Today we’d like to introduce you to Dhara Mistry.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in India and came to the U.S. when I was three — to the land of opportunities. Like many immigrant families, we started with very little, but my parents’ belief in education, hard work, and stability was unshakable. Their dream for me was clear: climb the ladder, earn success, and build a secure life they never had.
So I did exactly that. I spent over a decade at KPMG, learning the art of business, leadership, and people strategy. From there, I became an HR Director at a startup and later Chief People Officer. I hit all the milestones — promotions, highest titles, the corner office — and for a while, I thought that was it.
But over time, I realized I was living the version of success that made my parents proud, not necessarily the one that made me fulfilled. I loved leading people, but I wanted to do it on my own terms — with more meaning and more heart. That’s when I finally listened to the entrepreneurial pull that had been whispering to me for years.
That leap led me to launch Coaching with Dhara — blending my corporate experience with my passion for helping multi-hyphenated individuals lead authentically, think strategically, and build lives that align with who they are.
Today, I’m proud to be living a version of the American dream that honors my parents’ sacrifices while also creating space for my own — one built on freedom, purpose, and impact.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — but I don’t think it’s meant to be a smooth road. Every chapter of my journey has stretched me in new ways.
As a South Asian woman in corporate America, I often found myself in rooms where I was the only one who looked like me. There were moments I had to work twice as hard to be seen and heard — balancing ambition with approachability, confidence with humility. Those experiences shaped my resilience and fueled my mission to help others lead with authenticity.
When I left corporate to build my own business, the challenges shifted. Suddenly, there was no playbook — no HR team, no predictable paycheck, no roadmap. It was all on me to build a brand, find my voice, and trust it. That kind of growth is equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.
And then, of course, there’s motherhood. I’m a mom of two young boys, and while it’s the greatest joy, it also means juggling chaos with clarity on most days with my husband. I’ve learned to stop chasing balance and start creating alignment instead — because both my business and my family deserve the present version of me.
The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. Every setback has taught me something about strength, identity, and the kind of leader I want to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Coaching with Dhara?
I’m the founder of Coaching with Dhara, an executive leadership coaching and HR consulting practice rooted in one mission — to help people lead with confidence, clarity, and kindness.
After more than a decade (15 to be exact) in corporate America — from KPMG to a startup to serving as Chief People Officer at a firm — I realized the biggest leadership gap wasn’t knowledge, it was energy. Many leaders knew the mechanics of management but struggled with the human side — self-awareness, empathy, and how to lead with both strength and heart. That’s where my work comes in.
Through 1:1 and group coaching, I help executives, founders, and ambitious professionals strengthen how they lead, communicate, and think. I’m known for blending strategy with emotional intelligence — the “hard and heart” of leadership — so clients can make powerful mindset shifts that create tangible results. My approach is rooted in my certifications through iPEC (CPC and ELI-MP) and combines neuroscience, mindset work, and practical leadership tools.
Beyond coaching, I also provide HR consulting to organizations looking to build people-first cultures that perform with strategies and proven frameworks (aka I am your Fractional HR Leader!). I also teach workshops on communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership development. I also speak on topics like kind leadership, confidence for women in corporate spaces, and balancing ambition with authenticity.
What sets me apart — and what I’m most proud of — is that my brand empowers multi-hyphenated individuals to pursue all the things. You can be a leader and a parent. Strategic and soft. A professional and a creative. Ambitious and grounded. I’m living proof that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of who you are.
Coaching with Dhara isn’t just about climbing the ladder — it’s about helping people build ladders that actually lead somewhere they want to go.
If there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s that leadership doesn’t have to be cutthroat or cold. Kind leadership works. Human leadership works. And when you start leading yourself with intention, everything else begins to fall into place.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that sometimes, you have to break the box others try to put you in — and build your own, even if society or those around you don’t understand it. Early in my career, and even now as an entrepreneur, I’ve often felt like I was charting a path that didn’t fit neatly into anyone else’s expectations. As a South Asian woman, a mom, and a leader carving my own version of success, that road can be lonely.
But I’ve learned that being different isn’t a disadvantage — it’s a superpower. The very things that make you feel like an outsider are often the same things that allow you to create something entirely new, lead authentically, and inspire others to do the same. It’s not always easy — there are doubts, pushback, and moments when it feels like you’re swimming upstream — but the freedom and impact that come from stepping into your own lane are worth every challenge.
Ultimately, this lesson has shaped everything I do: in my coaching, I empower leaders to embrace their full selves; in my business, I design programs that celebrate individuality and creativity; and in my life, I’ve learned to honor my instincts, my ambitions, and my values — even when they don’t look like what the world expects.
The takeaway? Your uniqueness is not a liability — it’s your greatest leadership advantage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coachingwithdhara.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dharasworld/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhara-mistry/
