May 6, 2024 • 23 mins
When Kavita Basi experienced a life-altering brain hemorrhage, she didn't just survive—she thrived.
Our latest episode features this remarkable Chief Exec of Jardin Living, author, and ambassador for neurocharities, as she shares her shift from the world of high fashion to the forefront of ethical and sustainable living.
Kavita's reflections on resilience, adaptation, and the strategies that helped her navigate memory loss will give you a new perspective on overcoming obstacles
Don't miss this episode to find out how success and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
Listen to learn:
- The power of self-belief in overcoming obstacles
- Strategies for persevering when life throws unexpected challenges
- The vital role of support systems in times of adversity
- How personal experiences can be used to make a positive impact on others in need
You can now nominate for the 2025 Northern Power Women Awards to be in with a chance of celebrating with changemakers, trailblazers and advocates on 6th March 2025! Nominate now at wearepower.net
Sign up to our Power Platform to check out our events calendar here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
The Northern Power Women podcast for your career
and your life, no matter whatbusiness you're in.
Well, hello and welcome to thewe Are Power podcast, Our
podcast where we talk to andwith the most phenomenal role
models, hear from what theirstories are, find out what some
of those great coping strategies, the advice, the tips, support
(00:41):
that you can take away into yourlife, your career, no matter
what stage you're at or whatindustry you're at, just to help
you on your way.
And this week I think we talk alot, don't we?
About inspiration, andinspiration with a big capital.
I is definitely something Iwould put around this week's
amazing guest, Kavita Bassey.
She's the Chief Exec of JordanLiving author, multiple author,
(01:05):
actually Speaker, Ambassador forNeurocharities and on this
year's Northern Power Women atPowerless.
Thank you so much for giving usthe time and joining us on the
we Are Power podcast this week,Kavita, Hi there.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So thank you so much for having me as well.
I'm really really excited toshare just some of my story and
you know I'd be here for hoursif I had to tell my whole story.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
so just trying my best to, you know, give someone
a little bit of that hope really100%, and I've obviously we we
know a lot about you from sortof the the whole process around
the Northern Power Women Awardsand hearing about your story and
hearing about your journey.
But where your working worldstart was in the world of
fashion, wasn't it?
And you were in that sort offlurry of a world, a busy world,
(01:54):
a crazy world and that's whereyou started, wasn't it?
And that was before you reallyfound sort of the mission and
the purpose that you're in.
What did that whole world andexpertise of fashion teach you?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It was oh, I did a thing at another panel guest and
basically I used to love beingin the fashion industry and it's
the excitement, it's a rush,it's, you know, meeting
extraordinary people, like onceI met Jodie Kidd at a fashion
show.
(02:27):
I was sitting next to her andthen when I stood up and she
stood up, I was up to her waistbecause I'm so small, but it was
a very exciting time and I haveno regrets.
But I was on this paneldiscussion the other day and
they said that what would youleave behind in the world?
(02:49):
And I would say that everythingI learned about fashion at that
time I would completely leaveit behind, because everything I
do now is completely, you know,more ethical, more sustainable
and it's completely different.
And yeah, I think at the timethough it was amazing, like you
(03:11):
would get up one morning and youwould be in Hong Kong, and you
would get up the next morningand you would be somewhere like
New York or Paris, or you know,sometimes I used to wake up in
the middle of the night and notknow where I was.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It was that fast and that quick the whole industry,
the ultimate fast fashion right.
Really not knowing where youare in the world.
I know I'd seen an awful lot ofhotel rooms, I imagine
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But it also made me very appreciative of my home and
my family and sort of where.
You know where I come from.
That was always, you know, agood thing, I would say.
But yeah, it was a lot ofpressure as well, definitely.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And then, nine years ago I think, you were doing
something as normal as watchingMr Selfridge on the TV in a
normal evening, and thensomething happened.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, it was just something that you know, I
regularly used to have headachesand that was just simply
because I was traveling so muchand because I was doing so much
and with very little rest, Iwould say.
And this time, thankfully, Iwas at home with my family and
(04:29):
it was, you know, middle of thenight.
I drifted off, after, you know,watching the program.
I had my kids in my bed with meand everything, and I drifted
off and basically woke up withthis excruciating pain through
like the back of my head, andall I can describe it, which I
(04:49):
have before many times, is likea sledgehammer going right
through my head.
