In a world that often equates success with perfection, Mugdha Pradhan’s story is a powerful reminder that healing begins when we choose authenticity over appearances. Today, she leads iTHRIVE, a thriving health and wellness startup that aims to reverse chronic diseases through functional nutrition. But the journey to get here was anything but easy.
Before founding iTHRIVE, Mugdha was living in Canada, working as an HR manager. On the surface, life seemed picture-perfect — a stable job, a marriage, and a new beginning abroad. But underneath it all, she was battling intense loneliness and the pressure to perform flawlessly in both her personal and professional roles.
“When my marriage began to fall apart, I started turning to food for comfort,” she recalls. The stress eventually spiraled, and things worsened after childbirth. Diagnosed with clinical depression, Mugdha hit rock bottom in 2016.
“It all kept piling up. I was living an inauthentic life, stuck in a bad marriage,” she says. “One day, it just hit me — a voice inside me screamed, asking what I was doing. That was the moment everything changed. It was my wake-up call.”
In 2017, she returned to India, determined to rebuild her life. She sought medical help but saw little progress. That’s when her background in nutrition nudged her toward functional medicine — a holistic approach that digs deep into the root causes of illnesses rather than just treating symptoms.
This shift proved to be transformative. Mugdha began to notice changes in her physical health, skin, and, most importantly, her mental well-being. Her visible transformation inspired friends and family to seek her guidance. And from this organic demand, iTHRIVE was born.
Today, iTHRIVE is a beacon for those seeking healing beyond conventional medicine. Backed by a team of nutritionists and wellness professionals, the platform supports clients in reversing lifestyle diseases and restoring balance. Mugdha herself now focuses deeply on mental health, using her own lived experiences as a guide.
“I’ve felt pain, betrayal, and the whole spectrum of difficult emotions. But helping others heal gives me joy — a sense of purpose. This is what I’m here for,” she says with quiet conviction.
Mugdha’s journey is not just one of personal recovery; it’s a testimony to the power of conscious choices, holistic health, and the strength it takes to start over. Through iTHRIVE, she has turned her struggle into a source of strength for many — proving that healing is not just possible, but profoundly life-changing.