#201. Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time: The Essential Skills We Were Never Taught with Nami Prakash

In this thoughtful, encouraging conversation, Desiree Stanley sits down with Nami Prakash, scientist, former corporate leader, author, and founder of The Mind Quotient, who is on a mission to make human skill development as essential as anything we learn in a classroom. Nami pushes back on the term "soft skills," and makes a compelling case that these are actually the essential skills that make everything else in life possible. Nami opens up about her own journey, including being diagnosed with complex PTSD, and the realization that reshaped her work: she had to reach crisis moments before she finally learned skills like self-awareness, self-worth, and confidence. Her powerful question became, "It's not fair that someone should have to hit a crisis to learn how to navigate life. What if we taught these skills earlier?" One of the most practical takeaways is the difference between managing your time and managing your energy. Like many of us, Nami assumed they were the same thing, until she learned that time is finite but energy is renewable. When people ask how she does so much, her answer is simple: she manages her energy, not just her clock. Whether you're navigating big transitions or simply craving more calm and presence in your daily life, this conversation is a warm reminder that the most important skills are ones we can still learn. Bio: Nami Prakash is a former corporate leader, leadership coach, author, and founder of The Mind Quotient™, a company on a mission to make Human Skill Development as essential as academic learning. After more than 20 years leading teams in healthcare communications, Nami noticed something surprising. The biggest challenges people faced weren't technical. They were human. Emotional regulation. Self-awareness. Communication. Conflict. Boundaries. The skills that shape how we lead, work, and navigate life were rarely taught, yet they influence everything. But this work didn't begin in the boardroom. With a background in science and a deeply personal journey of healing and self-discovery, Nami became fascinated by what actually creates lasting change. As she developed these skills herself, she began bringing them into the teams she led and watched people unlock confidence, resilience, stronger relationships, and greater capacity, not just at work, but in their everyday lives. That experience inspired her to leave corporate leadership and create The Mind Quotient™, where she teaches the practical human skills we were never taught through corporate programs, workshops, MQ Circles™, and executive coaching. She is also the author of Healing with Courage and the founder of MQPress™, a publishing company dedicated to advancing the field of Human Skill Development. Today, Nami is leading a movement to ensure that future generations are taught the human skills they need to navigate life with greater awareness, resilience, and intention. Connect with Nami: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube Books mentioned: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Bookshop | Amazon The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak – Bookshop | Amazon Wayne Dyer Books – Amazon The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest – Amazon Podcasts mentioned: The Hell Yes Entrepreneur with Becca Pike ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend. The more we educate, inspire, and empower each other, the further this conversation goes. Questions or just want to say hi? Find me at PocketsofKnowledge.com or on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening! This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services mentioned. Nothing here is medical advice—I'm not a doctor. Please consult a qualified health professional for any medical concerns.