And I just got up, startedscreaming, tried to wake my
husband up.
He was in shock, he didn't knowwhat was going on.
Um, I fell unconscious and justcollapsed and that was it and
then you were.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
It was, I'm right, I think it was at Salford hospital
that you went to.
Yeah, um.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I'd stopped breathing and everything and my daughter
had rang the ambulance and saidthat you know something's
happened to my mum describedeverything.
They rushed me to WythenshaweHospital.
They scanned me.
They knew straight away fromwhat they were describing and
then I got rushed to SalfordRoyal like straight away, and
that evening is when they didtheir first operation and what
(05:39):
they told my husband was just beprepared, you probably won't be
able to take your wife home.
You know this is really severe.
It's 50% mortality and the 50%that do survive are, you know,
paralyzed, brain damaged, can'tspeak, can't talk on, you know,
(05:59):
walk.
There's a lot of things thatyou know happen and they were
not very hopeful because the oneI had was a subarachnoid
hemorrhage, which is probablyone of the worst ones.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And when I've read up about this and in our
conversation prior, that youlost weeks, didn't you?
You lost weeks of your memorythat you only really know what
happened now because of therecord that your husband and
your family kept at that time.
I can't even imagine how youlose six weeks of your life
(06:31):
there.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I know it's really hard because I still suffer.
I've got side effects now whichI've been left with.
I still suffer from short termmemory loss, but I have lots of
tools that I use.
Memory loss, but I have lots oftools that I use.
I am very grateful for myhusband and my daughter keeping
like logs, keeping videos.
They even gave me a book whileI was in hospital to write my
(06:55):
emotions and how I'm feelinglike every day, because they
knew that when I was, becausethey used to play those videos
back to me each day, because itwas like Groundhog Day for them.
I'd wake up and say where am I?
What's happening?
Have I just had a baby?
Is it 1985?
They used to ask me questionslike who's president?
(07:16):
And I said Margaret Thatcher.
So it was a really I mean.
For them it was so scarybecause my husband thought I
wouldn't even remember who hewas, but thankfully I did.
But it was really really scaryfor them.
But they could see theimprovements daily by them
(07:36):
showing me the videos, making mewrite things down, explaining
to me different things and justtrying to give me that positive
inspiration back to me so that Icould continue to improve each
day.
But don't get me wrong, thehospital was a really, really
(07:57):
challenging time because I hadanother stroke when I was in the
hospital, um, where the wholeleft side of my body stopped
working.
And you know, while I was, hewas feeding me, my husband, and
while he was feeding me Istarted slurring my words and
couldn't talk properly and Ibecame like paralyzed on one
(08:19):
side and they had to do.
They did four operations on mewhile I was there and it was it,
um, it was, like I said, soscary for him because he just
thought again, that's it.
And even when they saw that,they said well, she isn't going
to make it, she is going to beparalyzed now and, um, I don't
know what it was, but I musthave had this inner strength to
(08:42):
really sort of defy everythingthat they were saying and really
really push forward.
But while I was in thathospital I did have a couple of
out-of-body experiences that Ido remember and I still dream
about them and I do feel thatthere was some force or some
(09:03):
help while I was there that gotme through all of this, and I
don't know what it was, but youknow, I wrote about that, you
know, in my diaries and thenlater on got it published in my
book and it's that there'ssomething there, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
And you have this hope around you and the support
in your family, but theremust've been those days where
you just thought gosh, am I?
Was it room 23?
That's what your book is, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, I was actually in room 24 in hospital but I
called it room 23 becausethere's a bit of a twist in the
book.
But it's yeah, it's room 23,.
Surviving a brain hemorrhage.
And it's available on like lotsof different channels and even
on Audible, because it wasimportant for me.
(09:50):
It took me nine hours to recorda three and a half hour book
because I can't read.
If I was talking about it Icould just say it, but because I
had to read it from word toword again.
Another side effect I've got isI can't read in the full
capacity as what I used to, so Imiss words, miss sentences.
(10:13):
So I'd be recording it in therecording studio and they would
like say Mrs Bassey, I thinkyou've like forgotten the whole
chapter there, or full paragraph.
So I'd have to go over it.
So it was.
