131: The Rise of Foodhak. Empowering wellness through intelligent nutrition with Sakshi Mittal

Shownotes:The businesses most likely to succeed are those that are born to solve real life problems. Would you agree?For Sakshi Mittal, a Wharton educated, investor at Softbank, a health crisis during her first pregnancy was the trigger to her entrepreneurial journey. The result was Foodhak – a physical and digital ecosystem that challenges the food industry and makes 'food as medicine' accessible to all. Technology and AI are used at Foodhak to gain insights from the latest research and empower consumers in their dietary choices.  The first time I heard Sakshi (her child was in the audience with a minder) speak at the India Week in London, I was intrigued by Foodhak (the name), her ‘food as medicine’ mantra, her decision to move away from a highly successful career at Softbank etc…. So I decided to dig deeper and invited her to be a guest on The Elephant in the Room.In this free flowing conversation we spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Why it required courage to transition from a career in finance to entrepreneurship? We also spoke about the accompanying discomfort and uncertaintyHow Foodhak is leveraging technology, including machine learning, to interpret clinical research on nutrition, with the aim of empowering consumers with personalized dietary advice through an innovative appSustainability as a core principle at Food Hak, using healthier and sustainable ingredients, like millets, while also optimizing packaging to reduce environmental impactWhy work-life balance, is integral to her well-being and family time is an opportunity to recharge from the demands of entrepreneurshipThe crucial role networking and mentorship play in fostering connections that can lead to collaborations and support in developing a successful business.She also spoke about the unique challenges faced by female founders, the influence of her family on her work ethics, her career trajectory, her partnership with Deepak Chopra…….I am in awe of all entrepreneurs, the belief, hard work, commitment, dedication, the relentless nature of running a business – it is inspiring. And women entrepreneurs who navigate the intersectional demands of their personal and professional lives deserve especially to be recognised and celebrated.So, here to celebrating risk taking in the pursuit of one’s passion.To learn more about Sakshi’s journey head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Hey, Sakshi. Wonderful to finally have you here today as a guest on my podcast, The Elephant in the Room.Sakshi: Thank you for having me.Sudha: Let's get started. Who is Sakshi Chhabra Mittal? I saw you on the panel discussion at India Week earlier in the year, and I saw you have a very rich and varied experience, also of geographies, not just industries.Could you share your experiences from childhood, school, college, family of what has probably shaped the person you are today?Sakshi: I think that's such a big question. But it's a lovely question because it actually takes you back and helps you recap your life. And helps you be grateful for those who've had a good influence on you and be grateful for those who challenged you because it's the combination of the two that kind of makes you and defines your life...