Jay Shetty has gone from monk to media powerhouse, but his latest role as Calm’s first Chief Purpose Officer may be his most ambitious yet. With The Daily Jay, a seven-minute mindfulness session on Calm, Shetty is helping millions build intentional habits in a fraction of the time it takes to scroll social media. But his work goes beyond the app. Shetty is leading Calm for Business, bringing mindfulness into the workplace to challenge stigma and promote resilience at scale. Whether through culture-building or product innovation, his goal is clear: make mental health not a side conversation, but a daily essential.
Born in London to Indian parents, Shetty earned a degree in management science from Cass Business School in 2010. Yet it was a last-minute decision to listen to a monk’s talk that altered his path. Trading business suits for robes, Shetty spent three transformative years living as a Hindu monk across India and the UK, mastering meditation, mindfulness, and service. When he returned, he didn’t try to replicate monastic life—he translated what he’d learned into tools people could actually use. From co-founding Sama Tea to hosting the On Purpose podcast, now downloaded over 35 million times a month, Shetty has built a global platform around practical, everyday mindfulness. His training programs have reached millions across more than 100 countries.
Shetty’s approach to leadership centers on one idea: mental well-being isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. He encourages a shift from “goal setting” to “growth setting,” urging people to focus on who they’re becoming, not just what they’re achieving. He’s disciplined, yes—but also deeply collaborative, often emphasizing the role of shared support in lasting change. Whether promoting mindful walks or pushing companies to take employee wellness seriously, Shetty is focused on making mental health something people build into their routines—not just something they think about when things go wrong.