At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Shreya Phadke for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. Shreya is a Leader, Trainer, Coach, Counselling Psychologist and Change Enabler. She is the President of Clinical Operations, India at Omni Health Services India. Let’s learn more about her background, her inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shreya:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I’ve wanted to be a Counsellor/Psychologist for as long as I can remember, specifically since I was in the 8th grade.
My motivation behind choosing this profession was my personal experience with therapy as a kid. Because of the wonderful change, therapy brought within me, I always felt indebted to the mental health field & wanted an opportunity to make a similar difference for others.”
I completed my Master’s in Counselling Psychology & got my first break with Omni Health Services. However, the company ceased operations shortly but I was fortunate enough to expand my learning, pick up new skills & master the domain of Aviation as I started working in an Aviation institute, as a trainer, soon after. I’m one of the rare few in India who belongs to the mental health field but knows the Aviation industry inside out.
Eventually, I wanted to steer back to counselling & therapy, & ultimately my professional life came full circle when my mentor & previous head of Omni Health Services re-introduced me to Mr. Michael Thevar, President of OHS, as he was looking for an experienced Psychologist to head their new OHS office in Mumbai.
Currently, I’m working with OHS India, Mumbai division as the Head Psychologist, part-time Aviation trainer & Business Development Manager, & feel fortunate for getting to juggle so many titles under an amazing company.”
How did you discover your passion?
Like I said, my passion ignited through personal experience. Like countless others, up until then, I didn’t pay much heed to the existence of Counsellors/Mental Health/Psychologists.
I was terrified when my mother brought up the idea of going to a counsellor to help me cope with what I was going through. But, I can safely & proudly say today that this field was one of the critical reasons why I overcame that difficult period as a kid.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I won’t deny that some challenges still do a number on me & make me feel lost but my ability to compartmentalize & direct my state of mind are my greatest strengths.
Of course, my family, friends & work are my forever support systems but what I said about compartmentalizing & self-regulation have truly helped me in some of my most difficult phases.”
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My motivational sources keep on changing and evolving; this has always been the case.
Depending on which phase of my life I am in or was, different people have impacted me and left a mark. Of course, my most unshakeable sources of motivation have been my mother & grandmother.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
The most crucial strategies have been:
> My sense of humour
> Ability to compartmentalize
> Acceptance
> Self-analysis
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
I will keep it simple & point to the BIG 5 that I believe in, more than most, & am working towards:
1. Emotional intelligence
2. Self-analysis
3. Acceptance & letting go
4. Curious mind
5. Sense of humour
What advice would you give to our readers?
Don’t underestimate the value of add-on skills which may not be a part of your direct profile but serve a beneficial purpose in the long run (Business development, marketing, creative writing, etc.).
Absorb & learn as much as you can; about people, work, environment, the sky is the limit. Being diligent, self-motivated & sincere goes a long way, & so does your ability to set appropriate boundaries.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Successfully fulfilling my given role, regardless of whether it is as a counsellor/psychologist, a trainer, or an admin.
It’s not just about the end result but also the process. I’m grateful to be in a professional position wherein I can step back for some time in case a task or responsibility gets particularly overwhelming. Having a management and boss that are supportive and thorough professionals helps ten folds.
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.
