Championing Cheer

Fostering mindful atmospheres within corporate environments, Dr Sharon Rajkumar stands as a beacon of positivity, guiding others towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. In a candid chat, the TEDx speaker shares her journey with Kiara Sengupta, on how serendipity led her to become the first happiness evangelist in India.

- Kiara Sengupta

What inspired you to become a happiness evangelist?

While wrapping up my PhD, I stumbled upon the news of Ashok Soota starting Happiest Minds. Intrigued by the concept of a company focussed on happiness, I sent in my resumé and a paper I had written on leadership and happiness. Shortly after, I met him and we discussed the company's focus on SMILES (Sharing, Mindful, Integrity, Learning, Excellence, and Social responsibility) as their core values and its mission: 'Happiest People. Happiest Customers.' He encouraged me to define a suitable title and role for myself. Advocating for happiness as a core value and differentiator, I took a week to craft the proposal. Drawing parallels with technology and learning evangelists, I chose the position of 'Happiness Evangelist', a first-of-its-kind title in the industry.

How has the perception of happiness evolved?