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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ritu Agarwal's retreat helps women shift from self-doubt to self-leadership
Even as women now hold 21% of board seats in India's listed companies, a startling 97% of those companies still have only one woman on the board, according to a recent Deloitte study. The message is clear: we're including women, but not empowering them enough to lead. Against this backdrop, Ritu Agarwal, one of India's foremost voices in energy frequency coaching, hosted her flagship Energy Queens Retreat – ASCENSION 2025 – at Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort. Four hundred women from across India came not just to rest — but to rise. For three transformative days, they stepped away from everyday chaos to build the inner clarity, energetic confidence, and emotional resilience needed to lead in a world that still doesn't always expect them to. From homemaker to energy leader Ritu's journey is rooted in lived reality. Raised in a traditional Marwari family, she navigated early motherhood while running small ventures — selling artificial jewellery, teaching in Montessori schools — always putting family first. But in 2010, a spiritual shift through Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) awakened something deeper: a calling to serve women navigating silent emotional battles. She went on to earn a master's in psychology, trained with global mentors like Jack Canfield, Dr Joe Vitale, Dr John Demartini, and T Harv Eker, and ultimately designed a coaching approach that blends inner energy work with outer transformation. Today, through her company I Deserve Life Systems LLP , she leads the Energy Queens Hub , a movement that has impacted over 50,000 women across India and beyond. The 'energy queen' approach: Building leaders from within At the heart of Ritu's work lies one truth: 'If a woman's energy isn't aligned, no external success will feel sustainable.' She teaches that energy — not effort — is the real success currency. At ASCENSION 2025 , participants engaged in a structured morning practice, SAVERS — which includes Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation, Exercise, Reading, and Scripting — to build emotional balance and mental clarity. The routine, though simple, became a daily anchor for aligned leadership. Unlike traditional self-help programmes, her work focuses on helping women clear emotional blockages, eliminate self-doubt, raise their frequency and self-worth, and take consistent, aligned action. 'The boardroom begins inside,' says Ritu. 'If a woman doesn't believe she deserves a seat at the table, she'll never claim it — even when it's offered.' Siddharth Rajsekar's keynote: Where spirituality meets digital expansion A standout moment at ASCENSION 2025 was the surprise keynote by Siddharth Rajsekar, digital mentor and founder of the Internet Lifestyle Hub (ILH) — India's largest community of knowledge entrepreneurs. For Ritu, it was also deeply personal. 'I am who I am because Siddharth once told me, 'You can do this,'' she shared. 'His belief became the bridge between my doubt and my destiny.' Describing him as her spiritual and digital Buddha, Ritu credits Siddharth for instilling the values that continue to guide her business and life. His talk wasn't just motivational — it was deeply grounding. In his keynote, Siddharth applauded Ritu's growth and the powerful community she has built. He also shared his six-step framework for expansion, urging women to embrace Intention, Decision, Surrender, Purpose, Consistency, and Connection. Goa was the backdrop. The real work was internal The retreat, held in a lush seaside setting, blended ritual, movement, journalling, coaching, and sisterhood in a sacred space where healing wasn't just encouraged — it was inevitable. Women arrived carrying silent burdens — stories of burnout, betrayal, unspoken transitions, or self-doubt — and left with a new frequency: calm, grounded, powerful. One participant said, 'This retreat was a mirror. It reminded me of everything I had stopped believing I could be.' The bigger picture: Not just wellness, but leadership While corporate India debates quotas and diversity metrics, Ritu's work is quietly shaping the next wave of conscious female leaders. Whether these women go on to lead boardrooms, businesses, classrooms, homes, or communities — they will do so from a place of alignment. As India navigates its journey toward equitable leadership, voices like Ritu Agarwal's offer a crucial reminder: representation is not just about being seen — it's about being ready. Ready to rise — not by force, but by frequency. Ritu Agarwal parted with this final thought: 'We don't just need more women at the table. We need women who believe they belong there.' And that shift — from waiting for permission to reclaiming inner power — is what the Energy Queens movement is truly about.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
New Era of Educational Excellence Begins at NAIS Hong Kong
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Tim Richardson, former Principal of the British School of Guangzhou, joins NAIS Hong Kong from August 2025. In preparing to assume duties as the new principal of Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong (NAIS Hong Kong) next month, Tim Richardson can draw on a wealth of relevant the past three years, Richardson has held an equivalent position at the British School of Guangzhou (BSG), which is also part of the Nord Anglia Education group, meaning he is familiar with the organisation's expected standards, policies and practices and has already met a number of future colleagues during conferences and regular exchange a result, he views the new role as an opportunity that was too good to miss and has clear ideas about how to approach it.'I have made a commitment to the school not to come in with a predetermined approach or make sweeping changes at the beginning,' Richardson says. 'So, for the first six months, I expect to do more listening than talking and then, as part of a clearly defined process, will work with colleagues to revisit some of the underlying principles we have for school management and development.'NAIS Hong Kong currently operates three campuses, with classes for the early years in Sai Kung, primary school in Lam Tin, and secondary school in Kwun Tong. The total student numbers are now over 1,500, and while there is some room for expansion, this must be closely managed in line with EDB notes that the Nord Anglia ethos is built around six core educational themes. These include having the world's best teachers, providing outstanding learning experiences, instilling a sense of social purpose, and understanding what works best for each child. Our aim is to identify which aspects of this framework resonate most within the school community and to focus attention on these areas first.'One priority will be to provide an environment in which teachers can perform their roles as effectively as possible,' Richardson says. 