Hi, I’m Kena!
At 31 years old, I had it all, or so I thought.
In a blink of an eye, everything changed.
My perfectly polished career in fashion, my home in San Francisco, and life as I knew it crumbled with a single call.
But let’s rewind.
For most of my life, I worked hard to be seen and liked.
Growing up as part of a first-generation Indian immigrant family in a small town, it wasn’t easy to fit in. Much of what I accomplished in those early years was driven by the desire to be accepted. The labels I created over the years were everything to me.
Student council president with scholarship offers.
An MBA grad from the University of Toronto.
Married my handsome, accomplished, high school sweetheart.
Bought our first house in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and a dream career in fashion.
The long haul begins.
One day, I got a call from a hospital in Tucson— my husband was in a critical state, and I needed to get there immediately. He had become mysteriously ill. His doctors had no idea what was happening, only that it was severe.
Overnight we dropped everything in our lives and focused on his medical situation.
We gave up our dream house.
We gave up our dream jobs.
We gave up on growing a family.
I lived out of a rented house with my in-laws for 4 months while my husband lay in a hospital bed.
While my friends were going on holiday and having babies, I had never felt more alone.
And so began my journey to
All You Are.
In and out of ICU, I watched my husband’s near-death experiences slowly burn off his light. Yet, during those four months in the hospital, I came to understand that suffering and pain are a part of life.
I needed grounding and help outside of my inner circle— as much as they tried, my family and friends couldn’t begin to understand what I was going through.
Instead, I turned to spiritual teachers, philosophy, and self-help books. I did therapy, took walks around the hospital grounds, and journaled. I was eagerly searching for wisdom to help me find meaning in what I was going through.
Looking back, I realize that feeling lost was exactly where I needed to be.
I watched the man I loved slowly die.
Seven years after my husband first became ill, he passed away. Those years were incredibly challenging. I learned firsthand how precious life is.
But as a young, vibrant person in the prime of my life (I was 38)— being a widow was not a label I identified with.
Despite what I’d been through, I knew that so much more of life was waiting for me. Feeling alive and full of energy, I wanted to pursue new goals and open up to new love. But more than anything in this world, I longed to be a mother.
Finding magic in the unknown.
After his passing, I felt afraid of what was to come. I wasn’t sure who I was or what I wanted for the next chapter of my life. But I gave meaning to the phrase “there’s magic in the unknown” and leaned into uncharted territory.
Because embracing periods of uncertainty leaves space for the beauty of life to find you instead of filling it with worry about the future. And my daughter Nova was the magic I never saw coming but always dreamed of.
Her joy and spontaneity allowed me to blossom into a new version of myself.
Nova is my glowing reminder that we are all born with an endless spark. This tiny human makes me show up with the courage to break through my comfort zones, look closer for wonder in the small things, and lead with kindness.
Make your own rules.
Inevitably life will throw things at you that you don’t expect or want. In those moments we are forced to look within, adapt, and draw on our most powerful inner resources.
We are also reminded that there is no blueprint for how to live our lives. You get to draw your own map. You get to decide who you are meant to be on this adventure called life. Take it from me…
I’ve said NO to a big corporate job to launch my first business.
I’ve also said YES to going back to a job when it made sense for me.
Until I was ready to fully step into my vision for the future.
Tune in to how you feel as a guide to rediscovering joy and your vibrant inner voice.
You have more agency in your life than you realize.
See yourself as the hero(ine) in your movie and set out to reveal her true nature.
I’m here to remind you that through every challenging part of your journey, you only become more fully who you truly are. And the more we become, the more we contribute to the world around us.
So start by challenging the status quo and the so-called rules.
You are in a safe space. Explore your dreams, trust your inner strength and find the courage to define success on your terms.
In addition to founding All You Are, Kena is the co-founder of recently acquired BRIKA, an innovative retail concept focused on highlighting and supporting emerging artisans and designers. Kena has 20 years of experience in retail at brands like Indigo, Joe Fresh, and Gap, as well as a high-end eco-friendly boutique concept. She was most recently the VP of Merchandising at Houseplant, Seth Rogen’s cannabis company.
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