Deborah Sawaf, Founder & CEO Of Thalé Blanc And The Power Of Words Foundation Discusses Emotional Intelligence With Dinis Guarda
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Deborah Sawaf, Founder and CEO of Thalé Blanc and The Power of Words Foundation discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and initiatives like The Power of Words, Band Bond Initiative, and RedEQ, which combine creativity, community, and AI to promote mental well-being in the latest episode of the Dinis Guarda Podcast. The podcast is powered by Businessabc.net, Citiesabc.com, Wisdomia.ai, and Sportsabc.org.
Deborah Sawaf is a Bombay-born designer trained in FIDM, Los Angeles with Italian influences, with over 30 years of experience in the luxury fashion industry. She is the Founder and CEO of The Power of Words Foundation and Thalé Blanc. The Power of Words Foundation, launched in 2022 brings together fashion, art, and pop culture to create awareness and support for mental health. It has been recognised by the UN as the world’s first socially sustainable brand.
During her interview with Dinis Guarda, Deborah Sawaf discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, mental health, and finding a balance between IQ and EQ:
"IQ without EQ leaves you unbalanced. Great leaders have high IQs, but they also have a very high EQ, and that is an essential component because we don't work solo. We work with people, we work in teams, and we want to keep that human connection.
Emotional intelligence is something that you have to be reminded of on a daily basis. You can have your manifestation in the morning and your meditation in the morning, but life gets so hectic you forget about those basic human values when you go out into a hectic world.
Mental health is still a taboo. As much work as we're doing in the United States, which seems most advanced, you still have people say that, and you still have professionals say that we're all struggling with the mental health crisis. It’s being able to manage your well-being on a daily basis that’s going to prevent you from sliding down into depression, into this deep dark hole, into insecurities."
Discussing the impact of technology on mental health, Deborah said:
"With the immersion of technology and with technology coming into the world so quickly... there are a lot of people that are not ready to embrace it as openly as they should, and that becomes a mental health issue."
Deborah also explains the role of positivity and direction, she said:
"It’s real positivity because it is focused—it gives you a goal, it gives you something to work towards, something to look at and say, ‘Yes, I’m heading in that direction.’ But if you don’t have direction and you don’t have focus, that’s when you get lost. Positivity is about more than just feeling good—it’s about having something to work toward and focus on."
The Power of Words: A transformative approach to emotional intelligence
The Power of Words, created by Deborah Sawaf, is a foundation that helps improve mental well-being and build stronger connections using simple methods. A key part of the initiative is Band Bond therapy, which uses visual tools to encourage awareness, empathy, and focus. This approach is helpful in workplaces, schools, and mental health support, offering a new way to develop emotional intelligence in today’s busy, technology-driven world.
Deborah Sawaf explains the purpose and ideas behind The Power of Words foundation:
"Thalé Blanc to The Power of Words happened over COVID, which was totally coincidental. I decided I was going to create a fashion brand that would speak about emotional intelligence and, through words, through powerful words."
I decided this was going to be a philanthropic brand. The Power of Words was going to teach, was going to give back, was going to leverage the voice of fashion, art, music—everything that congregated people to spread positivity."
"Everything we talk about in emotional intelligence is about awareness, focus, and being empathetic. What we add through The Power of Words is unspoken communication, visual communication, and connection.
What you wear reflects how you feel. You pick a certain colour and wear a certain colour, and it impacts how you feel, so you wear it for you first before you're actually wearing it for others.
I realised that using that, I could actually do something more powerful than just wear and make beautiful clothes—I could give it meaning and purpose. I think the first and best thing we did was the name of the brand being The Power of Words.
I came back home from Cleveland and realized I was going to launch a new brand... sometimes when you believe in something, it doesn’t always work. For me, it did."
Thalé Blanc: Where creativity meets elegance
Thalé Blanc, founded by Deborah Sawaf in 2010, is a luxury fashion brand known for its elegant and stylish designs. The brand focuses on crafting high-quality women’s handbags, clothing, accessories, and jewellery. Each item presents a blend of artistry and fine craftsmanship, making Thalé Blanc a distinctive name in the world of fashion.
The handbags, crafted in Italy, use the finest materials and feature intricate details, such as Swarovski crystals, ensuring each product is both beautiful and durable. The clothing collection blends bold designs with a playful modern touch, offering styles that are chic and versatile.
During the interview, Deborah Sawaf shares her journey with Thalé Blanc and her approach to creativity, innovation, and giving back. She shares:
"I began Thalé Blanc because I was inspired by this icon, Audrey Hepburn... I wanted to create something unique and make that impact, and the Audrey bag, till today, is the most popular product that we have.
When I first started, the embroidery we were doing in India was for Valentino... I approached Paolo Piccioli and said to him I wanted to work with him to create my line. Paolo only works with major brands, and he has never worked with somebody who hasn’t launched a brand yet. He could have turned me down, and I really don’t know what I would have done next... That was something that made me realize I could actually do and create anything I wanted with the right support.
