Insider Insight: Jyoti Sharma, founder and CEO of TaraCares

Jyoti Sharma is the founder and CEO of TaraCares, a London and York based start-up addressing women’s unmet health needs in menopause awareness, diagnosis and management.

What is your morning routine?

I normally wake up between 5:30 and 6:00. Devices do not enter the bedroom so my phone screen is not the first thing that grabs my attention. I sit silently in bed for 15-20 minutes feeling the inner energy of the body followed by morning prayer. 

I start the day with either a 30-45 minute quiet time that can be silent sitting, or a walk in nature in beautiful York to tune into the chirping birds. I can see the sun rise from my study so depending on the time of year and if not travelling I like to see the sunrise. 

Between 8:30 and 9:00 I am prepared to meet the world. A quick glance at LinkedIn, and the inbox to respond to priority emails – timebound to 30-45 minutes since I use my morning time for creative thinking on all days. 

Which technology could you not live without?

Personally, I am increasingly becoming a minimalist. So honestly if I was not building a start-up, I’d have no problem staying without my phone.

Even now, I exercise quite some discipline in what email messages I respond to via phone and which ones are categorised for a ponder, pause, draft, review before I hit send. LinkedIn is probably an app that I am most dependent upon from a business perspective. 

How do you relax?

I am an outdoor person. I am happiest if I can kick a football around in vast green fields or engage in a sport such as tennis, badminton, or a nice swim in the sea. 

I love to wander and hike aimlessly. Listening to the rolling sea waves, watching the transforming hues of a clear sky and the melody of a robin stir my soul.

For me routine and discipline is an essential part of my professional life. In personal life everything has to be spontaneous following the energy of the moment. It is actually something I do in business as well if the situation lends itself to it.

Which quote resonates with you?

There are so many, but if I had to pick one then this one from Eckhart Tolle sums it up for me “What this world needs is not a change of circumstances but a change of consciousness.”

That’s why TaraCares was founded and how we go about our business pioneering research and science in action for all women irrespective of their socio-economic or health status or any limiting beliefs and pressures of the world.

What is the best thing about your job?

The research and science, the energy of the cosmos (people, plants, animals, every blade of grass) that cooperate to create the magic and the twinkle in the eyes of literally everyone we have spoken to or collaborated with thus far  when they hear about our mission and its swift execution.

What keeps you motivated?

The research on lived experience of menopause with women (Assigned female at birth)  and innovation in precision medicine. 

The incoming research responses from participants who are trusting us with sharing their intimate story of suffering because they see the promise of a healthier more equitable world for women inspires us to keep working harder in responsible ways and the innovations in precision medicine empower us to create the reality of our vision.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

That’s always an interesting question for me as I feel a “certain” response is expected of a start-up founder.

I have really harnessed every situation life has presented me so far. Patience is practised in moderation even now in alignment with the energies presenting themselves.

Perhaps my younger self could have been less impulsive but I don’t regret anything as it just accelerated my learning and growth curve and sharpened my natural intelligence to take risks which are now more calculated. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned on your start-up journey?

At the end of the day it is your business! It is extremely important to check-in regularly – I do it every weekend and sometimes evenings as well during the week – check in with yourself and the why behind the mission. That’s the orienting principle.

Linked to that as well, the advice I gave to my younger self is give people – future employees and investors – the time to prove their commitment and dedication to the mission and earn your trust.

That’s a delicate balance in a start-up but to pause in the midst of pace is my guiding principle. I am quite watchful to spot anything/anyone creating an imbalance which is restored swiftly.

What is something you wish you could experience again for the first time? 

So many of them! The first time I parasailed over the green emerald in Lake Tahoe was quite magical. It is lighter and quieter when you are so high in the sky. 

I use that feeling when work or simply living becomes busy and burdensome. 

Feeling heavy with the weight of things is a direct indicator of getting lost in human psychological consciousness. There is another way to approach life and that is to be in what is real, this moment right here, right now. 

What is your greatest achievement since establishing your company?

Winning the UKRI Innovate UK Fast Start grant award three months into my start-up journey in September 2022 was quite magical. That too in our first attempt when we were still in the concept phase. It has been a game changer for us to get phenomenal early results to propel us to the next stage.

For more info, visit taracares.co.uk.