Startup Story
Avashna Ramnarain, visionary founder and CEO of Mindful Masterminds in South Africa, is dedicated to transforming children's lives through innovative learning experiences, initiatives, and resources. She is a seasoned, award-winning marketing expert with over 15 years former corporate, Africa Marketing experience at one of the continent’s largest PC and Printing manufacturers where she earned recognition for initiatives in the education sector. She belonged to their leadership team, Sustainability team, as well as the Women Impact Network for Africa. With her esteemed career in Technology Marketing and a foundation in Psychology & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Avashna initiated an undertaking to redefine the approach to enhance mental and emotional resilience in children.
LoA spoke to the inspirational and impact-driven Avashna Ramnarain about what motivated her to become an edupreneur, and about her vision for the future of her business.
What does your company do?
Mindful Masterminds offers transformative activities, learning resources and themed events, to unlock the inner strength of young minds to build resilience, confidence, and emotional and mental well-being. Mindful Masterminds is an education focused business resolutely committed to revealing the unique potential within each child, by empowering them to unlock their full capabilities and inner strength. Our activities are designed to permeate young minds with the enduring qualities of superheroes, by encouraging traits such as, mental fortitude, positive mindset, courage, confidence, and adaptability. Mindful Masterminds is an embodiment of hope, where we aim to cultivate a more inclusive and harmonious society, setting the stage for the growth of future leaders. Our core values revolve around children, diversity, inclusion, and equitable employment. Our unwavering dedication lies in nurturing the comprehensive development of children, enhancing their emotional intelligence, and equipping them with the tools needed to confront life's challenges with resilience and self-awareness.
“Mindful Masterminds is an embodiment of hope, where we aim to cultivate a more inclusive and harmonious society, setting the stage for the growth of future leaders.”
What inspired you to start your company?
The inception of Mindful Masterminds was illuminated by the extraordinary response to the remarkable resilience, inner strength, and intellectual brilliance demonstrated by my own two children. Observing their emotional adaptability in navigating the challenges of school life, I recognized an untapped wellspring of potential. It was their unwavering belief in themselves that served as a powerful catalyst for my mission—a mission to empower children to build mental and emotional well-being through play. My journey also carries the weight of personal loss as my younger sister fell victim to a brain tumour, underlining the fragility of life and deepening my commitment to promoting mental wellness.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
"Mastermind" refers to a guiding force that unleashes the latent potential within each child, empowering them to unlock their full capabilities. The activities are designed to nurture young minds with the enduring qualities of superheroes, such as, mental fortitude, positive mindset, courage, confidence, adaptability, and inner strength using techniques of confidence building, mindfulness, creative art therapy, all in a safe play space.
The Mindful Masterminds enterprise distinguishes itself through a distinctive fusion of education and events. Our avant-garde approach of "Resilient Birthdays with a Purpose" and "Superhero Spirit Animal Resources'' offers a comprehensive and transformative experience for children, setting it apart from traditional birthday services that primarily focus on entertainment. The Animal Allies Program is an empowering activity designed for children to dive into the world of Animal Superheroes to discover their inner power through the strengths of animals. By exploring the incredible characteristics of the lion, tiger, rhino, elephant, giraffe, monkey, sloth, and horse children learn essential life lessons, including courage, resilience, bravery, friendship, communication, speed, agility, strength, memory, wisdom, & leadership. Our events and books include a range of empowerment activities; self-help exercises, quizzes, and art projects, to unlock their inner power just like these amazing animals, and thereby applying their newfound strengths in everyday lives and school scenarios to overcome challenges.
Mindful Masterminds goes beyond mere celebration by seamlessly integrating purposeful resilience-building activities into events. This dual focus on celebration and education establishes the business as both comprehensive and groundbreaking within the children's events and education sector. The commitment transcends events, extending to the provision of superhero and spirit animal-themed resources that empower children with essential qualities like resilience, courage, growth mindset and leadership, underscoring Mindful Masterminds as a distinctive and purposeful choice for families seeking a unique approach to healing and childhood development.
“Our unwavering dedication lies in nurturing the comprehensive development of children, enhancing their emotional intelligence, and equipping them with the tools needed to confront life's challenges with resilience and self-awareness.”
Tell us a little about your team:
Mindful Masterminds, under the visionary leadership of CEO Avashna Ramnarain, boasts a dynamic team of 10 dynamic multicultural women specializing in events, marketing, strategic planning and supply chain. What sets us apart is our genuine commitment to de-stigmatizing mental health, exemplified by the inclusion of a resilient female Brain Tumor Survivor in our events team. This decision aligns seamlessly with our ethos of nurturing resilience and emotional intelligence, recognizing the strength of individuals who have overcome life-altering challenges. Our universal dedication to gender equality, employment equity, and sustainability extends to our supply chain, engaging women from disadvantaged communities and townships to handcraft our store merchandise of soft spirit animal toys crafted from recycled ethnic fabric.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
The corporate world, with its hierarchical structures and often rigid frameworks, has been constraining. The shift from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship has been a quest for my independence, purpose-driven work, and a more holistic approach to achieving my professional and personal goals.
