“When we talk about work-life balance,the work part is professional—it’s for us. But ask any woman, and she’ll tell you that the ‘life’ part is all about making life easier for everyone else. It’s not her own life.It means simplifying life for everyone else around her. If I leave for a four-hour meeting, I’m constantly wondering—what will my kids eat? What about my husband? Can they manage without me?This constant juggling act is the norm. To think about something just for ourselves feels selfish”.
“For so long, I believed that putting myself first was selfish,” she admitted. “But now I see it differently. Taking care of myself makes me better at taking care of others.” -AHLADA SUDERSAN
“When I reflect on the core values that shaped Global Women Power, the first thought that comes to mind is financial independence. It has always been the cornerstone of our mission. As I often say, “Once you have money in your pocket, you think straight. You’re at peace.”This idea came from my own experiences and observations.
Over time, I realized that social independence was just as critical. Women often feel pressured to fit into societal molds—the ideal wife, the perfect mom, or the successful homemaker. These expectations can limit personal growth and confidence. So, I added social independence to our vision, recognizing that true empowerment lies in balancing both”- DR ALKA CHOPRA MADAN
Global Women Power’s “Meet Our Sheroes” series celebrates women’s incredible journeys. These stories inspire, connect, and empower women from all backgrounds. In our most recent episode, the second of our sheroes in India, we had the pleasure of meeting Ahlada Sudersan, an entrepreneur who is not only carving out a position in the digital world but also reinventing productivity for women with her app, Zenit.
Ahlada’s Vision for Women’s Wellness: The Story of Zenit
A new entrepreneur, her business is just over a year old. Launched in India in June and globally in October, Zenit is a mindful productivity app designed specifically for women, an app that aims to simplify planning for women juggling multiple responsibilities, offering a quick and easy way to organize their day while prioritizing self-care.
Ahlada with her experience knows that today’s women may feel overwhelmed by all the demands that are put on them. That is why her goal for Zenit is to give people useful solutions that fit easily into their lives and help them better handle their time without having to stress about making detailed plans. During our interview, she told us not only about Zenit’s long-term goals but also about how deeply she cared about its purpose.
Zenit’s Future Prospects
The app has garnered 20,000 downloads and has more than 1,000 daily active users, but for Ahlada this is only the beginning. She intends to expand the platform in the following manner:
Refining group Targeting:
The company’s initial advertising efforts did not reach its target group of busy women. Recognising that women are natural nurturers who frequently overextend themselves, Zenit intends to focus on building a closer relationship with this demographic.
Building trust and encouraging women to accept new technology is a crucial difficulty in overcoming barriers. Without major personalities backing Zenit, the club has focused on establishing authenticity and worth.
Focus on high quality organic content
Zenit is focusing on high-quality organic content in order to establish credibility. The app’s essence—mindful productivity—and the unique challenges encountered by women are being highlighted by Ahlada’s team through the production of written resources.
Strategic Patience:
Zenit is focusing on building genuine connections rather than rushing towards quick growth in contrast to the usual “move fast and break things” approach seen in many startups. With these strategies, the aim is to develop Zenit into a platform that supports women in managing their time while also encouraging them to focus on self-care and achieve balance in their lives.
Ahlada’s journey reflects the heartfelt struggles that many women encounter. As she thought about it, being a woman involves juggling a rich tapestry of roles—mother, wife, daughter, professional, and beyond. The emotional burden significantly affects how women make decisions, particularly regarding mindfulness and self-care.
She shared that during her journey, the desire to look after others shaped many of her choices. The women she met along her journey connected over a shared experience: the emotional side of being a woman can be both a significant strength and a challenging obstacle.The emotional richness is what propels Zenit ahead. For women seeking mindful productivity or those searching for a sense of balance in their lives, Zenit stands as a symbol of what’s possible when resilience meets purpose.
