Project Overview
Everywhere you look, signs of what’s next are already visible — not just in AI or robotics, but in how we learn, build, express, and connect. These shifts aren’t always mainstream, but they’re unfolding on the edges. If we pay attention, we can begin to understand the deeper changes taking shape. At the same time, there is a clear lack of nuance in media, especially when it comes to women. As more of our lives move online, media shapes what we notice, value, and act on. And in today’s world, attention is power. On second thought was created to help us navigate these shifts with curiosity, clarity, and agency. Through long-form conversations, I spotlight founders, thinkers, creatives, and changemakers whose voices are often overlooked. This project is a growing bridge to new possibilities. It is built through storytelling, grounded in community, and powered by a research-driven media network.
Expected Impact
In a world of hot takes and constant noise, I hope on second thought becomes a space where dialogue is valued over soundbites, and curiosity leads to meaningful contribution. The goal is to bridge gaps — between access and action, information and imagination, ideas and agency — so that more people feel empowered not just to understand the world, but to express themselves and shape it. Beyond conversation, the vision is to build a living repository of individuals, organizations, and innovations shaping better futures. Over time, this will evolve into a fund that enables positive compounding: supporting ideas and people who move us forward with clarity, care, and conviction.
Applicant Background
Komal Mirani is a brand strategist, and the creator of on second thought - a podcast and foresight platform spotlighting nuanced conversations about the future. She builds brands from the ground up, blending strategy, storytelling, design, and systems thinking to create identities and experiences that are culturally resonant and commercially effective. Whether shaping new ventures or reimagining legacy organizations, her work helps businesses clarify who they are and express it with soul across every touchpoint. Through on second thought, Komal spotlights founders, thinkers, creatives, and innovators whose voices deserve to be platformed amongst the chaos of mainstream discourse. The show challenges listeners to see what lies ahead not as a distant abstraction, but as something they can understand, participate in, and help build.