Evolve Brain Training, incorporated in 2019, is one of the fastest flourishing startups that specializes in employing cutting-edge, non-invasive brain training techniques to assist people and companies enhance their performance and quality of life. The company uses a NASA-patented technology called neurofeedback to assist people with difficulties ranging from memory, focus, motivation, all the way to stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, creativity, confidence, and much more. Evolve Brain Training is the first neurofeedback center in the region and the only neurofeedback center run entirely by women. The firm is successfully spearheaded by a young and dynamic entrepreneur, Dr. Upasana Gala.

In an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine, Dr. Upasana Gala, Founder & CEO at Evolve Brain Training, walks us through her personal and professional traits along with her unique play at the center.

Tell us about your educational background. What sowed the seed of your interest in neuroscience?

When I was younger, I was enthralled with science in general and aspired to be a scientist. At the age of 17, I chose to go to the United States to pursue my undergraduate degree at Purdue University where I got involved with research. My time spent doing research further sparked my interest in neuroscience. Every single thing that we think, feel or do is because of the neural connections in our brain. The more I learned about the brain, the more I realized how little we know about our most complex organ. This fascination fueled me to seek a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

“I believe that if i can motivate my team to learn more, accomplish more, and be more, i am a successful leader”

Right after my grad school, I opened my facility, Evolve Brain Training, which was my first venture into the business world. I founded the center because I have always believed in the potential of science to help people better and alter their lives. For a long time, approaches like talk therapy or CBT have been used in the mental health sector, but I wanted to introduce some new ideas to tackle the same problems in a different way. We utilize a mix of all of these therapies, including the NASA-patented neurofeedback approach, at my facility.

What led to the foundation of Evolve Brain Training?

Since I was a child, I suffered from anxiety and insomnia. I grew up with an anxious parent so I simply assumed that this was a regular part of life. I had no notion that it was an area where I could improve. However, when I grew older and saw that I wasn't able to function as well as I should, I realized I needed to take action. That's when I first learned about neurofeedback. I tried it out in the United States and it dramatically transformed my life. As a scientist, I was intrigued by this technology and wanted to learn more about how neurofeedback works. As a result, I returned to the United States to study neurofeedback and become a certified neurofeedback therapist. I then moved to Dubai and opened the center because I wanted to help as many people as possible, just the way it helped me.

Tell us about the various aspects of life that the company's interventions can help with?

We provide neurofeedback therapy, counseling, testing, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and coaching. We help clients with various concerns such as stress and anxiety, depression, sleep issues, fears, phobias, ADHD, and anything else that is preventing them from living the life they desire. People come to us not just to cure their issues, but also to grow and get an edge, improve their focus, creativity, confidence, and memory. We have quite a few C-suite clients coming in for the same. Apart from this, we also have many men and women coming in to combat work or relationship related stress. That being said, we still have an extremely diverse client portfolio. Our youngest client is a 3-year-old autistic child, while our oldest client is a 79-year-old Parkinson's patient. In fact, we've also forayed into corporate workshops to boost productivity, mental well-being, stress management, etc. Since our inception, we have treated more than 25 different mental health disorders, worked with over 19 organizations, and helped improve the lives of more than 350 people.

As the one leading the firm, how do you drive growth within the organization? What is your leadership mantra?

Leadership is about investing in your people. I think your organization grows as much as the people in it grow. I'm very proud to say that I have a team of young, promising women. I prefer to give them the right mix of guidance and space to empower them to make their own decisions. I also believe that offering and accepting constructive feedback is one of the most underrated leadership skills. All of us have scope for improvement. The more feedback you give one other, the more you can learn and grow from each other. As a leader, I believe that if I can motivate my team to learn more, accomplish more, and be more, I am a successful leader.

As a successful business leader, what advice would you present to others who aspire to join the mental healthcare sector?

The field of mental healthcare is the field of people, and people are always evolving. Being in this domain necessitates intellectual curiosity and a learning attitude. You must be passionate about what you do if you want to bring the level of devotion and energy required to be an entrepreneur. Also, one of the most important lessons I've learned through my experience is to not be scared to fail. Because I come from a scientific background, I've always been taught to be `exactly right'. Now that I'm in the business world, I've realized that you can't live your life like that. It puts too much pressure on you to always be perfect, and this may work against you in more ways than you can expect. It's crucial to remember that you don't have to do it perfectly the first time. What matters is that you keep adjusting until you get it right and that you continue to evolve. The same is true for your own personal growth. 

Dr. Upasana Gala, CEO & Founder, Evolve Brain Training

Bringing the passion and expertise of Neuroscience in delivering apt guidance and support to the clients for the better prospects of life.