Embracing Change, Overcoming Challenges: My coaching journey - UK to India

I am thrilled to announce the completion of my Personal Performance Coaching Diploma from The Coaching Academy in the UK. This achievement is the culmination of an incredible journey that began nearly a decade ago.

Join me as I recount the story of my transformative path in the world of coaching, packed with ups and downs, self-discovery, and unwavering determination.

It all began on a serendipitous weekend in March 2013 when I stumbled upon a two-day complimentary event focused on coaching. Little did I know that this encounter would set my life on a new trajectory. During those two days, I had the privilege of meeting inspirational coaches such as Ann Skidmore, MBA , Sarah Urquhart , Pam Lidford and Kris Robertson . Those moments were ineffable, and by the end of Day 2, I felt an unshakable sense that I had found my true calling.

In a mix of excitement and trepidation, I committed to a coaching journey. However, the road ahead wasn't easy. At that time, my younger three children were two, six, and ten years old. The coaching program demanded weekend classes, meaning I had to leave my kids in the care of my husband, stepchildren and other family members each time I attended. What's more, I didn't settle for just one diploma; I ambitiously signed up for five. It was March 15, 2013, and each diploma required no less than 42 hours of in-person classes, equivalent to 15 weekends away from my family.

As if this wasn't challenging enough, the awakening I experienced during that discovery weekend led to deep introspection, a profound 'Wheel of Life' exercise, and a life-altering decision to relocate from the UK to India. By the beginning of April 2013, my family and I had made the monumental decision, and eight months later, we found ourselves in the vibrant city of Bangalore. This transition demanded that I find time to attend 210 hours of classes before departing the UK, all while orchestrating a relocation after nearly two decades of living in the UK.

Despite the numerous obstacles, we channelled all our energy, effort, and resources into making my coaching dream and the relocation a reality. I came tantalizingly close to becoming a certified coach in 2013, having completed over 200 hours of training and obtained my diploma as an NLP practitioner.

The journey in India begins...

I was convinced that this was my opportunity to exit a corporate role and become a coach fulltime in India. So rarely do people have an opportunity to start an entirely new career. However, the reality that I had no experience working in Corporate India hit hard. I knew no one in the field of coaching, I knew no one in the corporate landscape in India, and many I spoke to were unfamiliar with the concept of coaching. Self-doubt began to creep in, and my conviction wavered.

At the end of my 10-month sabbatical in August 2014, I instead transitioned into a corporate role as Director of Internal Audit at Deloitte, eventually leading to my position as Head of Internal Audit and SOX at Infosys. I do believe everything happens for a reason. I cherish the experiences I gained, the friendships I made, the connections I formed, I lessons I learnt and the support I received throughout my 9 years to date. I am so much more enriched for it. My coaching dream and my coaching diploma were, of course, for the time being, put on hold.

Fast forward eight years, I discovered a fantastic coaching school in Bangalore, Regal Unlimited - The Coaching School for the World in August 2021, and reignited my coach training. I achieved certification as an ACC coach under International Coaching Federation just nine months later. Nevertheless, the knowledge that my coaching qualifications from the UK were still pending continued to gnaw at me. So, I embarked on this journey once more—a rigorous process involving three assessed recordings, a 3000-word assessment paper, and over 25,000 words in coach records and reflections.

On October 30, 2023, a remarkable 10.5 years after my coaching journey began, I finally achieved my Personal Performance Coaching Diploma from The Coaching Academy. This milestone would not have been possible without the invaluable support of many individuals.

My family, who stood by me during those early days in 2013; my step-daughter and fellow coach in training, Ambika Jois , who introduced me to The Coaching Academy; my work colleagues at Infosys who supported my part-time working and gave me the mental freedom to pursue my coaching; the dedicated trainers at TCA who inspired my learning; my colleagues at Cancer Research UK who allowed me to practice my coaching skills on them when I started out; my peer coaches from TCA ( Dr Marcela Aguirre , Shirleyann Jones NPQH , Kulsum M. and many more), who patiently supported me as I rediscovered my rhythm and my peer coaches from Regal Unlimited ( Priya Sundaram ( ICF PCC) , Rama Venkataraman and many more) who patiently coached me as I overcame self-doubt and procrastination and took steps to complete this diploma.

As I reflect on this journey, I carry with me numerous life lessons that have fortified my path forward:

• Believe you can, and you will.
• A delay is not never, just later.
• Be grateful for the support you receive, in whatever form it takes.
• Action is the only antidote for procrastination.
• Finish what you started; you will always learn something new about yourself.
• Ask for help when you need it and pay it forward.
• Keep dreaming; it's the fuel you need to keep going.

With three more diplomas to complete at The Coaching Academy—the Corporate and Executive Coaching Diploma, the Small Business Coaching Diploma, and the Youth Impact Coaching Diploma—these learnings form the bedrock of my journey ahead. I eagerly anticipate the unique lessons and experiences that lie in wait as I continue my pursuit of coaching excellence.

#CoachingJourney, #PersonalDevelopment, #LifeTransformation, #NeverGiveUp, #ProfessionalGrowth, #InspirationAndMotivation, #TheCoachingAcademy