Speaking to ETMarkets, Parakh said that at the heart of Bigul’s corporate culture lies a dedication to promoting mental clarity, resilience, and well-being among its employees.
Through a holistic approach that includes daily meditation, yoga sessions, and a supportive work environment, Bigul fosters not only individual growth but also collective success.
Atul Parakh’s journey from his upbringing in Indore to his immersion in the capital markets reflects his deep-rooted understanding of the importance of mental fitness in navigating the complexities of business.
Edited Excerpts –
Thanks for being part of the segment. Tell us how do you keep yourself mentally and physically fit.
I meditate daily to maintain my mental health. Yoga and daily morning walks keep me energetic and ensure mental clarity and resilience. Additionally, I prioritise a nutritionally balanced diet, especially fruits, to support.
Is there any specific modality that you follow while meditating? Also, can you share the frequency and time spent?
I start my day with 45 minutes of Sahaja yoga meditation from 6:00 am to 6:45 am, following the teachings of Shri Mataji Nirmala Deviji. This daily practice grounds me, fostering mental clarity and resilience.
How does mental fitness help you in solving crises at work?
Mental health holds paramount importance in my working life. Leading Bigul demands the substantial patience required to handle the complexities of our business.To develop and motivate a young and new team at Bigul, one needs to have a calm and equitable approach towards team members, especially in times of crisis.
Mediation helps me keep myself calm and composed and provides me with space and energy to accept the situation first and lead to a solution; it also helps me provide strength to lead from the front in difficult times.
I believe a leader’s mental resilience directly influences the organisation’s atmosphere, its ability to handle challenges and, of course, his own and his family’s well-being.
Thus, prioritising mental health is fundamental, enabling me to foster a supportive, understanding, and fair work environment, which is essential for sustaining our collective success and advancing our mission at Bigul.
We have also heard that you organise yoga/meditation sessions in your office. What is the response/feedback that you are getting from employees? Can you feel the positivity at the workplace?
The response to the yoga and meditation sessions we introduced at Bigul has been overwhelmingly positive from the start. Contrary to my initial concerns that people might find these sessions boring, our employees have taken to them with enthusiasm.
They actively engage, often approaching the instructor with questions about practising at home.
These one-hour sessions, along with our weekly Zumba classes sometimes, not only provide relaxation and a mental break but have also emerged as a powerful team-building tool.
The enthusiasm and participation reflect a growing sense of community and positivity within our workplace, reinforcing the value of integrating wellness into our corporate culture.
Why is mental fitness an essential part of corporate structure?
Incorporating mental fitness into our corporate structure at Bigul is crucial to me because it directly influences the safety and efficiency of our workplace.
By prioritising mental well-being, we enhance our employees’ decision-making abilities, foster stronger communication and teamwork, and improve stress management.
Additionally, a focus on mental fitness increases our team’s awareness and attention to detail, reducing the likelihood of unsafe behaviours.
This holistic approach not only benefits the individual employee but also boosts our collective productivity and creates a more supportive and resilient work environment, aligning with our company’s values and long-term objectives.
On a lighter note – AI helps traders to take decisions in stressful situations (rule-based programming). What is the next big transformation?
At Bigul, we’re advancing towards the future of the stock market with innovative technology-based solutions. Our focus is on developing a portfolio evaluator and algos, leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence.
These innovations are set to redefine the investment and trading arena, empowering investors and traders with smart, strategic tools that significantly enhance decision-making processes in the fast-paced financial ecosystem.
Tell us a little about yourself and your journey to capital markets. What prompted you to get stock markets?
Growing up in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in a Marwari family engaged in the textile industry, my initial exposure to business was through our family shop.
My fascination with the stock market was ignited during the Harshad Mehta era; as a young boy, I used to see my parents’ own investing and trading practices.
In July 2000, relocating to Bombay was a pivotal moment in my career, marking my transition from observing the market to actively trading in stocks during 2000-2003.
This move was crucial in sharpening my market acumen. Joining Bonanza Portfolio Ltd in 2005 was the formal start of my stock market journey, where I delved deeply into understanding market mechanisms and strategies.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
