“I can live with the basics, but I can’t live tied up.”
Shalini Misra’s career didn’t begin with a plan—it began with a decision: to earn, to stand on her own feet, and to follow what felt right. At just 20 years old, she walked into a school as a fresh science graduate and walked out five years later with far more than teaching experience.
“I didn’t know then,” she says, “but that classroom shaped my leadership. It taught me how to connect with people, stay humble, and hold space for growth—even in chaos.”
She would go on to become a negotiator in global procurement, lead cross-regional programs, and work with teams from the ground floor to the C-suite. But while the titles changed, the thread remained the same: people, purpose, and presence.
From Procurement to People Work
Shalini’s career path didn’t follow a linear curve. After completing her MBA in 2004, she landed in procurement—“by coincidence,” she admits. From there, she carved out a two-decade global career across industries, cultures, and continents.
Her superpower? Adaptability. And something even rarer in high-pressure environments: empathy. “I’ve worked with all kinds of people—from junior execs to CXOs. What helped me thrive was knowing how to listen, manage expectations, and keep things human—even when the stakes were high.”
Her teams noticed. Former colleagues would circle back years later, thanking her for advice, presence, or a simple conversation that helped shift their perspective. Bit by bit, she started wondering: What if I could do this all the time?
The Breaking Point That Became a Turning Point
In 2022, everything began to feel heavier. Shalini found herself managing global projects across multiple time zones, working 12 to 14 hours a day. “It wasn’t just the workload,” she says. “It was the realisation that I was being stretched beyond limits. Leaving no room to think and be creative.”
Then, during a critical family emergency, she was met with a lack of empathy from her leader. “That moment sealed it for me. I couldn’t keep compromising my values. I wanted to live and work on my terms.”
That’s when coaching came in. She began working with her own coach, not to pivot her career, but to process. But what emerged from that space was a surprising truth: This is what she’s meant to do.
Discovering Coaching—and Her True Self
Shalini didn’t dive into coaching overnight. But over time, the feedback kept pointing her in the same direction.
“Coaching taught me the power of silence. Of asking, not telling. Of letting someone hear themselves clearly for the first time.”
It also reminded her of who she was before the job titles and LinkedIn headlines: a helper, a listener, a guide. Someone who thrived in honest connection.
Today, Shalini is a full-time leadership coach. She still paints. She still dances. And she lives fully aligned with her number one value: freedom.
The Inner Work Leaders Often Avoid
When asked about the most common block leaders face, her answer is instant: self-doubt. “No matter how senior someone is, self-doubt is always there. Should I speak up? Am I the right person for this? What if I fail? These questions live under the surface of even the most confident-looking leaders.”
But unlike younger professionals—who tend to embrace experimentation—leaders often fear that one misstep will affect everything: their teams, their reputation, their worth.
“That’s where coaching becomes powerful,” Shalini says. “It helps people sit with their thoughts without fear or judgement. That’s when clarity comes.”
What You Won’t See on Her LinkedIn
By the way, Shalini loves to party. She’s a dancer through and through—and proud of it. “People see me as serious and boring at first. But the real me? I’m the one vibing to music, whether it’s Indian beats or Ed Sheeran. Dancing brings me back to myself. It’s joy, it’s freedom—it’s unfiltered.”
If Her Life Were a Book?
It would be called Unfiltered. Because that’s how she’s choosing to live now. No pretense. No script. No need to fit in.
Connect with Shalini on LinkedIn
