Becoming the Coach I Needed: A Story of Career Transitions, Purpose, and Leadership

This piece is for the mid-career professional who feels a quiet pull toward something more aligned.

Not because things are falling apart.

But because something inside is shifting.

You may be successful.

You may be leading.

You may be respected in your field.

And yet, new questions are starting to surface:

Is this still the right path? What do I really want next?

How do I lead in a way that feels more like me?

If you’re someone who is open, curious, and willing to look inward for answers, this story may resonate. Because I’ve walked that path too.

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For me, my new year begins with the Lunar New Year — and this year, it feels especially meaningful. Over the past 13 years, I’ve grown and evolved so much, both personally and professionally, that I realized it was time to pause and reintroduce myself. Not just through titles or accomplishments, but through the story behind why I do what I do.

So, hi y’all. (Yes — I’m Indian, Singaporean, and Texan.)

I’m Sharanya Rao: a coach, facilitator, speaker, and artist. It may sound like I wear many hats, but at the heart of all of them is one purpose — partnering with people to lead with clarity and confidence across their careers, leadership, and teams.

I’m the Founder & CEO of Global Coaching Works,LLC, where I support professionals in navigating career growth, leadership development, and team dynamics. I’m also the Artistic Director of Leela – An Indian Community Theatre, where we create space for stories from the Indian community to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

At first glance, these roles may seem very different. But to me, they come from the same place: helping people find their voice, their purpose, and a sense of belonging so they can show up with clarity and confidence.

A Life Shaped by Transitions

I’m a Third Culture Kid — born in India, raised in Singapore, and now rooted in Austin, Texas. Moving across cultures shaped how I see the world and how I understand identity, belonging, and change.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve rebuilt my career more than once. I began as a litigation lawyer in Singapore, transitioned into state government after moving to Texas, and eventually found my way into coaching and entrepreneurship. Each shift required courage, reflection, and the willingness to begin again.

I know what it feels like to be in the in-between. To question your direction. To wonder if the path you’re on truly fits who you are becoming.

That search led me to the idea of swadharma — a Sanskrit word that refers to living one’s innate calling.

For years, I felt restless in roles that didn’t feel fully aligned with my purpose. I had support from my family, spiritual community, and close network, but I didn’t have a professional partner to help me navigate uncertainty, indecision, and change.

Ironically, it was only after I became a coach that I realized how much I would have benefited from having one.

So I became the coach I wish I had.

The Work I Do Today

As a coach, I strive to create spaces that feel safe and grounded. Spaces where people can pause, reflect, and reconnect with who they are and what matters most to them.

Across industries, career stages, and life circumstances, I partner with professionals to gain clarity on their strengths, values, and purpose while building the confidence to take meaningful action. I’ve supported leaders in strengthening self-awareness and communication, guided individuals through major career transitions, and helped people rediscover motivation and direction during some of life’s most challenging moments.

My approach is never one-size-fits-all. I listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and challenge people to see possibilities they may not have imagined.

The goal is simple: to help people feel more grounded, inspired, and capable of stepping into the next chapter of their lives and careers.

From Individuals to Systems

For the first eight years of my coaching career, my work focused primarily on one-on-one coaching and workshop facilitation. Then the pandemic created a moment of pause and reflection. I began asking myself deeper questions about belonging, inclusion, and my role in creating change.

As a person of color, I had lived the experience of not always feeling like I belonged. But I hadn’t yet centered that experience in my professional work.

During that time, many of the leaders I worked with, particularly women leaders, shared something that stayed with me: the workplace didn’t always feel ready for their whole selves.

It made me realize something important. It wasn’t just about individual change.

The systems needed to evolve.

That realization led me to expand my work to include teams and organizations. I trained in Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) to better support leaders and teams in creating environments rooted in trust, inclusivity, and psychological safety.

When people feel safe and valued, they bring their best selves forward — and that transforms not just individuals, but entire cultures.

Creativity, Community, and Voice

My search for swadharma also led me down a creative path.

In 2013, I founded Leela – An Indian Community Theatre because I noticed something missing. There were very few spaces where stories from the Indian community were being showcased in local community theatre. Many Indian professionals are deeply dedicated to their careers, often in STEM fields, yet carry a quiet yearning for creative expression that doesn’t always find an outlet.

Leela became a way to create space, a platform, and a voice for those stories. It allowed community members to collaborate, express themselves, and build connections through storytelling.

Over time, I began to see how my worlds could come together. Coaching, creativity, and social impact didn’t have to exist separately. They could intersect.

That realization led to projects like Anklets in the Boardroom — an interactive theatre experience that blends leadership development, identity, and storytelling.

This is where I’ve found my ikigai — the intersection of purpose, passion, and contribution.

Many Hats, One Purpose

So yes, I wear many hats.

But they all come from the same place: a deep desire to help people feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow.

Whether I’m coaching a leader, facilitating a team conversation, or helping a community tell its story on stage, the thread is the same.

It’s about holding space for people to explore what matters, find their voice, and grow into the next version of themselves.

And this year, as I step into the next chapter of my work, I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here — and for the people I’ve had the privilege to partner with along the way.

If you’ve been part of that journey, thank you.

If you’re new here, welcome.