Coach Usha nagrani

I remember sitting at my desk, staring at my screen, wondering:

"Will I ever be an HR Manager?"

Doubt crept in. Am I good enough? What if I fail? What if I never get noticed?

I thought success meant working harder, proving myself to others, and waiting for the right opportunity.

But looking back, I realize I had it all wrong.

The real question wasn’t if I could grow—it was how I treated myself.

The moment I stopped waiting for success and started creating it, everything changed.

What Did I Do Differently?

Instead of hoping things would change, I made three bold decisions that helped me break through:

1. I Stopped Waiting for Permission & Invested in Myself

No one was going to hand me growth on a silver platter.

So, I took charge.

I signed up for CIPD courses, studied late into the night, and earned my MCIPD qualification.

Was it easy? No.

But was it worth it? Absolutely.

The confidence I gained from investing in myself? Game-changing.

2. I Stopped Playing Small & Took Initiative at Work

I refused to sit on the sidelines.

I spoke up in meetings. I shared ideas with my HR Director and CHRO. I took ownership of projects—like online interviews and structured hiring.

Guess what happened?

I saved the company time and money. And in return? They saw me as a leader.

3. I Stopped Playing It Safe & Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone

I looked beyond my job title and asked myself: What else can I learn?

Even though it wasn’t part of my role, I learned Excel, organized files, and built an analytics dashboard.

Was it uncomfortable? Yes.

Was I afraid of making mistakes? Of course.

But I refused to let fear hold me back. And with every new skill, my confidence grew.

Mistakes didn’t break me. They made me.

The Biggest Lesson? Self-Love Is Not Selfish—It’s Your Superpower

Once I started valuing myself, everything shifted.

I stopped comparing myself to others. I focused on getting better, not proving myself.

That was the moment everything changed.

I stopped chasing perfection.

Instead, I started enjoying the process—learning, growing, and seeing how far I could go.

That mindset shift made me unstoppable.

If I Can Do This, So Can You!

Ask yourself:

🔹 Are you waiting for your next promotion? Or are you taking charge of your growth?
🔹 Are you staying quiet in meetings? Or are you speaking up and leading?
🔹 Are you staying where it’s safe? Or are you pushing past your comfort zone?

If you want a higher salary, a promotion, or a leadership role, the first step isn’t external—it’s internal.

Start by changing the way you treat yourself.

5 Steps to Start Winning Today:

✅ Invest in your growth – Take a course, ask for feedback, or learn a new skill.
✅ Speak up & stand out – Share ideas, take initiative, and own your success.
✅ Say YES before you feel ready – Growth happens in the unknown. Take that leap.
✅ Celebrate every win – Don’t wait for others to validate you. Acknowledge how far you’ve come.
✅ Drop the self-doubt – You don’t need permission. Start now, even if it’s messy.

Are You Ready for Your Next Step?

I get it—taking action is scary.

But what’s scarier?

Staying stuck. Wondering "what if?" Watching others move ahead while you wait for the right time.

Your next level is waiting. But you have to take the first step.

I coach mid-career professionals in Qatar to gain confidence, step into leadership, and land bigger roles.

📩 If you're ready for MORE, let’s talk.

Your growth starts with YOU. But you don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s make it happen together.

“Your thoughts are not facts—they’re stories you tell yourself.”

Have you ever experienced this?

Last week while reading Jospeh Ngyans book - Don't Believe Everything You Think

I discovered this profound insight, I took a pause, read it Again, I was intrigued…..

Is it true that our Thoughts are not Facts?

It’s a narrative between me and my mind.

Have you ever witnessed such an inner dialogue? if yes, you can identify with me.

This simple yet profound realisation shifted everything for me.

I realized I had the power to rewrite my narrative, to separate fact from fear, and to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Our thoughts shape our reality—but they can also hold us back if we don’t question them.

The beauty is, we have a choice.

𝗦𝗼, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲?