'It will also be important to empower those in leadership positions, and to work with the Education Bureau (EDB) and the local authorities on key administrative matters.'Besides that, great schools continually work to ensure curriculum content is relevant and meaningful, and is delivered by well-qualified and experienced teachers, something made easier by being part of a global group with a strong international reputation and access to central recruitment programmes.'The organisation itself attracts top candidates for teaching posts,' Richardson says. 'We can benefit from that when necessary, so our promise to parents about consistently achieving high standards remains intact.'In addition, there is a huge professional development programme available to all teachers and assistants. It offers a wide selection of stand-alone courses online, which can even lead to a master's qualification from King's College, London.'Some elements of professional development are mandatory, such as updated safeguarding training,' Richardson says. 'Other areas, though, may be directed or recommended by a principal or simply be of special interest. For example, at BSG, I asked all teachers to take a course on EAL (English as an Additional Language) so they could support students learning academic subjects in a second or additional language.'In fact, it was precisely this situation—teaching English to non-native speakers-that first drew Richardson into the teaching profession. After leaving school, he spent time in Japan as a volunteer language assistant, something arranged through a family connection, and never looked back.'It was a life-changing experience working with secondary-age Japanese students and developing their English language skills,' he says. 'I found it incredibly rewarding, and it set my compass for teacher training.'So, after returning to Britain, he studied at Exeter University, qualified as a primary school teacher, and, at the first opportunity, accepted an offer to work in Dubai. Once there, he began by teaching 9- to 10-year-olds in upper primary classes before steadily taking on additional responsibilities. In due course, he was appointed principal of one of the emirate's leading schools, where the main focus was on preparing students for further education and careers though, after 28 years in Dubai, Richardson and his wife decided it was time to move on to The British School of Guangzhou, taking heed of the advice they had often given to others about seizing opportunities and broadening one's at NAIS Hong Kong, this will mean dealing with new challenges, including working with students and teachers as they utilise AI to support teaching and learning, and determining the best ways to prepare school leavers for a rapidly changing areas like this, it is essential to work closely with parents and continue to emphasise the importance of whole-child development by teaching leadership responsibility, environmental awareness, and social impact.'It wasn't an easy decision to leave Guangzhou, but I am incredibly excited to be joining the well-established leadership team at NAIS Hong Kong,' Richardson says. 'It is our job to make sure students and parents are getting what they want from the school and that we can confidently meet their expectations.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SBH Q1 Earnings Call: Margin Improvement Amid Revenue Pressures, Strategic Initiatives Drive Outlook
Beauty supply retailer Sally Beauty (NYSE:SBH) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 2.8% year on year to $883.1 million. Its non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 per share was 6.8% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy SBH? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $883.1 million (2.8% year-on-year decline) Adjusted EPS: $0.42 vs analyst estimates of $0.39 (6.8% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $942.3 million at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting Operating Margin: 7.9%, up from 6.6% in the same quarter last year Locations: 4,446 at quarter end, down from 4,468 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 1.3% year on year, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $915.1 million Sally Beauty's first quarter results reflected the impact of a challenging consumer environment and external disruptions such as severe weather and a widespread flu season. CEO Denise Paulonis pointed to lower sales in both the Sally and BSG segments, with the latter particularly affected by illness among professional stylists and their clients. Despite these headwinds, management emphasized the company's ability to expand adjusted operating margins and maintain strong cash flow, crediting strict expense controls and ongoing efficiency initiatives. Paulonis also highlighted continued growth in core categories like hair color and the digital marketplace strategy, which helped offset softness in other product lines. Looking forward, Sally Beauty's guidance is shaped by ongoing economic uncertainty and shifts in consumer sentiment. Management expects modest recovery in its BSG segment as the flu season abates but remains cautious about spending patterns in the Sally segment, noting that value-focused promotions are resonating more with customers. CFO Marlo Cormier stated that the company's Fuel for Growth program will help mitigate inflationary pressures and higher operating costs in the coming quarters. Paulonis added, 'We are focused on executing our strategic pillars, including expanding our digital marketplace, product innovation, and the Sally brand refresh, to engage both existing and new customers despite near-term volatility.' Management identified macroeconomic uncertainty and operational execution on strategic initiatives as the main factors influencing the quarter, with cost controls supporting profitability even as sales declined. External headwinds: Both segments faced softer demand attributed to economic uncertainty, severe weather, and a significant flu season, which reduced store traffic and stylist appointments, especially at BSG. Digital marketplace momentum: The company's expanded digital marketplace, including partnerships with DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats, drove a 29% year-over-year increase in ecommerce sales for Sally U.S. and Canada, helping to partially offset in-store sales