Zenit’s Struggles
Ahlada’s path with Zenit has been one of exploration and growth. Zenit first used a traditional strategy, connecting with potential users through marketing. However, the team quickly realised that they were not engaging well with their target audience—women juggling multiple tasks.Ahlada stated that women typically find themselves in caring roles, which can result in them shouldering a great deal of responsibility. Engaging this audience can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to implementing new technologies.
Two major hurdles arose:
Fostering Trust: Without a well-known brand name to fall back on, Zenit had to work harder to establish trust and a genuine connection.
Tech Adoption: Women in their audience were cautious about adopting new technology, making it imperative for Zenit to demonstrate real value.
To address these challenges, the team pivoted to focus on organic growth through high-quality content that highlights Zenit’s mission of mindful productivity. Resources on the website invite women to explore the app at their own pace, fostering trust and understanding. This shift from rapid expansion to deliberate outreach reflects Zenit’s commitment to its audience.
From Emotional Weight to Empowerment
Dr. Alka observed that women’s emotional experiences frequently resonate globally, influenced by the pressures of nurturing and fulfilling numerous responsibilities.. “As women, we’re natural nurturers, we want to be everything—a good mother, a supportive wife, a caring daughter, and a successful professional. These roles come with emotional weight, but they also give us incredible resilience and purpose.”
“When I reflect on the core values that shaped Global Women Power, the first thought that comes to mind is financial independence. It has always been the cornerstone of our mission. As I often say, “Once you have money in your pocket, you think straight. You’re at peace.”
This idea came from my own experiences and observations. Over time, I realized that social independence was just as critical. Women often feel pressured to fit into societal molds—the ideal wife, the perfect mom, or the successful homemaker. These expectations can limit personal growth and confidence. So, I added social independence to our vision, recognizing that true empowerment lies in balancing both.”
Ahlada observed that the women she’s met along her journey often face similar struggles as they have to balance their aspirations with societal and familial expectations, an emotional experience has been central to Zenit’s mission: to provide tools to help women reclaim time and space for themselves, fostering both productivity and mindfulness.This shared vision aligns seamlessly with Global Women Power’s ethos, creating a meaningful synergy between innovation and empowerment.
She reflected on her upbringing in a middle-class household, where her father was the primary breadwinner and values such as integrity and hard work were ingrained early. “Being good means doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” he would often say. Over time, she realized that the idea of “good” encompassed much more—it meant striving for perfection, fulfilling one’s duties, and, often, putting others before oneself.
Even today, she explained, those ingrained values compel women like her to prioritize everyone else over themselves. “When we talk about work-life balance,” she observed, “the work part is professional—it’s for us. But ask any woman, and she’ll tell you that the ‘life’ part is all about making life easier for everyone else. It’s not her own life.” She described how, for many women, life revolves around ensuring the needs of their family are met. “If I leave for a four-hour meeting, I’m constantly wondering—what will my kids eat? What about my husband? Can they manage without me?”
This constant juggling act, she admitted, had become the norm. “To think about something just for ourselves feels selfish,” she said, noting how she had witnessed this dynamic throughout her life—in her grandmother, her mother, and the women she worked with.
Even when she chose to focus on raising her children, she felt a gnawing dissatisfaction. “It bothered me that I wasn’t out there pursuing my dreams and passions,” she admitted. Her return to the workforce was spurred by her ambition and the support of her leader, Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, whom she described as a visionary. “She encouraged me to try new things, and I moved beyond being an educator to a curriculum developer, a manager and a team head,” she explained. Working in a startup-like environment allowed her to understand the functioning of different teams such as Operations, Marketing and Tech, helping her acquire new skills.
She encountered countless women with stories similar to her own. When one colleague had broken down in tears, asking, “How do I manage this? Everything feels like a priority” , it made her “realize that this wasn’t just my story—it was every woman’s story,” she said.
These experiences inspired her to create Zenit, an app designed to address women’s pain points related to time and self-management. “One of our key features, the Priority Wizard, helps women avoid the mental load of deciding what to do first,” she explained. “You just enter your tasks, and the app creates an automatic priority checklist.”
