At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the finest stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited a passionate entrepreneur – Sareena for an exclusive interview with us. She is an Entrepreneur, Influencer, Coach, Consultant and Mentor. Let’s learn more about her exciting journey, her background and her advice for our growing community.
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sareena:
We are aware of your contributions to the ecosystem; talk us through your background and your journey, please;
With a background in Textile Designing (INIFD New Delhi), I easily transitioned into different fashion houses, working with big brands (Gap, JCPenney, ASOS), I was extremely happy to continue my journey as an Image Stylist,(ICBI) until Covid affected work altogether.
While I was gathering all my work, I was battling my personal life’s challenges at the forefront. Suddenly I felt inadequate in terms of my skill set and had to focus on myself. I joined coaches like Puja Puneet, Rajiv Talreja, Prachi Mayekar, Siddharth Rajshekhar, and many more as my Life was crumbling, I was lost, and I needed a NON-JUDGEMENTAL mentor.
Today I am a Personal Identity Coach for women, helping them align inside-out and outside-in to live Guilt-free. I have trained more than 300 people so far and counting, in the field of Styling and Life Coaching.
I have combined two of my favourite topics and I empower women through their own discovery of PERSONAL STYLE & CREATE THEIR OWN LIFE RULES so that they can own their TRUE IDENTITY.
How did you discover your passion in ‘Coaching’?
I was happy working in different fashion houses, it came easily to me, but I couldn’t get back into my own industry, due my sabbatical period. Companies refused to hire me, thinking I would ditch them in case I decided to bear children.
I was getting nowhere and my desperation to work was attracting horrible companies with low-paying salaries. I did them all, but still couldn’t get myself back in the game. I was losing patience, and that’s when I realized I could be the solo trainer, but Covid altered that for me.”
I started as a coach, by ‘Chance’ but today, I coach by ‘Choice’. I realized that my experiences have shaped me into who I am, and while I assumed people would be aware of certain basic characteristics, I was proven wrong. Hence my intention became stronger to help, guide, validate, empower and encourage women to be MORE TRUE to themselves.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Usually, people look on both sides of the road before crossing, I do that multiple times before I take a plunge only to avoid most issues. Yet challenges come, and they are never pleasant. I have been blessed with good solid friends, who have been there for me, to remind me of the reality, my true self of being, and have never disrespected my high emotions.
Similarly, I have my own community of coaches, and trainers, who meet up and have an honest discussion of resolving problems and moving ahead.
Most of my challenges are mine, and I can only work with someone who is also dealing with the same problem. But having a good sense of highly evolved, emotionally balanced, and sensitive- sensible coaches is your best bet going forward in this journey.
I often take inspiration from nature and try to let that timeline help me recognize my own journey. Since my mother is an avid gardener, she gives me realistic examples from mother nature that can be easily applied in our lives.”
Above all, If there is a situation where nothing works, I truly believe GOD is my saviour, and I surrender to His Will.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
I owe a large part to my mother, who supports me because she knows my will and dedication to make a difference in this world by standing up for myself.
Having said that, I find my motivation from other strong women like OPRAH, MICHELLE OBAMA, LISA BILYEU, NAJWA ZEBIAN, EVY POUMPOURAS, BRENE BROWN and many more.
I keep learning from our own guests on our channel of Buland Hosle, where we invite inspiring women who are the first of their kind, or have broken the cusp of society or are living their dream life, after battling cancer to share their wisdom and key mantras of life. The episodes are a great way to analyze your own life and appreciate the amazing strength, that is the woman.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
> Always be open to learning, because you can find smarter, quicker, or more efficient ways other than your own.
> Challenging yourself, and society and discovering your own sweet spot in the middle.
> To always say yes to fun things.
> To always have a clear and honest line of action, in alignment to your honest intention.
> To be aware of my life’s purpose at the core of everything.
> Always forgive yourself, because I am a human being, and I must give myself second chances to improve.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
I go back to a few things.
(1) Listen to podcasts and audios that are helpful.
(2) Read books in a specific genre of personal development that works with my current challenges.
(3) Take a walk, or sleep.
(4) Ultimately going back to what my goals are. Sometimes, going back on my work, looking at my journey, watching the difference I’ve made has helped me realize my growth.
(5) Believing in the universe’s law that my efforts will be rewarded. Not necessarily from the same source, but it’s destined to come.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
I will share just a few:
(i) The fact that I create a safe space for the client to realize that this conversation will remain private to them and myself.
(ii) I share my own troubles, challenges, and my wins of what I did.
(iii) Stories are not enough, they need to work on themselves in depth with worksheets, tests, personal introspection, and deadlines to get the ball rolling.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Success is perceived so personally, but for me it’s a few that I can truly work with:
(a) Be aware of what is petty in your life, and reduce that from your daily life.
(b) Let go of people and their opinions, thoughts, words, and actions. If possible, let them go, if they have crossed their lines and are not part of your growth.
(c) Stop finding lame, pathetic excuses for not moving forward.
(d) Be responsible for your own life, and you will live with peace with your choices and consequences both.
(e) Stop being a ‘YES’ man, and start building your self-respect where you earn respect and not demand it.
(f) Always keep learning, because our education system has not equipped us in all areas of our lives to evolve successfully.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
First and foremost, recognize that your environment plays a huge part in your life. So, make sure you are surrounding and choosing the people around you every day.
Every subject of business or entrepreneurial management you hate is the key to your next successful venture. Always ensure that business and personal matters do not entangle and you keep them far away.
Always do everything yourself, so that you can ensure that you never get duped by others and that you always have quality control over what you expect for your brand and business going forward.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Losing your identity is the worst possible feeling I would not even wish on my enemy. I survived because I had friends, who were my voice of reason, with love, acceptance, and respect for my emotions.
Because of them, I never took extreme steps in my life. My mission is only to help the next woman, who feels as lost and crazy as I did, and know that Life is Beautiful and that they are worthy of giving themselves another chance at life by discovering their true self, and living every single day guilt-free.
In this world of deception, lies, manipulation, and diplomatic behaviour, I choose to live in true alignment to myself, my values and with God’s true virtues and that is exactly what I help my clients also do, be, and breathe.
Genuinely my mission is very simple:
– Look like a Queen (Personal Styling)
– Feel Like a Warrior (Life Coaching -living guilt-free)
– Be your Highest Self (Aligning to your Highest True Self)
Currently part of Super Speaker season 2, top 1000 Pan India. Looking forward to my next goal of super 250.
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.
