Today we’d like to introduce you to Anju Puri

Hi Anju, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My journey is one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to family and self-growth, spanning continents and diverse experiences. Born in India and raised in New York, I have over 30 years of experience as a transformational change leader in corporate and financial organizations. I am a proud wife and mother of two beautiful children, surrounded by loving friends and extended family. As the youngest daughter of an immigrant family that came to the US in the 1980s, I have achieved much by conventional societal standards.

However, the past decade has been one of profound personal transformation, especially after losing both my parents.
My father’s long battle with bipolar disorder and the subsequent coma from a fall led to his demise 10 years ago and it left me questioning the purpose of life. I knew all along that the question was there, but I “numbed” myself to emotions and continued with my life.

During this time, I tried my best to shift my mindset from being “stuck” to seeking a life of meaning and purpose. Weekends found me volunteering and meditating, activities that brought joy and peace. Despite climbing the corporate ladder as a Senior Vice President at a global bank, earning a multi-six-figure salary, I felt an increasing emptiness. I was thriving professionally, but inside, there was a void.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought further shifts. Watching my mother struggle with dementia and witnessing her suffering deeply affected me. Her passing taught me profound lessons about life and resilience. My purpose of life questioning intensified at times and especially so after the loss of my mother back in 2021. For the first time, I chose to take a pause and listen to my own needs. I sought something more significant than material success, yearning for a purpose beyond my demanding job and daily routine.

I realized that my feeling of emptiness stemmed from not processing my parents’ losses fully. I decided to slow down, acknowledging that I wasn’t feeling like my true self, and pressed the “pause” button on my life.
In these moments of deep grief and reflection, my life’s purpose crystallized: to empower other professionals in their leadership journeys. I began investing in my health and wellness, seeking clarity and letting go of what no longer served me. This journey led me to leave my corporate job and pursue a greater purpose: serving others.

At age 51, I embarked on a new journey of entrepreneurship, channeling my experiences into helping others through leadership coaching, organizational facilitation and healing practices.

What took me a decade to understand and find, I now help my clients achieve within weeks.

Embracing my role as a career coach, facilitator and healer, I keep my core values of connections, compassion, and community at the center. I coach individuals to enhance their career success and overall well-being by cultivating harmonious relationships through an inward journey of healing and self-love.

My mission is to help people move through life transformations in ease. Every life change brings in a period of loss and hence grieving is a crucial part of life. I choose to teach people on this topic and help others find life after a loss. It is up to us to honor our emotions and feelings, heal, and be compassionate with ourselves. With each loss, there is an opportunity! We must heal and grow and never feel alone in this journey of life.

My dedication to community service continues as I dedicate my time as a Peer Leader with Rutgers State University, teaching the South Asian population about diabetes self-management and heart health. I also facilitate grief support for children and families with Good Grief and collaborate with SAMHIN, a non-profit organization, to raise mental health awareness in the South Asian community.

From the bustling streets of New Delhi, India to the dynamic life in the US, my journey continues to be a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of self-belief. Through all the ups and downs, I have learned the importance of self-love, family bonds, and the courage to pursue one’s true calling.

Learning to live in the present and making the best of each day life has to offer has become my daily mantra. I hope to continue living a life of service to make this world a better place for us and our future generations to heal and live compassionately with each other. And I will never shy away from doing my little part to help on this journey!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Creating healthy boundaries with people to prioritize my own health was a challenge. Society wants you to keep on going and taking a pause is a sign of weakness. Having a family history of mental diseases and finding resources was a challenge and we had to learn to navigate. There is a stigma around mental health and no one wants to talk about anything. I chose to seek therapy and healing modalities when I needed it. I also love giving back to the community by writing blogs and volunteering with various organizations to break stigmas and promote education on topics less talked about.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I am a former Senior Vice President with 30-plus years of experience in the financial industry.

I chose to walk away from that position last year to pursue my life purpose and passions.

I am a life coach, healer, and organizational leadership facilitator.

I bring a lot of expertise from the real working world to my clients and my journey through grief allows me to serve my clients from a place of love and compassion. My clients find a safe space to work with me.

I am a Theta Healing Practitioner and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)/Tapping Practitioner.

What matters most to you? Why?

Living a life with loving yourself and others around you. I am a deeply empathetic person and that is my strength, It’s the lesson of my life that I remind myself daily because it’s what we do here and now that matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pathwaystoholisticlife.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purianju_lifecoach_usa/