It was really difficult for mebut again it was something that
I really wanted to do because Iknow a lot of people who have
had stroke or had a brainhemorrhage or have neuro
(10:35):
conditions aren't able to havethat concentration.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
So an audible book was just had to be done and and
this, without a doubt, foranyone listening and anyone who
knows what you've gone throughwas just beyond the traumatic
time in your life, but this wasa point for you that helped you
really realize what your purposewas, how.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think that I already had a passion of
changing the way I did thingsbefore I was seriously ill and I
used to create.
Well, I created a vision board,I think, first of all, when I
came out of hospital and myvision board basically says I
don't know if I've got it tohand here, but it says charity,
(11:23):
it says sustainability, it saysfashion and it says it's got
home things on there family, youknow.
It has like certain key wordsthat completely resonate with me
and I put that vision board infront of me and used to wake up
to it and put it like in all thedifferent places where you know
(11:47):
I would sit and just chill outand what have you?
And a lot of things happen.
I sort of feel that since mybrain hemorrhage, my brain's
like shifted a little bit andyou know how they say your new
neurons rewire and all of thatkind of thing.
I do feel like that's happened.
I feel like I've gone back tomy 16 year old Kavita that used
(12:10):
to love painting, that was verycreative, that loved singing and
dancing and that kind of thosekind of things, and I've
channeled all of that and usedwhat I absolutely love to do,
and every single day.
I don't waste any time like Iwill do a painting, or I will
(12:33):
sit and just listen to a reallyamazing you know book that
that's going to inspire me, or Iwill sit and work on my two
brands, which I love, which isRationale and Reflex One, two
ethical brands that I've broughtup.
And also I also use that timeto really focus on my family and
(12:56):
really spend time with them,because all those years that I
spent rushing around doingeverything trying to and even
though I don't regret it,because I was supporting my
family, supporting my home andthat's happened, but I don't
want to waste any more time.
So I really make sure that mydays are filled with really good
(13:16):
things and I enjoy every singleday, and I think it's so
important to be able to do that.
Even in the morning.
I wake up and the first thing Isay is I'm grateful that I'm
here.
I'm grateful for, you know, myhome, my family, I'm grateful to
be loved and it's reallyimportant to me.
(13:38):
Other days I do my yoga in themorning.
I have my office space and I'vegot my yoga mat next to me,
because if I want to have areally good day and focus yoga
is like the best thing.
So I'm like really focusing andchanneling what I need to do.
So it's really important for meand anyone, and even if you've
(14:00):
not had an illness, it's justimportant to embrace life and
during covid that sort ofbrought everyone together in
that way, in that thinking.
But I do feel that after covidhas has gone, um, and that
timing has gone, whereeveryone's gone back to their,
(14:21):
you know, normal lives, I dofeel they've lost a little bit
of that and and whereas I'vekept it going and it's just been
so, so, so important to me.
And also that's when I wrote mysecond book, which was 23 Ways
to a Happier Life.
I wrote it during COVID becauseI just thought these are the
(14:41):
things that I will alwaysremember and I don't want it to
go away.
So it's like something, amemoir that I've got there for
life now.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But you talk about, you know, having to work at a
slower pace.
Yeah, we've just talked abouttwo books.
You launched a company duringCOVID.
You've not only built twobrands, but these are absolutely
ethical and purposeful brands.
We talk about people being ableto do it all, but how are you
(15:14):
growing these brands, using yourvoice and power for good to
share your story and pass onyour knowledge?
You know there's 23 ways to ahappy world.
How have you actually managedto do all of that, but also
still being kind to yourselfbecause you're operating at a
(15:34):
slower pace?
What's your secret?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I think that you know , if you think about it and if
you've got you think you've goteight hours in the day, and if
you have those eight hours atworking day, you utilize it
accordingly.
You take your breaks, you focuson your phone calls in the
morning and have your diary ofwhat you need to do and you sort
(16:01):
of fill that day accordingly.
But if you think you've onlygot three hours in that day,
your mind tends to focus so muchmore.
So you pick up the importantthings that you need to do for
that work day, because that'sliterally what I've got.
I only have three hours.
I have to sleep every dayduring the day because I lose
(16:22):
concentration and my brain getstired.
I want to do the fun things aswell.
So I think that's the firstthing is having that focus and
concentration and knowing yourhours and your limit.
And then the other thing that Ido as well is I have an amazing
family that helps me.
