In an age dominated by artificial intelligence, constant performance, and rising burnout, a quieter but more profound question is beginning to surface: Who are we beneath our roles, achievements, and identities? Mid-Day speaks with Hemant Lawanghare, author of Atman Intelligence and Founder of MasterMyLife EQ Education, whose work bridges ancient Indian wisdom with modern emotional and leadership challenges. Drawing from his own journey through corporate life, executive coaching, and Advaita Vedanta, Lawanghare introduces Atman Intelligence as an inner operating system for clarity, resilience, and conscious leadership. In this conversation, he explores why emotional intelligence alone is no longer enough, how spirituality can enter boardrooms without losing practicality, and why the future of leadership in an AI-driven world depends on deep inner awareness rather than external optimisation. 1. Your book introduces Atman Intelligence as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern life mastery. What personal experiences led you to create this framework, and why does the world need it now? I answer this as I have lived it and narrated it in my book, A Journey of Self-Discovery: The Mask, The Mirror, and The Horizon. Atman Intelligence did not emerge as a concept. It emerged from my own unravelling. The first phase I call The Mask. Over more than twenty-four years in corporate life, I performed my roles well. Career, family, stability, success, everything appeared in place. Yet there was a persistent emptiness. Sitting at traffic lights, a quiet question kept returning. Is this living, or am I simply surviving inside a cage I have built myself? The second phase, The Mirror, began in 2012 when my organisation sent me for executive coaching. My coach specialised in emotional intelligence. There were no fixes, only presence and questions that evoked awareness. That experience stripped away layers of identity I had mistaken for myself. The question became unavoidable. Who am I, truly? Seeing the impact of coaching, I pursued certification and became a coach in 2014. The third phase unfolded in 2016 when I chose to work full time as a coach and educationist. While developing a master’s programme on emotional intelligence and life coaching with the University of Mumbai, I was drawn into Advaita Vedanta. The inquiry deepened beyond roles and thoughts. I realised I was not the waves of identity, but the ocean beneath them. That stillness did not give answers. It gave freedom. Atman Intelligence exists because people today are exhausted from performing. In an age of artificial intelligence, burnout, and constant noise, the world is ready for inner clarity and grounded leadership. 2. How does Atman Intelligence go beyond traditional self-help or emotional intelligence approaches? Atman Intelligence is not a checklist or a motivation system. Traditional self-help focuses on optimisation. Emotional intelligence focuses on managing emotions. Both often stop at behaviour. Atman Intelligence begins at identity. It awakens remembrance of the Atman, the unchanging witnessing consciousness within. From there, thinking becomes intentional, action becomes aligned, emotions become conscious, and care expands beyond the self. It is not about perfection. It is about coherence. As I say in the book, you do not manage life, you lead it. 3. How does MML help people move from defining purpose to living it daily? Purpose is easy to articulate and difficult to embody. MasterMyLife EQ Education was created to bridge that gap. Through the Global Coach Certification Program and the Atman Intelligence based Life Wisdom Program, participants integrate emotional, behavioural, and spiritual intelligence through experiential learning. This is not classroom knowledge. It is lived practice. I have seen professionals shift how they make decisions, lead teams, and show up in relationships. Purpose stops being a statement and becomes a way of choosing and responding every day. 4. How does Atman Intelligence bring spirituality into boardrooms and leadership spaces? Spirituality is not an escape from life. It is mastery within it. Atman Intelligence translates ancient yogic wisdom into everyday action. Ethical clarity builds trust. Breath and embodiment create calm under pressure. Awareness sharpens focus. Meditation brings clarity beyond ego driven decisions. I have seen leaders use these practices to navigate crises, scale ethically, and lead with responsibility. Spiritual intelligence becomes a practical advantage, not a private retreat. 5. How does MML ensure emotional and spiritual intelligence are embodied, not just taught? MML is experiential from day one. Participants practise live coaching under supervision using structured tools and receive continuous mentoring and feedback. Growth is observed and assessed not just intellectually, but behaviourally and emotionally. Across global cohorts, I have watched leaders move from reaction to presence and coaches emerge as living examples of awareness. Transformation, not information, is the benchmark. 