Do you challenge limiting beliefs? Practice mindfulness? Or perhaps reframe negative thoughts into empowering ones?

I’d love to hear what choices/strategies you are making for turning your inner dialogue into a source of strength.

🤦‍♀️ Me: "I can’t believe I messed up. I feel like such a failure. It's not even worth the efforts"

🙋‍♀️ Inner voice: "Ahem! Wait—if a colleague told me this, what would I say to them?"

🙍‍♀️ Inner voice in response: "I’d remind them that mistakes happen to everyone and that they can learn from it."

🙎‍♀️ Inner voice in heart: "Then why not say that to yourself?

This is literally me and my mind chatter.

Self-compassion means being as kind to yourself as you are to others.

In an AI world that glorifies speed and multitasking, how often do we truly pause to reflect on what matters?

Many of us spend so much time in our heads—overthinking, planning, and worrying—that we forget the wisdom that resides in our hearts.

Do you know that when our minds are consumed by the past or worried about the future, we lose touch with the present moment—the space where we can connect with our true selves?

I found an answer to this by practicing self-compassion.

By quieting the critical voice in my head and listening to the understanding, nurturing voice in my heart.

There was a time when I was trapped in an endless cycle of self-doubt.

I felt I had to prove my worth, always striving for perfection and rarely cutting myself any slack.

🧘‍♀️ But as I explored the importance of being present, I realized that perfection is an illusion.

This year, I’m intentionally working on bridging the 18-inch gap between my head and heart by:

🩵Practicing gratitude daily to stay grounded in the present moment.

🩵Pausing to feel and process emotions instead of pushing them aside.

🩵Embracing challenges as opportunities to grow, not as failures.

What about you?
Your most profound transformation lies within. How will you bridge the 18 inches from your head to your heart?

Together, we can nurture our inner selves and grow stronger, what say?

Most exciting new year resolutions fade away towards end of January, would you agree?

Trying to stick to the perfect plan doesn't work.

But showing up consistently, learning from setbacks, and staying focused on the bigger picture, does.

As 2025 unfolds, I’m reflecting on what it truly means to grow and lead with intention.

Leadership is more than just titles or authority— it’s about making impact.

For me, this journey is about my commitment to my growth, not resolutions.

Unlike fleeting promises, commitments are meaningful steps that if aligned with my values create an impact.

And it all starts by defining your “why”

Then by embracing your authentic voice

Facing challenges or sharing your perspective with this clarity inspires trust in your Leadership.

It's practically a failure-proof formula for developing a High EQ mindset.

If you are committed like me you'll know:

🔹 Small habits matter. The tiniest actions, done consistently, lead to meaningful progress.

🔹 Perfection is overrated. Progress, no matter how imperfect, is what drives change.

🔹 Resilience is key. Challenges will come, but the power to pick yourself up and keep going lies within you.

Let's visualise 2025 as the year where setbacks don’t stop you—
they shape you.

Let’s talk about developing a resilience mindset

🟨 So, what commitments are you willing to make to create a year of growth intentionally?

Have you ever felt the ground beneath you shifting, forcing you to act fast to regain your footing? That’s exactly how I felt when a colleague resigned unexpectedly, leaving me to manage responsibilities alone.

Although this was a few years ago, I remember how at first, I was overwhelmed—shock, frustration, and self-doubt hit me all at once.

💭 Could I handle this on my own?

Instead of suppressing those emotions, I chose to confront them.

I realized that acknowledging my feelings wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was the first step towards clarity and action.

With this clarity, I was able to :

🔹re-evaluate priorities, focusing on what mattered.

🔹streamline workflows, creating efficiency where it was needed most.

🔹I identified individual strengths of the team and delegated effectively.

I still wonder what would have happened if I would have stepped back or tried avoiding the tough situation I was put through-

🗨️ Reflecting back, I sense that not only did we meet the targets, but I also discovered a renewed sense of confidence and purpose.