When is Enough, Truly Enough for a Woman?
“I think never,” “Never in all aspects.”
She elaborated, “We want to be the perfect mom, giving our children all the love, care, and discipline they need. We want to be the supportive wife, ensuring our husband has everything he needs. And then, there’s the family—we’re always putting their needs ahead of our own.”
This resonated deeply. Many of us have witnessed this in the lives of our mothers and grandmothers. In fact, she recounted her own experience, saying, “I saw my grandma and mom live this way. They were constantly running from one thing to another, balancing work and home. Even during their breaks, they were checking in on what’s happening at home or worrying about someone else’s needs.”
Perhaps there’s no definitive answer to this question. But what we can do is redefine “enough” for ourselves. It doesn’t have to mean perfection. It can mean taking small steps toward our passions while balancing our responsibilities.
As she wisely said, “It’s not easy to let go of habits or the need to be perfect, but we owe it to ourselves to try. Because if we wait too long, it might just be too late.”
“I notice this in older women,” she said, “especially those above 70. They finally say, ‘I need to do something for myself,’ but by then, it’s often too late. Physical health declines, mental sharpness wanes, and regrets begin to pile up.”
It’s a harsh reality that many women face—sacrificing their dreams and passions for years, only to feel the loss of time later in life.
The Struggle for Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is another term that is often misunderstood, especially for women. While many believe it’s about juggling work and personal life, the truth is different for most women.
“Ask any woman,” she explained, “and she’ll tell you—‘life’ doesn’t mean her own life. It means simplifying life for everyone else around her. If I’m going for a meeting, I’m not just thinking about the meeting. I’m thinking—what will my kids eat? Will my husband manage on his own? What else needs to be done at home?”
This constant prioritization of others becomes a norm, ingrained so deeply that putting oneself first feels selfish.
The Turning Point
For her, the turning point came in her 40s. She described it as a kind of midlife crisis: “I started asking myself, ‘Is this it? Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? Am I going to retire doing the same thing?’”
These questions forced her to reevaluate her life.
As women, we often delay our dreams, thinking there’s always time. Ahlada said that women must ask ourselves now: “What legacy do I want to leave behind? How do I want to be remembered?” “One of my team members once cried and said, ‘How do I manage everything? Everything feels urgent.’ That moment stayed with Ahlada and inspired her to create an app like Zen It, where women can prioritize tasks without wasting time deciding what to do first.”
Her journey is a powerful reminder for all of us. It’s not about waiting for the perfect time—it’s about making time now. Pursue your dreams, prioritize yourself, and build a life you’ll look back on without regrets.
The Value of Financial Independence
During one of the most challenging phases of my life, she realized the value of financial independence : “When I became a mother, I decided to take a career break to focus on my children. Those seven or eight years were fulfilling in one way but incredibly frustrating in another. I had achieved so much during my master’s degree in artificial intelligence and power systems—I was proud of that accomplishment. But during my break, I felt like my intelligence was wasting away. I wasn’t earning, and even though I had the full support of my family, the money I spent wasn’t mine. I didn’t feel comfortable using it freely. This realization struck me hard. I thought, ‘I need to get back to work. I need to make my own money so I can make my own decisions.’”
This turning point motivated her to return to the workforce, not just to earn but to regain confidence and reclaim my independence.
Observing the Shift in Opportunities
Ahlada put forward how opportunities for women have evolved over the years. Previously, if a woman took even a short break in her career, it was almost impossible for her to secure the kind of job she deserved. Things are different now. Women, even those returning after a long sabbatical for caregiving or motherhood, are finding better opportunities, particularly in the post-COVID era. Flexible work arrangements and remote jobs are giving women the chance to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives.
I often emphasize to women that financial independence isn’t just about earning money—it’s about building self-worth and opening doors to new possibilities.
On Social Independence
While working with women, Ahalda realized that financial independence alone wasn’t enough: “Social independence is just as important,” “We grow up with the idea that being a good wife, a good mother, or a perfect homemaker defines our success. But true success comes when you break free from these societal pressures and define life on your own terms.”
