Episode 25: Success Isn't What You Think with Ian

Episode 29- Success Through Uncertainty with Prashant

In this episode of Maximize Life, Shruti Rustagi sits down with corporate leader, entrepreneur, and emerging author Prashant to explore failure, risk-taking, leadership, and the changing world of work. From being Unilever’s youngest manager to attending Harvard Business School at 23, Prashant shares his journey through corporate success, entrepreneurship, and personal reinvention. The conversation dives into: * Why the cost of inaction is greater than failure * Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and uncertainty * Building AI solutions for digital non-natives * Leadership in a constantly changing world * Why chaos is now normal * Learning through mistakes and setbacks * Career reinvention and adaptability * Taking action before everything feels “perfect” A powerful conversation for professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders navigating uncertainty, growth, and modern careers. About Prashant: Prashant is the Co-founder & Sr Partner at Deep Growth Labs and former Head of Group Digital, Customer & Ecosystems Marketing at AIA across 18 markets. With 25+ years of experience across fintech, insurtech, healthtech, and technology, he has worked with global organizations including DBS Bank, Dell, and Capital One. He is also the author of CLIFF, where he explores financial resilience, longer lives, shorter careers, and the future of work. Timestamps: 00:00 - Why failure is better than inaction 00:13 - Introduction to Maximize Life 00:22 - Prashant’s journey: corporate leader, entrepreneur & author 01:02 - Lessons from startup failure 01:41 - Building an AI assistant for digital non-natives 03:04 - Why the startup shut down despite growth 03:47 - Learning when to quit and move on 05:17 - Understanding the real consumer experience 08:05 - Leaving a toxic workplace and choosing yourself 09:35 - Financial resilience and career flexibility 10:17 - The harsh reality of startup success rates 11:03 - “Fiscally Flexible by Fifty” explained 12:47 - The story behind the book Cliff 14:02 - Longer lives, shorter careers & financial planning 15:06 - Why schools don’t teach money management 16:48 - The emotional process of writing a book 18:16 - Teaching investing habits to the next generation 20:02 - Defining moments that shaped Prashant 20:45 - Leadership lessons from the financial crisis 22:18 - Redefining success, happiness & growth 23:52 - Chaos, money mindset & the future of careers 24:36 - Relationships, resilience & emotional wellbeing 30:02 - Final reflections on life, money & adaptability 32:02 - Closing thoughts

Episode 28: Stress: The Invisible Burden with Diane

In this episode of Maximize Life, I sit down with Diane Moca as she shares her journey from television reporter to entrepreneur, and how her experiences as a working mother inspired her to create MomSub, a platform helping families access reliable childcare support. We explore the challenges of balancing leadership, entrepreneurship, motherhood, ambition, and mental wellness while navigating the constant pressure to “do it all perfectly.” Diane speaks candidly about startup pivots, burnout, stress, self-doubt, and the lessons she learned while intentionally building a business alongside family life. This conversation highlights the power of consistency over intensity, the importance of solution-focused thinking, stress management through self-awareness, and building a life aligned with your values rather than outside expectations. A thoughtful and relatable discussion on leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, personal growth, mental health, and why women should stop apologizing for prioritizing their own needs. About Diane: Diane Moca is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of MomSub, a managed marketplace connecting parents with child care providers. With a background in journalism and media, she has built and scaled businesses across childcare, real estate, content, and services while navigating the realities of entrepreneurship and motherhood. Diane is a graduate of leading accelerator programs including Founder Institute, Founder University, 1871, and The Blox, and is passionate about creating systems, impact, and support for working families. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & “Don’t Apologize for Things That Aren’t Your Fault” 2:32 - Defining Career Moments & Early Motherhood Journey 5:06 - Balancing Ambition, Teenagers & Family Priorities 8:10 - Discovering Real Estate While Raising Kids 11:03 - Key Learnings About Impact, Time & Growth 13:52 - Building Trust, Community & Mom Networks 16:50 - Facebook Mom Groups & First Real Traction 20:10 - Trying to Do Everything & Burnout Realizations 23:07 - Finding Calm, Confidence & Clarity 26:02 - Leadership, Hiring & Learning Through Audiobooks 29:09 - Mental Health, Family & Non-Business Learning 32:01 - Creating Personal Time & Avoiding Overwhelm 34:45 - Self-Awareness, Guilt & Figuring Things Out 37:47 - Enjoyment, Friendships & Escaping Constant Stress 41:37 - Outro

