Every once in a while, I meet someone whose story reminds me why inclusion and communication go hand in hand. My guest this week, Shabnam Asthana, is one of those people. She’s a global PR leader, entrepreneur, and author who has spent her life turning words into bridges that connect people and purpose.

We talk about her journey from teaching and lecturing at India’s National Defence Academy to leading global communications for major brands—and what it taught her about empathy, leadership, and real inclusion. Shabnam shares how storytelling can turn data into emotion, and why true diversity is less about representation and more about respect.

Her message is powerful and deeply human: being unstoppable begins with an open heart, quiet courage, and the willingness to rise again. If you’re ready to lead with empathy and communicate with purpose, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

Highlights:

00:43 – Hear how early role models and a working mother raised ambitions and set a path toward leadership.
03:39 – Learn why strong communication skills pointed her toward PR and how debates built confidence.
05:24 – See why teaching became the first step when women in PR roles were rare in smaller cities.
08:12 – Discover what it took to lecture at India’s National Defence Academy and earn respect in a rigid setting.
12:09 – Understand the leap from academia to corporate PR after being scouted for communication excellence.
15:50 – Learn how serving as a spokesperson shaped internal and external messaging at a Swedish-Indian firm.
17:01 – Gain a humble view of global work and why inclusion means moving from tokenism to listening.
21:08 – Compare India and Sweden and see how representation differs from real inclusion in practice.
24:18 – Learn how small, specific acts like adding sign to slides can make people feel genuinely seen.
34:24 – Find out how storytelling turns CSR spreadsheets into human change that inspires action.
43:22 – Explore the choice to found Empowered Solutions and why entrepreneurship kept growth alive.
53:06 – Take a fresh definition of an unstoppable mindset rooted in resilience and an open heart.

About the Guest:

A multi-faceted Professional, who has fast tracked from being a reputed National name to a well-respected and emulated global one! Shabnam Asthana has added new dimensions to Global PR and Communications.

She has to her credit, post graduate degrees in English Literature, Public Relations and Advertising, an MBA in Marketing Management & several International certifications including a prestigious Hon. Doctorate in Business Administration from the National American University USA (NAU).

She has over 25 years of rich professional experience. She started her career in the educational field as a high school teacher and then moved on to the role of a Lecturer at the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadkwasla. She was the only civilian who compered for the Passing out parades, PT & Equestrian display and the Graduation ceremony of the NDA for 3 consecutive years. This was covered live on Doordarshan.

It was after one of the Passing out Parades that she was compering at the NDA, that a senior position in a reputed company was offered to her and thus began her foray into the corporate world.

After her successful corporate stint in senior positions with reputed companies including Multinationals in India and abroad and reputed real estate businesses, she started her own PR and communications firm, Empowered Solutions in 2005 which has been running successfully since then. Adding offices in USA and Canada as part of its international expansion.

Ways to connect with Shabnam :

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabnam_Asthana
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shabnamasthana/?hl=en
Linked in - https://in.linkedin.com/in/dr-shabnam-asthana-7b174a5
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ShabnamAsthana/
X - https://x.com/shabnamasthana
VyaapaarNiti Expert Profile - https://www.vyaapaarniti.com/expert/dr-shabnam-asthana-
Tring Celebrity Platform - https://www.tring.co.in/shabnam-asthana

About the Host:

Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.

Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children’s Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s 2012 Hero Dog Awards.

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Transcription Notes:

**Michael Hingson ** 00:00
Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.

**Michael Hingson ** 01:20
Well, Hi again, everyone. I am your host, Michael Hingson, and you are here listening to or watching or both, unstoppable mindset today, our guest is a person of many talents, and I think you're going to be as amazed about her as I am. Shabnam Asthana is a person who has been involved in she was a teacher for a while. She's been very heavily involved in a variety of things at the corporate level. She started her own marketing firm in 2005 and I don't know what all my gosh, she's got so many things, it's really hard to keep up, but I'm sure she's going to tell us all about it, and I am looking forward to that. And I really appreciate all of you being here with us. So Shabnam, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And thank you for being here.

**Shabnam Asthana ** 02:15
Thank you, Michael, truly wonderful to be with here, and thank you for that amazing introduction. You make me feel as if I've worn a professional cape of so many accolades and so many things. It's wonderful to be here with you.

**Michael Hingson ** 02:32
Michael, well, you do have lots of awards and lots of accolades.

**Shabnam Asthana ** 02:38
That's just one part of the journey. The true reward is in the, you know, work that I do,