You've been told to leave your feelings at the door. But what if that's exactly what's breaking your team?

Lillian is a change management specialist with 35 years of experience working across the Netherlands and the Caribbean. In this conversation, we get into why emotions keep getting treated as a problem to solve when they're actually the most useful information in the room.

We talk about why change keeps failing even when the methodology is perfect, what happens when leaders outsource their instincts to AI, and the one question Lillian asks junior managers that always gets a laugh and then opens everything up.

This is a conversation about efficiency, trust, and what it actually costs to stay human at work.

Drop Your Noise is shortlisted for Podcast of the Year, Women in Business Awards 2025. Hosted by Kirti Daryanani, founder of Kirtana168 and creator of the PAU...SE. methodology

00:00 Are you outsourcing your social intelligence to AI?01:17 Lillian introduces herself, 35 years of change before it had a name04:03 The speed problem: AI, efficiency, and why faster isn't always better06:23 Why emotions got left out of change management11:10 Resistance isn't a problem. It's information.12:01 The seating story: how one small blindside derailed an entire team22:00 The AI in the meeting room, when a leader consulted ChatGPT instead of asking the person in front of them29:29 When methodology replaces gut instinct33:45 Why high-performing leaders have been conditioned to see emotion as inefficiency39:53 Emotion is just information. That's it.47:38 Change fatigue is real and the antidote isn't mindfulness51:07 Lillian's practical moves: how to talk about emotions without saying the word54:11 Professional maturity and what it means to not take things personally57:16 Nobody can lead change they haven't accepted in themselves first1:02:27 The unwritten rules: the one question that tells you everything about where emotion is being suppressed

We're living in an era of bite-sized information and big opinions. And most of us have no idea how little we're actually working with.

In this solo episode, Kirti shares something she's been sitting with - the cost of reacting before we understand.

Travelling between Dubai, Europe and the Caribbean, she's been in the middle of conversations where assumptions have replaced research, and quick takes have replaced real understanding.

This one is about what it means to tame confusion.

She talks about what happens when a community built on many cultures teaches you to listen first. Why directness matters. Why incomplete information is one of the quietest forms of harm we do to each other. And why she herself is stepping back from technology — not as a strategy, but as a necessity.

Plus — a preview of what's coming with Lillian on leadership, change, and what it means to stay human when everything around you is disrupting faster than you can process. especially times like in geopolitcal tension in the Gulf region.

Plus, get an exclusive introduction to the new Pause Phrases practice, a powerful tool for transforming inner conflict (like anger and guilt) into respectful, loving interactions.

Kirti sits down with Roshanak,an international lawyer with a vibrant multicultural story to talk about the real power of humanity, humor, and humility in negotiations and everyday life.

From growing up between Iran and Italy, to building trust in Dubai’s diverse business scene, Roshanak shares how her family’s values shaped her approach to fear, belonging, and professional success.

Expect real talk on how laughter helps break down barriers, why dropping your ego matters in high-pressure deals, and what it actually means to show up as yourself in a global world. Warm, candid, and practical.

Keep in the loop: https://link.kirtana168.com/podcast

Roshanak has lived a life shaped by movement, strong influences and high expectations, learning early on how to navigate different environments with curiosity and independence. Her experiences across countries and cultures have given her a wide lens on people, relationships and what really matters.Alongside a demanding professional life, she has always been drawn to art, culture and creative expression — interests that keep her grounded and offer a different way of understanding the world. These influences sit just as comfortably with her love for structure and problem-solving as they do with imagination and humour.She is married to Francesco, whose Italian dolce vita approach brings warmth and lightness into everyday life. Today, she balances intensity with perspective, ambition with enjoyment, and seriousness with an ability to laugh — at life, and often at herself.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-roshanak-bassiri-gharb-46471a15

When panic and uncertainty rise,especially during regional conflict ( Dubai, UAE) or family pressure, most people default to anxiety, guilt, and hyper-alert routines.

Kirti found relief by using a “pause phrase”: “Lighten those damn fears.” Instead of masking fear with forced positivity, she leaned into humor, clear requests with family, and practical mindfulness.

This shifted her mindset from reacting to navigating. Real composure comes from loosening the grip, accepting care, and working through the moment. Simple pauses and a sense of humor offer steadier ground.

