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 Vidya Mathews for an exclusive interview with us. She is an Executive Coach, Trainer, Motivational Speaker and Founder Director Vdiya Inc. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, her background, and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Vidya:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I was raised in a small town near the borders of our country, I began my career as an Education Service Provider, handling Operations, finance and administration and eventually moved to Learning and Development and Human Resources. I spent around 10 years handling various facets of the Global L&D and HR role at a Leading ITES Organization, I got an opportunity to travel, learn and work with Global teams, building the L&D processes to attract and retain talent for offshore projects.
I also worked for Infrastructure Project Management handling several key accounts across the globe simultaneously working on OD projects. Post which, I worked with US Retail giant, where I was responsible was OD, Talent Management and Employee Relations. I then moved to Bangalore to handle L&D for three business verticals for a UK retail giant before coming back to start on my own as a Solopreneur and have trained over 24500 people since then.
Over the last 25 years, I have conducted more than Five thousand six hundred workshops in the field of Leadership/ Behavioural/ PoSH/ Technical pieces of training to date (Managing Self, First-time Manager, Managing others, Transformational Leadership, Critical thinking, Stakeholder Management, Design Thinking, Teamwork and collaboration, Innovation and Creativity, Prioritisation and Planning, unconscious bias, Campus to corporate being a few).
I have also intensively conducted POSH- training (Induction training/ general awareness/ manager awareness/ ICC) for more than 14 years. I started as an internal Investigator and have drafted policies, implemented anti-sexual harassment committees and set up the ICs in the past and have covered different LOBs (BFSI, IT, ITES, Manufacturing, Retail, Real estate, FMCG, Media), levels, cadres and Geographies for PoSH in India. I am also associated as an external IC member at a few organisations along with the training and coaching, I also gained experience as an Internal ISO & BS7799 Auditor in this quarter of a century’s experience.
How did you discover your passion?
Discovering one’s passion is a long journey for many people that involves multiple iterations of self-exploration, experimentation, and reflection. I am glad that I was one of the lucky few who figured out very early in my career, in fact in my first iteration, that sharing Knowledge is what I am meant for.
For those who are still struggling I have an Seven Step Process to help you uncover your passion.
1. Reflect on your Interests, especially the ones that bring you joy and fulfilment. What are you naturally drawn to? What activities do you lose track of time while doing?
2. Don’t be afraid to explore new interests and activities. Experimenting with different hobbies, classes, or volunteer opportunities will definitely help you see what resonates with you.
3. Try and notice the topics or issues that spark your curiosity and make you want to learn more. Your passion often lies at the intersection of interests and curiosity.
4. Causes or values play a big role in identifying and pursuing your passion that is important to you. Your passion may align with making a positive impact on others, contributing to your community, or advocating for social change.
5. Paying attention to feedback from others is one of the best ways to know about your strengths, talents, and contributions. Sometimes, others may see potential in you that you haven’t recognized yourself.
6. Even though I haven’t done too much of this, I have seen a lot of my friends find their passion is often a process of trial and error. Experimenting, exploring, and adjusting your path based on what you learn about yourself along the way.
7. Last but not least, Discovering your passion may take time, so be patient with yourself and stay persistent in your pursuit. Stay open-minded and embrace the journey of self-discovery.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
A strong sense of purpose and passion will lead you to what you want and can fuel your motivation and determination, even during difficult times. Surrounding yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, mentors, and colleagues can provide encouragement, advice, and perspective when facing challenges.
Leaning on your support system for emotional support and guidance during tough times. Reminding yourself of past successes and how you overcame obstacles in the past, and trust in your ability to overcome current challenges. Staying flexible and adaptable in your approach to problem-solving and navigating challenges. Be willing to adjust your strategies, seek alternative solutions, and learn from setbacks to keep moving forward.
Not to forget to prioritize self-care and well-being to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health during tough times. Make time for activities that recharge and rejuvenate you, such as exercise, hobbies, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.
The most important is having a Positive Mindset and focusing on the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead, even in the face of adversity. Once in a while, Celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation and momentum.
Learn to seek guidance from others when facing challenges beyond your capacity to handle alone. Whether it’s seeking advice from a mentor, consulting with a therapist, or delegating tasks to lighten your workload, Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
As a trainer, I’ve learned that consistency is key to achieving results and to be consistent you need to be on top of what needs to be done and that needs continuous learning and degradation.
Secondly, Adaptation is another essential to meet the diverse needs of the environment.
The most important qualities for creating enduring bonds and promoting the advancement of clients are Gratitude and Empathy.
If I may add one more to the list, please ask when in doubt. “Puchne se toh bhagwan Bhi mil jaate hai” is a line I use frequently in my training sessions. All you have to do is ASK the “Right Questions
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
The first step towards success from a training Solopreneur’s POV is to Establish a clear and compelling brand identity that reflects your expertise, values, and unique approach to training.
Along with a strong Brand, a developed strategic marketing plan to reach your target audience, utilize social media, networking, and content creation to showcase your expertise and attract clients is also important.
Building strong relationships with your clients and stakeholders, focusing on communication, understanding their goals, and providing personalized attention and support works wonders in long-term stakeholder partnering.
I am a strong believer in staying updated on the latest trends, research, and best practices in fitness and training to enhance your skills can help you provide the best possible service to your clients.
Efficiently managing time and resources to balance client sessions, administrative tasks, marketing efforts, and personal development. Being flexible and adaptable to changes in the industry, client needs, and market demands, adjusting your approach and offerings as necessary to stay competitive and relevant.
Finally, Focusing on health and well-being to avoid burnout and maintain the energy and enthusiasm needed to excel in your business.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
A career journey is like going through a forest and walking through ambiguous paths towards success. Making well-defined plans, empowering oneself with information, and looking for travel buddies will be the first step towards this goal. Having clear objectives will help you stay focused and motivated.
The possibilities that lie ahead can be represented by the forest, and education is the compass that will lead them. Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning and seek opportunities.
To help you in your voyage, I urge all aspirants to look for guides, allies, and other travellers. Networking can open doors to new opportunities, and provide valuable insights. Fortitude, tenacity, and bravery are other qualities needed to face any kind of difficulty.
A positive outlook can help you navigate obstacles with resilience and optimism. As a traveller, one should welcome the journey that lies ahead because every step one takes will bring one closer to realizing their aspirations. Flexibility and versatility are valuable traits in today’s rapidly evolving job market.
It is important that as a traveller, we need to understand our fellow travellers. Trust and credibility are essential for building strong professional relationships and a solid reputation. To conclude, every step that brings you closer to the fulfilment of the dream is also important; the journey is as important for the traveller as the destination.
So take time for self-care, relaxation, and pursuing hobbies and interests outside of work. This will help you be sane and happy to sail through the journey towards a Happy ending.
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.
