Ritu Agarwal’s retreat helps women shift from self-doubt to self-leadership

Even as women now hold 21% of board seats in India’s listed companies, a startling 97% of those companies still have only one woman on the board, according to a recent Deloitte study. The message is clear: we’re including women, but not empowering them enough to lead. Against this backdrop, Ritu Agarwal, one of India’s foremost voices in energy frequency coaching, hosted her flagship Energy Queens Retreat – ASCENSION 2025 – at Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort. Four hundred women from across India came not just to rest — but to rise. For three transformative days, they stepped away from everyday chaos to build the inner clarity, energetic confidence, and emotional resilience needed to lead in a world that still doesn’t always expect them to.

From homemaker to energy leader

Ritu’s journey is rooted in lived reality. Raised in a traditional Marwari family, she navigated early motherhood while running small ventures — selling artificial jewellery, teaching in Montessori schools — always putting family first. But in 2010, a spiritual shift through Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) awakened something deeper: a calling to serve women navigating silent emotional battles. She went on to earn a master’s in psychology, trained with global mentors like Jack Canfield, Dr Joe Vitale, Dr John Demartini, and T Harv Eker, and ultimately designed a coaching approach that blends inner energy work with outer transformation.

Today, through her company I Deserve Life Systems LLP, she leads the Energy Queens Hub, a movement that has impacted over 50,000 women across India and beyond.

The 'energy queen' approach: Building leaders from within

At the heart of Ritu’s work lies one truth: “If a woman’s energy isn’t aligned, no external success will feel sustainable.” She teaches that energy — not effort — is the real success currency. At ASCENSION 2025, participants engaged in a structured morning practice, SAVERS — which includes Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation, Exercise, Reading, and Scripting — to build emotional balance and mental clarity. The routine, though simple, became a daily anchor for aligned leadership.

Unlike traditional self-help programmes, her work focuses on helping women clear emotional blockages, eliminate self-doubt, raise their frequency and self-worth, and take consistent, aligned action. “The boardroom begins inside,” says Ritu. “If a woman doesn’t believe she deserves a seat at the table, she’ll never claim it — even when it’s offered.”

Siddharth Rajsekar’s keynote: Where spirituality meets digital expansion

A standout moment at ASCENSION 2025 was the surprise keynote by Siddharth Rajsekar, digital mentor and founder of the Internet Lifestyle Hub (ILH) — India’s largest community of knowledge entrepreneurs. For Ritu, it was also deeply personal. “I am who I am because Siddharth once told me, ‘You can do this,’” she shared. “His belief became the bridge between my doubt and my destiny.”

Describing him as her spiritual and digital Buddha, Ritu credits Siddharth for instilling the values that continue to guide her business and life. His talk wasn’t just motivational — it was deeply grounding. In his keynote, Siddharth applauded Ritu’s growth and the powerful community she has built. He also shared his six-step framework for expansion, urging women to embrace Intention, Decision, Surrender, Purpose, Consistency, and Connection.

Goa was the backdrop. The real work was internal

The retreat, held in a lush seaside setting, blended ritual, movement, journalling, coaching, and sisterhood in a sacred space where healing wasn’t just encouraged — it was inevitable. Women arrived carrying silent burdens — stories of burnout, betrayal, unspoken transitions, or self-doubt — and left with a new frequency: calm, grounded, powerful.

One participant said, “This retreat was a mirror. It reminded me of everything I had stopped believing I could be.”

The bigger picture: Not just wellness, but leadership

While corporate India debates quotas and diversity metrics, Ritu’s work is quietly shaping the next wave of conscious female leaders. Whether these women go on to lead boardrooms, businesses, classrooms, homes, or communities — they will do so from a place of alignment.

As India navigates its journey toward equitable leadership, voices like Ritu Agarwal’s offer a crucial reminder: representation is not just about being seen — it’s about being ready. Ready to rise — not by force, but by frequency.

Ritu Agarwal parted with this final thought: “We don’t just need more women at the table. We need women who believe they belong there.” And that shift — from waiting for permission to reclaiming inner power — is what the Energy Queens movement is truly about.