Sreela Menon | Holding Space

As children growing up in Delhi, Maya and Sreela Menon were inseparable. They were sisters, best friends, schoolmates, and eventually even head girls at their school. While Maya was emotional and open-hearted, Sreela was quieter, more guarded, and fiercely protective. Together, they balanced each other perfectly.

Even today, the sisters speak to each other several times a day. Family and friends often laugh and ask, “What do you girls even talk about so much?” For Sreela, the answer is simple. “I was never lonely growing up because I always had Maya.” Years later, that same bond between the two sisters would become the emotional foundation for Mind Empowered, the mental health organisation they co-founded together.

Born in Bhopal and raised in Delhi, Sreela grew up in a family that valued education, equality, and independence. Her parents encouraged both daughters to stand on their own feet and reminded them constantly that marriage was not the ultimate goal of life. “You should always be able to walk away from toxic people or places,” her parents taught them.

As a child, Sreela admired her aunt, a neurosurgeon, and dreamed of becoming a doctor herself. She wanted to save lives. But one childhood incident hinted that medicine might not be her path after all. During a visit to observe a small medical procedure, Sreela fainted at the sight of blood.

Still, she held onto her dream and spent years preparing for medical entrance examinations. When she failed to secure admission, she chose a backup plan: a BSc in Industrial Microbiology.

At first, she was hesitant about joining a girls’ college. She considered herself more of a tomboy and had mostly male friends growing up. But the experience transformed her life. At college, she found what she lovingly calls her “girl tribe” ; lifelong friends who helped rebuild her confidence during a difficult phase.

Being compared to Maya had also quietly affected her self-esteem for years. “Maya was the all-rounder,” Sreela says with a laugh. “She was the teacher’s favourite.”

The comparisons slowly chipped away at her confidence. But in college, surrounded by supportive friendships, Sreela slowly began discovering her own identity.

Learning to Let Go

After trying medicine for three years, Sreela finally accepted that life was taking her in another direction. She considered media studies and management before eventually pursuing an MBA at the Birla Institute of Management Technology.This decision marked the beginning of her professional journey.

Her first job was at a small recruitment consultancy in Delhi with only around twenty employees. It was there that she met the man who would deeply shape her understanding of leadership :  her CEO, Vipul.

Even today, Sreela describes him as the best boss she has ever had. At just 22 years old, she was unexpectedly placed in charge of the IT department. The responsibility frightened her. “What if I make mistakes?” she wondered constantly. But Vipul trusted her. His trust changed her mindset forever.

She realised that leadership was not about controlling people. It was about giving responsibility, building accountability, and believing in others’ abilities. Vipul also taught her something equally important: leaders must care about people, not just performance.

He maintained professional boundaries while also building genuine personal connections with employees. Years later, despite being busy, he attended Sreela’s wedding simply to bless her and meet her husband. “He set the bar very high,” she says.

Mumbai and  Motherhood 

After marriage, Sreela moved to Mumbai,  a transition she describes as a cultural shock after Delhi. She worked in a large corporate company before moving into the training department. Speaking before large audiences initially intimidated her, but over time she developed confidence as a communicator and trainer.

She also learned another important lesson about leadership: listening matters as much as speaking. Eventually, after becoming a mother, Sreela made a conscious decision to step away from her career temporarily. She wanted to dedicate herself fully to raising her child during the early years.

For nearly six to seven years, her focus remained entirely on motherhood. Her husband strongly supported the decision and continuously encouraged her to rediscover herself beyond parenting too. The encouragement slowly led her toward painting.

Art became an emotional outlet during stressful periods. Whenever she felt emotionally overwhelmed, she painted. “It helps me stay sane,” she says honestly. Without realising it then, Sreela was already beginning to understand the importance of emotional expression and mental well-being.

Listening Without Judgement

As the years passed, Sreela became increasingly concerned about the emotional struggles faced by young people. Children, she felt, usually had parents looking after them emotionally. But teenagers and young adults often suffered silently. “Today’s youth need people who simply listen,” she says.

Too often, emotional struggles are dismissed casually. Depression is labelled laziness. Anxiety is brushed aside as overthinking. Crying is seen as a weakness. For boys especially, emotional suppression is often wrongly associated with strength.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns intensified loneliness, fear, and anxiety. Human connections shifted online. Many young people felt isolated and emotionally exhausted.

It was during this period that Sreela, along with her sister Maya, psychologist Bharti, and yoga teacher and graphic designer Anubha, started a small initiative to support people emotionally. Initially, they conducted simple webinars and discussions on topics like panic attacks, stress, focus issues, and emotional well-being.

Their goal was straightforward: to normalise conversations around mental health. “We wanted people to know that it is okay to not be okay,” Sreela says.

Building Mind Empowered

The group started with just four people and very small audiences. But slowly, word spread. People connected with the honesty and empathy behind the sessions. More psychologists and professionals began collaborating with them. Weekly webinars grew steadily.

Eventually, the team realised that becoming an official organisation would help them reach more people and build trust. That was how Mind Empowered was born.

For Sreela, the decision was practical as much as emotional. A formal organisation would create legitimacy, improve outreach, and eventually help secure sponsorships and CSR funding for expansion. But beyond administration and planning, Sreela also quietly took on another role within the organisation :protecting Maya.

The sisters are opposites in many ways. Maya trusts easily, forgives quickly, and wears her emotions openly. Sreela is more cautious and observant. “She lets people back in even after they hurt her,” Sreela says affectionately about her sister. “I’m the one who says no.”

Their differences, however, are also their strengths. Maya brings emotional openness and passion. Sreela brings structure, boundaries, and practicality. Together, they create balance.

Looking back today, Sreela remains deeply grateful for her family, her husband, her friends, and above all, her sister. Her life journey was not shaped by dramatic success alone. It was shaped by supportive people who helped her rebuild confidence whenever she doubted herself.

From struggling under comparison as a young girl to becoming a leader helping others speak openly about mental health, Sreela’s story is one of quiet transformation. It is also a reminder that strength does not always appear loudly. Sometimes, strength looks like listening patiently. Sometimes, it looks like protecting the people you love. And sometimes, it begins with two sisters simply refusing to let each other walk through life alone.