Blazhka shares the challenge she had feeling the weight of other people's expectations, namely her family and friends, when she decided to choose a path that was different to what they expected for her. I think this is something that we can all relate to which is why this is such a powerful episode. Blazhka shares the work she did to identify the values she had and also the values she wanted to have - she realised the former were driven by external expectations and not her own. She highlights the things that have assisted her when she is feeling conflicted on expectations, such as being clear on her motives, taking time for daily reflections and considering what is happening in her body when she is experiencing certain emotions, using learnings from the Huberman Lab podcast. Blazhka talks through the journey she went on to setting expectations that make her happy and have led her to an inspiring new chapter for her restaurant Blagichka, the first zero-waste restaurant in Bulgaria.Get to know Blazhka in the first half of the podcast as talks about where her drive and motivation around a zero waste philosophy began as a student at Sofia Univerisity. She shares how she combined this passion with teaching on the Teach for Bulgaria programme to enable a learning experience for her students that led to starting Blagichka. The restaurant gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to work in their kitchen and develop key skills. Blazhka beautifully describes how she has gone back to her roots in the village to establish a circular approach to the restaurant's sustainability as she goes through an exciting re-launch on 1 June 2024. It's a simply wonderful story.Guest speaker: Blazhka Dimitrova, Founder and CEO of Blagichka in Bulgaria.If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityBlazhka Dimitrova @blagadiaryBlagichka Zero Waste @blagichkapastryVillage Farm @farm2ubg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanju thinks about how we can respond to crisis, anchored in the motto "start with something", that Anca Margineanu shared. Sanju reflects on how we can all have an important cause that we feel strongly about in our own community or further afield that we can support through social action - this is the foundation on which RISE is built, solving for the education crisis in rural India. She thinks about problem solving at the centre of changing the world through social innovation and how more people dedicating their time to a social mission as a 'side-hustle' has the power to effect real change. Sanju believes that anyone has the capacity to be a social innovator at any scale and encourages you to get in touch if you want help with getting started.The 'Sanju thinks...' episodes are released on the 3rd Thursday of every month (but this month the 5th Thursday!). They contain Sanju's reflections on the challenge that the guest speaker has shared earlier in the month so make sure you've listened to that episode first!If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityAnca Margineanu @ancamargineanu3Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest @utcbro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anca shares the challenge she had managing crisis - responding to the Ukraine war by building a Refugee Centre, now the biggest centre for Ukrainian refugees in Romania. She shares the difficult road she navigated in the face of a desperately harrowing situation, using the power of collaboration, partnerships and sponsorships to provide accommodation and a range of social services to the refugees. From this experience, Anca now believes anything is possible with motivation and passion for an important cause, even if you have no prior experience and even when you have other responsibilities like a full time job! Anca's humility shines through in her extraordinary story that can empower anyone to get involved in a social mission to help your community.Get to know Anca in the first half of the podcast as she shares her experience of Teach for Romania as a fellow and then as Head of Alumni. Anca works full time at the Technical University of Civil Engineering in Bucharest (UTCB) where she is the institutional coordinator for EU-CONEXUS, a partnership of 9 universities across Europe who are developing science and innovation into a hub of excellence on Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability. Since February 2022 Anca has also managed the UTCB Refugee Centre and supported thousands of refugees from Ukraine.Guest speaker: Anca Margineanu, Founder and Co-ordinator of the UTCB Refugee Centre in Romania.If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityAnca Margineanu @ancamargineanu3Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest @utcbro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanju thinks about the narrative that led to her setting up RISE almost 15 years ago, rooted in her love of rural India, her cultural heritage and sense of belonging to West Bengal, specifically the village of Shondanga. This is a special episode recorded at Sanju's family home in Shondanga, which meant that her reflections on the powerful episode on Creative Recovery with Fahd Jamaleddine, Co-founder and Transformation Catalyst at nafda, were able to be more intentional. Take a virtual tour of Shondanga in the reel here by Purva Parwani, a fellow Teach for All social innovator and friend who recently stayed with Sanju and depicts her family home full of love here.The 'Sanju thinks...' episodes are released on the 3rd Thursday of every month. They contain Sanju's reflections on the challenge that the guest speaker has shared earlier in the month so make sure you've listened to that episode first!If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityFahd @itsfahddnafda @nafda_lebanonPurva Parwani @purvainawrapVivek Kaushik @viveksrkaushikBrototy Mishra @brototyAheli Jana @thats_so_aheliClaylab @claylab.education Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fahd shares the challenge he has had working through the narrative that has guided his social entrepreneur journey, facing into trauma he experienced as a teenager and questioning what