💙 Earning the respect as a leader was a bonus!

So you see, growth happens when we embrace challenges, not shy away from them.

What started as a daunting challenge turned into a pivotal moment in my leadership journey.

Over a period of time, several challenges came my way and each time I found myself reinforcing my spirit and emotional agility with more enthusiasm than before.

To the point where I don't see them as challenges, but as opportunities- setbacks into stepping stones.

Building a resilience mindset develops an emotional agility to accept uncertainty with grace, pivot without losing myself and to transform into a High EQ leader.

So, I’ll ask you:

🟨Have you ever faced a moment that tested not just your skills but your inner strength? Want to talk about it?

Drop me a message, or share your experience in the comments.

For years, my mantra was, "I'll be happy when I get promoted." This "then" fueled every decision and late-night effort.

And when the promotion arrived, the happiness I craved remained elusive. My focus then shifted to, "I'll be happy when I reach 'X figure' salary.

I was hoping for the right chances. Chances to get better, feel better.

When I realised, instead of the chances I need 'the change' I experienced the transformation.

By learning to embrace imperfections, I’ve been able to accomplish many things, like writing posts without fearing what will happen next.

While coaching leaders I always encourage them to take action, even if it’s just one step, rather than getting stuck in the pursuit of perfection. There isn't one.

It’s about recognizing that 'good enough' can lead to great progress when perfection keeps you from moving forward.

Growth isn’t accidental; it’s intentional. By choosing transformation over fleeting resolutions, you take control of your narrative.

What intentional steps will define your year?

Here's how my 2024 unfolded, one transformation at a time..

January: I started the year with a transformative commitment to wellness, exercising six days a week and staying consistent from January through May. This marked the beginning of a journey to prioritize my health and well-being.

February: For my fitness goals, I hired a gym trainer, swimming coach, & a yoga teacher. At work, I focused on achieving professional milestones, balancing both personal and professional growth.

March: During Ramadan, I embarked on my coaching journey with two significant firsts: participating in my first podcast on Women’s Day (March 8th) and hosting my first career coaching webinar, Rise Up with Upskilling, which had a great start. Professionally, I faced challenges and managed independent work after a colleague’s resignation.

April: a rejuvenating family trip to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Budapest—a memorable European holiday that refreshed my mind and body. Mid-April, I returned to work, reaffirmed in my ability to lead.

May: I started enjoying the results of holistic living and through regular journaling I saw these transformations motivating me to continue focusing on my wellness.

June: Health challenges surfaced this month, I received news of my GIST diagnosis and the need for surgery. Despite setbacks, I maintained an emotionally balanced outlook.

July: I underwent robotic surgery for GIST and surprised myself with my calm positive demeanor throughout the process. Drawing strength from my coaching and mentoring experiences, I recovered within three weeks, ready to step back into life.

August: Truly a transformative month where I truly stepped out of my comfort zone. I returned to work just three weeks post-surgery, maintained a healthy work-life balance, and achieved my best physical shape through mindful eating, and conscious living.

September: marked another milestone as my son began his journey at the London School of Economics. I visited London for the first time, my first trip after surgery, and successfully transitioned back to normal life.

October: embracing life as an empty nester after 22 years, a mix of strange yet happy emotions. This became a turning point as I focused on my transformation journey, delved deeper into career coaching, and planned to enhance my LinkedIn presence.

November: I updated my LinkedIn profile and began writing two LinkedIn posts weekly. Increasing my 1-on-1 career coaching and received an exciting invitation to speak as a keynote speaker.

December: closing on a high note. I spoke at the Africa HR Leaders Conference 2024 and enjoyed year-end holidays with my children, experiencing many firsts, including camping in the desert walking on the shores.

Every month of 2024 held a lesson, a milestone, and a chance to grow stronger. I had committed to and I lived every minute of it!

Here’s to a year of and empowered actions. What’s your ?