As part of our ongoing quest to get you meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world, we invited yet another Leader and Coach – Sanjukta Khaund for an exclusive interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Coach and Counsellor. Let’s read more about her inspiring journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sanjukta:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem; talk us through your background and your journey, please.
A Mental Health Coach/Counsellor. I specialise in Personal Growth, Professional Development, Parenting, Life Transition, & Suicide Risk Assessment & Management. I am a collaborative, solution-focused Helping Professional and through this approach, I provide tools and practical feedback to help clients overcome roadblocks, build on their strengths and navigate their way through life’s challenges to live an abundant life. I exemplify my core values of authenticity, empathy, loyalty, contribution and generosity in every aspect of my life. I am also an education activist and collaborate with various NGOs.
My professional certifications include NLP Master Practitioner, ICF Certified Coach, Diploma in Counselling, Suicide Risk Assessment & Management Training Pro (QPRT). I have received my MBA in human resources from ISBM. I believe that learning is a continuous process and as a step towards enhancing my knowledge of the human mind, I am also pursuing my MA in Clinical Psychology.
I have been blissfully married for eleven years and have a ten-year-old daughter. I enjoy reading, writing, meditation and soulful music. I am also a travel enthusiast and have had the good fortune to have explored and experienced the culture of nearly 20 countries to date.
Prior to becoming a Mental Health Coach/Counsellor, I had nearly a dozen years of experience in Training, People management & Business Development across various industries such as hospitality, ITES & wellness retail. I was pretty successful at what I was doing but I always had this sense of discontent. It was as if there was a void. But, I was working constantly & with a daughter, husband and a family to manage, I had no time to dwell upon the reason for this dissatisfaction at work.
I am an empath and since my early years, I received the greatest pleasure from being able to help people solve their problems – whether it was a friend, family, neighbour or colleague. We moved cities in 2014 after which, I took a sabbatical sorts & during this time, I rediscovered myself. I worked with various NGO’s working with children, young adults and women and while working with them to empower them with the skills and mindset to thrive in their lives, I realised that I really felt fulfilled.
I continued with my volunteer work. Also, started pursuing my MBA in HR. After completing my MBA, I restarted my work in a training & development organisation. It was during this time that I was introduced to the awe-inspiring world of the power of the human mind and I realised that this was my true calling. After recognising my highest potential, I knew I had to make a change or risk losing having lived a full life. I then resigned from my position at the organisation and started my training to be a ‘Mental Health Coach/Counsellor. Rest, as they say, is history!!
What is the most challenging part of your work?
I find my work extremely fulfilling as it provides me with an opportunity to help people overcome their mental & emotional struggles & thrive in their lives. But, if, I had to think of one challenge, it would be balancing between empathy & objectivity.
Who are your role models?
I have been deeply influenced by the life & works of Victor E. Frankl, Milton H Erickson, James Allen & Friedrich Nietzsche
Our audience would like to know that what are the things that motivate you?
I have a helping heart & I find it deeply gratifying that I am able to help people in their personal growth & discovery; cope & overcome their struggles; unleash their unlimited potential & create a more fulfilling, balanced & meaningful life, The fact that coaching & counselling enables me to work in alignment with my core values and that I can help people to thrive motivates me on a daily basis.
How important is it that someone seeks help when struggling with their mental health?
It is extremely important that someone seeks help when struggling with their mental health as reaching out & seeking professional help is the first step towards recovery.
Mental health issues are rising in the workplace, would you like to see big companies arrange for people to speak to people like yourself to reduce that problem?
Every corporate should prioritize the mental well-being of their employees. They should normalize talking about mental health in their organizations & take steps to destigmatize mental health. As a step towards that outcome, corporates should encourage & arrange for their employees to speak to Helping Professionals.
What are your future plans?
My ambition is to make professional coaching & counselling accessible & affordable to all. With that in mind, I also offer ‘pay as you can’ for people who are not able to afford my regular consultation charges for whatever reasons.
I also provide pro-bono counselling services to economically disadvantaged children, adolescents and women.
Despite the challenges what keeps you going when things get tough?
As quoted by Nietzsche “He who has a ‘why’ to live, can bear almost any ‘how’.”
No matter, how difficult a situation is, a human being can endure & overcome it, as long as they have a goal or a purpose. In times of adversity, “My life’s purpose – my family & my work” keeps me going.
What is your message to our readers?
It’s actually all in our minds. We have the capacity to drastically change our reality on the outside, by making a few changes in our thought patterns and behaviour on the inside.
So, whether you are a teenager, looking for support to thrive during your developmental transition; a college student looking to improve your social life or your career prospects, a person looking for personal growth or to adapt to life’s changes, a professional looking for advancement within your career, or a parent trying to raise kids or balance work & life – have comfort in the knowledge that you can take charge of your life by taking charge of your mind.
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.
