Today we’d like to introduce you to Kavita Melwani.

Hi Kavita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My family immigrated from India before I was born for a better life. My father came as an employee for a company that made custom suits. Unlike a lot of immigrants from South Asia, both of my parents are not college-educated. They have the equivalent of a H.S. diploma. Their families were generations of entrepreneurs, so eventually, they opened their own business. I grew up around business and now eventually started my first business in 2003. I have a Master’s in Education and thought I would be a teacher but after moving and working on my teacher credential I started tutoring and eventually opened my own tutoring business.
In 2011 I started my spiritual awakening, although I wouldn’t have called it that then. After my cousin’s funeral, it hit me that I wanted to live fully, but I didn’t know how. After meeting my first coach and attending her vision board workshop, I figured out what to do. That is when I stepped into coaching, I launched my business in 2014 and have been working as a coach, mentor, hypnotherapist and Reiki master since then.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The spiritual path and the path that is not well-worn is never a smooth one. I can now look back and see it from the lens of Joseph Campbell’s hero/heroine’s journey. I believe this is ongoing, by choosing to live consciously and going down a non-traditional career path there are many challenges. Friends and family often do not understand and even judge what you do. As a solopreneur, my income can fluctuate, and that uncertainty is not for everyone, and it takes mindset work, trust, and receiving coaching support to continue my path. Although coaching is now becoming more mainstream, in the beginning, many individuals did not see the value of coaching or even understand what coaching is. Now, there are more coaches and mentors, and the challenge now is to differentiate my coaching and demonstrate that I have extensive training and experience.

We’ve been impressed with Aligned & Soulful , 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 provide coaching and mentoring for Spiritual/Soulful entrepreneurs. My coaching supports my clients in moving past subconscious blocks that are preventing their success. As we work on these blocks, we develop aligned strategies to help support their business growth. Aligned systems and aligned marketing are key for a successful business.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people don’t realize my background, it is easy to make assumptions by the way someone looks. I grew up in a family that was struggling financially until I was about 15 years old. I have experienced a house fire, armed robbery in my home and bullying because of my ethnicity. I am a first-generation college student and grew up in a family that didn’t value education. People usually put me in a box of the model minority. I believe my past challenges help me bring a depth of empathy and understanding into my coaching and mentoring.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alignedandsoulful.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kavitalifecoach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kavitalifecoach/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavita-melwani-coach/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6ARuvwuP3c9U2IdOdFUmw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kavita-melwani-the-enlightened-heart-mountain-view

Image Credits
Annarose Monroe photography