Latest news with #TheMasoomMinawalaShow
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Shloka Ambani on The Masoom Minawala Show: Building a purpose-first movement with ConnectFor
On a recent episode of The Masoom Minawala Show, Shloka Ambani and Maniti Shah shared their story behind ConnectFor - A volunteer-matching platform that is making a difference to India's social impact landscape. Shloka talks about several challenges, like funding along with juggling motherhood while staying true to their principle: Purpose over profit. They also brought a sharp, business-minded approach to impact. By tracking 'ROI in Hours', ConnectFor measures the exact number of volunteer hours contributed—making the invisible work of kindness feel tangible and valuable, without ever losing sight of its heart. In this enlightening chat, Shloka Ambani talks about how she always saw herself in this space and how her educational background of anthropology and law also contributed to this inspiring drive in her trajectory. What began as two twenty-somethings scribbling ideas on a whiteboard—after Shloka's eye-opening field visits and Maniti's post-consulting burnout, snowballed into ConnectFor. This platform has matched 1 lakh volunteers with 1,000+ NGOs and saved the sector ₹21 crore. Shloka's "Artshala" school transformation projects exemplify her approach: rather than just building infrastructure, she ensures proper maintenance and education components. Her anthropological background helps her see that sustainable change requires understanding local contexts and communities. Shloka Ambani describes how ConnectFor brings a professional, business-oriented approach to the nonprofit space. They mention tracking measurable metrics such as the 'ROI in hours' — quantifying the volunteer hours contributed to NGOs and translating the value of those hours (for instance, financial savings to the NGOs). Shloka emphasises how important it is to make the 'invisible' impact of volunteer work more tangible and reportable, ensuring accountability to themselves and their partners, while still retaining the mission-driven heart of the organisation. Shloka Ambani's approach of modeling professional ambition for her children while building flexible work systems demonstrates how social enterprises can create sustainable business models that accommodate diverse life circumstances. Overall, this conversation was a masterclass in how Shloka Ambani showcases value-driven leadership, and a reminder that when purpose leads, impact follows.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Shloka Ambani on The Masoom Minawala Show: Empowering structured and scalable volunteering opportunities with ConnectFor
Shloka Ambani holds prestigious degrees from Princeton and the London School of Economics (LSE), and could have pursued a lucrative career in the corporate world. However, she chose a different path. She co-founded ConnectFor with a clear vision: to demonstrate that nonprofit organisations can operate with the same level of professionalism and rigor as for-proft businesses. On 'The Masoom Minawala Show', Shloka Ambani and Maniti Shah discussed the origin and growth of ConnectFor , a volunteer-matching platform aimed at enhancing efficiency and access within India's social sector. Since its inception, ConnectFor has facilitated over 1 lakh volunteer matches with more than 1,000 NGOs, saving the sector an estimated ₹21 crore in value through contributed time and skills, they shared. The duo shared the lack of recognition and funding in the social sector, and that without funding, NGOs find it difficult to attract top talent, leading to a dent in fundraising efforts. While technology entrepreneurs often focus on automation and scaling, Shloka prioritises what she calls "community capital" - the relationships and trust that enable real social impact. She attributes her background in anthropology as influencing this approach and that in social work, human connections generate more value than algorithms. Consequently, ConnectFor evolved from basic volunteer matching to comprehensive community engagement because Shloka recognised that warmth and relationships are the foundation of sustainable change, not just efficiency metrics. Shloka's personal contribution is redefining ambitious motherhood. She openly shared her experiences with her children about self-development. The intent isn't work-life balance but intentional modelling. Shloka believes her most significant legacy is the influence she has on her children, demonstrating "all careers are okay" and meaningful work sometimes requires patience. Her leadership style demonstrates that women can pursue audacious goals while being present mothers, creating flexible systems that benefit entire organisations. Live Events Overall, the episode provided practical insights into how a social initiative can benefit from business thinking while remaining true to its mission. ConnectFor's growth reflects a broader shift toward accountability and impact measurement in the nonprofit space.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sania Mirza Shares Her Honest Opinion On Parenting And Motherhood
Sania Mirza recently opened up about her experience of motherhood and parenting. In a candid conversation with Masoom Minawala, Sania discussed the challenges of motherhood. Recently, in a chat with Masoom Minawala on her podcast, Sania opened up about the overwhelming guilt she experienced when she had to leave her newborn son, Izhaan, for the first time due to work. Just six weeks after giving birth, she flew to Delhi for an event— an experience she described as incredibly difficult. Reflecting on it, Sania acknowledged how mothers often burden themselves with guilt, even when moments are common and children adapt well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Masoom Minawala Show (@themasoomminawalashow) Talking further, Sania also shared her experience about breastfeeding Izhaan, where she shared how one time she had to pump milk on the flight—something she found challenging and emotionally taxing. Throughout the day, she remained anxious about leaving her baby behind. However, once she returned home and saw that both she and Izhaan were perfectly fine, it brought her a sense of relief. Looking back, she felt grateful for taking that step, as it helped her regain confidence in balancing motherhood with her professional life. Sania believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting; as long as the child is healthy and happy, that's what truly matters. She said that instead of burdening women with rigid societal and cultural expectations, parenting should be a shared responsibility between both parents.
