In this episode, hosts Atul S Nath and Suman Ghose engage in a conversation with Navyug Mohnot, a seasoned entrepreneur and life design coach. They explore Navyug's journey from his early life experiences, shaped by his father's career with the United Nations, to his education at IIT and his eventual transition into entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into the concept of 'Designing Your Life', emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, vulnerability, and intrinsic motivation in navigating life's challenges and opportunities. The conversation concludes with reflections on identity, the importance of chipping away at life's complexities, and the value of embracing both success and failure as part of the journey.

Navyug is the CEO of QAI, a transnational Process Improvement consulting organisation, and the Founder and CEO of QGLUE, a consulting, coaching, and training company that helps enterprises and individuals adopt and embrace the ‘design-led way’ to foster innovation and success.

Navyug’s passion for all things “design” led him serendipitously to the celebrated Stanford book and offering “Designing Your Life”. Navyug is a Stanford- trained “Designing Your Life” (DYL) Coach, Facilitator, and Educator for Universities, and brought the renowned program to India for the first time as Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University and at the Indian School of Business.

Navyug did his B.Tech from IIT Delhi and received the “Outstanding Contribution to National Development” award from the IIT Delhi Alumni Association. He pursued a Fellowship for a PhD program in the USA. He dropped out to pursue his dream of returning to contribute to the globalisation of the then-nascent Indian IT Industry.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast

00:03:16 Navyug Mohnot's Early Life and Influences

00:11:55 Navigating Education and Career Choices

00:17:20 The Concept of Accidents in Life

00:24:17 Finding Balance Between Decisiveness and Fluidity

00:29:52 Understanding Personal Values and Decision Making

00:31:42 Aligning Values and Purpose in Organizations

00:34:21 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Core Values

00:36:20 Embracing Failure and Learning from Mistakes

00:40:00 Transitioning from QAI to Life Design

00:45:52 The Power of Aha Moments and Self-Awareness

00:49:57 Navigating the Dichotomy of Life

00:54:57 Navigating Emotional Challenges in New Ventures

00:58:23 The Value of Effort Over Outcome

00:59:30 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

01:03:45 Life by Design vs. Default

01:04:12 Building a Portfolio of Identities

01:07:32 Reflections on Past Choices

01:10:11 Advice for Different Life Stages