A founder’s yearly moment of reflection: transformation and the foundation of AAYA Group 

As the New Year started, I want to begin a tradition at AAYA Group. Each year, at this moment of transition, I’ll share a reflection on the year behind us. Not just as a business update, but as a conversation with our followers, colleagues, partners and clients about what shaped the journey and why.

AAYA Group was founded in October of this year. It is still young, still being shaped, and intentionally built step by step. Because of that, this first reflection is naturally more personal. The company did not emerge in isolation. It grew out of a period of transformation that gave me the clarity and strength to make a change and venture out on my own.

The past year was not simply about starting something new. It was about stopping long enough to understand what needed to change.

Like many professionals, I had spent years moving at a relentless pace. Delivering, optimising, solving, improving. Momentum can carry you far, but at some point it stops being a sign of progress and starts becoming a signal. I reached that point. Not dramatically, but clearly enough to know that continuing in the same way was no longer sustainable or aligned.

Two experiences in 2025 played a meaningful role in that shift. I am sharing this information in hopes that someone who reads this decides to explore their own journey through these transformational experiences (This is not a paid promotion in any way but comes from the heart).

The first was an online course by The Great Work– A neuroscience-based training program to build focus, flow and peak sustainable performance. What made this program impactful was its ability to translate neuroscience into practical tools for modern professionals. It explores how attention, stress, decision-making and behavioral patterns influence performance over time. Instead of pushing for constant output, the programme emphasizes rhythm, recovery and deep focus as prerequisites for sustainable high performance. It provided structure and clarity around how personal energy, mental habits and leadership behaviour directly shape professional outcomes.

The second experience was a three-day meditation retreat in the mountains a few hours from Barcelona, organized by Wake the F Up. The retreat stripped life back to its essentials: no phones and no other vices (coffee, alcohol, smoking, etc.), fasting with one meal a day and extended periods of silence, meditation and time in nature. This simplicity created space for perspective, grounding and a renewed appreciation for basic elements such as warmth, food, stillness and presence. The experience offered a powerful reset and continues to influence how I approach clarity, focus and decision-making in both life and work.

Alongside these experiences, I dedicated a significant amount of time to learning and grounding practices, from long hours listening to podcasts on personal growth, leadership, work-life balance and building a company, to a regular yoga practice focused on physical and mental resilience. This wasn’t about productivity or optimization. It was about restoring clarity, rebuilding energy and creating the mental space required for better judgment and more intentional decision-making.

AAYA Group was founded from that clarity. It represents a commitment to thoughtful growth, sustainable performance and commercial strategy rooted in long-term value. The focus remains firmly on revenue, profitability and results, but with the understanding that lasting success is built on alignment, trust and smart decision-making.

Over the past months, several people have asked why the name AAYA Group. The answer is simple and for me personally meaningful. Āya (आय) is a Sanskrit word that translates to income, gain or revenue. Choosing this name felt like a natural way to connect two long-standing passions: a deep professional focus on revenue and profitability and a personal appreciation for yoga, mindfulness and balance. AAYA Group was named to reflect that intersection.  

As the new year begins, the intention is clear. Not to move faster, but to move with purpose. To continue building AAYA Group thoughtfully, with respect for long-term value, sustainable performance and the people behind every decision.

I also want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to the friends and family whose support, encouragement, and patience made this journey possible. To all clients and partners, thank you for your trust, openness, and collaboration from the very beginning. Building something new is never done alone, and the confidence you placed in this work has been both motivating and deeply appreciated.  

This reflection marks the beginning of what will become a yearly moment of pause and perspective. A chance to look back, recalibrate and move forward.

And here is the challenge I’d like to leave you with as the year turns:
Take a moment to ask yourself what no longer serves you, even if it once did. What would change if you allowed yourself to slow down just enough to see clearly? Transformation doesn’t always come from adding more. Sometimes it comes from letting go.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and profitable New Year (and the courage to make 2026 a year of intentional growth).