Younger generations, including my children, are already questioning these norms. They often say, “Why should I get married if it doesn’t align with my goals? Why should society measure my success by my marital status?” Their perspective reflects a shift toward prioritizing individual fulfillment over traditional expectations.
Social independence is gaining traction, particularly in urban areas where women are redefining their roles. However, the situation is different in rural regions, where societal expectations still weigh heavily on women.
Her Leadership Experiences
Reflecting on her earlier leadership experiences, she admitted, “I used to think solving problems quickly was the best way to help. Someone would come to me with an issue, and I’d rush to say, ‘This is what you need, let me fix it.’” But over time, she realized this approach often left people feeling unheard. “The higher up we go,” she mused, “the better we get at solving problems, but the worse we become at listening.”
This realization marked a turning point in her leadership style. She consciously worked on slowing down, asking more questions, and truly understanding her team members. “Now, I remind myself to pause and really listen before jumping to conclusions,” she shared. “It’s not easy, but it makes a world of difference when people feel seen and heard.”
Work- Life Harmony
Her journey towards mindfulness and balance also reshaped her perspective on work-life dynamics. “I don’t believe in the concept of work-life balance anymore,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “It’s impossible to draw clean lines between the two. Instead, I focus on work-life harmony.”
She described how she structured her day to prioritize both productivity and self-care. “I don’t work eight hours straight. Instead, I block my time,” she explained. Her mornings began with preparing meals and sending her daughter off to school—a ritual she cherished. Then came focused work hours, interspersed with breaks for herself. “During my me time, I read a book, listen to music, or watch TV. I actually allow myself to relax,” she said, emphasizing how intentional she was about carving out moments of joy.
Her approach wasn’t without challenges. “Of course, there are home commitments too,” she acknowledged. “I still handle things like lunch prep, but I’ve stopped expecting myself to be everywhere all the time.” This shift in mindset allowed her to lead a more mindful and fulfilling life.
As she spoke, it was clear that her journey was as much about unlearning societal expectations as it was about building new habits. “For so long, I believed that putting myself first was selfish,” she admitted. “But now I see it differently. Taking care of myself makes me better at taking care of others.”
The conversation took a reflective turn as she delved into the role of family and upbringing in shaping her perspective on success and purpose. “You know the saying, ‘Behind every successful man there is a woman?’ Well, how about the other way around?” she asked with a smile.
“Oh, definitely,” she continued. “My family has been incredibly supportive—each in their own way. The kids, with their little gestures, and my husband, through his unwavering encouragement.” She paused thoughtfully before sharing one of her husband’s guiding principles: “He’s been telling me for years, never pursue something just for the money. He says, ‘Money comes next. Why are you doing this? What’s the purpose driving you? What do you want to leave behind?’“
This advice resonated deeply with her, especially as someone navigating the challenges of running a bootstrapped company. “Whenever I find myself thinking too much about the money aspect, his words ground me,” she admitted. “It makes me pause and carefully consider where to invest—not just financially, but also emotionally and mentally.”
Self-care with smart productivity in a user-friendly way
She continued with an enthusiastic explanation of her app, detailing its unique features and the philosophy behind it. “It’s called Zenit—as in ‘Zen it to win your life, to achieve everything you want.’ The primary goal is to help our users become productive and smart while avoiding burnout,” she said.
She explained how Zenit differs from traditional productivity tools by combining self-care with smart productivity in a user-friendly way. “We wanted to make it simple and intuitive, especially for our primary users—women—so they don’t have to spend precious time figuring it out. There are already plenty of tools for workspaces, but this one is for individuals. It’s about empowering the self.”
The Productivity Suite in the app is a standout feature. “It’s centered around task management,” she explained. “Users can add tasks easily and time-block them into just two slots: before 2 PM and after 2 PM. The goal is simplicity. After assigning tasks, you can use the Priority Wizard to see your day’s alignment—what needs to be done now, today, or later. It’s essentially task chunking into actionable timeframes, which makes it more manageable.”