India.com
27-04-2025
- Health
- India.com
'Will get pregnant......': Sania Mirza opens up about motherhood, breastfeeding and....
Through this series of photos, we'll know the personal insights shared by India's tennis icon, Sania Mirza, as she opens up about her journey through motherhood. Sania Mirza, regarded as India's most accomplished female tennis star, recently revealed the emotional experience of breastfeeding her son, Izhaan Mirza Malik. In an appearance on The Masoom Minawala Show on April 21, Sania candidly discussed the difficulties she encountered while breastfeeding her child. Although Sania breastfed for almost three months, she found the experience to be both emotionally and mentally overwhelming. The responsibility of being the primary source of nourishment for her son affected her overall health. The sleepless nights and continuous feeding routine contributed significantly to her fatigue. Sania Mirza shared that she was still practicing tennis the night before giving birth to her son on October 30, 2018, and resumed her fitness routine just three weeks post-delivery. While she referred to her pregnancy as a wonderful journey, she admitted that breastfeeding proved to be the most difficult hurdle she faced. In her own words, Sania expressed, "I breastfed for 2.5-3 months. For me, that was the hardest part of pregnancy, I have to say. I am like, I will get pregnant three more times, but this feeding business, I don't know if I can do (again). For me, it was not the physical part of it; for me, the emotional and mental part of it was draining. As a working woman, it really ties you down because you feel like they (the babies) are so dependent on it. There is a time commitment, there is not enough sleep, and you are placing all your activities around when you need to feed the baby." "I did what was needful. But after 3 months, I went to the paediatrician and said, 'Look I have tried but I just can't do it'. He said to try for another month, and I said, 'I will lose my mind'. It was just very hard for me emotionally because you are already dealing with many things and hormones post-pregnancy... and being in the public eye, people are body-shaming you... for me knowing that this little human was dependent on just me for food was a very difficult thing because I felt like what if I am not there," she added. Sania Mirza and her ex-husband Shoaib Malik happily welcomed their son, Izhaan, in 2018. In a conversation on The Masoom Minawala Show, Sania opened up about the emotional reasons behind her choice to step away from professional tennis. Her main motivation was to focus on spending valuable time with her son during his early years. Sania understood the significance of being there for him, ensuring he received the stability and attention he needed.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sania Mirza says breastfeeding was harder than pregnancy as she opens up about motherhood: 'I breastfed for 3 months'
Sania Mirza, widely regarded as India's most successful female tennis player, has opened up about the emotional challenges she faced while breastfeeding her son, Izhaan Mirza Malik. In the April 21 episode of The Masoom Minawala Show, Sania Mirza said that breastfeeding was more emotionally taxing than pregnancy itself. Also read | Bipasha Basu shares her emotional breastfeeding journey with daughter Devi She breastfed for nearly three months, but the experience was emotionally and mentally draining due to the pressure of being the sole provider of nourishment for her baby. Sania said the lack of sleep and constant feeding schedule added to her exhaustion. She said, 'I breastfed for 2.5-3 months. For me, that was the hardest part of pregnancy, I have to say. I am like, I will get pregnant three more times, but this feeding business, I don't know if I can do (again). For me, it was not the physical part of it; for me, the emotional and mental part of it was draining. As a working woman, it really ties you down because you feel like they (the babies) are so dependent on it. There is a time commitment, there is not enough sleep, and you are placing all your activities around when you need to feed the baby.' A post shared by Sania Mirza (@mirzasaniar) She added, 'I did what was needful. But after 3 months, I went to the paediatrician and said, 'Look I have tried but I just can't do it'. He said to try for another month, and I said, 'I will lose my mind'. It was just very hard for me emotionally because you are already dealing with many things and hormones post-pregnancy... and being in the public eye, people are body-shaming you... for me knowing that this little human was dependent on just me for food was a very difficult thing because I felt like what if I am not there.' A post shared by Izhaan Mirza Malik (@ Sania Mirza and ex-husband Shoaib Malik welcomed son Izhaan in 2018. On The Masoom Minawala Show, Sania also shared her reasons for retiring from professional tennis, which were largely driven by her desire to spend quality time with her son. She wanted to be present for Izhaan's formative years and provide him with the stability and care he needed. Click here to learn about a study that explores the effect of breastfeeding on mothers' mental health. If you are looking for tips, click here to know all about the right way and right time to breastfeed. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
