Soundharya Dharshini – Chemical Engineer from India

My achievements so far

• Recently, I secured a €48000 EU-funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship for 2023-2025 specialising in Chemical Innovation & Regulation.
• And most recently, secured a free six-month impact coaching and mentoring worth £5000 with Dr Teeroumanee Nadan.
• I am proud to say that at a young age, I have already published a paper during my internship at National Institute of Technology Karnataka as part of my undergraduate – Check out my paper in the Environmental Science and Pollution Research journal.
• During my school days, I won 2nd place in the National Level High School Olympiad, which marked my early triumph in academics.
• I achieved a commendable 4th place among 100 participants nationwide in India, being the Campus Ambassador for the 2018-2019 AZeotropy event at IIT Bombay, which is India’s largest Chemical Engineer Symposium.
• As an ardent sportswoman in athletics and handball, I have won medals for outstanding performance at Tamil Nadu district-level competitions.
• In addition to my athletic and academic pursuits, I dedicated my time to community service as an HR volunteer at Bhumi, receiving the Rising Star Award for my impactful contributions.

How impact coaching & mentoring is changing me?

In the world of dreams with lots of doubts and thoughts, I came to a realization that I needed someone to guide me through the path to reach the top position that I wanted to achieve. This moment marked the beginning of my journey into mentorship, a journey that started with a profound sense of uncertainty and curiosity. Thanks to the LinkedIn platform, where I came across Dr. Nadan, I decided to send her an invitation. What made this interaction particularly special was that, unlike many others, she not only accepted my invitation but also reached out to me with a personalised message. In her message, she expressed genuine excitement about my insights and thoughts. That moment was truly priceless, and in the days that followed, I couldn’t help but bask in the warmth of being seen and acknowledged. 

Later, as I delved deeper into Dr. Nadan’s impact coaching and mentorship experience, she offered to offer her coaching services to me which I found resonated perfectly with what I had been searching for. This was the guidance I had been yearning for, and the chance to be mentored by someone of her caliber was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The first time around, I grappled with mixed emotions influenced by past mentorship experiences that left me with doubts. However, what truly sets this experience apart and reinforces my decision to be mentored by Dr. Nadan is her unwavering dedication and wholehearted commitment to coaching and mentorship. It is her commitment that serves as a powerful source of inspiration and drives me to embrace mentorship once again.

From my experience so far, I’ve learned some essential life lessons. I’ve discovered the power of adapting how I express myself to different audiences and improving my overall communication skills. Keeping records and notes has become vital to remember my achievements, which has boosted my self-esteem. Starting a personal journal for self-reflection has been a significant step in reinforcing my self-worth. Most importantly, I’ve learned the value of empathy, and understanding others’ perspectives and feelings. These lessons have enriched my personal and professional growth, providing valuable skills for various aspects of life. In addition to that I learned how to be a better human. From the most recent session, I came to know how much a situation can change when the words are slightly changed, the word ¨Experience¨ instead of a negative one is surely one such. I started to use those words in my routine after that day. Thank you Dr. Nadan for letting me know about this, in this part of the journey mentoring is not only about my career, it also molds my whole personality. 

Contemplating whether to share this, I feel compelled to express my gratitude to Dr. Nadan for her mentorship. Initially drawn to the opportunity for visibility and networking, my recent session with her brought forth a wave of self-doubt about my own worth, a sentiment that continues to linger. Despite these doubts, Dr. Nadan highlighted self-doubt was common on the journey for growth and chose to continue to support me. At that moment, I realized the profound impact of supporting someone with ambitious aspirations who may be uncertain about their path. Dr. Nadan’s unwavering commitment and belief in my potential, even when I questioned it myself, have been invaluable. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Nadan for choosing not to give up on me and for exemplifying the importance of mentorship in guiding those who aim high but may grapple with self-doubt. I am eternally grateful for this transformative experience.

My aspirations

Being a curious person, my aspirations are multifaceted and deeply interconnected. I aim to become an established scientist in the regulatory field, using my expertise to ensure the safety and efficacy of products that impact people’s lives. Simultaneously, I’m driven to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, with the goal of creating innovative solutions that can address pressing societal issues. Beyond my professional pursuits, I am passionate about making a positive impact by volunteering in meaningful ways, particularly in endeavors that contribute to the well-being of both animals and people. These aspirations collectively reflect my commitment to knowledge, innovation, and service, and I am dedicated to embracing these diverse paths to create a better world.

I look forward to realising those aspirations with the support of my coach.

Acknowledgement:

I thank my coach & mentor Dr Teeroumanee Nadan for guiding me in writing this blog, and for reviewing, editing, and adding information to this blog to make it suitable for publication.