In this intimate conversation with Raj, serial entrepreneur Miki Agrawal shares profound insights from her experiences in a darkness retreat and her journey of personal transformation. Miki is an author of “Disrupt-Her,” and a trailblazing innovator known for founding TUSHY, THINX, and Wild. Named “Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business” and “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, Miki shares her evolution from a hard-charging entrepreneur to an advocate of “soft power” leadership. Her latest venture, Hiro Technologies, exemplifies this approach by partnering with nature to solve the global plastic crisis through breakthrough fungi technology. Beyond her business accomplishments, she’s a devoted mother, musician, and thought leader in the space of authentic leadership and emotional intelligence.

Key Topics and Takeaways:

• How five nights in complete darkness revealed the mechanics of our emotional patterns and thought loops
• Why “soft power” might be the leadership paradigm our world desperately needs right now
• The remarkable experience of watching yourself cry and finding joy in feeling everything
• The difference between leadership and mastery (and why understanding this changes everything)
• How prayer and gratitude can transform our relationship with uncertainty
• Why moving at the “perfect pace” means something different than what most people think
• The profound shift from being a leader on a pedestal to being a guide on the path
• How vulnerability and power aren’t opposites – they’re partners in authentic leadership
• The way our souls might have chosen this human experience specifically to feel it all
• Why feeling insecure might be one of the most secure things we can do

This conversation reminds us that true aliveness isn’t found in avoiding the dark or chasing only the light – it’s found in embracing every shade of the human experience. As Miki beautifully puts it, “I want to skid to death’s door sideways, not in a well-preserved body, thoroughly used up, loudly proclaiming, wow, what a life!” The invitation is clear: what if instead of managing our emotions, we let them be our teachers? What if instead of fearing our vulnerability, we let it be our strength? This episode challenges us to embrace the full spectrum of being human, knowing that in this embrace, we find our most authentic power.

Connect with Miki:

Instagram: @mikiagrawal
Website: https://mikiagrawal.com/
Support Hiro Technology’s Crowdfund Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hirotechnologies/hiro-experience-plastic-eating-fungi-at-home

Connect with Raj:
Newsletter – Sign up here: https://www.rajjana.com/staygrounded/
Website: https://www.rajjana.com/
Instagram: @raj_jana
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/rs/podcast/stay-grounded-with-raj-jana/id1318038490
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22Hrw6VWfnUSI45lw8LJBP
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@raj_jana

Legal Disclaimer: The information and opinions discussed in this podcast are for educational and entertainment purposes only. The host and guests are not medical or mental health professionals, and their advice should not be a substitute for seeking professional help. Any action taken based on the information presented is strictly at your own risk. The podcast host and their guests shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by information shared in this podcast. Consult your physician before making any changes to your mental health treatment or lifestyle.