I got to work with some of the best factories in Italy that did all kinds of new techniques... I started to develop new techniques, doing things that weren’t being done, and learning that people are open to creative and new ideas."
Deborah Sawaf also explains the value of relationships and giving back to grow a business:
"When we talk to young kids or graduating entrepreneurs, everyone says you need to go out and network... But what do you have to offer? Always have that ready. It’s not just about making connections; it’s about what you can give to the relationship.
There’s no sustainability if it’s not a two-way street... Giving has always been a big part of my upbringing and my thinking—it fuels everything I do in terms of business. As I grow and do things, I always want to make sure I’m able to give back... Privilege comes with responsibility, and that’s kind of the DNA for our brand and our family values."
RedEQ: Merging emotional growth with AI innovation
As the interview continues Deborah Sawaf and Dinis Guarda discuss Relational Emotional Development (RedEQ) and technology:
"We talk about emotional intelligence, and emotional intelligence as a word is being used over and over again. One of the ideas that came up during a brainstorming session with my small group of women, whom I call my 'posy,' was to give it a new name. My dearest friend suggested the term relational emotional development, and that’s what Red is—it’s relational emotional development.
Relational Emotional Development really talks about what The Power of Words does. It builds relationships between people and helps you develop your emotions. That is where the name RedEQ came from.
We survive our mental well-being with our community or with the help of our community—that is where the relation comes in. RedEQ is about fostering that connection while teaching emotional intelligence."
Talking the about balance between humans and technology Deborah Sawaf said:
"Using artificial intelligence with emotional intelligence as an ally is the key. It’s something that walks alongside you—it doesn’t overpower you. That is the balance, and that is our vision.
RED EQ blends creativity and technology. It fosters genuine human interaction even while using cutting-edge technology like AI.
The collaboration with you, Dinis, elevated this to new heights. It took it to a new level, integrating technology into what we do, which is so needed right now."
The Band Bond Initiative: Connecting communities
The Band Bond Initiative is a special programme created by Deborah Sawaf to support emotional intelligence, mental well-being, and community connections. It is inspired by ancient Indian philosophy1, especially the idea of chakras. The programme uses seven different coloured bands, with each colour representing a key emotion. These bands act as tools to help people understand their feelings, stay focused on their goals, and connect with others.
Deborah Sawaf explains The Band Bond Initiative to Dinis:
"The basis of the Band Bond Initiative is to take emotional intelligence outside of the one-on-one treatment and therapy we typically see, and instead create a way for people to communicate with each other in a simple yet impactful way.
I took the seven chakras of ancient Indian philosophy and applied them in a tangible way—adapting a colour to each emotion and turning them into tools that people can use daily. The seven bands symbolise seven emotions, seven colours, and seven tools... Wearing a band helps you stay aware of what you want to accomplish, how you’re feeling, and what you need to focus on.
When practised in a community, the bands create a visual language, allowing people to communicate their emotions without words. It’s a simple tool with deep impact—for yourself and for those around you."
Deborah then shares the future of the initiative:
"Through gamification, we’re working on quantifying levels of empathy, resilience, and other emotions in children by the choices they make in interactive stories. This is the future of what we want to achieve.
The simplicity of the concept—emotions everyone feels, represented by colours and words—makes it adaptable across cultures and religions. It’s about creating a space where people can express themselves in a non-intimidating, positive way."
During the interview with Dinis Guarda, Deborah Sawaf highlights the challenges people face daily, from workplace stress and technological demands to more serious issues like mental health struggles and emotional instability. She shares how her approach to balancing emotions is rooted in simplicity and consistency:
"Practice leads to prevention. I believe it’s one day at a time, which is what we teach—pick your emotions for the day and the tools you need to guide those emotions.
I leave the bands where I brush my teeth and pick the tools that I need. I want to be optimistic that my interview with Dinis is going to go well. I want to be resilient to complete the project I need to do today. I want to be resilient to also get to the gym.
Deborah Sawaf then discusses how the Band Bond initiative serves as a constant reminder and motivator, while also enabling communication with others about emotions:
It’s that focus that helps you balance. At night when I look at the band and I still haven’t been to the gym, I get up and go—walk 5,000 steps or 10,000 steps, whatever I can get in.
Eventually, people will look at a colour and feel the emotion—that’s the stage we need to get to. Or to look at a total stranger, give them a thumbs up, and say, ‘Congratulations for being optimistic,’ because the colours and words are universal to every human being on the planet.
Anything we want to do to make a change has to be simple to implement. That’s what’s powerful about the Band Bond initiative—it’s the most simple project to get people engaged.
Balancing emotions is about consistency. The bands help me stay aware throughout the day, and they also remind those around me of my emotions and focus."
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