In this insightful podcast episode of Executive Harmony: Conversations with Global Leaders on Happiness and Spirituality, Professor Nitin Arora hosts Ms. Monica Salwan, Vice President Legal at Kotak Mahindra Bank, Maharashtra. With over 22 years of experience in corporate law and banking, Monica shares her unique perspective on happiness, the challenges of the legal profession, and the integration of spirituality in a demanding career. This conversation reveals how legal professionals can find peace, contentment, and balance amid high-pressure environments, offering valuable lessons for individuals and organizations alike.
Background
Monica Salwan’s career spans more than two decades in corporate law, compliance, litigation, and insurance, primarily within the banking sector. As a seasoned legal expert at Kotak Mahindra Bank for 14 years, she manages complex contracts, high-stakes litigation, and provides strategic legal advice across Western India. Beyond her legal expertise, Monica is a certified POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) trainer and has received multiple accolades for her professional contributions. This podcast explores her journey into law, her philosophy on happiness, and how she navigates the intersection of legal responsibilities, workplace stress, and spirituality.
Key Insights
1. Defining Happiness: From Childhood Joy to Adult Contentment
Monica reflects on the simplicity of childhood happiness—finding joy in small things like pocket money or picnics. She notes that as adults, many lose sight of these simple pleasures due to stress, work pressure, and responsibilities. For her, happiness now means returning home after work with a peaceful mind and a sense of content. She emphasizes enjoying work and achieving mental peace at the end of the day as the true markers of happiness. This holistic view integrates professional satisfaction with personal tranquility.
2. Entering the Legal Profession: Ambition Meets Purpose
Initially aspiring to become an IPS officer, Monica’s career path led her to law as a second choice, motivated by a desire to be seen as intelligent, bold, and a solution provider. Inspired by the portrayal of lawyers on television and driven by a passion for helping people through intellectual challenge, she embraced the legal profession wholeheartedly. She views law as a noble and purposeful career, one that offers both personal satisfaction and societal contribution.
3. Trust and the Legal Profession: Navigating Reputation and Client Relationships
The discussion touches on the common perception that trust in people and institutions is declining, leading to increased demand for legal services. Monica counters by emphasizing that lawyers hold a sacred responsibility to protect their clients’ interests and uphold justice. She stresses that legal professionals must maintain integrity and deliver trustworthy advice, despite occasional negative incidents that might color public perception. Her role involves balancing legal acumen with empathy, ensuring clients feel heard and supported.
4. Managing Stress and Fostering Well-being at Work
Acknowledging that stress is inevitable in any professional setting, Monica shares her personal strategies for maintaining well-being. She starts her day with a run while listening to music, which helps clear her mind and generate fresh ideas. Prioritizing work tasks, taking quiet moments to reflect before reacting, and fostering a supportive team environment are key to her approach. She advocates for healthy habits such as exercise, proper diet, and quality time with family to sustain mental and physical health. She also highlights the importance of being approachable and empathetic as a leader to boost team morale.
5. Breaking Myths about Legal Professionals
Monica addresses the misconception that in-house legal counsels work strict 9-to-6 hours, clarifying that her role often requires flexibility, including working during holidays or weekends depending on business needs. She also dispels the notion that legal work is superficial or limited to courtroom arguments, emphasizing the depth of knowledge and continuous learning required to effectively represent and advise clients. Her insights showcase the dedication and complexity behind legal roles often unseen by the public.
6. The Human Side of Law and Spirituality
Contrary to stereotypes of lawyers as cold or unempathetic, Monica asserts that lawyers are human and feel empathy deeply. She gives examples where legal constraints limit the help they can offer but notes the continuous effort to find humane solutions within legal boundaries. On spirituality, Monica connects it with inner peace, contentment, and self-reflection, often drawing strength from her practices. She practices introspection by talking to herself, reviewing her actions, and decluttering her mind through music and meditation, which helps her align legal decisions with empathy and wisdom.
7. Material vs. Non-Material Happiness: A Balanced View
In response to a question on whether material things bring more happiness than non-material ones, Monica shares a nuanced perspective. She acknowledges the joy derived from material achievements, such as buying a house with one’s own money, alongside the peace gained from spiritual and reflective practices. She believes happiness comes from embracing both material and non-material sources, relevant to the realities of modern life.
8. Leadership and Organizational Happiness
Monica highlights the role of leadership in fostering a happy and healthy workplace. While policy-making may rest with other verticals, she stresses informal team-level practices like open communication, understanding individual motivations, and offering support. She believes leaders must be approachable listeners who empower their teams to work without fear and in a positive atmosphere. These efforts underpin organizational success and employee well-being.
Conclusion
Monica Salwan’s candid conversation offers rich insights into how happiness can coexist with a demanding legal career through self-awareness, empathy, and balanced living. Her reflections underscore the importance of mental peace, contentment, and purposeful work as foundations of true happiness. By blending rigorous legal expertise with human sensitivity and spiritual grounding, she exemplifies how professionals can navigate stress and complexity while nurturing well-being for themselves and their teams. This dialogue serves as an inspiring reminder that “lawyers are human too,” and that happiness—whether in childhood simplicity or adult accomplishment—is ultimately about peace of mind and heart.
Monica reflects on childhood happiness and simple joys.
Strategies for managing stress and staying focused at work.
Connecting spirituality with inner peace and professional life.
Balancing material and non-material sources of happiness.
Executive Harmony Podcast continues to bring forward voices like Monica’s, emphasizing that happiness in leadership and work is achievable through mindfulness, empathy, and integrity—principles that resonate deeply across all professions.