This photo? It’s my heart in a frame.

The loud, loving, beautiful chaos: A lifetime of love.

Almost every single member of my family, squeezed together in one loud, joyful, slightly chaotic moment during my recent trip to India. And it reminded me—yet again—how deeply my roots shape who I am today.

Growing up as part of a big Indian family is like being in a startup, a group project, and a festival—all at once. You learn things no textbook can teach.

• Chaos is constant—but so is love.

• There’s always noise. Always opinions. Always someone laughing or arguing or making tea. But underneath it all, there’s unwavering loyalty and support. The kind that makes you feel unshakable in the world.

• You don’t just ask for the remote—you build alliances. 

• You learn to share — space, attention, responsibilities, decisions.

• You develop emotional intelligence without realizing it. You know when to speak up, when to hold space, when to mediate, and when to just grab a snack and walk away.

• You figure out that being loud doesn’t mean being heard, and sometimes the best way to lead is simply to listen.

• You get comfortable with conflict, but also learn the power of choosing resolution.


• And the most important lesson of them all,

• You learn success isn’t individual—it’s collective. 

Whether I’m working with early-stage startups, coaching product teams, or helping small businesses through Fly Forty, I see the same patterns:

• Different personalities, all trying to move in the same direction

• Conflicts that just need better understanding

• Wins that feel so much better when shared

• And moments of messy, beautiful chaos that lead to something amazing

My family taught me how to lead without needing a title.
How to be okay with the mess—because the mess is where the magic lives.

So here's to the loud houses. The full plates. The all-hands-on-deck life.


And to the kind of love that teaches you how to lead—long before you ever step into a boardroom.