or tenfold – while also having their leaders live flourishing lives. These success stories prove that it’s possible to achieve both business growth and personal wellbeing.
This lack of belief in having both has been the biggest challenge. Overcoming this obstacle involves demonstrating that prioritizing well-being doesn’t detract from business success; in fact, it enhances it. By sharing these stories, I can show that flourishing leaders create thriving businesses, opening the doorway to a more balanced and successful approach to work and life.
And your proudest moment so far?
I have many moments that fill me with pride, but one stands out significantly. I worked with a leader whose business was stuck at 30 stores. He was a burnt-out, super busy executive. Through implementing our program, he transformed his health, improved his relationships, and grew his business threefold. However, his relationship with his parents remained a challenge, even as his own nuclear family relationships improved.
My proudest moment came when I was in Colorado and received a phone call from this entrepreneur. He excitedly shared that his father was in his office, congratulating him on his success and expressing a desire to run his 100th store. This was monumental for him, as he had always felt judged by his family for choosing to create his own business, separate from the family business. This transformation in their relationship and his business growth was a profound moment of pride for me.
Another source of pride comes from working with students. I ask them to bring their toughest anxieties and teach them seven ways to convert anxiety into awesomeness. When they come together to create a show addressing these anxieties, and I watch as a member of the audience, I feel immense pride seeing them implement these pathways and transform their lives.
Who inspires you?
I believe that we are all magnificent beings in human disguise, each carrying a unique brilliance. This perspective shapes my view of the world and the people around me. I am constantly inspired by the hidden magnificence within each person I encounter.
My inspiration comes from the multitude of extraordinary individuals I am fortunate to be surrounded by. Whether it’s a leader overcoming significant challenges, a student transforming anxiety into awesomeness, or a woman navigating a pivotal life transition, I find inspiration in their journeys.
The planet and the earth themselves are also sources of inspiration. Their resilience, beauty, and ability to thrive under various conditions mirror the human spirit. By choosing to focus on the magnificence that lies beneath the surface, I am continually motivated and uplifted.
In essence, everyone and everything around me inspires me. I actively seek out the hidden strengths and beauty in people and the world, which not only enriches my life but also fuels my passion to help others discover and embrace their own magnificence. This approach drives my work and my commitment to fostering a flourishing life for all.
What are your three top pieces of advice for someone wanting to do something similar?
I am living the calling of my soul, and I am on my mission. If you are interested in pursuing a similar path, here are my top three pieces of advice:
First, understand that the only purpose of life is a universal one, it is to live it and come alive. Embrace this by fully engaging in your life and finding what makes you feel truly alive. Keep your finger on the pulse of your passions and pursue them with vigor.
Second, own yourself as the driver and decision-maker of your life. Stop trying, because trying can be so trying, it’s exhausting. To experience fulfillment, decide and take action, get on with implementing your decision as a matter of your choice. Embrace the power you have to shape your destiny.
Third, recognize that gratitude is the key to peace. When you feel restless or out of sorts, don’t seek peace externally or place blame. Instead, become a gratitude hunter. Actively look for things to be grateful for, and you will find that peace follows naturally.
As a bonus, remember that you are always making choices, even if you choose to make no choice. Be conscious of your decisions and their consequences. Choose intentionally and align your choices with the outcomes you desire.
By following these principles, you can live a life that is vibrant, purposeful, and truly your own.
Find out more about Mynoo Maryel.
