For twenty years, my world was defined by the sharp logic of international investment banking. It was a world of spreadsheets, calculated risks, and financial acumen. Yet, amidst the rapid pace of global finance, a different kind of calculation began to weigh on me—one that couldn’t be balanced on a traditional ledger.
Coming from a vegetarian family, the concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) was already woven into the fabric of my personal life. But I began to see a disconnect between my personal values and the broader impact of the global systems I was a part of. I spent years in sustainable finance, observing how daily choices could drive systemic change, but I yearned to make that impact tangible, immediate, and personal.
I realized that if I wanted to make a difference in reducing suffering and living sustainably, food was the natural choice to work on. Because it is an activity performed by eight billion people, three times a day… Sadly, this activity is responsible for the loss of trillions of lives every year and the ongoing degradation of Mother Earth.
The “economic rationale” for leaving a stable banking career to open a café might have seemed thin to my former colleagues. Some might call it a midlife crisis; I call it a “delicious detour.”
This journey manifested in the creation of Pause Your Everyday Cafe, a space in Bandra, Mumbai, that is less about business and more about a philosophy of living. The café serves as a physical extension of my commitment to Ahimsa. By curating a strictly plant-based menu, I invite people to experience a lifestyle that is kind to animals and the planet while being delicious and fulfilling. I believe that letting people discover their own journey to live a more Ahimsak life is key, rather than forcing it on anyone. And everyone needs some time to process change for living more compassionately.
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