Nita Sharma is an executive coach who loves the challenge of coaching individuals within large organisations and utilising her lived experience to improve diversity and inclusion wherever she can.
She started as a graduate trainee in a housing department, moved on to develop the first Asian elderly residential scheme in the UK and then took her next role as a diversity manager within the BBC – but how did she become a coach in the first place?
Read the conversation between The Diverse Executive Coaching Directory (DECD) and Nita Sharma to explore her full life journey and career as a coach.
DECD: What was your very first job?
Nita:
My first job was a graduate trainee in Housing Department which on many levels was a real eye-opener for me in respect to equity. Within a year I took the decision to leave the graduate scheme and become an outreach worker for the Asian community. Whilst there I was involved in the first Asian elderly residential scheme in the UK which I am very proud of as we were trailblazers in the field. From there I developed a passion for working with diversity, equity, and anti-racism which I did for several public sector organisations.
A pivotal part of my career was working at BBC as a diversity manager in Radio and in corporate management. I think on many levels this was a defining moment for me as it made me understand large systems and organisational processes. From the BBC, I got poached by a consultancy to work in organisational development, equality, and leadership for two years. From there I forged my independent career and it exposed me to work not only in the UK, but globally. I had many years of coaching experience through doing MBTI, FIRO B and other instruments. However, it was only after a crisis, a feeling of being lost and good advice from a close friend who suggested I do the CTI coach training as she had observed through our work together that I was pretty good at this coaching.
Since my first coach training with CTI, I have never looked back and gone on to add to my own portfolio of learning and deeply connecting with my own values and purpose in life. I remain curious and passionate as to what is possible for individuals, teams, and organisations through coaching. As a believer in high standards in coaching and in the words of Stephen Covey ‘I continually sharpen my saw’ of learning. The work we do with our coaching clients is shaped so much by the work we do with ourselves and this for me is where I see myself as being of service to my clients.
DECD: What inspired you to become a coach?
Nita:
A sense of feeling, lost and stuck made me explore what did I want in my world and how did I want to live and do for the next 10 years. On many levels, the CTI coaching training was transformative for me as it made me connect with my values, purpose and fulfillment in the work I wanted to do.
DECD: As a coach what led you to specialise in the particular area that you concentrate on (eg. leadership, personal development etc)
Nita:
I am curious about individuals within systems thinking and how they show up. The areas I focus on have emerged through experiences, expertise I have acquired and the capacity I have built through my own learning. If I don’t feel congruent in what I am doing I don’t do it as I don’t subscribe to the thinking that says “fake it until you make it”. What I do believe is that ‘what we look at is an act of choice.
DECD: What is the most interesting part of your work?
Nita:
Connecting and working with people. Seeing them managing their difficulties/challenges and coming through the other side.
DECD: What is the one project/case that you’re most proud of in your career and why?
Nita:
There are many of projects over the years I am proud of. My work at the BBC on getting better ‘representation on air’. Challenging inequity in organisations and being part of leadership programmes which create future leaders.
DECD: What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion in the workplace in today’s society?
Nita:
Simply, it is central to everything we do. Without this lens we don’t always see the power of differences and how this can create richness.
DECD: What about your heritage makes you feel proud?
Nita:
My heritage gives me the grounding and an internal compass of what is important to me.
DECD: What do you do outside of work?
Nita:
Qigong, yoga, reading and learning.
DECD: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read this week?
The beauty and the soul.
The unconscious at work
The myth of normal
DECD: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Nita:
Never limit yourself and live in the present.
DECD: What is your favourite movie, book, song, album or quote?
Nita:
There are many.
Rumi’s poem The guest house
Interested in working with Nita? Find out more about her professional coaching career here.