Sometimes I'm sitting here andmy husband does tend to make me
(16:44):
a cup of tea, which is reallylovely of him.
He has his own job and he hashis own work, but he does do
that caring part.
And my, my kids, who um arecurrently my daughter's working
from home at the moment and myson is off from uni and
occasionally I will requesttheir help, which is really
(17:05):
really.
But on top of that, I have anamazing team a work team that is
really really amazing with meand they have their own hours,
they know what they have to doand they are fantastic.
I don't thank them enough,actually.
So my work team are amazing.
But on top of that, I do workwith a lot of universities, and
(17:29):
the universities provide me withamazing students that want to
achieve and learn and geteducated within this industry,
and, whether it's on marketingor whether it's on production or
whether it's on designdifferent areas they want to
learn from someone like me and Ilove doing that, like I love
(17:52):
talking to people and teaching.
So the universities alsosupport me with giving me a team
.
So it's imperative that youknow your time, you know your
focus, but you also have a goodteam behind you, whether they're
family or whether they're, youknow, work colleagues.
It's all very, very relevantand very important, but don't
(18:15):
forget, you know, I did my book,my first book during you know,
the time I was off after I wasunwell, and my second book was
done during COVID, so now I justfocus on myself and my brands
and you know teaching as well,teaching the university students
.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That's my focus right now, so I don't do everything
all at once, but you also findtime to be an ambassador for
three charities as well, don'tyou think you missed that one
out as well?
The paying forward bit as well,it just yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So the thing is the charities that I support and you
know some of them.
A couple of them are really,really amazing in the fact that
I'm more involved with them, andthe others it's just as and
when.
So the charities are the Brainand Spine Foundation UK I'm an
ambassador for them and I'm alsoon their board of trustees, so
(19:08):
I try and make more of adifference in that way and
rationale.
The, the shoe brand, which isbehind me, which I've also got
my trainer here as well um, thisactually gives five percent of
profits to the brain and spinefoundation.
And then the b foundation.
I'm actually going tophiladelphia, um, next week to
(19:29):
see them and they're doing anambassador retreat.
So they're based in the USA,philadelphia, and my other brand
, reflex One, gives 5% ofprofits to them and both of my
books give profits to both thecharities.
And then the third one is EmiliaClarke's charity, same you.
So with them it's a little bit,um, not as involved, but you
(19:52):
know I do speak to themregularly and whenever they put
out posts on social media, Itend to like celebrate their
posts or repost them and connectthem with.
You know who they need to beconnected with.
So it's really, really I lovebeing part of those charities
because I do want to give backand even though I'm giving back
through my brands and my books,it's just another.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
So I always call it like brain, brands, books, the
three b's, um, which is, youknow, tagged along my name,
bassy, um, it's, it's what Iwant to do and that's really,
you know, my future, that's myeverything and what would be
that advice that you would giveto someone out there who hasn't
used to be here and bounced backin a way or learned to navigate
(20:38):
in a different way their life,someone who who hasn't sort of
found that?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
and I think that it's so important to, first of all,
believe in yourself, really,really, you have to believe in
who you are and be yourself andbelieve in yourself, but also be
yourself.
Don't try and be something elsethat you can't.
The second thing is I woulddefinitely say that don't give
up, because you might comeacross certain situations,
(21:10):
certain paths, whether it's inlife or work or family, whatever
it is.
Don't give up.
Please, just have that beliefand don't give up.
And then the third thing is youknow, keep that vision board,
have that future focus, becauseif you don't have something that
you want to strive to, youbecome like very much just there
(21:32):
and you want to always, youknow, develop yourself and move
forward.
I'm like someone who alwayswants to educate myself, I'm
always learning, I'm always want, I feed off that energy and
it's really important.
But lastly, you've got to takegood care of yourself, have that
self-care.
(21:52):
You know that is probably themost important thing out of
everything is look afteryourself, because if you can't
look after yourself, you can'tfunction for everyone else, for
your family you know, being amum of two and a little puppy
because that's important, it'sreally important to look after
yourself.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Kavita, you are a total, utter inspiration and I'm
so honored to have had thistime with you today.
Look forward to meeting you inperson uh, very soon, but thank
you so much for joining us onour we Are Power podcast, and
I'm so grateful for um gettingthe award.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Um, you know, and you know, it's amazing to be part
of this community and thank youso much for having me.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Oh, thank you so much , and thank you to all of you
for listening out there.