Additionally traditional corporate setting did not adequately address my personal and professional aspirations and this journey has provided me with an opportunity to create, lead, and shape a venture in alignment with my values and vision. It has allowed me to explore a path that I am passionate about and gives me a sense of purpose to create positive social impact, and contribute to causes that matter deeply to me, i.e. child development and mental health awareness.
Additionally, the decision to embark on an entrepreneurial journey has been deeply rooted in a legacy of success of my family's business enterprise. Specializing in wall art, curios, and cultural artifacts, my entrepreneurial journey is inspired by my parent’s hard work, resilience and a vibrant fusion of heritage and innovation. Guided by this rich legacy I have attempted to integrate this robust work ethic and relentless drive for success with my contemporary vision to create a dynamic narrative of entrepreneurial prowess in the pursuit of mindful innovation.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Mindful Masterminds is dedicated to delivering an immersive experience that will seamlessly blend character development and resilience building, igniting creativity and imagination in young minds. As we embark on the expansion of our online presence into a physical space, our goal is to provide children with a unique and transformative experience that will intertwine education with character development within an inspiring setting. We plan to launch a Fortress of Resilience in the coming months. This physical space aims to be an innovative, educational playground, offering immersive experiences with far-reaching effects on children. Additionally, it will serve as a meeting ground for parents and those seeking guidance, spend quality time with their kids while providing educational experiences that transcend beyond traditional classrooms.
At Mindful Masterminds, our commitment will go beyond business; we are deeply invested in giving back to our community. Our heartwarming initiative, "Free Expression Fridays," is designed to make a positive impact in the lives of underprivileged children. One Friday each month, we will open our doors to underprivileged schools, offering complimentary paint and art sessions to unleash their creativity and as a form of therapy. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire and empower children who may not otherwise have access to such enriching experiences, uplifting our community and helping children discover the joys of artistic expression, unlocking their potential and resilience one brushstroke at a time.
Additionally, Mindful Masterminds will actively engage in the "Mindfulness in Schools Program," collaborating with educational institutions to implement comprehensive mindfulness and resilience programs as part of the standard curriculum, promoting emotional well-being from an early age. Furthermore, through strategic educational partnerships with schools and educational organizations, we will aim to seamlessly integrate Mindful Masterminds' resources into classroom settings, amplifying the impact on children's emotional development.
“One of the most satisfying elements of being an entrepreneur is the profound sense of purpose that arises from pursuing one's passions and bringing a vision to fruition.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
One of the most satisfying elements of being an entrepreneur is the profound sense of purpose that arises from pursuing one's passions and bringing a vision to fruition. As a female entrepreneur, the journey this takes on a unique dimension, marked by breaking through barriers and shattering glass ceilings. This satisfaction lies not only in achieving personal and professional goals but also in inspiring and paving the way for others. Finding my purpose as a female entrepreneur has been a transformative experience, as it involved aligning my personal values with business endeavours, while attempting to contribute to a broader narrative of empowerment and inclusivity. The joy in realizing that my entrepreneurial journey is not just about financial success, but about making a meaningful impact, has been truly fulfilling for me and has motivated my continued dedication to my purposeful path.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The most impactful advice I can offer to other women embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is to cultivate resilience and embrace self-confidence. In an environment that may present additional challenges for women, it is crucial to remain steadfast in the face of adversity. Believe in your capabilities and vision, even when others may doubt or underestimate you. Surround yourself with a supportive network, seek mentors who can provide guidance, and never shy away from advocating for your ideas. Recognize that setbacks are inherent in any entrepreneurial pursuit, but it's the ability to learn, adapt, and persevere that defines success. By adopting resilience and confidence, women entrepreneurs can navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with tenacity, flexibility, and the unwavering belief that they have the power to shape their own success stories.
Contact or follow Mindful Masterminds:
Email: avashna@mindfulmasterminds.co.za
Website: http://www.mindfulmasterminds.co.za
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mindfulmastermindsza
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mindfulmastermindsza
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindfulmastermindsza/videos
Why LoA loves it…
The future economic prosperity of Africa lies with its children and young people, and if they are to fulfill the true potential of the continent, education is key. That’s why the businesses and work of impact-driven edupreneurs such as Avashna Ramnarain are so important. Avashna is building a business that is empowering the next generation with knowledge, skills, and the emotional tools to be the change they want to see for themselves and the continent into the future - inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa