EP 314 - Believing Is Seeing (Edge of the Napkin Series #12)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
There’s a phrase we’ve all inherited without ever asking whether it serves us: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” It sounds reasonable. It sounds mature. It sounds like the responsible stance of someone who has been around long enough to be cautious. But anyone who has ever built something meaningful — a business, a team, a movement, or even a new version of themselves — knows the truth beneath that old saying: “Seeing” has never created belief. Belief is what creates the ability to see. That’s the heart of today’s napkin thought:...
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EP 313 - Listening & Learning with Shivani Dhamija
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Shivani Dhamija, founder of Shivani’s Kitchen — a culinary brand rooted in authentic Indian flavors and fueled by a passion for empowering others through food. From her humble beginnings selling spice blends and sauces at local markets in Nova Scotia to building a thriving food-manufacturing business, Shivani’s journey is as flavorful as her recipes. At the heart of her success lies a simple napkin message: “Listening & learning.” Two small words that capture a massive truth about...
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EP 312 - Build for Value — Not for the Hype: How some AI Companies are Winning, and others aren't (Edge of the Napkin #11)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Edge of the Napkin #11 There’s a feeling that sweeps through every era of innovation — that electrifying sense of this is it. The next big wave. The one that’s going to change everything. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives into what happens when high-expectation innovation collides with reality — when the future we bet on becomes today’s proving ground. The AI boom, once the unstoppable tide lifting every boat in sight, is now pulling back. Markets are correcting. The water is getting choppy. And what’s being revealed isn’t failure — it’s truth....
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EP 311 - Dr. Jenny Hoffmann: Open Up! Lead with Curiosity, Empathy, and Connection
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Today on Paper Napkin Wisdom, we welcome Dr. Jenny Hoffmann, a leader in health-tech innovation who currently serves as Executive Director at the New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC). With a rich background in healthcare strategy and technology deployment, Jenny has spent her career bridging clinical insight with entrepreneurial energy, helping organizations turn innovative ideas into meaningful patient-outcomes. In this episode, we dive deep into how leaders can lean into vulnerability, curiosity, empathy and connection — the key themes captured on her paper...
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EP 310 - Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10) Every entrepreneur lives inside a story — the question is, who’s writing yours? If you’ve ever had a morning where nothing goes right — you stub your toe, drop your keys, spill coffee on your white shirt before 8 a.m. — you know the script that starts to play in your mind: “It’s gonna be one of those days.” And somehow, it is. Everything that follows seems to prove the story true. But the opposite happens too. You walk out the door feeling light, ...
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EP 309 - Jon Rosemberg — Survival Is Instinct, Thriving Is a Choice
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Jon Rosemberg, you immediately sense two things — depth and discipline. He’s a behavioral scientist, author, and executive coach who has spent years exploring how we, as humans, can move beyond mere survival into a state of thriving. His work combines neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience, and it’s reflected powerfully in his new book, A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning. On his paper napkin, Jon wrote just seven words: “Survival is instinct, thriving is a choice.” At...
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EP 308 - Flexibility Is the Only True Hedge – Edge of the Napkin #9
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In a world where volatility has become the norm — prices swing, markets shake, politics polarize, and technology rewrites the rules daily — one question stands out for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone simply trying to navigate life: How do we hedge against uncertainty? Not with gold. Not with cash. Not with control. But with flexibility. That’s the essence of this week’s Edge of the Napkin. On my napkin, a single word runs across the center: RISK. Below it — Rigidity → Fragility. Above it — Flexibility →...
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EP 307 - Simone Kelly - Build a Business You Love (But Not Your Hobby)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Simone Kelly first began helping families navigate the complexities of senior care, she didn’t just build a company—she built a movement. As the founder and CEO of Seniornicity, Simone’s mission is rooted in empathy, connection, and empowerment. Her company bridges the gap between older adults, families, and trusted care providers, making it easier for people to age well, together. But the napkin she brought to Paper Napkin Wisdom goes deeper than business strategy—it’s about protecting your passion and preserving your peace. “Build a business that you love,...
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EP 306 - HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Sometimes, the smallest words hold the biggest weight. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives deep into one of the most overused — and misunderstood — words in leadership: “How.” We use it constantly. We think it’s helpful. But as Govindh reveals, how can be both the key to progress — and the invisible wall that keeps us from growing. We say things like: “That’s not how it’s done.” “That’s not how we do things here.” “Let me show you how I want that done.” “We tried that how before...
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EP 305 - Solve a Real Problem. Make It Beautiful. Care Like Hell. - With Nancy Johnston
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Nancy Johnston, you can immediately sense the combination of depth and purpose behind everything she touches. She’s the founder and CEO of Truuce, a company built around reimagining human connection, well-being, and design in the modern world. Her leadership bridges the emotional and the practical — weaving care, creativity, and clarity into every solution she creates. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Nancy shares a simple but transformative philosophy written on her napkin: “Solve a real problem. Make it beautiful. Care like...
info_outlineWhen Katy Spada sat down with me on Paper Napkin Wisdom, she brought a napkin that was more than just words — it was a challenge:
“Build the world you wish existed for your younger self, and for those who come next.”
Katy isn’t just an entrepreneur. She’s a mother of two (ages 7 and 4), a storyteller, and the founder of Arya + Maan, a lifestyle and apparel company that’s grounded in values of creativity, heritage, and intentional living. What makes her story remarkable is how deeply personal it is. As she says, she never set out to be an entrepreneur — she calls herself an “accidental entrepreneur.” Yet, what started with a desire to create something meaningful for her family has grown into a mission-driven brand with a powerful message for anyone willing to listen.
Reclaiming Childhood Dreams
In the episode, Katy reflects on being a daydreamer as a child — someone who created fantastical worlds on paper. As an adult, she’s learned that those childhood imaginings were not flights of fancy but clues to the kind of life she wanted to build.
“When I had children, it became clear that I wanted to create for them the childhood I always wanted.”
Her napkin is rooted in this personal realization: what if we all took ownership of creating not just businesses, but environments and legacies that reflect the world we wanted when we were younger?
Entrepreneurship as Legacy
Katy shares how her business is less about products and more about building community and leaving behind a legacy for her children. Her work with Arya + Maan is anchored in storytelling and cultural connection, blending her Indian heritage with modern lifestyle design.
This isn’t just commerce — it’s contribution.
She reminds us that the real measure of success isn’t revenue charts but impact: what do your children, your community, and your younger self inherit from your work?
Courage to Take Ownership
“I think becoming a mom gave me no choice but to reflect on the life I was building.”
Katy’s journey is a call for courage — courage to own your story, courage to build what doesn’t yet exist, and courage to step into entrepreneurship without the usual blueprint.
So many entrepreneurs wait for permission. Katy shows us that transformation begins when we stop waiting and start building.
5 Key Takeaways
1. Build for Your Younger Self
If you could design a world for the version of you at age 10, what would it look like? That’s a compass worth following.
👉 Take Action: Write a short note to your younger self today — what would you tell them you’ve built?
2. Entrepreneurship Can Be Accidental — but Never Accidental Growth
You don’t have to plan to be an entrepreneur, but growth requires intentionality.
👉 Take Action: Ask yourself: “What am I growing on purpose right now?”
3. Your Children Are Watching
The example you set in building your life is the blueprint your children will carry forward.
👉 Take Action: Share a story with your kids (or a mentee) about something you struggled with and how you’re working through it.
4. Culture is Your Brand
For Katy, honoring her Indian roots is not just a detail — it’s the foundation of Arya + Maan. Authentic brands begin with personal truth.
👉 Take Action: Audit your brand or leadership style. Does it authentically reflect your story?
5. Legacy is Everyday
Legacy isn’t what’s left when you’re gone. It’s what you live out daily in how you treat people, the communities you serve, and the values you embody.
👉 Take Action: Identify one action you can take this week to make your daily work a legacy act, not just a transaction.
About Katy Spada
Katy Spada is the founder of Arya + Maan, a lifestyle brand blending heritage and modern living. With a background in storytelling and a passion for creating meaningful experiences, Katy focuses on building a community-driven company rooted in values, creativity, and family. Connect with her on LinkedIn.