The pursuit of authentic leadership often gets buried under metrics, targets, and corporate hierarchies. Many executives find themselves trapped in cycles of stress and survival mode, missing what truly matters. Leadership coach Ekta Anand has developed a framework that helps business leaders break free from this pattern through what she calls an “abundance mindset” – a perspective shift transforming not just how they lead, but how they experience life itself.
Finding a New Perspective – Abundance Mindset
Ekta’s approach to leadership wasn’t born in business school but through personal transformation. “It’s part of my deep three-and-a-half years of spiritual awakening,” she explains. Her journey began when someone asked her a seemingly simple question: “What is your purpose in life?” This question sparked a profound shift. “I froze. Do I need a purpose in my life? I didn’t know that. Then, through books like “Four Agreements” and “Life Is Game & How to Play It,” she began challenging long-held beliefs.
Her awakening wasn’t always comfortable. “When you raise your vibration, the Universe removes you from places that don’t match your energy. Suddenly, you’re at rock bottom. You have a tower moment in your life, you lose everything, but you’re still okay with it because you understand what letting go means and what attracting abundance truly means.”
Breaking Free From Corporate Constraints
After 20 years in corporate environments, Ekta noticed how traditional leadership approaches often miss what matters most. “From a corporate perspective, an abundance mindset directs individuals towards the greater purpose of their work and the reasons behind it. It eliminates hierarchical barriers and reduces unnecessary organizational drama.” She observed how hierarchy often stifles innovation. “I don’t care where ideas come from. If it’s my QA giving me an idea, or a product owner, or an engineer, an idea is an idea. If it’s good, you have to listen to it.” With companies facing unprecedented technological change, authentic leadership becomes even more critical. “We need to be more creative at this age with our work, and authenticity and an abundance mindset really drive creativity,” Ekta notes.
Many executives find themselves trapped in what Ekta calls “lack mindset.” She explains, “The lack mindset just makes you live in survival mode. You’re trapped in that nine-to-five, trying to run like a rat race, but you don’t have to.” The universe doesn’t reward you for hustle but for resonance and peace. This shift in thinking creates space for clarity and creativity. Your intuition and gut become your superpower. When you change your mindset, you have way more clarity in your actions. You’re leading with purpose, and it takes away all the drama. I found myself more creative and able to listen to people versus always being defensive or a people pleaser.” She challenges conventional definitions of success: “True success is not in titles and money – it’s in peace and joy and enjoying your life while you work. Being able to attend kids’ classes and events, meeting friends you care about, and parents. That’s real success. Being kind is success, and sharing your joy is success.”
Three Pillars of Authentic Leadership
For executives looking to transform their leadership approach, Ekta offers three actionable strategies:
- Discover Your Purpose: “Make sure you know your purpose. A lot of people don’t. I thought I knew my purpose, but I actually did not. Surrendering to the unknown, aligning with the universe, and listening to my gut really led me to my purpose.”
- Program Your Unconscious Mind: “Understand what your triggers are and how they impact your unconscious mind. You can transform by programming your unconscious mind in observing mode versus always reacting.”
- Embrace Authentic Expression: “Authenticity is the highest form of being. But it has to be balanced with being self-aware of your triggers. When these three pillars come together, nobody can stop you from having an abundance mindset.”
Perhaps the most transformative element is learning to surrender. “When I was going through my awakening, I thought I was in a place where I surrendered, but I didn’t. I was still tying myself to outcomes. The ego death comes when you realize you’re not running your life. When you leave control, your body isn’t used to not being in survival mode.”
The Executive’s Guide to Present-Moment Leadership
The corporate world trains executives to focus constantly on future targets and past performance, creating a perpetual state of anxiety that Ekta believes undermines effective leadership. “Consider a time when you experienced any negative feeling, such as fear, jealousy, or anxiety. If you reflect on it, you’re either in the future or living in the past,” she observes. This constant time-traveling in our minds creates what she calls “fog,” – clouding judgment and preventing leaders from responding authentically to current challenges.
Present-moment awareness offers a powerful alternative approach. “It doesn’t mean you should abandon plans for tomorrow, but it’s also acceptable if things don’t work out as hoped,” Ekta explains. Executives who practice mindfulness report greater emotional regulation, improved decision-making, and stronger connections with their teams. Research supports this – studies show mindful self-aware and present leaders demonstrate greater resilience during crises and make more ethical decisions.
The shift to present-focused leadership doesn’t happen overnight. “Sometimes slowing down is the fastest way to progress in your life,” Ekta says. She recommends simple practices like taking short meditation breaks between meetings, consciously noticing physical sensations during challenging conversations, and creating small rituals to mark transitions between tasks. “When you slow down, everything you’re chasing will catch you. Everything meant for you comes very easily when you’re in an authentic state and highest vibration.”
Visit Ekta Anand’s LinkedIn profile to learn more about developing authentic leadership through an abundance mindset.
