Shruti Trivedi

I attribute my success to following my passion and sense of purpose, as well as the personal transformation I experienced through therapy. My formal coach training has further strengthened my approach, and I continue to build on the skills I developed throughout my IT career.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to follow my passion. Although it can sound cliché, I believe life is too short to simply follow a predefined societal path without ever exploring one’s true purpose. Listening to leaders and innovators like Steve Jobs and other influential CEOs reinforced for me that success often comes from doing what you genuinely love, because people tend to excel in areas where their passion and strengths align. I often think of how even highly successful individuals would struggle outside their natural talents—for example, a performer in a corporate role or a business leader on stage—because excellence is deeply tied to purpose. Not everyone is meant to take the same path, but everyone can find success and fulfillment in their own way. For me, the most important takeaway has been that while financial achievement matters, true fulfillment comes from inner peace, purpose, and doing work that feels meaningful.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to keep an open mind and avoid slipping into a purely mentoring or “fixing” mindset. Coaching is about guiding clients to find their own answers, especially when they feel stuck or struggle with things like imposter syndrome, rather than telling them what to do. With the right training and tools, you learn how to create space for self-discovery, which is what makes coaching so powerful. It’s a future-focused field that requires committed, reflective practitioners, and while we all naturally support others in life, formal coaching brings structure and deeper impact to that ability.

The biggest challenges in my field right now include marketing in today’s digital landscape and effectively leveraging AI. While my IT background has been helpful, it has primarily been focused on a traditional day job, so outreach, marketing, and sales are areas I’m still developing. Although I’m naturally social and enjoy connecting with people, promoting my work and building visibility has been a learning curve. Over the past year, I’ve had to quickly adapt—learning how to use social media, create content, and become comfortable on video—which has been both challenging and a significant growth experience.

The most important values in my work and personal life are purpose, compassion, and service to others. While I have a background in IT, coaching is what gives me a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment. I find great value in being present for others, especially women going through difficult moments, and offering support that helps them feel seen and understood. Even when financial compensation is not involved, the impact of simply being there and providing encouragement is incredibly meaningful to me. At the same time, I recognize the realities of financial responsibility, which can sometimes make it challenging to offer services freely, but the heart of my work will always be rooted in empathy, lived experience, and a genuine desire to support others for as long as I can.