Founder Magazine
Nuthan Manohar’s entrepreneurial journey is one of resilience, self-discovery, and groundbreaking success in the wellness industry. From personal struggles to becoming a globally recognized thought leader, Nuthan’s passion for well-being, mental health, and the integration of ancient wisdom with modern science is transforming lives across the globe. This is the success story of a woman who turned her own battles into a powerful force for positive change.
Nuthan’s path to entrepreneurship was not a straightforward one. It began with a personal struggle that would shape her future and fuel her commitment to helping others. In 2010, she faced a series of health challenges, including severe depression, anxiety, insomnia, and even a stress-induced illness called trench mouth, which changed the trajectory of her life. The sudden onset of these physical and mental conditions triggered a profound transformation in her. As an accomplished professional working as the regional manager for Asia Pacific at one of the world’s most iconic brands, Oreo, she had to confront the harsh reality that corporate success did not equate to well-being. This realization sparked a deep curiosity about the mind-body connection.
Her experience with physical health conditions, exacerbated by stress, led her to ask critical questions: “If my thoughts can alter my health, can I use them to heal?” This sparked an intense passion to explore how mental and emotional well-being could be enhanced through both science and holistic practices. She started delving into behavioral science, mind-body interventions, and alternative wellness practices like Yoga, Ayurveda, and mindfulness. She was determined to find answers not just for herself but for the thousands of others suffering silently in the world of corporate stress, burnout, and mental health struggles.
In 2013, she launched Me Met Me, a wellness and well-being company dedicated to creating science-backed solutions for personal growth, stress reduction, and improved mental health. With a unique approach, Me Met Me combines cutting-edge science, behavioral research, and ancient wellness practices to create tailored interventions that help individuals, communities, and corporations achieve resilience against stress, build happiness, and foster meaningful connections. The company was born out of a need to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical, effective solutions for real-world well-being.
One of the defining aspects of Nuthan’s approach is her ability to integrate traditional wellness techniques with modern scientific insights. As an internationally published researcher, her work, The Happiness Project, has been recognized at the Journal of The International Neuropsychological Society’s annual conference in San Diego. This research-based intervention has been tested and validated in various settings, from academic institutions to corporate workplaces. Through her innovative workshops, she has trained thousands of individuals in understanding the science behind happiness and well-being.
Over the years, Nuthan has worked with major organizations such as LinkedIn, Discovery Channel, the Indian Navy, and prestigious institutions like IIM and JIPMER. Her work has not only focused on individuals but has also had a broader societal impact. Initiatives like The Happiness Tour have helped thousands of people build resilience against stress through immersive, community-driven experiences. The tour, which is currently running in the Netherlands and is set to expand to the UK and Austria, is a pioneering model designed to reduce burnout while giving generously back to local communities. The initiative is built on five core experiences that offer benefits at an individual and corporate level, promoting sustainable well-being while aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beyond The Happiness Tour, Nuthan has been instrumental in launching several social impact initiatives that have brought significant change. She played a crucial role in Anbodu Kochi, a UNDP-recognized best practice case study that raised INR 4 Crores in flood relief for Chennai in 2016. Her leadership in Pedal Kochi transformed the city’s civilian participation rate, increasing it by an extraordinary 2000%. Her interventions for survivors of sexual abuse, such as Nirbhaya and Njaan Supera, have provided essential psychological support for victims. Programs like Hero’s Mind and Game Changers have been instrumental in shaping the futures of at-risk children, offering them tools to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
Despite her achievements, the journey has not been without challenges. As an introverted researcher with limited entrepreneurial experience, she had to navigate a steep learning curve. Understanding finance, sales, and operations was initially daunting, but she embraced the challenge with the same curiosity and resilience that drove her well-being research. Her time at IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL was pivotal in transforming her mindset and equipping her with the business acumen necessary for sustainable growth. Guided by her mentor, Prof. Sunil Handa, she expanded her work beyond India, eventually relocating to the Netherlands in December 2023.
Her participation as a finalist on Shark Tank India Season 1 was another major milestone, pushing her to refine her entrepreneurial skills. This experience taught her to embrace numbers and business strategy, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and resilience. Through these experiences, she learned the art of pivoting—being willing to take feedback, iterate, and evolve her approach.
Her ability to merge science with sensory experiences sets her work apart. Me Met Me’s interventions are distinguished by their integration of therapeutic perfumery, a unique and transformative tool that enhances emotional well-being through the power of scent. By combining elements of Ayurveda, neuroscience, and behavioral science, she has crafted well-being solutions that are not only effective but also deeply immersive and engaging.
Today, Nuthan continues to build on her vision with new projects that push the boundaries of mental health and well-being. Her latest initiative, Kekkoo, is in the pre-launch phase and is positioned to become the world’s largest conversation on mental health, with at least 100,000 participants. This ambitious project aims to create a global movement around mental health awareness and proactive intervention.
Her impact has been widely recognized through numerous awards and accolades. She has been honored as a Mathrubhumi Kerala Youth Icon, received the Kerala State Innovation Award, and was recognized by Business World as one of the Top 6 Women in Wellness. She has been featured on prestigious platforms such as TEDx, where she has spoken on the Science of Perfumes and the importance of happiness during the climate crisis. Her ability to inspire and educate extends beyond live audiences—her research, workshops, and interventions have reached over 30,000 individuals and 55 corporate organizations.
At the heart of her success lies an unshakable belief in curiosity, discipline, and passion. She often emphasizes that passion, derived from the Latin word pati (meaning to suffer or endure), is about embracing the challenges that come with the pursuit of one’s dreams. Her personal philosophy revolves around continuous learning, the art of taking breaks to enhance productivity, and the understanding that intelligence is shaped by the people one surrounds oneself with.
