Nimrah Mirza S, founder of Trot & Talk, has been nominated for the Maharashtra Spotlight Awards (MSA) at the India Republic Times – Leadership Conclave Mumbai 2026, recognising her work in mental health, equine-assisted wellness and experiential learning. Her journey reflects a growing effort to make conversations around emotional well-being more engaging, practical and accessible.
A psychology professional with a Master’s degree in Psychology, Nimrah has been practising counselling since 2013–14. She is also a certified counsellor and a registered Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner. Her professional journey has been shaped by a longstanding interest in human behaviour and emotional well-being, alongside a lifelong connection with horses.
That connection eventually led to the creation of Trot & Talk. The equine-assisted wellness initiative began its programmes in 2023, bringing psychology, meaningful conversations and guided interactions with horses into wellness and personal development experiences. Rather than relying only on conventional discussion-based approaches, the initiative uses experiential activities to encourage participants to reflect, communicate and understand their emotional responses.
Nimrah’s work is aimed at a broad audience, including children, adolescents, adults, parents, educators, professionals and corporate teams. The programmes can focus on areas such as confidence building, communication, leadership development, emotional resilience, personal growth and experiential learning.
Her approach is rooted in the belief that interactions with horses can create opportunities for people to slow down and become more aware of themselves. Horses can respond to changes in human behaviour and body language, making guided activities a practical setting for reflection and learning. Trot & Talk brings this human-animal connection into structured wellness experiences while keeping psychological understanding at the centre of the work.
Nimrah has continued to build her knowledge in the field. In 2025, she pursued training in the Principles of Equine Assisted Services. She also became an EFT practitioner in 2023, adding another dimension to her interest in emotional well-being and complementary wellness practices.
Her work has already received professional recognition. Nimrah was honoured with Bharath Shreshtha Ratna Sanman 2026 & The Indian Icon Award 2026 for Excellence in Emotional Wellbeing, Mindfulness & Experiential Learning. She has also been recognised for her contribution to mental health awareness and equine-assisted wellness.
An important part of Nimrah’s vision extends beyond people. She is interested in the welfare and emotional well-being of horses and explores the use of EFT with horses as a complementary approach to relaxation, emotional balance and overall welfare. This reflects her broader belief that meaningful human-animal relationships should be built with care and compassion.
For Nimrah, the journey has also been personal. She describes her path as one shaped by a simple choice: when life presents the option of giving up or continuing forward, she chooses to keep moving. That outlook continues to influence her work and the message she shares with audiences.
Her advice is equally straightforward. In a world that often feels rushed and complicated, she encourages people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, spend time in nature, nurture meaningful relationships and seek support when needed. Her philosophy is to keep life simple rather than complicate it.
The Maharashtra Spotlight Awards nomination at the India Republic Times – Leadership Conclave Mumbai 2026 places this work in the spotlight at a time when emotional well-being, experiential learning and alternative approaches to personal development are receiving wider attention. For Nimrah, the recognition is closely connected to the larger purpose behind Trot & Talk: creating meaningful spaces where people can learn, reflect and move forward with greater clarity, confidence and emotional awareness.
