We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Neelu Kaur. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Neelu below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Neelu with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My folks are immigrants from India. They arrived with $75 and two kids to feed. Both my mom and dad worked numerous jobs to put food on the table. They hustled their entire lives and that is where I got my work ethic. There was no job too big or too small for them. My brother and I witnessed how hard they worked and we have no excuse to not do the same.
I think of all of their sacrifices and feel so privileged. Because of their relentless hustling, I was able to go to the best schools in the country. The hustle comes when you see your parents struggle to acclimate to an entirely new way of life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a self-advocacy champion, author, facilitator, and keynote speaker. My areas of focus are leadership development and burnout prevention. Born in India and raised in America, my unique experience has deeply informed my approach to empowering professionals in the workplace.
I incorporate eastern holistic approaches to my work with teams and individuals. I am the author of the book, Be Your Own Cheerleader, which focuses on self advocacy for Asian & South Asian women in the workplace. Although it’s through the lens of collective cultures, the tools and techniques apply to anyone that is challenged with self-advocacy. My workshops and speaking engagements focus on self-advocacy for anyone that struggles to speak up.
Alongside my work in the corporate space, I am a practitioner and teacher of Yoga and Ayurveda. I have been teaching Yoga for over 15 years and actively involved in the yoga community in my area.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I would say the three areas of knowledge are the same as the sections of my book – Culture, Psychological, and Spiritual. These three aspects make me who I am. Raised my parents from a collective ‘we’ based culture and living in an individualistic ‘I’ based country has shaped many of my experiences and challenges in corporate America.
My masters is in Social & Organizational Psychology. I use academic rigor in this area to create the curriculum for my workshops and speeches. As a coach and master practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), learning to shift my mindset has helped me throughout my career.
My spiritual studies in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Mindfulness have led me down a path of self-awareness and self-inquiry. Without my spiritual practices and knowledge, I would not have the tools to thrive in my career.
My advice to anyone who is early in their career journey is to know thyself. Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living and I couldn’t agree more. Learn about yourself, become curious, and self-aware so that you are fully aware of the choices you make.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The most valuable nuggets were the four agreements.
Be impeccable with your word – This is something that I take to heart professionally and personally.
Do not take anything personally- This is something I struggle with because I am human. When I can disassociate myself from the issue, I remind myself that this is likely not about me but more about the other person and his or her interpretation of the situation.
Do not make assumptions – I am a storyteller so I have to constantly remind myself not to make up what is occurring with someone else. I only know my truth.
Always do your best – I am not one to wing anything. I can pivot when I need to but I always come prepared with my clients. In each and every moment, I truly believe we are all doing the best we can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.neelukaur.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neelu.kaur/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neelu.kaur01
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelukaur/
Image Credits
Irina Peschan Photography
