Even the most accomplished professionals can feel stuck. Career plateaus, burnout, and self-doubt don’t come from a lack of ambition — they come from the constant pursuit of success, approval, and perfection, which can leave us drained, unfulfilled, and disconnected from what matters most: our deeper purpose.
But here’s the truth: lasting career success doesn’t require sacrificing your mental well-being, and a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. When we align our unique strengths with our deeper purpose, new career pathways open. We gain the clarity and courage to step into leadership, build consulting opportunities, and create positive change. The result? Sustainable leadership, career growth, and meaningful impact — all while protecting mental well-being.
I know this not only from research, but also from lived experience.
During a difficult time in my family’s life, I struggled with anxiety and self-doubt while my parents battled with a lack of hope and depression. Then, one day, a teacher handed me a book that changed everything — Discussions on Youth by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda.
One line struck me deeply:
“Each of you has a mission that only you can fulfill. Those who never forget that they have a unique mission are strong.”
In that moment, I realized: my life had a mission only I could fulfill. That awakening set me on a lifelong journey — rooted in service, education, and the belief that every individual can transform struggles into purpose and courage to actualize goals while creating positive change in life and society.
That path led me to earn a Master’s in Counseling from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Penn State. Along the way, my purpose became clear: to help women leaders and professionals build purpose, confidence, and mental well-being as they pursue their highest career and community-oriented aspirations — creating lives of success that also contribute to positive change.
Today, I’m a Professor & Department Chair of Counseling at California State University, Fresno, and the Founder of CoachInspire. I bring together 15+ years of research (including 30+ peer-reviewed publications on career development and mental health), counseling and coaching expertise, and my lived experience as a mother, leader, and scholar-practitioner. This allows me to offer an approach that is both deeply human and evidence-based.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve been honored to:
Gitima Sharma, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, CoachInspire
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (864) 531-8245