In this episode of Owning Your Legacy, host Laurette Rondenet sits down with Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, for a powerful conversation on modern dating, emotional intelligence, and how to build healthy relationships at any stage of life.

Bela shares her personal journey from heartbreak to global corporate leadership, and the pivotal decision to leave a successful career in finance and manufacturing to pursue her purpose: helping people date with clarity, confidence, and intention. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral patterns, and real-world coaching experience, Bela explains why so many people repeat unhealthy relationship cycles and how to break them for good.

This episode dives deep into dating advice for women and men navigating love after heartbreak, divorce, or long-term singleness. Bela explains why chemistry alone is not enough, how attachment hormones like oxytocin influence decision-making, and why emotional safety matters more than surface-level attraction.

Topics covered in this episode include:
✅ Modern dating challenges and repeating relationship patterns
✅ Dating advice for women and men over 30, 40, 50+
✅ Emotional safety and healthy conflict resolution
✅ Narcissism, gaslighting, and love bombing explained
✅ Why chemistry can be misleading in dating
✅ How to avoid losing yourself in relationships
✅ Attachment styles, oxytocin, and emotional bonding
✅ What makes love last long-term
✅ Building confidence, clarity, and self-awareness in dating

Whether you are single, dating, married, divorced, or starting over later in life, this conversation offers grounded, practical guidance for building relationships rooted in respect, trust, and long-term compatibility.

🌐 Learn more about Smart Dating Academy: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com

🎧 Listen to the Smart Dating Academy Podcast
📲 Follow on Instagram: @smartdatingacademy

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms
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Video and Photo Credits:
IG: @rishi.productions
IG: @gosiasimprint

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

Teresa Ging, founder and CEO of Sugar Bliss, returns to Owning Your Legacy for a timely and values-driven conversation about growth, courage, and leading with integrity in uncertain times. From national retail expansion to sports concessions and airport locations, Teresa shares how Sugar Bliss has evolved while staying rooted in purpose.

In this episode, Teresa reflects on the realities of scaling a consumer brand, navigating volatile markets, and making difficult decisions that test both leadership and values. She speaks candidly about the changing DEI landscape, the responsibility of women-owned businesses to lead by example, and the moment she chose to walk away from a major retail opportunity that no longer aligned with her company’s mission. Throughout the conversation, Teresa emphasizes mentorship, financial literacy, and the importance of knowing every facet of your business—even when growth pulls you away from the day-to-day.

In this episode, you will learn:
✅ How Sugar Bliss expanded into national retailers, sports venues, and airports
✅ Why knowing your numbers is essential at every stage of growth
✅ How shifting DEI policies are impacting women- and minority-owned businesses
✅ What it means to walk away from opportunity when values are compromised
✅ Why mentorship and sponsorship are critical to closing the revenue gap for women-owned companies
✅ How leadership requires adaptability, clarity, and long-term vision
✅ Why legacy is built through consistency, courage, and collective uplift

Whether you are building a brand, navigating ethical decisions in business, or mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what it means to grow with purpose—and to lead without losing sight of what matters most.

🌐 Explore Sugar Bliss: https://www.sugarblisscakes.com

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

Ayra Mudessir, TEDx speaker, three-time author, youth advocate, and neuroscience student, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy for an insightful conversation about confidence, representation, and the power of intentional leadership at any age. At just 21 years old, Ayra reflects on the moments and influences that shaped her commitment to youth empowerment, education, and meaningful social impact.

In this episode, Ayra introduces the multiplier effect—the idea that one voice, one decision, or one act of courage can create waves of change far beyond the individual. She explains how representation reshapes belief at a neurological level, why confidence must come before skill, and how micro-leadership allows people to lead without titles, permission, or perfection. Ayra also speaks candidly about navigating unhealthy friendships, the impact of social media on motivation and self-worth, and the importance of mindset in breaking cycles of limitation.

In this episode, you will learn:
✅ What inspired Ayra’s TEDx talk and her mission in youth advocacy
✅ How the multiplier effect transforms individual action into collective change
✅ Why representation rewires belief and expands what feels possible
✅ Why confidence is foundational to skill development and growth
✅ How micro-leadership creates momentum without waiting for perfection
✅ How to recognize relationships that limit growth rather than support it
✅ Why mindset shapes long-term success more than credentials alone

Whether you are mentoring emerging leaders, questioning traditional paths to success, or seeking a grounded approach to confidence and self-belief, this conversation offers clarity, perspective, and a powerful reminder that legacy begins with the courage to take the first step.

🌐 Explore Ayra Mudessir’s work: https://www.ayramudessir.com

If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.