At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Neeta Kamboj for an exclusive interview with us. Neeta is a Certified Soft Skills & English Communication Trainer, Therapist, Counsellor and Founder of UpSkillz Academy. Let’s learn more about her background, journey and her advice for our community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Neeta:
Could you please talk us through your journey and how did you discover your passion?
My Professional Journey: From Sales to Self-Awareness to Skill Development
My professional journey began in Mumbai with Kamats Hotels, where I was introduced to the dynamic world of Venue Marketing. This first opportunity opened doors to the fields of Sales, Marketing, Pitch Delivery, and eventually Customer Service. It laid the foundation for my understanding of customer-centric business practices.
Two years later, I stepped into the role of Centre Manager at St. Angelo’s Computers Pvt. Ltd. Here, I trained counsellors, managed client relationships, and played a pivotal role in converting leads into admissions.
Guiding students in selecting suitable computer courses helped me gain insights into Information Technology while also sparking a deeper interest in coaching and mentoring.
My next chapter took a turn toward entrepreneurship, as I joined my family business in ethnic wear and garment retail. Over eight years, I balanced business responsibilities and family life, managing operations in sarees, embroidery, and traditional apparel. This phase enriched my business acumen and deepened my appreciation for culture and creativity.
In 2019, I chose to pause and reflect. As a lifelong early riser with a passion for fitness and wellness, I enrolled in the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course at Sivananda Dhanwantari Yoga Vedanta Ashram.
One month of rigorous discipline and philosophical learning, particularly the Bhagavad Gita, was a turning point. It awakened a new level of self-awareness, shaping the person I am today. Since then, Yoga and Pranayama have become an integral part of my lifestyle, and I’ve been teaching it for over six years.
The corporate world called me back briefly as a Sales Manager in the FMCG sector, but I soon realised my true passion lies in Teaching and Training. I pursued certifications as a Soft Skills Trainer and later completed a TEFL certification to teach English as a foreign language.
Today, I am on a mission to empower individuals with strong English communication and essential soft skills with UPSKILLZ ACADEMY. My vision is to make learning accessible, practical, and inspiring, enabling people to grow in confidence and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
I believe that life is more than what we see it is. I have evolved, emerged despite all the obstacles, as I don’t give up easily.
Every failure imparts a unique wisdom, if you have an eye to see it, the mind to comprehend and the heart to absorb it.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
Life is about giving first, then expecting.
We have a set of eyes to see and express and a mouth, in my opinion, it takes 2 tears to understand the value of 1 smile. If you don’t understand and accept Hurt, you cannot value Happiness.
We are all alone in this journey of life with the illusion of being together, it’s a path we need to travel alone, the friendships, associations, partnerships, and relationships are tools to understand life. They help us to live, feel and grow.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Success is a subjective term, its different for all. For me, it’s the ability to live without the confines of any other person’s control. The ability to make decisions and take responsibility of it. A life that’s remembered, when you pass away, the values that you imparted and lived by it.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
The advice that I would like to give is: Acquire the knowledge and skills relevant to the domain of work you choose. Be prepared to go an extra mile when required. Don’t just work, believe in the work, make it count.
Add value to the workplace by healthy teamwork & positive attitude. Acquire life skills: Time management, Empathy, the awareness to accept shortcomings and correct them, work on the areas of improvement, continuous upgradation of the knowledge.
Never stop learning. Let nothing defeat you. Be patient, success takes time, and perseverance eventually pays! The moment of Glory comes to those who don’t quit.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
New avenues to learn, scale-up & grow. Imparting knowledge, sharing it to make life successful, enriching lives, carving a space in the hearts of people whom I meet and learning from their experiences. Every fall that was incurred made me discover the strength I have today. Every experience showed me a window to evolve and emerge.
I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, Mr. Sukhdev Pahuja & Mrs. Kavita Pahuja, for giving me a life with values, virtues and compassion. They are like the LIGHTHOUSE to which I ANCHOR!
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