Episode 27: Leadership, Identity & The Power of Awareness with Jaclyn

In this episode of Maximize Life Podcast, I sit down with Jaclyn Orent for a powerful conversation on leadership, consciousness, cultural transformation, and the people who naturally drive change within systems and organizations. Together, we explore what it truly means to be a “cultural catalyst,” how vision shapes transformation, why consciousness is at the root of systemic change, and the importance of acting on inner awareness before external validation arrives. From identity-driven leadership to creating future-focused cultures, this episode dives deep into the psychology behind meaningful transformation, both personal and collective. If you’re a founder, leader, educator, creator, or someone navigating change, this conversation offers valuable insights into building impact from the inside out. About Jaclyn: Jaclyn Orent is a Cultural Catalyst™, co-founder & CEO of the Cultural Catalyst Network, and architect of the Cultural Catalyst System - a framework designed to create positive cultural transformation through leadership, consciousness, and human connection. Her work blends decades of research in behavioral science, transformation, and emotional intelligence to help leaders create meaningful systemic change. Timestamps: 0:00 - “It has to be able to pull you instead of push you” 0:14 - Welcome to the Maximize Life Podcast 0:27 - Jaclyn Orent introduces herself and the Cultural Catalyst Network 1:01 - Defining a “Cultural Catalyst” 2:11 - Self-selection, identity, and recognizing changemakers 3:52 - People positioned for systemic influence 5:16 - Consciousness and cultural transformation 6:48 - Why leadership development is “completely backwards” 8:09 - Starting with a future vision 9:42 - Pull vs. push motivation 11:03 - Intuition, awareness, and insight 12:56 - Organizational culture and human systems 15:18 - The psychology behind transformation 17:41 - Creating meaningful change through identity 19:54 - The role of inner awareness in leadership 22:37 - Real-world shifts happening in organizations 25:11 - Vision, alignment, and collective evolution 27:46 - Acting on moments of awareness 30:24 - Final reflections and closing thoughts

Episode 26: From Survival to Strength: The Power of Mindset, Solitude & Resilience with Amar

In this episode of the Maximize Life Podcast, Shruti sits down with Amar Haksar to talk about resilience, mindset, and navigating life’s toughest moments. From facing personal challenges to taking on a 50-day solo cycling journey, Amar shares why the hardest part isn’t physical, it’s mental. The conversation explores how solitude can lead to self-discovery, why we often overestimate what we need to get started, and how shifting perspective can change the way we approach adversity. What you’ll learn: * Why mental strength matters more than physical ability * The difference between solitude and loneliness * How to start without waiting for perfect conditions * Why you don’t need a lot to move forward About Amar: Mindset & Mental Fitness Coach | Life Coach | Motivational Speaker | Cancer Survivor | First Indian to Cycle 5,700 km Across USA | Completed 1,523 consecutive day triathlon activity | Founder @ FITTER MINDZ Half Indian and half Irish but born, raised and lived most of my life in India. LI - linkedin.com/in/amarhaksar Insta - @amarhaksar FB - Amar Haksar  Timestamps: 00:49 - Introduction 03:48 - Podcast begins 04:17 - Cancer journey starts 07:42 - Diagnosis (low point) 08:22 - “Cancer saved me” 10:41 - Bicycle journey intro 14:07 - Decision to cycle across U.S. 16:02 - Journey begins 17:33 - Hit by a car (Day 1) 20:16 - Daily routine 21:29 - Road challenges 22:26 - “The hardest part was the mind” 22:44 - 50 days alone 23:01 - Calling home moments 25:00 - Extreme situations & problem-solving 27:00 - Unexpected encounters & survival 29:30 - Emotional and mental shifts 31:09 - Solitude vs loneliness 32:00 - Minimalism realization 33:56 - “You don’t need a whole lot” 34:16 - Starting without perfect conditions 35:22 - Key mindset reflections 36:01 - Transition into closing segment 36:47 - Continued reflections 38:12 - Deeper mindset discussion 40:05 - Perspective shifts 42:18 - Applying learnings 44:27 -Final reflections & closing

Episode 26 Teaser: From Survival to Strength: The Power of Mindset, Solitude & Resilience with Amar

In this episode, Shruti sits down with Amar to talk about resilience, mindset, and navigating life’s toughest moments. From facing personal challenges to taking on a 50-day solo cycling journey, Amar shares why the hardest part isn’t physical, it’s mental. Tune in to the full episode 🎙️