Thank you for keeping theseconversations going, because it
is so important that we pass onthis knowledge, this inspiration
, this guidance and hope andstay connected on all of our
socials.
We Are Power on Facebook andLinkedIn and we Are Power
underscore net on TikTok,instagram on TikTok and Twitter.
(22:59):
Thank you so much for listening.
My name is Simone.
This is the we Are Powerpodcast of what Goes On Media
production.
The Northern Power Women podcast for your career
and your life, no matter whatbusiness you're in.
Well, hello and welcome to thewe Are Power podcast, Our
podcast where we talk to andwith the most phenomenal role
models, hear from what theirstories are, find out what some
of those great coping strategies, the advice, the tips, support
(00:41):
that you can take away into yourlife, your career, no matter
what stage you're at or whatindustry you're at, just to help
you on your way.
And this week I think we talk alot, don't we?
About inspiration, andinspiration with a big capital.
I is definitely something Iwould put around this week's
amazing guest, Kavita Bassey.
She's the Chief Exec of JordanLiving author, multiple author,
(01:05):
actually Speaker, Ambassador forNeurocharities and on this
year's Northern Power Women atPowerless.
Thank you so much for giving usthe time and joining us on the
we Are Power podcast this week,Kavita, Hi there.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So thank you so much for having me as well.
I'm really really excited toshare just some of my story and
you know I'd be here for hoursif I had to tell my whole story.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
so just trying my best to, you know, give someone
a little bit of that hope really100%, and I've obviously we we
know a lot about you from sortof the the whole process around
the Northern Power Women Awardsand hearing about your story and
hearing about your journey.
But where your working worldstart was in the world of
fashion, wasn't it?
And you were in that sort offlurry of a world, a busy world,
(01:54):
a crazy world and that's whereyou started, wasn't it?
And that was before you reallyfound sort of the mission and
the purpose that you're in.
What did that whole world andexpertise of fashion teach you?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It was oh, I did a thing at another panel guest and
basically I used to love beingin the fashion industry and it's
the excitement, it's a rush,it's, you know, meeting
extraordinary people, like onceI met Jodie Kidd at a fashion
show.
(02:27):
I was sitting next to her andthen when I stood up and she
stood up, I was up to her waistbecause I'm so small, but it was
a very exciting time and I haveno regrets.
But I was on this paneldiscussion the other day and
they said that what would youleave behind in the world?
(02:49):
And I would say that everythingI learned about fashion at that
time I would completely leaveit behind, because everything I
do now is completely, you know,more ethical, more sustainable
and it's completely different.
And yeah, I think at the timethough it was amazing, like you
(03:11):
would get up one morning and youwould be in Hong Kong, and you
would get up the next morningand you would be somewhere like
New York or Paris, or you know,sometimes I used to wake up in
the middle of the night and notknow where I was.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It was that fast and that quick the whole industry,
the ultimate fast fashion right.
Really not knowing where youare in the world.
I know I'd seen an awful lot ofhotel rooms, I imagine
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But it also made me very appreciative of my home and
my family and sort of where.
You know where I come from.
That was always, you know, agood thing, I would say.
But yeah, it was a lot ofpressure as well, definitely.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And then, nine years ago I think, you were doing
something as normal as watchingMr Selfridge on the TV in a
normal evening, and thensomething happened.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, it was just something that you know, I
regularly used to have headachesand that was just simply
because I was traveling so muchand because I was doing so much
and with very little rest, Iwould say.
And this time, thankfully, Iwas at home with my family and
(04:29):
it was, you know, middle of thenight.
I drifted off, after, you know,watching the program.
I had my kids in my bed with meand everything, and I drifted
off and basically woke up withthis excruciating pain through
like the back of my head, andall I can describe it, which I
(04:49):
have before many times, is likea sledgehammer going right
through my head.
And I just got up, startedscreaming, tried to wake my
husband up.
He was in shock, he didn't knowwhat was going on.
Um, I fell unconscious and justcollapsed and that was it and
then you were.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
It was, I'm right, I think it was at Salford hospital
that you went to.
Yeah, um.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I'd stopped breathing and everything and my daughter
had rang the ambulance and saidthat you know something's
happened to my mum describedeverything.
They rushed me to WythenshaweHospital.
