A transformative ten-year journey from physical therapist to life coach, exploring how one woman discovered her true purpose while building a coaching practice dedicated to empowering high achievers to unlock their potential.
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Influential Woman · Life Coaching and Wellness Education
Parul Gupta
Founder, Rise Forward Coaching
San Francisco, Bay Area, CA 95050
1Article published
Her Story
About Parul
Parul Gupta is the Director of Career Services at a career college in San Jose, California, where she is dedicated to guiding students as they navigate career decisions, personal growth, and professional success. With over 15 years of global experience across the US, APAC, and EMEA, Parul has built a dynamic career in wellness, healthcare, education, and leadership. She is a certified life coach, former physical therapist, dedicated non-profit advisor (Ekjut) and an engaged angel investor within the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. After relocating to the United States nearly a decade ago, Parul successfully transitioned from clinical practice and healthcare innovation into higher education, where she discovered her passion for mentoring and empowering others to achieve meaningful, purpose driven lives. Building on her extensive background in wellness and education, Parul founded Rise Forward Coaching, a life coaching practice that provides personalized one-on-one coaching to help individuals overcome limiting beliefs, develop positive habits, and unlock their full potential. Dedicated to helping clients uncover their inner wisdom, her practice focuses on building self-awareness, illuminating clear pathways, and inspiring intentional action. Drawing on her rich background as a healthcare professional, educator, and coach, she fosters a safe, encouraging environment for profound personal growth. Because she believes our experiences mold us, she champions the idea that true elevation comes from understanding our world and acting with purpose to transform it.
At her core, Parul believes she is shaped by the people around her. From the early guidance of her parents to her ongoing partnership with her husband and their son, she believes that our relationships and a commitment to continuous learning are the true drivers of growth. Grounded in honesty, integrity, empathy, and purposeful service, she dedicates herself to helping others trust their instincts, embrace fresh opportunities, and pursue meaningful work that makes a real difference.
Parul often reflects that every experience in her life has been leading up to this exact point: her true calling of helping others. Whether she is mentoring students, guiding clients through major life transitions, or volunteering in her community, she is deeply committed to empowering people. Her goal is simple but profound to help others step into their future with confidence, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Parul
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the values my parents instilled in me, the unwavering support of my husband and my 10-year-old son, who have been my greatest pillars of strength, the guidance of my teachers and professors, and the incredible people I've had the privilege of learning from throughout my life. Every person I've met has contributed to my growth in some way, and I truly believe that a commitment to continuous learning and meaningful relationships has shaped both my journey and the person I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to be intentional about following my heart and pursuing my passion (and keep looking until I see it!). I love to introspect and very strongly believe that the power to create the life and career I want already exists within me. By listening to my inner voice, staying authentic to my values, and trusting my journey, I can continue to grow and move forward with purpose.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to listen to their hearts and follow their passion rather than being influenced by others. Build strong relationships and a supportive network, take calculated risks, and don't be afraid to take the first step. Believe in your own potential, embrace failure as part of the learning process, and have the confidence and courage to keep moving forward. You are far more capable and powerful than you may realize.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of awareness about what life coaching truly is and the value it can bring. Since life coaching is still fairly new in many cultures and communities, many people are unfamiliar with its purpose or have an incomplete understanding of how it works. Some are unsure of how it differs from therapy or counseling, while others simply don't realize the positive impact it can have. At the same time, this creates a wonderful opportunity to educate people about how life coaching can help them gain clarity, build confidence, overcome challenges, and create meaningful, lasting transformation in both their personal and professional lives.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Purpose is at the center of everything I do. I believe every action should have meaning and contribute to something greater than myself. I also value honesty, integrity, and the commitment to doing work that creates a meaningful and lasting impact.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Parul
From Finding My Way to Lighting the Path: My Journey to Rise Forward
From Physical Therapy to Life Coaching: A Decade of Discovery and Empowerment
Ten Years, One Journey of Transformation
Ten years ago, I boarded a plane leaving India with a five-month-old son, a heart full of uncertainty, hope, and a deep-rooted desire to make a difference. My husband's career in the tech industry prompted our move to the United States, a transition that brought both the excitement of a new beginning and the immense challenge of recalibrating my life in a new country.
Looking back at that younger version of myself, navigating life as a new mother in a foreign land, I could never have imagined the winding, fulfilling road that would lead me to where I am today.
The Evolution of Purpose
My journey began with a foundation in science and a commitment to healing. As a physical therapist, having earned my Master's in Physical Therapy, I spent years focusing on the mechanics of recovery. I learned that healing isn't just about treating a physical ailment; it's about listening, understanding, and guiding someone through their own process of restoration.
When I moved to the United States, I had to navigate professional challenges while raising my son, an experience that deepened my resilience. Whether I was working in the high-energy environment of a startup or navigating the complexities of the education sector as a Director of Career Services, that core desire to help others never wavered.
It was the North Star that guided every professional pivot.
Why Rise Forward?
While I loved my roles in physical therapy and higher education, I felt a persistent pull toward something deeper—something that addressed the internal blocks that often keep us from achieving our true potential. My professional life had been about helping others build careers and recover their health, but I wanted to help them unlock their lives.
This realization led me to pursue my certification as a Life & Success Coach. Diving into this training felt like coming home. I realized that the same principles of patience, assessment, and incremental growth I had used in physical therapy were directly applicable to the human spirit.
Today, I am proud to share the mission behind Rise Forward Coaching. I founded this company to empower individuals to discover who they truly are and facilitate their unique transformation.
I've seen firsthand how easy it is to feel "stuck"—whether you're facing a major career pivot, navigating a personal transition, or simply feeling that your daily routine no longer reflects your core values.
Life coaching is more than just advice.
It is a powerful tool for self-discovery.
The Value of Life Coaching: Why It Matters
In a world that prioritizes doing over being, life coaching is a strategic partnership for your most important investment:
Yourself.
Drawing from my experience, I view life coaching as a high-level system for personal growth and optimization. Its value lies in three core areas:
- Objective Clarity: We are often too close to our own challenges to see them clearly. Coaching provides the objective perspective needed to identify the internal blind spots that may be holding you back from your next level of growth.
- Systems for Sustainability: Just as the body requires physical conditioning to perform at its best, the mind benefits from intentional frameworks for resilience. Together, we move from reactive decision-making to intentional, values-based living.
- Bridging Potential and Performance: Many people have the ambition to reach a goal but lack the mindset and structure to sustain it. My coaching helps align your daily habits with your long-term vision so your external success never comes at the expense of your internal well-being.
I founded Rise Forward Coaching to empower high achievers to stop optimizing their stress and start unlocking their true potential.
Life coaching isn't just about fixing what's wrong.
It's about designing what's next.
Giving Back with Purpose
Beyond my coaching practice, my commitment to service continues through my work on the advisory board of a nonprofit organization. For me, life is about more than professional achievement. It is about giving back to the community that has welcomed me and living with purpose.
When I look at my journey—from being a physical therapist and working in the wellness industry in India to becoming the director and coach I am today—I see one consistent thread:
The belief that transformation is always possible.
If you're standing at a crossroads, please know that you don't have to find the path alone.
You have the power to change.
To grow.
To rise forward.
I would be honored to walk that journey alongside you.
Are you ready to stop waiting and start transforming? Let's connect and begin your journey of self-discovery.
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