declines. Product innovation and launches: Management highlighted robust innovation pipelines at both Sally and BSG, with recent launches such as Madison Reed Color and K18 haircare. These introductions are intended to drive higher engagement and increase share of wallet among both DIY consumers and professional stylists. Operational efficiency initiatives: The Fuel for Growth program has delivered $20 million in pre-tax benefits in the first half of the year, contributing to margin expansion and supporting cost mitigation efforts against inflation and potential tariff impacts. Brand refresh and new concepts: The ongoing Sally brand refresh, now rolling out across stores and digital channels, aims to modernize customer experience and attract new demographics. The Happy Beauty concept, focused on indie brands and experiential retail, is being refined based on early learnings from 20 open stores, with a shift toward emphasizing hot products and in-store experiences. Sally Beauty's outlook is influenced by consumer cautiousness, continued investment in digital and brand initiatives, and disciplined cost management. Consumer spending uncertainty: Management expects ongoing macroeconomic pressures and fluctuating consumer sentiment to weigh on same-store sales, particularly in discretionary categories, though they anticipate some recovery in the BSG segment as external disruptions ease. Strategic investment in digital and innovation: The company plans to further grow its digital marketplace and launch new products, with a focus on personalization and higher-margin owned brands, which management believes will drive future engagement and sales despite current headwinds. Cost containment and margin resilience: The Fuel for Growth program is expected to deliver $40–$45 million in annualized savings, helping to offset inflation and wage increases. Management sees limited exposure to tariffs in 2025 but has outlined contingency plans, including vendor cost sharing and selective price increases, to maintain profitability. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) whether digital marketplace and ecommerce growth can continue to offset in-store softness, (2) the impact of new product launches and the Sally brand refresh on customer engagement and loyalty, and (3) the effectiveness of the Fuel for Growth program in sustaining margin improvements despite inflationary and tariff pressures. Developments in consumer sentiment and macroeconomic stability will also be key factors to watch. Sally Beauty currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 4.6×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Borneo Post
AI in classrooms? Use your head, not just the tool, says S'wak minister
Lee (second left) presents a certificate of appreciation to a retired teacher, Choo Chong Lok, as Ching (left) looks on. MIRI (May 24): Teachers must strike a careful balance when leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom, ensuring it enhances rather than undermines genuine academic effort, said Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin. The Senadin assemblyman however noted the growing challenges educators face today, especially amid rapid technological advancements and the increasing integration of AI in education. 'In this era, the teaching profession is more demanding than ever and the education landscape has changed so much in the last two decades,' he said during the Sarawak Teachers' Union (STU) 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at a hotel here today. Lee warned against overreliance on technology, particularly AI. While these tools can offer valuable support, he noted they also risk diminishing students' ability to think critically and engage deeply with academic content. 'In the past, students had to spend hours on real research and reflection. Now, with AI, it's far too easy to generate academic work with just a few clicks. 'This undermines the authenticity and effort that should define quality education,' he said. He stressed that while digitalisation in education is inevitable, it must be approached with care and balance. 'We have observed how technology can be used wisely to assist in teaching. There are both pros and cons. 'It's not just about having the latest tools, but knowing how to apply them meaningfully,' he said. Lee also pointed to the evolving responsibilities of teachers, who are now expected to adapt to digital teaching methods, incorporate electronic devices into their lessons, and monitor students' interaction with technology. Meanwhile, Lee presented the Bintang Setia Guru (BSG) awards to outstanding educators and announced a RM10,000 contribution to STU's annual fund, in recognition of the union's ongoing advocacy for teachers' welfare. Also present were STU secretary-general Chung Fui San who represented its president Kullin Djayang, as well as STU Miri chairman Ladde Rawing. AI classrooms Lee Kim Shin teachers
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Three more accused arrested in 16 crore cryptocurrency scam
Varanasi: The cybercrime police on Thursday arrested three more persons, including the mastermind, for running a cryptocurrency scam and duping gullible people of Rs 16.5 crore. The police also recovered five mobile phones, two laptops, Rs 98,000 cash, and other electronic devices from them. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Saravanan T, said those arrested were Rajkumar Maurya from Buddha Vihar Colony in the Civil Lines police station area of Badaun, Arjun Sharma from Unwan in the Safipur police station area of Unnao, and Danish Khan from Golaghat in the Ramnagar police station area of Varanasi. During interrogation by the cybercrime police team, they confessed to creating fake websites and and a related fake cryptocurrency token named BSG. They listed the coin on the Vendex exchange and encouraged people to invest using multi-level marketing (MLM) tactics. Initially, they lured investors by offering bonuses and profits. Once significant investments were made, they delisted their coin from the exchange and fled. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: Losing a Hanging Tummy Comes Down To This 1 Thing Health Wellness Journal Learn more Undo A victim from Ramnagar, Raj Kumar, filed a case at the cybercrime police station on May 14 alleging that he and his associates were defrauded of Rs 16.5 crore through the fake cryptocurrency BSG. A case was registered against eight people in this matter. So far police have arrested 7 people, and hunt is on for the 8th accused. The police conducted raids at various locations in Sonbhadra, Lucknow and Muzaffarnagar to nab the absconding accused. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