They scanned me.
They knew straight away fromwhat they were describing and
then I got rushed to SalfordRoyal like straight away, and
that evening is when they didtheir first operation and what
(05:39):
they told my husband was just beprepared, you probably won't be
able to take your wife home.
You know this is really severe.
It's 50% mortality and the 50%that do survive are, you know,
paralyzed, brain damaged, can'tspeak, can't talk on, you know,
(05:59):
walk.
There's a lot of things thatyou know happen and they were
not very hopeful because the oneI had was a subarachnoid
hemorrhage, which is probablyone of the worst ones.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And when I've read up about this and in our
conversation prior, that youlost weeks, didn't you?
You lost weeks of your memorythat you only really know what
happened now because of therecord that your husband and
your family kept at that time.
I can't even imagine how youlose six weeks of your life
(06:31):
there.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I know it's really hard because I still suffer.
I've got side effects now whichI've been left with.
I still suffer from short termmemory loss, but I have lots of
tools that I use.
Memory loss, but I have lots oftools that I use.
I am very grateful for myhusband and my daughter keeping
like logs, keeping videos.
They even gave me a book whileI was in hospital to write my
(06:55):
emotions and how I'm feelinglike every day, because they
knew that when I was, becausethey used to play those videos
back to me each day, because itwas like Groundhog Day for them.
I'd wake up and say where am I?
What's happening?
Have I just had a baby?
Is it 1985?
They used to ask me questionslike who's president?
(07:16):
And I said Margaret Thatcher.
So it was a really I mean.
For them it was so scarybecause my husband thought I
wouldn't even remember who hewas, but thankfully I did.
But it was really really scaryfor them.
But they could see theimprovements daily by them
(07:36):
showing me the videos, making mewrite things down, explaining
to me different things and justtrying to give me that positive
inspiration back to me so that Icould continue to improve each
day.
But don't get me wrong, thehospital was a really, really
(07:57):
challenging time because I hadanother stroke when I was in the
hospital, um, where the wholeleft side of my body stopped
working.
And you know, while I was, hewas feeding me, my husband, and
while he was feeding me Istarted slurring my words and
couldn't talk properly and Ibecame like paralyzed on one
(08:19):
side and they had to do.
They did four operations on mewhile I was there and it was it,
um, it was, like I said, soscary for him because he just
thought again, that's it.
And even when they saw that,they said well, she isn't going
to make it, she is going to beparalyzed now and, um, I don't
know what it was, but I musthave had this inner strength to
(08:42):
really sort of defy everythingthat they were saying and really
really push forward.
But while I was in thathospital I did have a couple of
out-of-body experiences that Ido remember and I still dream
about them and I do feel thatthere was some force or some
(09:03):
help while I was there that gotme through all of this, and I
don't know what it was, but youknow, I wrote about that, you
know, in my diaries and thenlater on got it published in my
book and it's that there'ssomething there, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
And you have this hope around you and the support
in your family, but theremust've been those days where
you just thought gosh, am I?
Was it room 23?
That's what your book is, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, I was actually in room 24 in hospital but I
called it room 23 becausethere's a bit of a twist in the
book.
But it's yeah, it's room 23,.
Surviving a brain hemorrhage.
And it's available on like lotsof different channels and even
on Audible, because it wasimportant for me.
(09:50):
It took me nine hours to recorda three and a half hour book
because I can't read.
If I was talking about it Icould just say it, but because I
had to read it from word toword again.
Another side effect I've got isI can't read in the full
capacity as what I used to, so Imiss words, miss sentences.
(10:13):
So I'd be recording it in therecording studio and they would
like say Mrs Bassey, I thinkyou've like forgotten the whole
chapter there, or full paragraph.
So I'd have to go over it.
So it was.
It was really difficult for mebut again it was something that
I really wanted to do because Iknow a lot of people who have
had stroke or had a brainhemorrhage or have neuro
(10:35):
conditions aren't able to havethat concentration.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
So an audible book was just had to be done and and
this, without a doubt, foranyone listening and anyone who
knows what you've gone throughwas just beyond the traumatic
time in your life, but this wasa point for you that helped you
really realize what your purposewas, how.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think that I already had a passion of
changing the way I did thingsbefore I was seriously ill and I
used to create.