should guide the future re-invention of himself. He talks beautifully about having your north star to aid focus, the importance of self-love and how to build resilience through creative recovery. Fahd shares the tools he has used to build his sense of possibility mindset which have enabled him to tune into his higher self and purpose.Get to know Fahd in the first half of the podcast as he shares his incredible story of co-founding three organisations reforming education in Lebanon over the past 10 years: Inspiration Garden - a centre in Tripoli that cultivates experiential learning in a safe, creative, green environment for holistic skills development, Learning Land - a grassroots community of 6,000 educators fostering professional growth and innovation for meaningful education reform and nafda - a movement of social transformation through education anchored in 3 core values of engaged citizenship, good governance and social justice.Guest speaker: Fahd Jamaleddine, Co-Founder and Transformation Catalyst at nafdaIf you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityFahd Jamaleddine @itsfahddnafda @nafda_lebanon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanju thinks about the beautiful story that this month's guest Neha Sahu shared of her students from India visiting London as winners of the School Football League and reflects on the power of empathy during that trip. She highlights the Empathy Week Teacher CPD event she attended and reflects on empathy as the driver for creativity and how her early experiences of rural West Bengal led to setting up RISE. Sanju thinks about the challenge that Neha raised on career transitions and considers how to reframe imposter syndrome, inspired by the recent words of Oscar nominee America Ferrera and the Step Up Leadership event she attended on the concept of Ikigai - the reason for being. She also talks about what winning at life means to her right now.The 'Sanju thinks...' episodes are released on the 3rd Thursday of every month. They contain Sanju's reflections on the challenge that the guest speaker has shared earlier in the month so make sure you've listened to that episode first!If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityNeha Sahu @sahusanLaunch Girls @launch_grlsEd Kirwan @EdKirwanEmpathy Week @TheEmpathyWeekBen Hobbis @MrBHobbisStep Up Network @StepUpNet_EdHannah Wilson @Ethical_LeaderNav Sanghara @NavSanghara Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neha shares the challenge she faced when she took a sabbatical - how the comparative stillness led to feelings of imposter syndrome and needing to seek external validation which led to people pleasing. She talks about how she worked through this, applying her own mechanisms to “win at life” again and creating a work ecosystem that is a "match", which she believes everyone can strive for.Get to know Neha in the first half of the podcast as she shares her fascinating journey co-founding Just for Kicks, for the most disadvantaged children in India to learn life skills through football - an idea she developed whilst on the Teach for India fellowship. Neha went on to experience a merger with Enabling Leadership where she was Director of Global Operations and Development before co-founding Launch Girls.Guest speaker: Neha Sahu, Co-Founder and COO of Launch GirlsIf you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityNeha Sahu @sahusanLaunch Girls @launch_grlsEnabling Leadership @enablingleadershipglobalTeach for India @TeachforIndia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanju thinks about the time she experienced a form of burnout whilst establishing RISE and simultaneously starting her job at Accenture and the important decision she had to make about which path to take in her career. She reflects on the aspects that this month's guest Natasha Porter OBE raised on combatting burnout, namely 'right-sizing' roles at work and being honest about where you get your self esteem from in life, figuring out your 'canary in the mine' and keeping a positive mindset.The 'Sanju thinks...' episodes will be released on the 3rd Thursday of every month. They contain Sanju's reflections on the challenge that the guest speaker has shared earlier in the month so make sure you've listened to that episode first!If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityNatasha Porter @world_of_natashaUnlocked Graduates @unlockedgradsPinky Lilani @pinkylilaniAsian Women of Achievement Awards @awaawardsuk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natasha shares a refreshingly honest account of when she experienced burnout in a senior leadership role, which she worked through by what she calls "right-sizing". She talks candidly about letting self-esteem be driven by her job and the work she did to reframe what she gets worth from in life.Get to know Natasha in the first half of the podcast as she talks about doing Teach First, being on the founding team for King Solomon Academy in London and setting up Unlocked Graduates, having worked with Dame Sally Coates on her Government-commissioned review into prison education in the UK.Guest speaker: Natasha Porter OBE, Founder and CEO of Unlocked Graduates.If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharityNatasha Porter @world_of_natashaUnlocked Graduates @unlockedgradsTeach First @TeachFirstBrett Wigdortz @WigdortzDame Julia Cleverdon @Julia_CleverdonTotteridge Academy @totteridgeacad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanju thinks about what led to launching Something for the Soul, shares a little bit more on the purpose of the podcast, who it is aimed at and what she hopes will come out of it.This is a bitesize introduction to the 'Sanju thinks...' episodes, which will be released on the 3rd Thursday of every month. They will contain Sanju's reflections on the challenge that the guest speaker has shared earlier in the month so make sure you've listened to that episode first!If you enjoyed this episode then share it on your social media and tag @sanjuthinks on Instagram or Twitter or on LinkedIn.--Social media:Sanju Pal @sanjuthinksRISE @risecharity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.