Today we’d like to introduce you to Parita Kuttappan.
Hi Parita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a child of immigrants. People who came to this country for a better tomorrow, not only for themselves but for everyone who followed. This privilege has directed my life in so many ways.
My parents always told me to do better than them, so when I went to college at UGA, I decided to major in Finance. After college, I worked and then decided to go back to school and pursue my MBA at Georgia Tech. My next two jobs led me to the belief that corporate America was where I would live forever. Not exactly the case!
During the pandemic, I decided to my coaching certification, as a sort of back-up plan. Fast forward to 2022, my back-up plan became a reality. I quit my corporate job and started my coaching practice full-time.
It’s been quite a journey getting here, but I can say with my whole heart that it’s been worth it. I love working with professional and executive women and working parents to help them manage their energy, mindset and confidence.
In my ‘spare’ time, I love hanging out with my husband, my two kiddos, friends, and family. I also love finding new hiking spots around the city and new restaurants to try. You can also find me at our local public library at least once a week!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey hasn’t always been smooth. The decision to quit my job and pursue entrepreneurship was laced with doubt, guilt, and a sense of “who do I think I am.”
Having people in my corner, namely my husband, cheering me on really helped. Whoever self-doubt creeps in, I talk to him about what I’m thinking and feeling, and that helps me reset.
Some of my other struggles fall into the time management category. In my corporate job, I had my goals, assignments, and KPIs handed to me. When you’re running your own business, you are the boss. You have to be accountable to every aspect of the business. You have to manage your own time. As someone who thrived in corporate, this has been a huge adjustment.
And finally, in my corporate job, I was always surrounded by other people. Now, I work from home, and sometimes loneliness sets in. This is where you have to take action to build your peer community and be intentional about how you spend your time. I like to schedule weekly lunch/coffee dates with friends to get me out of the house and socializing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Awarify Coaching is a coaching practice for professional and executive women and working parents who want to manage their energy, mindset, and confidence in a more consistent and sustainable way. It’s for people who want to go from where they are now to a different point with more clarity, intention and insight. Coaching, more generally speaking, is for everyone, but people who do the work to move the needle are the ones who see the most transformative results.
As a coach, I don’t have any answers. What I do have are questions. It’s my job to listen to what my coachees are telling me and then ask questions to help them dig deeper. I truly believe my coachees have their own answers, they just need my support to create the space to find them. As necessary, I also introduce ideas, concepts, tools, etc. to help my coachees take action and find self-belief and self-compassion.
I believe I’m different from other coaches because I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I don’t lure people in with false presentness. I believe in honesty, transparency, and relationship-building. My job as your coach is to help you walk your path, and I do that by walking the path with you but not for you!
I offer 1:1 coaching as well as corporate coaching packages for organizations who are looking to utilize coaching as a development/retention tool. All of my packages start with a FREE discovery call, so I encourage anyone who’s interested in learning more about coaching to get in touch!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think risk-taking is synonymous with living life. As someone who lived in her comfort zone and avoided risk-taking for many years, I’m here to tell you that ALL of the magic life has to offer is right outside the little bubble you’ve put yourself in.
For me personally, quitting my job and going into a full-time MBA program was a risk. Switching career paths was a risk. Signing up for my coaching certification was a risk. Quitting my job (again) and starting my coaching practice was a risk.
But on the other side of taking those risks was learning, growth, resilience building, opportunities, freedom, etc.
You’ll never know what you’re made of if you don’t take risks!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.awarifycoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinnershakti/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parita-patel-kuttappan-mba-cpc-eli-mp-a6238b5/
- Other: https://substack.com/@myinnershakti
Image Credits
Rosethorn Photography
Aharon Hill Branding
