PECHAKUCHA GOA VOL.45 BREAK FREE SOUTH GOA EDITION
SPEAKERS BIO:
1. AUDREY MESQUITA e VAZ – Director/Teacher/Vocalist
2. GARGI KUNAL SAGARKAR – Entrepreneur
Gargi Kunal Sagarkar is a remarkable individual who has been involved in various ventures and has shown great resilience in the face of challenges. She is the founder of Homechef by Sg Eatries, where she aims to provide delicious food to corporate clients and operate live food counters. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Suregenius Events, a company she started with her life partner. Their new venture, Coco Fresh, seems to be another project she’s involved in.
Gargi’s journey is also marked by her battle with cancer, which she fought during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite her own health struggles, she managed to serve COVID-19 patients during her treatment, showcasing her dedication and compassion. Her efforts were recognized by being highlighted three times in the Times of India.
Gargi’s background includes growing up in Pune and completing her Bachelor’s degree there. She strongly believes in pursuing her dreams and passions, and she is part of a webn platform where she has taken on various roles, including captain, chapter head, and now an ambassador.
Gargi Kunal Sagarkar’s story is undoubtedly one of strength, determination, and making a positive impact on both her professional endeavors and her community, especially during challenging times.
Her efforts to empower women entrepreneurs through the initiative “Pink Wings” are commendable. This initiative provides a platform for women to showcase their businesses and offers them opportunities to grow and succeed.
In addition to her business ventures, Gargi also organizes exhibitions and corporate examinations. These activities likely contribute to promoting business growth, collaboration, and skills development in various sectors.
3. MANPREET SINGH – Founder OreGin
Manpreet, the “mustache traveller” on Instagram, is a pioneer in production of alcohol from citrus juice. Despite his global adventures, he stays rooted to his farmer origins in Punjab, with a profound desire to give back. Having visited 34 countries, he honed an appreciation for life’s pleasures while seeking the perfect drink. After traditional careers, an epiphany led him to the alcohol industry. Thus, OreGin and other marvels were born, promising a tantalizing, gentle drink. OreGin beautifully weaves a farmer’s passion and a distiller’s affection, promising a delightful tale.
MY STORY:
No one has made alcohol from citrus. But the pain of seeing farmers almost throw away their produce really touched Manpreet’s heart. He decided he had to try and the next bold step was to approach the Government for help. Had these steps not been taken in the face of the possibility of this not working out, Manpreet would not have broken free from the stereotypical ways of creating alcohol.
4. PALLAVI NATH – Entrepreneur
Pallavi, a seasoned professional with a 21-year career in corporate HR and global leadership, now empowers entrepreneurship and startups through expertise in strategy, team building, and productivity.
Over 14 years, she’s guided a thousand individuals worldwide with her unique intuitive ability, releasing energy blockages for a qualitative life. With 27 years of experience in modalities like Reiki, EFT, past life regression, pranic healing, breathwork, and quantum healing, she unveils the wonders of unseen forces.
As a co-host of the Fat. So? Podcast and co-author of the book with the same title, Pallavi explores the journey of being a fat woman in India.
Embracing a holistic approach, she unravels the “whys?” for clarity and inspired action in individuals and organizations.
MY STORY:
Being fat is considered taboo in society. From not being able to feel comfortable at work in love relationships to being considered a health hazard, a fat person faces shame and ostracisation in every aspect of life. Having dealt with this for 35 years to the point where it severely impacted her mental health, Pallavi finally found fat liberation. This was like stepping into an alternate Universe where she broke free of the conditioning from her past and started to live her life full and afresh.
5. PRIYANKA NAIR – Certified Yoga Teacher & Pranic Healer
6. RICHELLE BRITO CARVALHO – Mental Health Practitioner
Richelle Brito Carvalho, is a dedicated Mental Health Practitioner with seven years of experience in the field. Her expertise lies in assisting young adults as they navigate through a spectrum of challenges, including coping with break-ups, managing grief, navigating complex relationships with parents and family members, battling depression and anxiety, as well as addressing self-doubt and self-criticism. At present she runs a Private Practice under the name: Wholistic Connect Counseling….
Richelle’s personal journey and experiences with her family and friends inspired her to delve into the realm of mental health. This deep introspection fueled her passion to help others better understand themselves and their relationships.
Beyond her work, Richelle’s curiosity extends to exploring the profound connection between nature and well-being. This interest reflects her holistic approach to mental health, acknowledging the impact of our environment on our emotional and mental states.
When she isn’t wearing her counselor hat, Richelle can often be found in the company of her dogs, and finding solace and joy reading. You might also catch her strolling around, engaging with nature, and sharing some genuine laughter!
MY STORY:
Breaking Free from the clasps of ‘People Pleasing’
What does it mean to undergo an upbringing as a Brown, South- Asian, Middle class woman? Meeting unrealistic expectations set by family, society and the world of social media to be ‘Good or Nice.’ Stripping me of my very freedom and identities and making me choose a mask that became heavy to wear.
7. ROHINI GONSALVES – Teacher, Columnist, Entrepreneur
Ms Rohini Gonsalves is the Founder and Chairperson of Sevarat Healthcare and Nursing Pvt Ltd- Goa’s only dedicated senior care service.
She is the Founder Trustee of Sevarat Foundation a non profit organisation working to enhance the lives of the elderly.
Raised in Belgaum in Karnataka, she is a Post Graduate in Marketing, Advertising, Sales Management and Sales Promotion. She is also an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10000 Women program at IIM Bangalore.
She has worked in Ahmedabad, Chennai and spent the longest span of her career in Mumbai. She headed National Operations for Telecom VAS companies and has enjoyed an excited corporate career before coming to Goa in 2013.
She lives in Panaji with her mom and her pets Tipsy and Arrow. Inspired by Gandhiji’s quote “Be the change you want to see”, she wants to be remembered as a change maker.
MY STORY:
I’ll be speaking about what it took to break free from Expectations, Lethargy, Complacence and Self Pity through the instances and experiences of my life
8. SUCHETA JADHAV – First Mate (sailor)
Sucheta Jadhav is a sailing enthusiast who took the plunge by crossing the Atlantic at the age of 50. After a corporate career in marketing spanning bookstores to financial companies, she decided to follow her passion. She has been sailing for the last 8 years and has almost 10,000nm under her belt. A large chunk of that were her two trans-Atlantic voyages.
Since 2019, she and her partner, Dilip Donde, have been sailing regularly and often on their sailboat, Antara. In fact, they did their first international sail on Antara with a trip to the Maldives in February 2022.
The open spaces and the cool blues of the ocean also inspired Sucheta to paint. She held her first exhibition last year, in Goa.
When she isn’t sailing a boat, she’s very likely to be painting one.
MY STORY:
Age is all in the mind. I would like to show you that life begins at 50 by sharing the story of my introduction to sailing and the journey so far.
9. SUNILA SARDESAI MUZAWAR – CA & Health Coach
Sunila, is a CA (India) & CPA (USA), who lived in Dubai for 23 years and Bangalore/Chennai for 8 years. She returned to Goa recently after her last job as a Director for Accenture, and is now busy doing seva activities via her Sardesai Parrikar Trust. Her Spouse Hanif, is a retired businessman; and child Anoush, is an aspiring surgeon. She gives talks on the “Power of Mind” after studying it for 19 yrs. She’s also an amateur Homeopath, Naturopath, Fengshui & Vaastu expert giving consultations on a pro bono basis globally.
