'It’s About Me': Ghazal Alagh’s Honest Reflection on Mental Health and Leadership

Ghazal Alagh opens up about feeling overwhelmed by many thoughts at once, which made her snap at a simple question from her family. She shares what she’s learned about protecting her mental clarity, staying present, and creating structure to lead better in both work and life.

Muskaan Kapoor

26 May 2025 — 3 min read

Ghazal Alagh Shares How Mental Health, Clarity, and Presence Shape Her Leadership Journey

In a refreshingly honest LinkedIn post this Monday, Ghazal Alagh, Chief Mama and Co-founder of Mamaearth, shared a moment many entrepreneurs quietly live through but rarely speak about: the mental overload of juggling business, family, and self-expectations. Her story isn't just relatable, it’s a call for founders to start addressing mental health as part of leadership.

A Small Moment, A Big Realisation

“One morning, I found myself getting annoyed over something small,” Ghazal wrote. A seemingly casual family question about weekend plans made her snap, not because the question was difficult, but because she was mentally overloaded.

She explained the whirlwind in her mind: “My pending emails. Change in team structure. Parent-teacher meet in school. A product formulation.”

Quickly recognising what had happened, she admitted, “It’s not about the question. It’s about me.”

This realisation led her to reflect more deeply on how rarely founders discuss their mental wellbeing.

Mental Clarity as a Leadership Skill

Ghazal pointed out that mental health isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a professional imperative.

“If I don’t have space to think, I can't lead with intention.”

She now begins her mornings without her phone and chooses to read instead, a habit she credits with improving focus and decision-making.

Communication in Tired Moments

“How you speak when you’re tired is still leadership,” she wrote.

Leadership, after all, isn’t just about words but tone, energy, and timing. Ghazal now makes it a habit to check in with herself before reacting, especially on high-stakes or stressful days. This small pause, she says, makes a big difference in how her team receives her message.

Trust Comes from Presence

Whether in a one-on-one with a team member or during dinner with her children, Ghazal has stopped multitasking during moments that matter. “Presence builds trust both at work and at home,” she noted. In a world that praises busyness, her commitment to being fully present stands out.

Routines to Fight Burnout

She also spoke about the power of structure. From fixed morning routines to evening screen time cut-offs, Ghazal has built predictability into her life. “Structure reduces decision fatigue,” she explained. It keeps her from burning out on small, repeated decisions and helps conserve energy for strategic thinking.

Reflections Beyond Leadership

This is not the first time Ghazal Alagh has shared her personal journey as an entrepreneur and mother. She has spoken about how motherhood taught her patience and creativity, which she applies in leadership. Ghazal has also been open about facing imposter syndrome and early biases, encouraging women founders to embrace their whole selves in business and life.

Mental Health is Non-Negotiable

She concludes with a powerful message:

“Mental health isn’t something I put aside to ‘deal with later.’ It’s now a part of how I operate as a founder, as a mother, as a daughter, and as a human.”

In a startup culture that too often glamorises non-stop hustle, Ghazal Alagh’s voice brings a necessary balance. Her story is a timely reminder that strong leadership starts with a clear, calm mind and that taking care of our inner world is not optional. It’s essential.