Inward-Outward-Onward: A Personal Note to Community

Dear friends, colleagues, and every member of the Vedansh community,

This is the first time I am writing to you all publicly after what has been a long, unexpected silence. It has taken me time to find the right words—not because I didn’t want to speak, but because some journeys take you so deep within that language itself must transform before it can emerge with meaning.

Over the past few months, I have been facing a significant and deeply personal health challenge. A fast-growing, aggressive condition brought me into urgent medical care and ongoing investigations. At one point, the concern around malignancy became a very real and frightening possibility. Though the medical picture remains complex and unresolved, what followed was an eerie and difficult silence—a space where everything slowed down, and the future became uncertain.

In that stillness, I had to let go of many roles—professional, social, even familial—to focus on something more essential: survival, presence, and healing. For someone like me, who has always moved with purpose—who finds joy and meaning in creating, serving, building, and connecting—this retreat into the unknown felt like a storm, followed by a fog. And yet, within that fog, I found something profound: the strength of shared humanity.

Though I was silent, you were not.

You reached out. You waited patiently. You held space. You sent messages, prayers, blessings—some spoken, many silent but deeply felt. Through your care, I felt tethered. I felt seen, even in my absence. And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As the Managing Director of Vedansh and founder of the ventures under it, I have often had the honour of leading and holding space for others. But during this time, it was you who held space for me. Your grace, patience, and compassion became my anchor.

And before I go any further, I want to pause and offer a sincere apology.

I recognize that in my silence, I could not fully manage the responsibilities that so many of you depended on. I wasn't always able to respond to messages or follow through on commitments. Nor did I have enough time or capacity to properly prepare the team for all that would be required in my absence. For all of this—I am truly sorry.

But I want to say this with all the sincerity I have: I taught, but I also learned.

And what I learned—about trust, about the strength of community, about the sacred power of patience and silence—has become my strength. The shared learning, the relationships we’ve nurtured, and the values we’ve upheld through Vedansh and Aarogyam became not just concepts, but lifelines.

Thank you—for trusting me even in absence.

Thank you—for not needing constant answers to remain supportive.

Thank you—for reminding me that leadership, at its best, is mutual.

This journey has changed me. Not by making me weaker, but by making me more whole. I return now with a deeper awareness—not only of my own body and limits, but of what truly matters in the work we do together.

As we move past the UK half-term break, I will begin reconnecting from June 2nd—gradually, mindfully, and with heartfelt intention. There is much to respond to, many conversations to resume, and shared visions to reawaken. And I am ready to meet each of them with steadier breath and deeper presence.

Moving forward, I want to lead not just from strength, but from alignment. I want to continue our vision of healing and transformation with even greater clarity. And I want to honor the sacred web of connection that made this return possible.

To all who have held our work, supported our team, and stood by me—silently or openly—thank you. You are the reason I can write this message today.

With all my love and enduring gratitude,

Dr. Neha Sharma

Managing Director,

Vedansh Ventures