In this sixth episode of "Sound of Silence Talks," host Harish Mehta interviews his longtime friend Shrenik Shah. Shrenik recounts his 1997 diagnosis with stage‑4 vocal‑cord cancer at age 44, the radical surgery that removed his vocal cords, and the subsequent loss of his natural speaking ability. He describes the immediate challenges—communicating via pen and paper, then a chin‑mounted electronic speaking device, and enduring 35 days of radiotherapy that blackened his neck. Despite public rejection of his altered voice, Shrenik persisted, practicing daily in front of a mirror and eventually speaking in public again. Over the next decade he continued his insurance business while gradually transitioning into counseling fellow cancer patients, advocating for survivorship, and delivering talks at medical colleges. This experience sparked his evolution into a vocal coach, stagecoach, leadership coach, and motivational speaker, culminating in an invitation to speak at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. Throughout, he emphasizes the power of will, commitment, and personal development, urging listeners to take charge of their lives.
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Hello again. It's Abundant Harish Mehta with my dear friend Shrenik Shah. The Sound of Silence Talks. Today as we speak, this is the 6th episode where Shrenik will share his life. Post-survival from the cancer, and how he moved on to become the speaker, the new person motivating the world how to live the life. And today, as he speaks. I want each one of you listening to this program take notes that these turning points come in your life and how you grow to become the person you were born to be and live the life that you deserve. I mean it. You deserve to live the life That you were born to be, and who better than my friend Shenik sharing this today with you? So over to you, Shenik. All yours.
Thank you. Thank you, Harish. Once again, my deepest gratitude to. Everybody, to all my web visitors, supporters, cancer specialists, and whoever I am connected through LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. In my Earlier talks I mentioned about Type 1 Zero, about my career as an international businessman and so on. But today is altogether a different, absolutely different and unbelievable journey. As a vocal coach, as a stagecoach, vocal coach, cancer victim, to becoming leadership coach and motivational speaker. And it's, it's, believe me, it's indeed grace, grace of God. And I am 360 degrees workplace, and I am surrounded by countless individuals from all over the world. So I express my deepest gratitude in first place. Friends, imagine you are invited to meet the world's renowned And you are on the podium, people, attendees, everybody is looking at you and rather waiting for you to deliver talk. And somehow, though you are well prepared, everything, and when you are about to speak In front of microphone, somehow your voice is lost. You can imagine your concern, your frustration, perhaps anger, and on top of that, your fear. Helplessness for being unable to communicate because your own voice, which is your identity, is not coming out. And my dear friends, that's what— like a bouncer I came across Before 25 years, that was in August and September 1997. I was diagnosed with stage 4 vocal cord cancer. I was given a choice, either life or voice, and I had chosen life by Losing my natural speaking ability forever. I underwent massive surgery from left to right. The, the throat was opened like 2 windows, and my vocal cords were removed. Along with vocal cord, part of the muscle was removed, which was with 56 nodes. Fortunately, there was no cancer in those 56 nodes, but yes, vocal cord was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and Yes, I lost my natural speaking capability forever at the age of 44. I was the only earning member of the family. My wife, she was a housewife. My 2 sons, Maulik and Gidh, they were 20 and 18 years old, and they were pursuing their education. So total responsibility for the family, financial responsibility for the family falls on my shoulders. But honestly speaking, this surgery, this loss of voice, to me turned out as a blessing in disguise. Prior to my surgery, I was completely a businessman, family man, and yes, I was 1,000% introvert. I had only 5 friends, and now there are more than 5,000 or maybe more. So, actually, Because of my natural speaking ability for 3 months, I had to struggle communicating through pen and paper. And my dear friends, in these days, who has time to communicate with you through pen and paper? Time is money, we all know that. And that's how I was advised to switch over from pen and paper to this handheld electronic device, which I had to place under my chin to communicate. After the surgery, I did underwent radiotherapy. For 35 days, and the entire neck turned completely black. It was as good as charcoal. But then that also not stopped me because circumstances, situation, everything. And yes, there was inner will that I must have to rise up again. And I started learning speaking with this device. I started practicing by standing in front of mirror for hours, and I learned speaking with this device as there was no speech language therapy service was available here in Ahmedabad. And few months Later, I started speaking in public, and my dear friends, I lost the— my willpower for a while because I got total rejection from the public. They had never come across such kind of voice, and That was a challenging situation in my life because जो बोलता है कोई बिकता है and being a marketer, if I don't speak, I cannot sell, which was my key business activity. And that's how I continued speaking, speaking, and speaking continuously. I made sure that I should be completely audible. And from 1997 till 2010, I continued my business, my insurance business, including traveling. And in 2011, I was called for counseling, cancer patient, by a private hospital. And I consulted, and I could convince cancer patient who had same issue like me, which I had in 1997, and I could manage to convince him to undergo massive surgery. And perhaps I was— but no, I was a person who would indirectly support that individual for his survival. And that single incident of continuity patient made me realize that what exactly the importance of this voice And since then, I never looked back. I never felt that I had cancer. I never felt that, you know, I lost my natural speaking ability. And I started counseling patients, advocating patients, and then giving lectures in public forums, auditoriums, and conferences, medical colleges, and so on. So dear friends, imagine the rejection which I received in December 1997. That rejection was turned into opportunities as a speaker As a motivational speaker, as a leadership coach, mentor, and advocate. And fortunately, I could build my image as a Shrenik Shah, as a Sound of Silence dog. And yes, believe me, I am the only proper speaker and All profitable speakers and organizations in the world. And yes, I am committed to deliver my best. And one more thing I would like to add here, or rather I would like to share a news that I am invited to deliver talk at India's number one business management institute, that is Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Thank you so very much for listening to my journey, and it's really not important who I am, but the only important point is how I reached to this destination. Thank you.
Indeed, a great story, Srinik. So much to learn, so much to understand. You have gone through the journey all by yourself, and today, as you share with this world, I am sure they are inspired, they are motivated, and your words. Have influenced them that they need to get up and work on themselves so that they can become more. And these lessons which you are teaching them will keep them inspired for life. So, Shrenik, I must add here While I was listening to your story, I was reminded of certain stories which have happened in my life, how I had to fall down and rise again, create a new business for myself, and before that, how to create— Leadership in people amongst my friends. After the banking career, I have played 2 innings, one with an organization for 10 years, and now my best innings of speaking, coaching, mentoring, teaching leadership to become real leaders in this life. So great to have you on the show, great to listen to your story. And would love to share my story a bit in the next episode of Abundant Harish Mehta with Shenik Silence Talks.
Before we complete this session, I would like to show something very important.
Please. It is partially visible. Oh, lovely, lovely, lovely! Brilliant, brilliant! So congratulations to you.
Thank you. So life is definitely hundred times, thousand times larger than cancer. If you have a will to win, if you are committed to win, and you are a body giver and not sympathy seeker, thank you.
The will brings the commitment, and the commitment charges your body with energy, and that energy makes you run, strive, and lead. So great remarks from you. I wish the listeners take note of 2 words: take charge of your life, be committed to your personal development, personal growth, and lead a life of richness in terms of the words you speak, in terms of the people you live with. And carry this for the rest of your life. So thank you all and see you again in our next episode.
