In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we meet Dr. Gitima Sharma, a professor, researcher, and the founder of CoachInspire. Dr. Sharma shares her powerful journey from a high school student grappling with anxiety due to her parents' mental health struggles to becoming a purpose and well-being coach. She reveals how a book gifted by a teacher awakened her to the concept of a unique life purpose, setting her on a path to higher education in counseling and positive psychology. Her motivation for founding Coach Inspire stemmed from her PhD research, driven by a desire to move beyond one-on-one counseling to create coaching programs that empower individuals to achieve career success without sacrificing their mental well-being.

Dr. Sharma details her work today, which focuses on helping women overcome internal doubts and external barriers to actualize their highest aspirations with clarity and confidence. She explains her tiered coaching approach, the importance of genuine one-on-one dialogue, and her mission to break the stigma around seeking support. Looking ahead, Dr. Sharma discusses her goals of expanding her reach through podcasts and writing to share her humanistic philosophy and research-based strategies more widely. She leaves listeners with a key piece of advice for her younger self: "Dream big and absolutely believe in yourself," emphasizing that each person has a unique purpose only they can fulfill.