Well, I created a vision board,I think, first of all, when I
came out of hospital and myvision board basically says I
don't know if I've got it tohand here, but it says charity,
(11:23):
it says sustainability, it saysfashion and it says it's got
home things on there family, youknow.
It has like certain key wordsthat completely resonate with me
and I put that vision board infront of me and used to wake up
to it and put it like in all thedifferent places where you know
(11:47):
I would sit and just chill outand what have you?
And a lot of things happen.
I sort of feel that since mybrain hemorrhage, my brain's
like shifted a little bit andyou know how they say your new
neurons rewire and all of thatkind of thing.
I do feel like that's happened.
I feel like I've gone back tomy 16 year old Kavita that used
(12:10):
to love painting, that was verycreative, that loved singing and
dancing and that kind of thosekind of things, and I've
channeled all of that and usedwhat I absolutely love to do,
and every single day.
I don't waste any time like Iwill do a painting, or I will
(12:33):
sit and just listen to a reallyamazing you know book that
that's going to inspire me, or Iwill sit and work on my two
brands, which I love, which isRationale and Reflex One, two
ethical brands that I've broughtup.
And also I also use that timeto really focus on my family and
(12:56):
really spend time with them,because all those years that I
spent rushing around doingeverything trying to and even
though I don't regret it,because I was supporting my
family, supporting my home andthat's happened, but I don't
want to waste any more time.
So I really make sure that mydays are filled with really good
(13:16):
things and I enjoy every singleday, and I think it's so
important to be able to do that.
Even in the morning.
I wake up and the first thing Isay is I'm grateful that I'm
here.
I'm grateful for, you know, myhome, my family, I'm grateful to
be loved and it's reallyimportant to me.
(13:38):
Other days I do my yoga in themorning.
I have my office space and I'vegot my yoga mat next to me,
because if I want to have areally good day and focus yoga
is like the best thing.
So I'm like really focusing andchanneling what I need to do.
So it's really important for meand anyone, and even if you've
(14:00):
not had an illness, it's justimportant to embrace life and
during covid that sort ofbrought everyone together in
that way, in that thinking.
But I do feel that after covidhas has gone, um, and that
timing has gone, whereeveryone's gone back to their,
(14:21):
you know, normal lives, I dofeel they've lost a little bit
of that and and whereas I'vekept it going and it's just been
so, so, so important to me.
And also that's when I wrote mysecond book, which was 23 Ways
to a Happier Life.
I wrote it during COVID becauseI just thought these are the
(14:41):
things that I will alwaysremember and I don't want it to
go away.
So it's like something, amemoir that I've got there for
life now.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But you talk about, you know, having to work at a
slower pace.
Yeah, we've just talked abouttwo books.
You launched a company duringCOVID.
You've not only built twobrands, but these are absolutely
ethical and purposeful brands.
We talk about people being ableto do it all, but how are you
(15:14):
growing these brands, using yourvoice and power for good to
share your story and pass onyour knowledge?
You know there's 23 ways to ahappy world.
How have you actually managedto do all of that, but also
still being kind to yourselfbecause you're operating at a
(15:34):
slower pace?
What's your secret?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I think that you know , if you think about it and if
you've got you think you've goteight hours in the day, and if
you have those eight hours atworking day, you utilize it
accordingly.
You take your breaks, you focuson your phone calls in the
morning and have your diary ofwhat you need to do and you sort
(16:01):
of fill that day accordingly.
But if you think you've onlygot three hours in that day,
your mind tends to focus so muchmore.
So you pick up the importantthings that you need to do for
that work day, because that'sliterally what I've got.
I only have three hours.
I have to sleep every dayduring the day because I lose
(16:22):
concentration and my brain getstired.
I want to do the fun things aswell.
So I think that's the firstthing is having that focus and
concentration and knowing yourhours and your limit.
And then the other thing that Ido as well is I have an amazing
family that helps me.
Sometimes I'm sitting here andmy husband does tend to make me
(16:44):
a cup of tea, which is reallylovely of him.
He has his own job and he hashis own work, but he does do
that caring part.
And my, my kids, who um arecurrently my daughter's working
from home at the moment and myson is off from uni and
occasionally I will requesttheir help, which is really
(17:05):
really.
But on top of that, I have anamazing team a work team that is
really really amazing with meand they have their own hours,
they know what they have to doand they are fantastic.
I don't thank them enough,actually.
