Today, we’re happy to welcome Lula Mohanty, an experienced leader in tech and consulting, who has turned her years of insights and memories into a book, Smile dot com. With 27 years spent working with big companies like IBM and PwC, Lula has traveled widely, connecting with people and cultures across the globe. Despite her busy career, she’s always had a love for reading and writing. In Smile dot com, she brings together stories filled with gratitude, joy, and reflection. Let’s dive into Lula’s journey from the corporate world to writing and learn what inspired her to finally share these stories.


Q1. What inspired you to finally put your personal reflections and life experiences into a book?

Lula: I have long harbored the desire to pen, though the relentless currents of work and life often swept me away from it.  Then came a serendipitous phase in my life —a quiet interlude as I transitioned into a new role when time found its way to nudge me to the written word. The stillness of the pandemic and a few profound incidents around me resonated strongly enough for me to find my flow. And writing the book was almost the most natural thought in my mind then. It was as if the act of writing had always been waiting for me to catch up, and when I finally did, it flowed naturally, almost effortlessly.

Q2. How did your years in the corporate world influence the themes or stories in your book?

Lula: My experience in the corporate world has enriched my perspective on how I interpret situations. Navigating the complexities of large and diverse teams instilled in me a deep curiosity to understand people, their motivations, and how our lived experiences quietly shape the behaviors we display. This awareness is the central theme and lies at the heart of many of my stories.

My work with my clients is often about solving complex problems with empathy and it’s the same value system that I look for when confronted with similar circumstances in life. My stories reflect this ethos: they explore the need to appreciate change, the importance of viewing life through a wide lens, and the necessity of being thoughtful about our judgments and biases.

Q3. Many readers might resonate with your reflections on family, career, and personal growth. What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

Lula: I have heard back from many of my readers who found the narrative lucid, inspiring, and relatable with emotions they described as authentic and heartfelt. When I was writing this book, I never intended it to be a self-help guide or a detailed chronicle of my career. Instead, my aim was simpler: to share a thread of events in my life that had inspired me and left a lasting impression, with the hope that it would bring back similar memories to my readers and allow them to indulge in a few moments of joy and reflection themselves.

Q4. Was writing Smile dot com a form of reflection for you? Did you discover new things about yourself during the writing process?

Lula: Writing Smile.com brought me a profound sense of completeness – not closure, but a deep satisfying fulfillment. It felt good to finally put these thoughts into words. In many ways, I cherished “living in the book” while I was writing, as if the events I described had only just unfolded. I was struck by how much of that emotion stayed afresh in my mind, and my fears that I would not remember were unfounded. I still find inspiration in simple acts of honesty, have the same sense of amazement with nature, seek divinity in human naivety, and have the same willingness to look for deeper meaning and connect the dots. After all these years, I still have a truly open heart and mind, that allows me to receive unconditionally. I am so grateful for the same and pray that I never lose it. I also realized that I genuinely loved the whole process of writing. It felt like meditation and a prayer.

Q5. The book blends personal stories with nuggets of wisdom. Was it difficult to find a balance between sharing your life and offering insights to readers?

Lula: Yes. This was the hardest part. In the back of my mind, I’ve always known that, as a woman who has navigated a corporate career with some success, I carry the responsibility to share my story someday, hoping it might help others on their own paths. But this was never meant to be that book. Instead, I wanted it to feel like a fireside chat among friends—recounting moments of joy and reflection, something relatable that stirs nostalgia.

I also wanted to stay away from any preaching. This was, after all, my personal interpretation of experiences, and as I have said in my book, our interpretations are manifestations of who we are – our cultures, our value systems, and the social frameworks that we come from.

Q6. Your book celebrates life’s small but meaningful moments. How do you personally stay mindful of these moments in a busy, high-paced life?

Lula: I make it a point to intentionally carve out time for these meaningful moments and fully immerse myself in them. Traveling with family, celebrating special occasions with dear ones, making time for friends, and sharing common interests with my partner—these moments are precious to me, and I make sure they are never compromised.

Q7. Are there any stories or reflections that didn’t make it into the book but that you wish you could have shared?

Lula: There are countless lessons and insights I have gleaned from my corporate experiences – about how you navigate growth, success, downturns, networks, organizational politics, and integrating professional and personal aspirations. However, I chose not to explore these in this book. As I mentioned, those reflections will hopefully find their way into a different edition.


Lula Mohanty’s stories remind us of the simple joys in life, the importance of connecting with others, and staying true to ourselves. Her book, Smile dot com, invites readers to find warmth and wisdom in everyday moments. We thank Lula for sharing her journey with us today, and for encouraging us to slow down and appreciate life’s small but meaningful moments. If you’re looking for a read that feels like a friendly chat, Smile dot com will be just the book to bring a smile to your face. Be sure to follow Lula Mohanty on LinkedIn for more insights and inspiration!

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