Today we’d like to introduce you to Zahra Premji.

Zahra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My journey to becoming a life coach started with my own struggles.

Like so many moms, I was juggling work, family, and endless to-do lists, always feeling like there wasn’t enough time and that I had to do it all myself. I was working full-time, running a small business, raising three kids, and my husband traveled weekly for work. On top of that, I was navigating perimenopause, which brought a whole new set of challenges. I was stretched so thin—constantly stressed, exhausted, and always feeling like I was falling behind. I wasn’t sleeping well, my health took a backseat, and I felt resentful, angry, and unappreciated.

Eventually, it all caught up with me. I hit burnout—hard. I took a leave from work, and during those months, I could no longer ignore the voice inside telling me something had to change. That’s when I found coaching—and it changed everything.

Coaching helped me take back control of my life and my choices. I let go of perfectionism and people-pleasing, stopped carrying things that weren’t mine to hold, and finally allowed myself to step out of survival mode. I created time for myself without guilt and started feeling more in control. The changes were undeniable—I had more energy, I was sleeping better, I was more patient with my kids, more loving toward my husband. I had confidence, I set boundaries, and I learned to say ‘no’ without guilt. My whole life transformed—I no longer felt like I needed to escape it. And I knew then that I wanted to help other moms experience this same freedom.

Now, I help moms do the same through my coaching program, The Balanced Mom Movement. I help them go from feeling frazzled and overwhelmed to feeling clear, calm, and in control.

I know how hard it is to prioritize yourself when you’re taking care of everyone else. But I also know how life-changing it is when you finally do. And that’s why I do this work—because every mom deserves a life that feels as good as it looks.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

A smooth road? Not even close!

Stepping away from the safety and security of a 20-year career—one that came with a pension, summers off, and amazing health benefits—was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I was walking away from something stable and proven to pursue something I had no evidence would work. That level of uncertainty was terrifying—still is some days.

I had to navigate SO MUCH self-doubt. Could I actually make this work? Was I making a huge mistake? What would people think? The fear of judgment was huge. I worried about how others—friends, family, former colleagues—would see me leaving a well-respected career to do something that, at the time, felt completely out of left field.

And on top of all that, I wasn’t just becoming a coach—I was becoming an entrepreneur. I had to embrace discomfort on a whole new level. Everything was new. Selling, marketing, putting myself out there, being visible, experiencing disappointment and rejection, figuring out how to actually get clients, hearing no over and over—I had to stretch myself in ways I never had before.

Then came the mental shift. After years in a structured job where I knew exactly what to do each day, suddenly, I was the one calling the shots. No boss. No roadmap. No guaranteed paycheck. I had to learn to trust myself, take action even when I was scared, and keep going even when things felt uncertain.

It wasn’t easy. But through all of it—the doubt, the fear, the discomfort, the rejection—I learned to have my own back in a way I never had before. And because I’ve navigated this journey, I’m better equipped to help other moms do the same in their own lives.

We’ve been impressed with Zahra Premji Coaching, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I’m the founder of The Balanced Mom Movement, a coaching program that helps overwhelmed moms create lives they don’t need a vacation from—without guilt or sacrificing their families.

What sets my coaching apart is that it’s not just about time management or self-care. I help moms shift how they show up in their lives. They come to me feeling stretched thin and stuck in survival mode. They leave feeling clear, calm, and in control—without adding more to their plates.

I specialize in helping moms who feel like life looks good on the outside but doesn’t feel good on the inside. My approach blends practical strategies with deep mindset work so they can stop running on autopilot and start living in a way that actually feels good to them.

What I’m most proud of is the transformation my clients experience. They stop yelling at their kids and become more patient and present. They make bold career moves, write books, launch businesses, and finally prioritize their health—losing weight, gaining energy, and feeling strong again. They reconnect in their marriages, set boundaries, and advocate for what they need. These aren’t just small changes; they’re life-changing shifts that ripple into every part of their world.

At the heart of my brand is this simple truth: Moms deserve more than survival mode. They deserve time, peace, and the confidence to show up fully for themselves and their families. That’s what my coaching delivers.

If you’re a mom feeling stretched too thin, I want you to know—there’s another way. And I’d love to help you find it.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?

There are a few, but the one that stands out the most is resilience.

Building a business from the ground up—especially in a field with no guaranteed roadmap—has required me to keep going even when things felt uncertain, uncomfortable, or discouraging. There have been SO MANY moments where I questioned everything—whether I was capable, whether this would work, whether I had made a huge mistake walking away from my career. And honestly, those moments still happen. It’s the price of admission when you’re an entrepreneur. But every time doubt creeps in, I remind myself: I can figure this out. And then I take action to prove myself right.

Resilience is what keeps me showing up when things are hard. It helps me embrace failure as part of the process instead of a reason to quit. It allows me to trust myself enough to take risks, pivot when needed, and stay committed to my vision—even when things aren’t working the way I want them to.

And it’s the same quality I help my clients cultivate. Because resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about learning to have your own back, no matter what. And when you do that, you become unshakeable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/zahrapremjicoaching
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zahrapremjicoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zahra.premji
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahrapremjicoaching/

Image Credits

Leah Smith Branding