Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind — a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.

In this week’s session, we have Contentstack co-founder and CEO Neha Sampat, a prominent advocate for diversity and female leadership in the tech industry. Under her guidance, Contentstack has earned accolades such as a spot on the Inc. 5000 and recognition as one of America's Best Workplaces in 2021. Neha, a three-time tech founder, is committed to democratising technology and fostering collaboration between marketing and IT teams. With a focus on creating positive work cultures, she has received multiple awards, including the Austin Business Journal’s 2023 Women in Business Award and Comparably’s Best CEO for Diversity and Women in 2022.

Without further ado, here it goes…

Your mantra for life
"If it was easy, anybody would do it – but we’re not just anybody." This reminds me that challenges set us apart and that embracing difficulty is essential for growth and achievement.

A book you are currently reading or plan to read
A book I'm currently reading is The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.

Your fitness mantra
My fitness mantra is simple: just show up and do your best! Every effort counts, and the commitment to being present leads to progress.

Your comfort food
My comfort food is my mother-in-law’s Khichdi. It's a warm, hearty dish that brings back fond memories.

A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
A quote that keeps me going when the chips are down is Coach Kara Lawson's pep talk to Duke University’s women’s basketball team: “Things never get easier; you just learn to handle the hard better, so do hard things!”  

Your guilty pleasure
My guilty pleasure is watching the telenovela El Gran Hotel.

The last time you tried something new
I do something new every day and most recently, I tried Café de Olla, a traditional Mexican coffee.

A life lesson you learned the hard way
A life lesson I learned the hard way is how to manage rejection; it took many rejections before I realized it’s okay to face them. Each setback taught me resilience and helped me grow stronger.

What gets you excited about life?
What gets me excited about life is seeing people win and being part of their journey! Celebrating their success and knowing I’ve played a role in their growth is incredibly fulfilling.

What’s on top of your bucket list?
I want to learn Hindi and Spanish – two languages that would open up new cultural experiences and connections.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t stop believing! Trust in your journey, stay confident in your dreams, and know that perseverance will lead you to where you're meant to be.

One thing you would most like to change about the world
There should be a level playing field for everyone, where opportunities are equally accessible, and no one is held back by circumstances beyond their control.

An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
I set my phone alarm to go off every Tuesday at noon, which reminds me to push all the bad feelings out, take a deep breath, soak in the good, and move forward with a fresh mindset.

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Listening to music – it’s like an instant escape that fills me with energy and positivity.

Your go-to stress buster
Dancing – it’s the perfect way to let go and feel instantly uplifted!