“I wish I could pursue my side projects without feeling completely drained.” That thought crossed Sahana Narendran’s mind while juggling school, music, volunteering, and personal projects. Two years later, she founded Sensei, an AI-powered platform designed to help side hustlers turn their ideas into actionable tasks while maintaining balance.

In this episode of Lead with AI, host Dr. Tamara Nall speaks with Sahana Narendran, founder of Sensei, about how the platform empowers creators to manage their “5 to 9” work—the personal projects that make life fulfilling—without falling into burnout. Sahana shares how Sensei co-designs users’ to-do lists, tracks progress visually, and encourages reflection without guilt, all while prioritizing mental well-being.

She also discusses her own journey as a graduate student at the University of Washington studying human-centered design, musician, and volunteer, and how those experiences shaped the vision for Sensei. From early user stories to the ethical design considerations around data privacy, Sahana offers insight into creating tools that genuinely support creators.

For anyone struggling to balance multiple passions or side hustles, this conversation shows how AI can help you focus, reflect, and move your creative projects forward while protecting your mental health.