We were lucky to catch up with Pooja Desai recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Pooja thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was to donate blood so my daughter Maya could get into an after-school program I so desperately needed her to get into. As a single mother having an afterschool program was essential. The after-school program only had one hundred slots. At that time, my best friend and I were co-parenting our children together and took our children with us so we could all camp out at the school by 4:00 AM until the doors opened at 8:00 A.M.

I was only dating someone for a couple of months. When he found out my friend and I were going to camp out he drove two hours to come and camp out with us, which I thought was genuinely nice of him. My daughter had no idea who he was at that time, so we said he was a friend who wanted to make sure we were all safe in the dark. I was devastated when I heard the teacher say. “No more slots”. My friend and I immediately teared up because of the impact this was going to have on our livelihood.

He ran over and asked if there was anything he could do, and they said yes in fact you can donate blood, and we will give you a slot. He asked them to take as much as they wanted so he could get two slots, one for my girlfriend’s daughter and one for her friends’ son. The teacher looked at him and smiled and said how kind and absolutely.

My friend and I had no clue this was going on. When he got back with the two slips for us to fill out my friend and I burst into tears. Both the kids got in and we were ecstatic.

That moment was undeniably the kindest moment I have ever experienced. The kindness he displayed to not only my child but extended to my friends showed me the character of a compassionate human. A compassion that both me, my daughter Maya, our fur baby Nico and now her little brother Kai still experience daily.

I clearly married him, and I am beyond grateful for my husband Vivek and our little blended family.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Pooja Desai also known as Tia Bua. I am a mother, wife, philanthropist, author, minority woman multiple businesses owner a storyteller and a champion of mindfulness and wellness.

I leverage my extensive knowledge of over 27 years in healthcare and consider myself to be a knowledge donor who genuinely believes in paying it forward as part of my kindness journey.

Writing became an outlet during the pandemic in 2020 due to the burnout I was experiencing in healthcare as a leader. During the pandemic, I was also trained to be a cognitive fitness coach to help with the healthcare mental wellness pandemic which was also happening during the height of the pandemic.

I realized I needed to do something for the children in my family as they were also experiencing isolation, fear, and sickness during the pandemic. I decided to make a family recipe book on tools and recourses to stay calm in the chaos. I decided to involve my niece Aalyana to illustrate her Tia Bua, and so our journey began.

I could have never imagined the book, “Tia Bua, Believe’s in your Magic” would take
off the way it did.

“Believe in your Magic” was featured in multiple states during Read Across America 2024 and will be read in 2025. I am currently on a series of Barnes and Nobles tours. I collaborated with multiple school districts to implement calm rooms and have successfully helped replace detention with meditation in an elementary school. These books can be found in children’s hospitals, pre-surgical packets, pediatric units, gift shops, and dental offices.

The books are also in The Hard Rock, Punta Cana’s Kids Club, and indoor water parks.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, I was featured on the ONNJ Morning Show.
Tia Bua performed live on Dream Stage in American Dream.

Both books Tia Bua, “Believe’s in your Magic” and” Celebrates, being Mixed, Blended, Colored and Loved” share 5-star reviews on all platforms.

What sets these books apart from others is the journey of something I have experienced in my life. The stories I share from this unique perspective are brimming with kindness, energy, and a strong commitment to empowering others. With a particular passion for children’s wellness, my hope is to give tools and resources for children to control their own mindset during really challenging situations which are out of their control.

I am beyond proud of this journey.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020 during the height of the pandemic. I realized that I may not want to continue my journey in healthcare. It was extremely stressful, and I was so unsure of my path.

On the one hand I had to lead my region and my team and be there for them, but I was gradually losing a grip on myself.

I decided to pivot and start authoring books. I never imagined that it would help me become a better leader.

I still effectively lead an extraordinary team in healthcare while also embracing my passion and purpose as a children’s mental wellness author.

I am beyond grateful and enthusiastic about both my careers and really shocked at how having the right type of outlet can reenergize you on so many distinct levels.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I unfortunately did not have an ideal childhood growing up although we were financially well off.

I have lived many lives in this lifetime which has taught me to not only be resilient but teach people how to be resilient along the way.

I am a firm believer if I had the right tools and resources when as a child, I could have helped myself move differently in extremely chaotic situations.

I consider myself to be a knowledge donor and genuinely believe you cannot control your childhood but when you can, YOU and only you control the adult you raise yourself to be!

That is your superpower and that is what makes you magical!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mykaiandco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mykaicollc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094240497999
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-bua-mykaiandco
• Other: https://www.aalyanaillustrations.com

Image Credits

Dayana De Pena
Vivek Desai
Maya Santiago
Pooja Desai
Darius A. Hicks Sr.