Bhakti Mistry, founder of Lumira, is a pharmacist turned well-being advocate with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. Born and raised in South Africa, her multicultural background and global perspective bring a unique lens to corporate well-being and leadership development.

During her years in corporate healthcare, Bhakti saw first-hand how employees often relied on prescription medication to cope with stress, anxiety and burnout. Experiencing these same symptoms herself prompted a deeper enquiry into the true causes of burnout and the need for holistic, sustainable approaches to support human wellbeing.

After working in high-pressure environments and completing an MBA – with electives focusing on employee happiness, organizational well-being and mindful leadership, as well as a thesis exploring mindfulness within hospital pharmacy settings – Bhakti recognized the urgent need for evidence-based well-being solutions within workplaces. She believes that well-being is the foundation of sustainable performance and that employees should be supported physically, emotionally and mentally. Her mission is to help organizations build healthier, more resilient workforces through personalized, science-backed strategy and coaching.

Bhakti’s personal journey began with burnout and frequent job changes, which led her to work with a coach and develop practical tools to manage stress and strengthen self-awareness. Her transformation inspired her to qualify as a Health and Well-being Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York and launch her personal coaching practice, Embracing Life with Bhakti. Through this practice, she partnered with a leading African corporate and investment bank to support employees at all levels, receiving positive feedback and demonstrating the value of proactive wellbeing interventions within fast-paced organizational settings.

Her pursuit of deeper growth led her to Rishikesh, India, where she undertook The Vedantic Path to Self-Realisation, an immersive study in Vedanta. The program explored foundational spiritual philosophy and offered practical insights into living with balance, clarity and purpose – shaping Bhakti’s approach to human-centric well-being and reflective leadership.

With a background in the classical Indian dance form Kathak, Bhakti embodies discipline, presence and the integration of mind and body. She practises Transcendental Meditation, breathwork and CrossFit, embracing a mindful, conscious way of living. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, volunteering and exploring plant-based recipes.