6. How does your book redefine emotional resilience? Resilience in the book is not about bouncing back. It is about waking up. It is the shift from emotional armour to inner mastery. Drawing from Vedic wisdom, resilience is framed through the Sakshi, the witnessing self. You are not the storm. You are the sky it moves through. Practical tools help translate this awareness into conscious responses during fear, rejection, and heartbreak. Loss is treated not as failure, but as redirection. Resilience becomes growth. 7. What shifts do you see when emotional, behavioural, and Atman awareness align? People move from performing life to living it. Reactions slow down. Presence increases. Identity shifts from roles to authenticity. Leadership becomes calmer, more humane, and more trustworthy. Success expands from personal achievement to shared growth. 8. Looking ahead, what role will Atman Intelligence and MML play in an AI driven future? As technology accelerates, inner stability will define success. Atman Intelligence offers an inner operating system rooted in self-awareness, emotional steadiness, ethical clarity, and interconnectedness. MML exists to develop humans who can hold emotional overload without burnout. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the future belongs to those guided by a deeper intelligence, Atman Intelligence. Hemant Lawanghare, Founder, MasterMyLife EQ Education, Author, Atman Intelligence Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the article are media marketing initiative and do not represent the stand and views of Mid-Day Group. Mid-Day Group disclaims any and all liability to any party, company or product for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of this content.

In a heartfelt gesture of gratitude and social recognition, Saathi The Youth Foundation organised a felicitation ceremony to honour the dedicated employees of the revered Shri Siddhivinayak Temple. The initiative acknowledged their tireless service, discipline, and unwavering commitment towards devotees and the temple administration, recognising them as the true pillars behind the temple’s seamless functioning. Shri Siddhivinayak Temple is one of Mumbai’s most prominent spiritual landmarks, welcoming thousands of devotees each day. While the sanctity and order of the temple are often admired, the consistent efforts of its employees-who work tirelessly to maintain cleanliness, discipline, and smooth darshan-often go unnoticed. Saathi The Youth Foundation’s initiative aimed to bring these unsung heroes into the spotlight and celebrate their invaluable contribution to faith and society. The event was organised under the leadership of Shri Amit Tiwari, President of Saathi The Youth Foundation, who shared that this year marked the seventh consecutive year of the Foundation’s felicitation initiative. He highlighted that each year, the Foundation undertakes a unique social activity, and this year’s programme was held at the Siddhivinayak Temple. As part of the ceremony, 500 temple employees were felicitated and presented with gifts as a token of appreciation for their dedicated service. Speaking on the occasion, Amit Tiwari emphasised the importance of recognising individuals who serve society selflessly and consistently. He reiterated that dignity of labour and social acknowledgment play a crucial role in motivating grassroots contributors who uphold community values and faith. Reflecting on past initiatives, he mentioned that during last year’s Pran Pratishtha celebrations, the Foundation had presented a Ram Lalla murti to all chief guests, reinforcing its commitment to cultural and spiritual harmony. Adding warmth and grace to the occasion was actress Shivani Sharma, who interacted with the temple staff and expressed her admiration for their humility and dedication. Her presence further amplified the Foundation’s message of gratitude, compassion, and social responsibility. The ceremony was attended by several eminent dignitaries, including Mrs. Manisha Tupe, Trustee of Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir; Mr. Sohail Khandwani, Chairman and Trustee of Mahim and Haji Ali Dargah Trust; and Mr. Prakash Yadav, BJP Leader from Madhya Pradesh, along with other respected social leaders and guests. Inviting Mr. Sohail Khandwani and other dignitaries from diverse backgrounds reflected the Foundation’s broader aim of promoting humanity, equality, brotherhood, and communal harmony beyond religious boundaries. The event served as a powerful reminder that institutions thrive not only on faith, but also on the dedication of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Through this initiative, Saathi The Youth Foundation once again reinforced its commitment to social welfare, unity, and the recognition of everyday heroes, setting an inspiring example for youth-led organisations across the country. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the article are media marketing initiative and do not represent the stand and views of Mid-Day Group. Mid-Day Group disclaims any and all liability to any party, company or product for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of this content.