Shark Tank India's Gazal Alagh opens up about the importance of mental health; says, 'As founders, we're expected to be clear-headed'

Time of India

29-05-2025

Shark Tank India judge Gazal Alagh, who runs a skin and hair care brand, won many hearts as the judge of the business-based show. She stays connected to her audience on social media and often gives a glimpse of her personal as well as professional life.
She recently shared a post on her LinkedIn handle where she spoke about the importance of mental health.
While sharing an incident that made her reflect on the importance of mental health, she shared, 'One morning, I found myself getting annoyed over something small. My family asked me a simple question, something about our plans for the weekend. And I snapped. Not because the question was wrong. But because I was already thinking about 10 other things.
My pending emails. Change in team structure. Parent-teacher meet in school.
A product formulation. And in that moment, I realized that this isn't about the question. It's about me. And then it hit me: we don't really talk about mental health.'
Gazal further said, 'As founders, we're expected to be clear-headed, decisive, and emotionally steady. But we rarely talk about what it takes to get there. We all know how to manage a business.
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But how many of us know how to manage our mindspace? Here's what I've learned (and now protect): Mental clarity is a leadership skill. If I don't have space to think, I can't lead with intention. That's why my mornings are phone-free and start with reading.
How you speak when you're tired is still leadership. Your team doesn't just hear what you say; they feel how you say it. I've learned to check in with myself before reacting, especially on high-stakes days.'
'Presence builds trust both at work and at home. Whether it's a 1:1 with a team member or dinner with my kids, I've stopped multitasking my way through connection. Structure reduces decision fatigue. From fixed morning routines to evening screen time cutoffs, predictability keeps my brain from burning out on small choices. Mental health isn't something I put aside to 'deal with later.' It's now a part of how I operate as a founder, as a mother, as a daughter, and as a human,' she added.