At Brilliant Read Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Priti Puri Agrawal for an interview with Brilliant Read Media. To say further, Priti is a Mindfulness Growth and Life Transformation Coach, NLP Practitioner and Co-Founder at ProjectIDLY. Let’s learn more about her background, inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Priti:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I’m a Mindfulness Growth Coach, NLP Practitioner, and Life Transformation Coach with over 18 years of corporate experience as a Business Analyst in the banking and financial IT sector.
My journey from the corporate world to coaching was inspired by my personal battle with hurry sickness, anxiety, and burnout – something many high-performing professionals face.
Mindfulness became my anchor during these challenging times. I realized that growth, success, and fulfillment come not just from working harder but by working mindfully – aligning intention, attention, and action to create lasting impact.
Today, I help working professionals, students, parents, entrepreneurs, and businesses achieve sustainable growth mindfully by integrating mindfulness practices into leadership, decision-making, and emotional resilience. And I am the creator of transformative programs like ‘Calm in Chaos’ and ‘Mindfully Make It Happen’.
I’m also the director and co-founder of Mitranjana Foundation, a non-profit organization that works in the areas of uplifting marginalized communities. One of our initiatives, ProjectIDLY, is aimed at alleviating hunger. I believe that mindful growth is the key to navigating life’s complexities while staying grounded, focused, and thriving.
‘ProjectIDLY’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
ProjectIDLY is a simple yet effective solution to alleviate hunger. Through ProjectIDLY, we aim to feed the first meal of the day to the marginalised community so that they have the energy to work and earn their next meal.
ProjectIDLY is not a feeding initiative – It’s a movement of compassion and service, driven through a community of people across the nation who want to give back to the people who help them achieve their dreams directly or indirectly.
Over the last 1 year, through ProjectIDLY, we’ve served over 11 thousand people, but what makes this initiative truly special is the spirit of community, empathy, and mindful giving that it fosters.
Our mission is to go beyond just serving meals – we want to empower communities, create a ripple effect of kindness, and instill a sense of responsibility in society. Each meal served is not just about food—it’s a gesture of dignity, care, and hope.
Do visit our website – www.projectidly.org to learn more and to #JoinTheIdlyRevolution.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
When the going gets tough, my purpose anchors me. My mission to spread mindfulness and help people live more balanced, meaningful lives drives me through challenging times.
Practicing Mindfulness and Vipassana meditation has cultivated a deep sense of inner calm, clarity, and resilience within me. It’s this foundation that allows me to pause, observe, and respond mindfully even in difficult situations.
Additionally, witnessing the transformations in my clients and communities – whether it’s a professional regaining focus or a family receiving a meal through ProjectIDLY – fuels my passion. The impact of mindful service and growth keeps me inspired and committed to this path.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
Intention Shapes Reality: What we focus on expands. Setting mindful intentions and aligning actions with those intentions creates sustainable growth and fulfillment.
Two points in my life when I truly understood this deeply were – First, when I wanted to get myself mapped to an on-site location same as my husband back in 2008. The moment I aligned my actions with the intention, things magically worked for us.
While over and over again I have been reminded of the importance of setting Intentions to create an aligned future, but, the second one that truly stands out is; one when my husband I and made an intentional move to Pune, uprooting ourselves from Bangalore, this was also a very courageous step for me; as it also meant giving up on a very stable job. But fact is, there was something bigger and intentional that was meant to be for me and my family.
Pause, Reflect, Respond: Life presents us with challenges, but the ability to pause, reflect, and respond mindfully – rather than react impulsively – creates better outcomes.
There have been many small and big situations where there has been a need to take a pause and observe the situation and respond instead of react, but one that stands out is when I lost my mom in 2019. It was also a very emotional high point for the entire family. Every decision taken in that period and in fact even before that when she was going through a very crucial liver transplant surgery, it was like a frequent test of reaction vs responding.
Service Nurtures Growth: Contribution and service to others bring a deeper sense of joy and purpose. When we give from a place of authenticity, we grow beyond our limitations. Since childhood I have seen my parents doing service at different occasions at temples or charity for those in need. So really service/ contribution is a value that resonates deeply with me, be it in coaching or in giving back to society as part of Mitranjana Foundation and its initiatives. True service always enables the Growth of individuals or society as a whole.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I would like to say, the keys to success come from a balance of:
Self-Awareness: This is the first and most critical step toward success. Only when you truly understand your strengths, values, and purpose can you make intentional choices that lead to meaningful progress. Without self-awareness, success can feel directionless and unfulfilling.
Resilience: Life will always present challenges, but developing emotional agility allows you to bounce back with grace. Resilience helps you view setbacks and failures as learning opportunities and keeps you moving forward.
Intentional Action: Success is not a result of random effort but consistent, purposeful action aligned with long-term goals. Mindful choices ensure that your daily actions contribute meaningfully to your bigger vision.
Service and Contribution: True success goes beyond personal achievement. Contributing to others’ growth and well-being creates a ripple effect, enriching your own journey while making a positive impact on the world. In other words, progress and see how you can do a “ME to WE” journey.
When success is rooted in mindfulness, it becomes sustainable, fulfilling, and impactful, allowing you to thrive while creating value for others.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
To students and young professionals, I would say:
Invest in Self-Awareness: Take time to understand your values, passions, and strengths. The clearer your self-awareness, the more intentional your choices will be.
Embrace Mindfulness Early: Cultivate the habit of being present and mindful – this sharpens focus, enhances emotional intelligence, and strengthens decision-making, which can then lead to sustainable growth.
Learn to Create Healthy Boundaries with Clarity: Boundaries protect your time, energy, and priorities. It’s okay to say ‘no’ to distractions so you can say ‘yes’ to what truly matters.
Be Open to Lifelong Learning: Adaptability and a growth mindset are key. Stay curious, embrace challenges, and seek mentors/ coaches who inspire growth.
There is so much to be shared, but this conversation limits how much I can communicate on this platform. Students and young professionals regularly reach out to me on LinkedIn with their specific queries.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
What makes my journey deeply satisfying is witnessing transformation – first within myself, and now in individuals, professionals, and communities. Seeing professionals regain clarity, balance, and success through mindful growth, and watching ProjectIDLY touch lives by providing nourishment, fills me with immense gratitude.
People often tell me that I am the listening ear they needed—that they feel safe to express their deepest thoughts and emotions in my presence. The safe, non-judgmental space I provide allows them to be vulnerable, reflect, and uncover their inner strength. This trust enables me to guide and mentor them toward healing, growth, and meaningful change.
Moreover, the ability to blend mindfulness with leadership, coaching, and service excites me because it proves that mindful action can create ripples of positive change.
Every milestone, every breakthrough, and every story of impact reaffirms that I’m living my purpose – and that’s the most fulfilling aspect of my journey.
“Transformation begins when we pause, reflect, and align our actions with intention.”
Having grown through mindful awareness, I now guide others to uncover their strength, embrace change, and create lasting impact – one mindful step at a time.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