So my work team are amazing.
But on top of that, I do workwith a lot of universities, and
(17:29):
the universities provide me withamazing students that want to
achieve and learn and geteducated within this industry,
and, whether it's on marketingor whether it's on production or
whether it's on designdifferent areas they want to
learn from someone like me and Ilove doing that, like I love
(17:52):
talking to people and teaching.
So the universities alsosupport me with giving me a team
.
So it's imperative that youknow your time, you know your
focus, but you also have a goodteam behind you, whether they're
family or whether they're, youknow, work colleagues.
It's all very, very relevantand very important, but don't
(18:15):
forget, you know, I did my book,my first book during you know,
the time I was off after I wasunwell, and my second book was
done during COVID, so now I justfocus on myself and my brands
and you know teaching as well,teaching the university students
.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That's my focus right now, so I don't do everything
all at once, but you also findtime to be an ambassador for
three charities as well, don'tyou think you missed that one
out as well?
The paying forward bit as well,it just yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So the thing is the charities that I support and you
know some of them.
A couple of them are really,really amazing in the fact that
I'm more involved with them, andthe others it's just as and
when.
So the charities are the Brainand Spine Foundation UK I'm an
ambassador for them and I'm alsoon their board of trustees, so
(19:08):
I try and make more of adifference in that way and
rationale.
The, the shoe brand, which isbehind me, which I've also got
my trainer here as well um, thisactually gives five percent of
profits to the brain and spinefoundation.
And then the b foundation.
I'm actually going tophiladelphia, um, next week to
(19:29):
see them and they're doing anambassador retreat.
So they're based in the USA,philadelphia, and my other brand
, reflex One, gives 5% ofprofits to them and both of my
books give profits to both thecharities.
And then the third one is EmiliaClarke's charity, same you.
So with them it's a little bit,um, not as involved, but you
(19:52):
know I do speak to themregularly and whenever they put
out posts on social media, Itend to like celebrate their
posts or repost them and connectthem with.
You know who they need to beconnected with.
So it's really, really I lovebeing part of those charities
because I do want to give backand even though I'm giving back
through my brands and my books,it's just another.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
So I always call it like brain, brands, books, the
three b's, um, which is, youknow, tagged along my name,
bassy, um, it's, it's what Iwant to do and that's really,
you know, my future, that's myeverything and what would be
that advice that you would giveto someone out there who hasn't
used to be here and bounced backin a way or learned to navigate
(20:38):
in a different way their life,someone who who hasn't sort of
found that?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
and I think that it's so important to, first of all,
believe in yourself, really,really, you have to believe in
who you are and be yourself andbelieve in yourself, but also be
yourself.
Don't try and be something elsethat you can't.
The second thing is I woulddefinitely say that don't give
up, because you might comeacross certain situations,
(21:10):
certain paths, whether it's inlife or work or family, whatever
it is.
Don't give up.
Please, just have that beliefand don't give up.
And then the third thing is youknow, keep that vision board,
have that future focus, becauseif you don't have something that
you want to strive to, youbecome like very much just there
(21:32):
and you want to always, youknow, develop yourself and move
forward.
I'm like someone who alwayswants to educate myself, I'm
always learning, I'm always want, I feed off that energy and
it's really important.
But lastly, you've got to takegood care of yourself, have that
self-care.
(21:52):
You know that is probably themost important thing out of
everything is look afteryourself, because if you can't
look after yourself, you can'tfunction for everyone else, for
your family you know, being amum of two and a little puppy
because that's important, it'sreally important to look after
yourself.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Kavita, you are a total, utter inspiration and I'm
so honored to have had thistime with you today.
Look forward to meeting you inperson uh, very soon, but thank
you so much for joining us onour we Are Power podcast, and
I'm so grateful for um gettingthe award.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Um, you know, and you know, it's amazing to be part
of this community and thank youso much for having me.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Oh, thank you so much , and thank you to all of you
for listening out there.
Thank you for keeping theseconversations going, because it
is so important that we pass onthis knowledge, this inspiration
, this guidance and hope andstay connected on all of our
socials.
We Are Power on Facebook andLinkedIn and we Are Power
underscore net on TikTok,instagram on TikTok and Twitter.
(22:59):
Thank you so much for listening.
My name is Simone.
This is the we Are Powerpodcast of what Goes On Media
production.
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