Users can also categorize tasks into different domains such as self, work, or home, and even integrate external calendars for a comprehensive view of their schedule. “Another feature we’ve introduced is focus time tracking,” she added. “Distractions are everywhere, and staying focused is a challenge. With this tool, you can start and stop focus cycles, helping you track how much undistracted work you’ve completed.”
On the Self-Care Suite, she elaborated on how it promotes emotional well-being. “We have guided practices to start your morning with positivity—like two-minute inspirational messages or affirmations. Then, mid-day centering practices help ground you when you feel distracted or overwhelmed. At the end of the day, we offer yoga, relaxation techniques, and calming mindfulness sessions to winddown.”
She shared plans to add sleep stories, addressing a common user request. “Many people struggle with sleep because they’re always on, always thinking. Sleep stories and relaxation techniques will help them disconnect and rest better,” she said, emphasizing the app’s focus on holistic well-being.
“This app isn’t just about ticking off tasks,” she concluded. “It’s about creating harmony—between your work, your personal life, and your inner self. That’s what Zenit stands for.”
When asked if the app has a specific focus on women, she elaborated on its purpose and audience with heartfelt insight. “Zenit is designed mainly for women, especially those who are caregivers and multitaskers—not necessarily by choice, but because of the realities of their lives,” she said.
She acknowledged the growing literature criticizing multitasking but noted, “How many of us actually have the option to not multitask? I would love to focus on just one thing at a time, but I’m constantly juggling multiple responsibilities—work, home, family. This is the case for so many women.”
The app’s focus stems from their research and user feedback. “The first group we tested the app with was women. One beta tester told us she had never been as productive as she was while using Zenit. That was a powerful moment for us—it showed we’re making a real difference in women’s lives,” she shared.
Women, she explained, often compartmentalize tasks in unique ways. “We don’t have just one list. We have separate mental lists for home tasks, work tasks, personal goals—and these lists tend to clash at some point. Zenit helps bring those lists into one space, simplifying the process and easing the mental load.”
She admitted they faced challenges in reaching women. “Women are often tech-shy when it comes to adopting new tools, not because they lack capability, but because they’re already juggling so much. They might think, ‘I’m already using some tech, or I don’t need another app.’ But we truly believe this app can benefit them the most,” she emphasized.
While Zenit is open to everyone, its design and purpose are tailored to address the unique challenges women face, helping them streamline their tasks, prioritize self-care, and ultimately find balance amidst their busy lives.
From negotiating the difficulties of societal norms to breaking down obstacles in her personal and professional life, her story reflects many women’s problems and accomplishments. Despite the odds, Ahalada rose above, making a niche for herself and demonstrating that persistence and perseverance can turn dreams into reality.
At Global Women Power, we are dedicated to inspiring women like Ahalada to take control of their life, achieve financial success, and social freedom. Her path exemplifies our primary belief: when women are given opportunity, resources, and a strong network, they can overcome even the most difficult challenges.
We hope that by sharing stories like hers, we may inspire women all across the world to embrace their potential, take courageous decisions, and make a difference in their communities.
Indeed! Here is the amended version:
Ahalada’s story serves as a compelling reminder to women globally regarding the significance of timely action and self-prioritization—not as an expression of self-importance, but as an essential measure for personal development and balance. Her experience demonstrates that when women prioritise their own needs, aspirations, and well-being, they are more capable of supporting and caring for others.
Global Women Power advocates for the empowerment of women to prioritise themselves, liberate themselves from cultural constraints, and define their life according to their own standards. Ahalada’s narrative illustrates this principle: true achievement arises when you choose yourself and recognise that self-care is the cornerstone of caring for others.
Her story acts as a catalyst for women who frequently prioritise others above themselves, urging them to take action before it is too late to realise their ambitions. Ahalada’s path motivates us to gather the confidence to prioritise our personal development and well-being, recognising that this uplifts not only ourselves but also those around us.
