Sandhya Balakrishnan’s Post

“Poochne mein kyaa jaata hai?” Turns out - absolutely everything. Two months before the ISB WISE Conclave, on a random evening, I sent Parul a message that honestly felt like a shot in the dark: “If I want to participate in a wellness/health panel at WISE, how do I go about it?” I fully expected a polite no. After all, discussing wellness at a business conference filled with ISB alumni from finance, tech, AI, and rocket-ship startups? Really? But a few minutes later, Parul called and said: “We’re doing a talk with Rujuta Diwekar. Would you like to moderate it?” I still remember asking her, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” Because Rujuta isn’t just a name for me - she’s someone I’ve admired, quoted, and learned from for years. I said yes in a heartbeat. But a tiny voice in my head whispered: “Don’t get too excited. What if it falls through? What if this isn’t meant for you?” Still, I prepared like it “was” happening—deep research, thoughtful questions, focused prep calls. And when the first teaser went up on LinkedIn with her photo - and my name - that’s when it felt real. On the day of WISE, her conversation was supposed to be second on the lineup. I was mentally preparing, breathing slowly, rehearsing my opening lines. But then, schedule change. We were moved to first. Butterflies → full swarm. I walked on stage, introduced myself, held the audience until she arrived. And when I saw her climb those steps, I was STARSTRUCK. There was a literal glow around her. Everything else just… blurred out. But I pulled myself together, stuck to my script, and delivered the conversation I had envisioned. And Rujuta? She was magnetic - witty, warm, sharp. She spoke about eating without fear, loving yourself fully, not deleting selfies because you “don’t look good enough,” and most beautifully—the role of yoga in building real strength. “Inversions,” she said, “are every woman’s way of holding ground against years of conditioning.” After the session, I thanked her in Marathi for making everyday Indian food cool again. She smiled, posed for a selfie, and I floated through the rest of the day. Later that evening, sitting with Sireesha, overflowing with gratitude, I said, “I still don’t understand why Parul took such a big bet on me.” And Sireesha replied with something I’ll carry forever: “Because you put yourself out there. You showed your work. You built credibility. She didn’t gamble - you asked. Own your power. You’re just getting started.” So here’s my message to anyone sitting on a dream: Knock. Ask. Show up. The right people will open the door. After all, poochne mein kyaa jaata hai? PS: D N V Kumara Guru, my heartfelt thank you! The boldness and freedom you give your team is rare. This opportunity came to me because YOU empowered Parul to say yes. Forever grateful. Indian School of Business ISB Alumni Engagement Kanksha Sood Himanshu Arya Kaumudi Goda ISB Alumni #twc #ISBAlumni #WISEConclave #WomenSupportingWomen