In the hustle of India’s ever-evolving startup landscape, we often celebrate stories of funding rounds, unicorn milestones, and rapid growth. But what about the quiet stories—those that dig beneath the surface of metrics and valuations to talk about the human behind the hustle?
When I sat down with Krishna Maruthur, consultant psychologist, author, and founder of HAPIMI HABITS (read Happy Me Habits), I was reminded that mental well-being isn’t just a personal concern—it’s a leadership imperative. With a calm, grounded presence and deeply thoughtful answers, Krishna walked me through his remarkable journey—a path shaped as much by inner clarity as professional ambition.
From Struggles to Strength
Krishna’s story doesn’t begin in boardrooms or brainstorming sessions—it begins in a modest home, part of a large family that taught him the power of resilience. “Emotions were everywhere, but no one talked about them,” he recalled. Raised amongst women and tested by early hardships, Krishna began his lifelong inquiry into how emotions shape us—and how we can shape them back.
That personal foundation led him to create HAPIMI HABITS (read Happy Me Habits), a platform that teaches emotional literacy through practical wellbeing habits. His first book, Wellbeing Habits for Working Women, is both deeply personal and scientifically rooted. It’s especially resonant for working women—those balancing caregiving, careers, hormonal changes, and systemic bias—all while silently pushing themselves to keep going.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup,” Krishna told me with conviction. His voice softened when he spoke about women navigating relentless demands, and it was clear: his work is not just about well-being but about honoring emotional labor, particularly the kind that goes unseen.
Healing Through Habits
Krishna doesn’t just offer theories—he offers practical tools. His podcast, Habits of Positive Role Models, unpacks the small, intentional rituals behind big success. From founders to songwriters, he finds common ground in their emotional practices, helping listeners build habits that are both attainable, sustaibnable and deeply healing.
The next chapter in his journey includes a new book, one that delves even deeper into emotional literacy, guilt, shame and self-love—what he calls the true bedrock of emotional resilience. “You can’t lead others if you haven’t learned to lead your own emotions,” he said, urging today’s leaders to reimagine discipline—not as punishment, but as a path to joy, pride, and purpose.
A Mission Beyond Metrics
Krishna’s vision is expansive. He currently does 1:1 consultations and wellbeing workshops. He plans on building a training academy for mental health coaches, providing residential wellbeing retreats, and translating his book into regional and international languages to reach even the most underserved communities. His book is currently available in both kindle and paperback version on Amazon, and the audio version will be released soon. He dreams of turning his book into a film or series—because as he puts it, “Mental health needs mainstream narratives, not just medical ones.”
His goal is to impact 1 billion lives in the next decade. A lofty target, perhaps—but with the sincerity and strategic intent he brings, it doesn’t feel far-fetched.
Leading with Empathy
As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Krishna what he’d like to tell young people feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of modern life.
“Happiness is a skill,” he said. “It’s not something you’re born with or without. It’s something you learn—through awareness and familiarity, through practice. Just like building a company, it takes effort. But it’s worth it.”
With voices like Krishna’s entering the startup ecosystem, perhaps we’re finally learning that building a better world begins not just with innovation—but with introspection.
And maybe—just maybe—the next unicorn won’t just be high-growth, but also high-impact through collective emotional wellbeing.
Interview conducted By Priyanka Chatterjee, Associate Editor, Indian Startup Times
