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I previously posted about my sabbatical—my adult gap year from work—and why I took one. Today, I want to talk about the power of this change!

Having things go the way you’ve always known them to go is comforting, predictable, mundane, but controllable. Change on the other hand is hard! Words like adjusting, compromising, and adapting don’t always bring joy. But they should. And that has been my biggest discovery…

I came to the U.S. from India with little cash and two suitcases, determined to get my MBA. When I arrived in 2015, I had no friends or family here. I graduated with my MBA in 2017 and started working in product management. Over time, I rose through the ranks, leading and coaching multinational teams and managing P&Ls.

It was exciting at first. But slowly, I found myself burned out and overworked. The lack of work-life balance, constant meetings, a slow toxic work environment began to take a toll. My health started to suffer. I developed severe lower back pain, which eventually turned out to be Sciatica. Sciatica is a painful condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed and that causes radiating pain from the lower back down through the leg. At one point, I could barely sit, walk, or sleep without discomfort.

My burn out wasn’t just physical. I was exhausted mentally and emotionally too. I had no time to eat, and I’m not exaggerating when I say: my body shut down.

That’s when I made one of the boldest decisions of my life.
I quit my job with no backup plan and took a sabbatical.

I visited my family in India and spent meaningful time with them. I traveled to Rishikesh, a sacred city near the Himalayas known as the yoga capital of the world, and attended a mindfulness retreat. That’s where I discovered the healing power of yoga for both mind and body.

Photo of me at a meditation retreat in Rishikesh, India

It wasn’t until I began a consistent yoga practice and daily stretching that I realized how fragile my body had become. I was finally diagnosed with sciatica by a doctor in India, and slowly began my recovery.

During this time, I kept asking myself:
“What can I do now? What is my purpose?”

One day, while watching the Mahabharata—an epic Indian poem and one of the longest ever written—I heard something that stuck with me that was a watershed moment:

“If one dwells on the wrongs done to them, it breeds resentment. But if they use their pain to help others, they walk the righteous path.”

Sri Krishna

Instead of staying bitter about my past, or the struggles I faced climbing the corporate ladder as an immigrant—with no support system, deep culture shock, and countless communication challenges—I decided to do something about it. I realized I could help others like me who feel unseen and unheard sometimes.

And that’s how my coaching motto was born:
I help people speak up, confidently.

I started coaching professionals from around the world build confidence, speak clearly, and get noticed in their workplaces. I launched an online business, built a website, created a public speaking course on Udemy, started an Instagram and YouTube channel to share tools and tips, and founded a South Asian women’s networking group in the Raleigh-Durham area to build real community.

The satisfaction I get from this work is like nothing I’ve experienced before. It brings me deep joy to know I’m helping others find their voice, just like I found mine. I’m changing lives—and that puts a smile on my face every day.

As for my health, I’m now consistent with my yoga and stretching routine. I can bend freely without pain, and while it’s still a work in progress, I’m feeling stronger, more mindful, and more connected to myself than ever before. A miraculous change!

Looking back, I’m ecstatic I made this change. Taking that leap without a safety net was terrifying, but it turned out to be the most fulfilling decision of my life.

You only get one life! Live the one that’s right for your body and your mind.

Feel free to comment, reach out, or just say hello!
Seek your adventure. Alisha out!