At Brilliant Read Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Sukanya Chatterjee for an interview with Brilliant Read Media. To say it further, Sukanya is a Certified Life, Mindset, Relationship Coach and CBT Practitioner. Let’s learn more about her background, inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sukanya:
Your journey from being an Air Force wife, homemaker, and artist to becoming a certified Life, Mindset, and Relationship Coach is truly inspiring. What motivated this transformation?
I grew up in a traditional Bengali family where getting married early was considered the safest path in life. At the age of twenty-and-a-half, my parents arranged my marriage to a well-educated Air Force officer. At that time, I had no idea that military life would become my greatest teacher.
Every three years, we moved to a new Air Force station. Each move meant starting over with a new home, new people, new surroundings, and new challenges. I often compare my life to a jigsaw puzzle just when everything came together beautifully, it was time to take it apart and begin again. Those experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the courage to embrace change instead of fearing it.
During one of our postings, I discovered painting. What started as a hobby gradually became my sanctuary. Art taught me patience, presence, and the confidence to keep creating despite self-doubt.
Years later, when my children grew up and started their own journeys, I found myself asking, “Who am I beyond being a wife and a mother?” That single question changed the course of my life.
I invested in learning, studied psychology, coaching, communication, relationships, and personal development, and eventually became a certified Life, Mindset, and Relationship Coach. Today, through Suकanya, I help women gain clarity, build confidence, strengthen their mindset, and create healthier relationships.
Looking back, I don’t think I found a new career I discovered my purpose.
You often say, “Life is Art, and you are the artist of your own story.” What does this philosophy mean to you?
For me, Life is Art is much more than a tagline; it’s the way I see life.
An artist begins with a blank canvas. Sometimes the colours don’t blend as expected, mistakes happen, and the picture doesn’t look perfect. But an artist never throws the canvas away; they continue creating until something beautiful emerges.
Life works the same way.
My years in the Air Force taught me to embrace every new posting as an opportunity to create another meaningful chapter. Whether it was building routines, nurturing relationships, or balancing family life, I realised I was intentionally designing my life rather than living by default.
Today, I encourage my clients to see themselves as the artists of their own lives. We may not control every circumstance, but we always control our next brushstroke. A new boundary, one healthier habit, or one courageous conversation can gradually transform an entire life.
As a Certified CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) Practitioner, how do you help women overcome self-doubt and limiting beliefs?
My coaching is always solution-focused and goal-oriented.
The first thing I do is listen without judgement. As clients share their stories, I observe recurring thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns.
Through thoughtful questions, I help them uncover limiting beliefs that have been holding them back. Rather than giving advice, I guide them to challenge those beliefs, explore healthier perspectives, and replace negative thinking with empowering thought patterns.
When our thinking changes, our emotions and behaviours naturally begin to change as well. That’s where real transformation begins.
Many women struggle to balance family, career, and personal aspirations. What challenges do you see most often?
In my experience, the biggest challenge isn’t a lack of time; it’s often mindset and relationship dynamics.
Many women silently struggle with self-doubt, guilt, people-pleasing, fear of disappointing others, and unhealthy relationship patterns. These emotional barriers often prevent them from pursuing their goals.
I help them become aware of these patterns, strengthen their mindset, improve communication, establish healthy boundaries, and make choices aligned with the life they genuinely want.
When the mind becomes clearer and relationships become healthier, balancing different roles feels far less overwhelming.
Why do you believe self-awareness and self-love are the foundation of healthy relationships?
I always say that self-awareness comes before self-love.
Self-awareness means understanding your thoughts, expectations, behaviours, and the role you play in your relationships.
For example, many clients tell me they don’t have meaningful friendships. I gently ask them how often they’ve initiated conversations or invited someone for coffee. That simple reflection helps them realise relationships require mutual effort.
As self-awareness grows, self-love naturally follows. When you genuinely value yourself, you stop seeking constant validation from others. You become more confident, secure, and emotionally healthy.
Self-love isn’t about perfection or selfishness. It’s about respecting yourself enough to set healthy boundaries and build relationships rooted in mutual respect rather than fear or approval.
What practical advice would you give women who want to become more confident and emotionally resilient?
One lesson I’ve learned is that confidence doesn’t come before action action creates confidence.
The first step is gaining clarity about what you truly want. Whether it’s becoming a better speaker, entrepreneur, artist, or simply a more confident person, clarity provides direction.
The next step is creating a system and staying consistent. That’s why I strongly recommend having a mentor or coach. A mentor keeps you accountable, encourages you during moments of self-doubt, and helps you stay focused.
Confidence and emotional resilience are built one small step at a time not overnight.
Could you share a memorable client transformation that reaffirmed your purpose as a coach?
One client who will always remain close to my heart was a talented artist and entrepreneur.
Although she possessed remarkable skills, she lacked confidence and hesitated to introduce herself as the owner of her own art studio. She constantly compared herself to people with corporate careers and felt she wasn’t “successful enough.”
Instead of focusing immediately on business strategies, we worked on her mindset and identity. Gradually, she started recognising her strengths, communicating more confidently, creating better business systems, and proudly embracing her identity as an entrepreneur.
Watching her believe in herself was far more rewarding than watching her business grow.
Moments like these remind me why I chose this profession.
How has life as part of an Air Force family shaped your understanding of resilience and emotional well-being?
Being an Air Force wife has shaped nearly every aspect of who I am.
Frequent relocations taught me that life doesn’t wait until we’re ready; it teaches us through change. Every posting meant leaving behind familiar places, rebuilding friendships, and adapting to new environments.
Initially, those goodbyes were difficult. Over time, I realised resilience isn’t about avoiding change; it’s about growing through it.
Military life also taught me that home isn’t merely a place; it’s a feeling we create within ourselves.
Those lessons continue to influence my coaching today as I help women build emotional resilience, embrace change with confidence, and develop meaningful relationships.
How do you see the coaching industry evolving, and how do you continue growing as a coach?
One of the most encouraging trends is that more women, especially younger women, are becoming comfortable seeking support for their emotional well-being and personal growth.
Just as we never hesitate to hire tutors for academic subjects, I believe seeking guidance for life skills and relationships should be equally normal.
To serve my clients effectively, I remain committed to continuous learning. I regularly pursue advanced courses, read extensively, study current research, reflect on my coaching experiences, and design practical worksheets and tools that clients can immediately apply.
Learning is a lifelong journey for both my clients and myself.
Finally, what message would you like to leave for our readers?
If I could leave everyone with one message, it would be this:
Don’t wait for the perfect time, the perfect relationship, or the perfect circumstances before becoming the person you want to be.
Start with yourself.
Become aware of who you are, understand your strengths, and take one small, consistent step every day. Those seemingly small actions gradually shape your confidence, your relationships, and your purpose.
I truly believe that life is art. We may not choose every colour life gives us, but we always have the choice to create something meaningful and beautiful with it.
At BrilliantRead, we don’t just share startup stories; we bring you journeys that challenge perspectives, spark ideas, and fuel ambition. Every story we feature is carefully chosen to add real value, inspire action, and ignite possibility within our growing community of entrepreneurs and dreamers.
If you have a powerful story, one that can inspire, educate, or create impact we want to hear from you.
