Episode Overview:

In this episode, Alice Zhang (CEO) and Nisha Desai (COO), co-founders of Anise Health, share how they’re reimagining mental health care for the Asian community through culturallyattuned, personalized care.

As a venture-backed, minority female-led team, they also open up about the realities of entrepreneurship - from navigating a system that wasn’t built for them to building one that is.

This is a conversation about mission, identity, and the courage to lead with both heart and business strategy - proving that you don’t have to choose between meaning and building something impactful.

What you’ll learn:

• Why culturally attuned care is a clinical necessity - not a "nice to have";
• The gaps in mental health care for Asian communities and how to address them;
• What it really takes to build and scale a venture-backed, mission-driven company; and
• How to stay grounded in your 'why' while navigating pressure, doubt, and growth.

About Alize Zhang:

Alice Zhang is the Co-Founder and CEO of Anise Health, a venture-backed mental health company reimagining care for the Asian community through culturally attuned, personalized mental health support.

As a third culture kid who grew up across China, Japan, and Canada, Alice brings a global lens to her work and a deep understanding of identity, belonging, and the gaps in traditional mental health care.

Before founding Anise, she worked in management consulting and private equity. She later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Neuroscience from The University of British Columbia.

Today, Alice is focused on transforming mental health care into a more inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive system - one that empowers individuals to live authentically and thrive.

Connect with Alice:

LinkedIn

About Nisha Desai:

Nisha Desai is the Co-Founder and COO of Anise Health, a venture-backed mental health company reimagining care for the Asian community through culturally attuned,personalized support.

Coming from a family of healthcare entrepreneurs, Nisha was inspired early on to build solutions that create impact at scale. Her work sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and innovation, with a focus on addressing systemic gaps in how care is delivered.

Prior to founding Anise, she worked across healthcare strategy, product innovation, investment management, and investment banking, gaining experience in building and scaling solutions within healthcare and biopharmaceutical companies. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Economics, Finance, Marketing, and Legal Studies from The Wharton School.

Nisha is passionate about transforming mental health care into a more equitable and accessible system - one that reflects the lived experiences and values of the communities it serves.

LinkedIn

About Anise Health

Anise Health is a mission-driven mental health organization dedicated to serving diverse and historically underserved communities. The platform offers an evidence-basedmodel of care that centers cultural context from the very beginning - designed to better support people of color than traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy.

Through a holistic, culturally attuned care model, Anise Health works to reduce disparities in mental health access and outcomes. Their work within the Asian community shows higher engagement and stronger continuity of care, demonstrating how culturally responsive support can meaningfully improve mental health experiences for the Asian communities.

Website: https://www.anisehealth.co/

Instagram or Tiktok: @anisehealth

Connect with Courage Class on TikTok,Instagram, YouTube:

@courageclasspod, @drlindsaykwockhu

Website: www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast

Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387

Episode Description:
What if service isn’t something you do at the end of your career - but the strategy that builds it?

In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Dr. Komal Kapoor, founder and CEO of SpeakerPost, a platform connecting industry professionals with classrooms around the world. We talk about what it really means to lead with purpose, trust your inner voice, and build something meaningful without waiting for permission or a perfect plan.

If you’ve ever felt torn between stability and calling, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why service can be a powerful strategy - not just an act of giving back
• How to trust your inner voice, even when external expectations are loud
• A simple way to start living your purpose(without needing everything figured out)

Episode Outline:

00:35 Meet Dr Kapoor

02:06 Between Two Worlds

04:29 Service As Growth

08:13 Spotting The Classroom Gap

12:40 Managing Fear And Risk

14:44 Learning By Doing

15:42 Meaning Over Happiness

16:21 How SpeakerPost Works

22:29 Human Edge Over AI

26:13 Community, Trust, Growth

28:37 One Hour To Serve

30:35 Advice To Younger Self

35:22 Defining Courage Purpose

About Dr. Komal Shah Kapoor

Dr. Komal Shah Kapoor is a social impact serial entrepreneur, researcher, writer, and founder whose work sits at the intersection of culture, wellness, and human connection.

Her journey into wellness began not in a studio, but through research and lived experience. At SpaFinder, she co-authored the first Global Spa Economy Report with SRI International - foundational work that helped shape what is now the Global Wellness Institute. She also published the India Spa Trends Report, blending data with cultural insight and earning recognition in global publications including Forbes Traveler.

Driven by a deep curiosity about identity and belonging, she founded Cook Aunty in New York City - well ahead of its time.Inspired by her doctoral research, the platform celebrated a powerful truth: for many immigrants, food is the last thread of cultural identity to go.

Today, she is the founder of SpeakerPost, a platform that connects industry professionals with classrooms around the world, expanding access, representation, and possibility for students everywhere.

She is also the voice behind Green Sea Shells, a digital publication rooted in the belief that the most sacred forms of wellness are the quietest ones - found in culture, storytelling, rituals, and connection.

Dr. Kapoor’s work is grounded in a simple philosophy: wellness is not something we chase - it’s something we remember.

Connect with Dr. Kapoor

LinkedIn

SpeakerPost Website

Connect with Courage Class on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube:

@courageclasspod

@drlindsaykwockhu

www.drlindsaykwockhu.com/podcast

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Music Credit:

DayNigthMorning from Pixabay invitation-no-copyright-music-388387