Umhlanga life coach and founder of Conscious Design, Bianca Rungasamy, is redefining what it means to be a young Indian woman, a leader and a work-in-progress – all at once.
When you meet Bianca, you notice two things almost immediately: her gentleness and her grit. Soft-spoken but fiercely intentional, she carries the kind of quiet strength that comes from doing the hard inner work and then choosing to share it.
Finding her voice
Bianca has always been “the sounding board friend” – the one people naturally open up to. She knew she wasn’t a “corporate girlie”, but a creative, leadership-driven soul who wanted to build something of her own.
A turning point came when she joined the Miss Earth Leadership Programme and discovered just how powerful her voice could be.
“That programme was the springboard for everything,” she explains.
“I started going into schools, giving talks, creating programmes and fundraisers. It showed me that leadership was my actual passion.”
From there, Bianca launched her own leadership initiative and realised she needed deeper tools. Life coaching felt like a natural extension, a way to merge her purpose, her story, and her love for people.
In 2022, Conscious Design was born. Not as a neat overnight success, but in the messy, very human way most meaningful work begins.
“No brand just pops out of nowhere,” she laughs.
“The last few years have been about laying foundations, digging, demolishing, rebuilding. There’s been impostor syndrome, self-doubt, days where I wanted to talk myself out of it a million ways. It took grit and grace to keep going. Like birthing a baby, you have no choice but to see it through.”
Breaking the cycle
One of the things Bianca speaks about with deep honesty is the experience of being a young Indian woman choosing a different path.
She grew up watching many women in the Indian community, especially older generations, live lives of quiet hardship.
“We saw our grandmothers and mothers being heavily dependent on their husbands, then on their children.
“Their resilience was celebrated, but often it meant swallowing pain and staying silent. That filtered down through generations.”
For women like Bianca, choosing to break away from familiar expectations – to speak up, prioritise healing and set boundaries – can come at a cost.
“When you try to do things differently, you can get labelled,” she says. “You’re ‘problematic’, ‘too much’, or seen as someone who doesn’t fit the traditional mould. And in a culture where marriage is often viewed as a key milestone, those labels can carry real weight.”
Bianca also highlights the stigma around speaking openly about personal struggles.
“In our community, people don’t always know what to do with vulnerability.
“Everyone talks, everyone has an opinion. It can make you doubt yourself. But I’m seeing a big shift, especially among young Indian women, who are saying, this cycle ends with me. That takes massive courage.”
For Bianca, using her voice, and encouraging other women to use theirs, feels like both a responsibility and a privilege.
“We are not turning a blind eye anymore. We are naming the patterns, talking about mental health, owning our stories. That is worth celebrating.”
Conscious Design, in real life
So, what does life coaching with Bianca actually look like?
Much of her current work is rooted in group coaching, networking sessions and facilitation, including her involvement in a political leadership school that focuses on empowerment and active citizenship.
“I love group spaces. There is something powerful about women hearing each other say, me too. It dissolves shame.”
She plans to expand into one-on-one coaching and is developing a podcast, a space to share the kinds of deep, honest, slightly unfiltered conversations she has off the record.
A life by design, not default
While her work focuses on others, Bianca is clear: she is also her own ongoing project.
A year ago, she says, she was constantly ill and physically weak.
“I couldn’t even lift a weight. Now, I am addicted to the gym. I feel strong, energetic, like a completely different person. It’s proof that you are never the same person twice.”
Her vision for 2026 is simple but deeply intentional:
“I just want to be the best possible version of myself. The Bianca I’ll meet next year must be better than the Bianca I am now and then I’ll keep going. I love that we get to evolve. We are not stuck.”
For Bianca, Conscious Design isn’t just a brand name, it’s a way of living. It’s about small, consistent shifts: choosing presence over autopilot, designing a life that feels aligned, and courageously breaking the patterns that no longer serve you, even when your community doesn’t always understand.
She’s not claiming to have it all figured out. But she is committed to staying honest, staying open and leading with compassion.
Bianca’s favourite local spots
Best start to the day: Early morning walks along the Umhlanga Promenade.
Pocket of calm: Chris Saunders Park, her go-to green escape.
Move & reset: FIT24 at Oceans Mall keeps her feeling strong and centred.
Soulful catch-ups: Mitera for slow, heart-filling girl dates.
Creative corner: The Press Club at Salta – peaceful, inspiring and home to some of her favourite breakfasts.
Details: www.biancarungasamy.co.za; 083 283 4920; IG: @bianca_rungasamy
Text: Jennifer Campbell Photographs: Wylde Creative Makeup: Brush Bridal
Location: Next Level, Ballito Lifestyle Centre
