Growth by grounding.
Overcoming Struggles with Daily Rituals: Anshu Ahuja on Building a Business
Ayesha Ofori, founder and CEO of Propelle—the UK’s first financial education and investment platform designed to empower women—has built a bold and groundbreaking business. But as she shared on the Brave New Girls podcast, the most transformative part of her journey has been how she grows as a person alongside it. For Ayesha, personal growth and wellbeing are not just nice-to-haves—they’re essential for leadership, impact, and balance.
While she’s celebrated for closing the gender wealth gap and bringing women into the world of investment through Propelle, Ayesha is also quietly mastering something just as important: how to stay well and grounded while doing it.
In our conversation, Ayesha was refreshingly honest about the realities of growth. She explained how a few years ago, she hit a wall. Despite her success in high finance, something was missing: purpose. That gap led her to create Propelle, but it also started a journey inward. Ayesha began to explore not just what she was building in the world, but how she was caring for herself as she built it.
One of the most powerful wellbeing tools she now uses daily is meditation. At first, she resisted it. “I thought it was woo woo,” she admitted. But eventually, she gave it a try. It took time—months even—before it clicked. But when it did, everything changed. “After I meditate, I feel like I’ve been on holiday for two weeks,” she said. “It clears my mind. It alleviates the stress. It helps me think clearly.”
Meditation isn’t her only anchor. Ayesha also started exercising regularly, even though she doesn’t consider herself a gym lover. “I had to find what works for me,” she explained. So she booked a personal trainer—not because she loves workouts, but because she needed the accountability. “Sometimes I go just because I don’t want to let her down,” she laughed. That self-awareness—knowing her limits and designing structures that support her—is a key part of how she sustains growth in both life and business.
But perhaps the biggest driver of her wellbeing is a deep connection to her sense of purpose. Leaving a high-paying, prestigious job to build a startup from scratch wasn’t easy—but it was meaningful. “I realised I was meant to do this,” she said. “And when I connected to that, everything shifted.”
Her story reminds us that growth isn’t just about achieving more—it’s about becoming more aligned, more grounded, and more well. It’s not about striving harder; it’s about creating a foundation that supports expansion from the inside out.
So what can we take from Ayesha’s journey?
We can begin by finding a daily practice that helps us feel present and clear, like meditation. We can tune into our energy and invest in movement, even if it’s just walking or stretching. We can design systems that support us through self-awareness, not self-pressure.
We can regularly reconnect to our purpose. Are we doing what matters to us? Are we aligning our time with our values? These check-ins help us course-correct and re-energise. And we can remember to celebrate how far we’ve come, even while still moving forward.
Growth doesn’t come from pushing alone. As Ayesha shows, it comes from pausing, grounding, nourishing, and aligning—again and again.
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Ten Actionable Steps for Building Wellbeing
Ground yourself daily
Begin your day with a moment of stillness—meditation, deep breathing, or reflection.Reconnect with your purpose
Check in regularly with why you’re doing what you’re doing—it fuels resilience.Organise around your strengths
Know what works for you. Create routines that reflect your reality, not someone else’s.Work with, not against, your nature
Don’t force habits that don’t fit. Find realistic ways to stay well—like Ayesha hiring a trainer.Take mental rest seriously
Treat your mind like a muscle. It needs recovery. Schedule downtime as non-negotiable.Hold space for learning
Growth means trying new things. Give yourself room to fail, adjust, and try again.Invest in yourself intentionally
Whether it’s learning, coaching, or fitness—commit to resources that support your development.Protect your energy
Build boundaries around your time, phone, and emotional labour. Rest is productive.Embrace long-term rhythms
Like investing, inner growth compounds. Be patient with the process.Celebrate progress
Don’t wait for big wins. Honour the small shifts—they’re the foundation of lasting change.
Ayesha Ofori shows us that true growth is rooted in daily wellbeing—through meditation, movement, purpose, and aligned action.
If you have worries around life’s juggles & health challenges, and want to grow a healthier, happier, more creative life, work with your Wellbeing Coach Lou Hamilton who will guide you through the steps you need to take, to get to where you want to be- living well on a well planet.
See which bespoke coaching programme works for you & we can tailor them further to your growth needs.
