The number 13

Number 13 … Some consider it unlucky and never do anything important on that day. For my family, the 13th could have been the unluckiest day because that's the day my mother passed away. But my father always said it was the luckiest day because I was born that day.

So, I grew up knowing that any day or anything we do is successful or not, lucky or not, based on how we choose to look at it.

As INK completes 13 years, I wanted to take a stock of our mission to accelerate the journeys of game changers.

At the beginning of 2023, our 13th year, we were delighted to still be standing. We survived the pandemic, but rebooting the annual INK conference was nothing short of a miracle.

· Prashanth Prakash, of Accel India joined as conference co-chair and brought in the necessary resources

· A team of talented senior leaders came on board to lead INK into the new year, willing to take risks NOW to share the rewards LATER.

· Strong sponsors and attendees joined us at the spectacular INK Conference at Amitarasa in Nandi Hills, focusing on Learning, Sports, Sustainability, Health, Culture, Technology, and Entrepreneurship.

· We strengthened INK Global Foundation as a global entity with grants from major foundations, shaping the INK Fellows program and INKubator, home to Writers' INK and Women's INK led by senior INK Fellows.

As we complete 13 years, I see that I have a choice to make of how I look at the journey so far - either say that it has been the most lonely, expensive, mentally exhausting, and financially draining activity that I have ever done OR that it has been the most fulfilling experience, giving me the opportunity to be:

· a mother to over 250 INK Fellows, the gamechangers leading us into our future.

· a fellow traveler to over 60 team members over the years, who remain attached to INK no matter where their journeys have taken them.

· part of an INK tribe that steps up to support us with their time, money, and connections to share in the collective dream of accelerating the journeys of game changers.

Now, as I stand at the doorway to 2024, looking back at the last 13 years, I am thankful that I am doing everything I can to make my life rich beyond expectations and living up to my name, "Lakshmi," the Goddess of wealthy--truly a billionaire of moments. I am looking forward to 2024, the year I want to relaunch "Lakshmi's Lounge," interviewing people, writing a book, traveling to places, meeting more people, and gathering all these experiences to make INK even richer.

The number 13--my most memorable number. 2023--the year I transitioned from being the founder of INK to being a custodian of INK, an organization that continues to be nurtured by the most talented team and community.