What happens when fear, resentment, and inner noise flood your attempts to sell yourself and your work. Helen shares her journey from hating sales to realizing that shifting your thinking changes your results, and Kirti reflects on how easy it is to tie your identity to your business, losing sight of your value while trying to please everyone. Together, they unpack why women often avoid "salesy" behaviors, how consultative selling builds trust, and the power of pausing to rethink what value really means.

Deep Dive into Visibility: Https://link.kirtana168.com/connect

About Helen:

Helen Tebay is a sales coach and founder of The Sales Lady. She helps service based business owners simplify sales, create consistency with their income, and make more money without it feeling heavy, awkward or pushy. Helen’s work is all about clarity, structure and doing less but better so selling feels good and supports the way you actually want to run your business. She has supported over 1,000 business owners to stop overcomplicating sales, build confidence in their offers, and create more predictable revenue without burning themselves out or becoming someone they are not.

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/helen-tebay-586947127Website - https://helentebay.podia.com/

Ever feel like every post on your feed is starting to sound the same, especially with all the AI-generated content out there?

Kirti sits down with thought-provoking communication strategiest, Annie, as they dig into why our online voices are getting lost in a sea of sameness. Annie breaks down what a true personal voice is, why it matters (especially when AI is trying to imitate everyone), and how finding your authentic style can cut through the noise.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out online, what “thought leadership” actually means, or why so many posts make you cynical, this conversation is for you. Tune in for practical, real talk about connection, writing, and finding your signatur, even if you think you don’t have one yet.

• 00:06:53 What is voice in writing, really?
• 00:12:21 Why does online content feel so repetitive now?
• 00:15:04 Is AI helping or hurting authentic communication?
• 00:17:26 The disconnect between your real self and your “online” voice
• 00:29:08 Personal branding vs. thought leadership—what’s the difference?

Follow us on Subtack: https://kirtana168.substack.com for deeper insights around this subject.

ABOUT ANNIE:

Annie Meikle is a communications strategist with 17 years of experience helping brandsand senior leaders articulate their narrative with clarity and confidence. She began hercareer at the start of the region’s social media era, where she helped establish theSocial@Ogilvy practice at Memac Ogilvy. As Head of Content at OgilvyOne, she led workfor global brands including Sprite, IBM, SAP, Volkswagen, Kotex and Sony Mobile, shapingcontent designed for real audience engagement in the Middle East.In 2016, she co-founded The Social Shop by Aurora, a Dubai-based social media agencyfocused on corporate and consumer communications in sectors such as technology,aviation, retail, and health. Over time, the agency developed a niche in delivering high-impact social strategies to B2B companies.In 2023, Annie launched Meikle Communications to focus on strategic thought leadershipfor corporates and senior executives — particularly on LinkedIn — alongside employeeadvocacy and social media enablement programs. Her work blends narrativedevelopment, executive positioning, and practical execution frameworks that help leaderscommunicate with influence and purpose.

Connect with Annie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniemeikle/

If you’ve ever felt pressure to be visible, especially as a woman- yet worry about criticism and losing control, you’re not alone.

Kirti lays out her candid story of wrestling with “the ick” of being noticed, from childhood expectations to teaching yoga and navigating jealous colleagues.

By introducing “Pause Phrases” and reframing visibility as a choice, Kirti gives you simple strategies for regaining control of your words and your public self. Ready to feel genuine and build trust?

Listen and start your Strategic Composure Audit or Join our Pause Community: https://link.kirtana168.com/connect

Is it possible to slow down and still keep up?

Feeling anxious, unheard, or stuck comparing yourself in a world that never stops?

Kirti gets real about pausing, processing, and finding your own voice, especially in a noisy, fast-scrolling world.

Are you just over it : New year , new you?

And you are still wondering well how can you focus in 2026 and be more intentional. This is the episode for you.

I share about my 20 years of helping people speak up (and her own story of moving beyond yoga and endless small talk). I talk about the hard-won reflections on why we avoid hard conversations, what’s hiding between “how are you” and “what do you do,” and practical ways to slow down, even if just for 10 seconds.

This isn’t a list of tips, it’s a human take for 2026 on connection, trust, and presence, whether you’re talking to a friend, a stranger, or yourself.