At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the finest stories from around the world. As part of this endeavour, we invited a passionate entrepreneur – Nasreen Khan Chanana for an exclusive interview with us. Nasreen is an Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Change Enabler, Leader, and Co-Founder of NourishToCherish. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, her background and her advice for our growing community.
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Nasreen:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I completed my schooling from Gloria Convent High School in Mumbai and picked up the science stream in college as I was interested in pursuing Medicine. Due to some unfortunate conditions, my dream of getting into a medical college remained unfulfilled.
I was always a very enthusiastic learner and enjoyed picking up various skills along the way. So while I pursued my graduation, I joined a Fashion Design Institute, as now I felt I wanted to explore all avenues before settling down in one specialized course.”
Once this was completed, I also took up a 3-month summer trainee job in a company dealing with gifting products and while working in this job I realized that I had some innate qualities which would help me if I chose to be in a profession which called for social interaction and creativity.
I listed down my options and picked up Public Relations, and as luck would have it while pursuing the course, I responded to an advertisement by a leading Mumbai Tabloid and got my first job as an Advertising Executive. This was the beginning of my professional career.
Moving on from here, I made a move to the Entertainment segment and worked in the Corporate Communications team in some of the leading companies in Mumbai. While being the Corporate Communications Manager in one of the best music labels of the time, I got married and moved to Delhi.”
During those times, Delhi had very few options in the Entertainment segment. And after working with the best, it is not easy to work with the rest, so I patiently bided my time and waited for something worthwhile to come my way.
Along the way I picked a few courses to upskill myself in my field and by the grace of God, I got an opportunity to work with some very reputed PR Agencies, which gave me Global Exposure as the clients were multi-national firms and Global leaders in Aviation.
Although I had a satisfying career, I felt there was something missing and I could never put a finger to it and it continued bothering me. At this point, I decided to take a sabbatical and raise my two girls. My focus shifted and they became the central focal point for me and this full – time motherhood opened up a whole new world of challenges for me.”
I was still piecing together my way ahead when my husband was transferred to Mumbai. So, now I moved back to the city where I was born and brought up, the difference this time was the nagging feeling which had creeped in me, and I was not feeling settled and satisfied as far as my professional life was concerned.
What made you passionate about ‘Coaching’ & ‘Counselling’?
Once we moved back to Mumbai, I was trying to fill the void with various other learnings till I ventured into the field of mental wellness.
And this is where I found a direction to realize my passion to assist and aid people in diving deep within themselves to come out shining and strong and capable to take on all challenges life throws at them.”
As I mentioned earlier, I am a very enthusiastic learner so I decided to change my area of expertise and study the art and science of being in the helping profession. I have got certifications in Personal Counselling and Therapy and I have also completed a comprehensive program in being a Purpose Coach.
The joy of reaching out and helping individuals chart out a clearer path for themselves gives me unexplainable happiness. I am driven by the belief that strong people don’t put others down, they lift them up. As a Coach, it is imperative to know how to guide and not advise people and make them build their own strengths and work on their weaknesses.
The tangible difference one makes as a Purpose Coach is such a humbling experience that it propels you to offer people a support system which is valid until they find their own wings and seek their own way ahead.”
I am so glad I made the shift and I am totally committed to this field as I believe that the move that we are sometimes afraid to make could be the one that changes everything. The choice that I have made has changed me as a person completely and I look forward to bringing about transformation in others’ lives too.
‘Nourish to Cherish’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
The name resonates with my mission of empowering individuals into self-love, self-growth, self-talk. It is of utmost importance to develop these skills to lead a productive life. The world that we live in today, whether pre covid or post, comes with a range of challenges which can very easily dislodge a stagnant mindset.
In the daily hustle and bustle of reaching a set target or goal and competing with others, we often tend to leave ourselves behind. In a day to day list of things to do, very few people actually assign a time or even a few minutes for themselves.
I emphasize the fact that just as most of us have a scheduled time for our meals and other rituals, we need to abide by a set pattern for ourselves to nurture.
Usually when I talk to people it surprises me to know that the only way people think that they need to take care of themselves is by eating nutritious food and sticking to an exercise regime such as gym and yoga or some other form of physical workout.”
And If I ask them how they take care of their emotional and mental well-being, very few of them have a planned practice and most are unaware of ways to take care of their mental health. A balanced diet and exercise are important aspects but not the only aspect. So, the name ‘NourishToCherish’, which suggests a complete approach to nurture a human body, mind and soul.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
We don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges. I believe the willingness to try out various avenues before finding a niche is important and when one does that obviously there will be hurdles. My self-belief, my purpose and my intent are my tonics to move on in spite of all the obstacles.
When I missed out on getting my dream education of being a part of the medical stream I could have easily lost my way and my focus, but I believe there is an endless flow of opportunities and one should be aware enough to grab the most favourable one and work around it to make the most of it.
Self-belief is a superpower, once you start to believe in yourself, the magic starts happening.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My daily dose of happiness comes from my two daughters Myiesha and Samaira. They are my inspiration and motivation to give my best. You know what they say about being the best version of yourself coz your daughters are watching. In my case, I owe my second innings as a Purpose Coach to my daughters. They were the ones who encouraged me to start studying again and pick up a career in this field.
Besides them, I am one of the lucky ones who happens to be married to her best friend. My husband is the wind beneath my wings who eggs me on to soar higher in all directions.”
My biggest strength is my MIL who encourages me at all levels and I feel she is the epitome of compassion and empathy and I feel if I can become half as strong as her, it would be a rewarding life.
Behind every successful woman is a man silently holding the fort, but in my case, there are two men, my father and my brother. They are the roots which have given me the balance and the foundation on which I have built my entire life.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
(a) Having the conviction to walk a different path.
(b) Being open-minded and very receptive to all suggestions and ideas.
(c) Mindfulness and discipline.
(d) Honesty and integrity.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
It would be a big lie if I say I am always in a positive or motivated frame of mind, that is obviously not possible. But I believe two things I can control, my attitude and my effort.
So, if I choose to dwell on a bad moment then my attitude reflects that but if I make an effort to look for a way to work around my situation then I have a vantage point.
The incentive to move on is the aspiration to assist people find their true potential and maximize their contentment.
It is important that I take care of my physical and emotional well -being too, because I need to practice what I advocate. ME Time for me is usually a walk, listening to podcasts, reading books along with a cup of tea, journaling or simply sitting and observing and hearing the sounds of nature, there is nothing better to calm you down than the gift of nature.
Another surefire way for me is to chat with my daughters, as this helps me see the world through their eyes and their perspective, which is so fresh, young and promising. This relaxes, rejuvenates and refreshes me to be all charged up and ready to face all challenges again.”
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
The three C’s – Consistent, Creative, Courageous
– Define your want and find your Why
– Live with integrity
– Value your time
– Last but not the least Live with passion
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Ability is what you’re capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. If you begin with an attitude of success, you will achieve your goals.
But the most important thing is to START, there will never be a perfect time or a perfect job to begin, you will only learn through practice and experience. Learn from your mistakes but do not carry them around with you, crush them under your feet and make them the stepping stones to success.
Do not fear rejection, people are not rejecting you, your idea is just not right for them at that moment
Do not measure your success according to other people’s standards, be your own judge, set weekly goals and celebrate every small step achieved.
When you embark on your journey operate from a level where you want to achieve something not just for yourself but those around you.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
