We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Priya Nalkur a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Priya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Honestly, being a business owner makes me happier in many ways, but it doesn’t always feel easy or natural. For a long time, I resisted identifying as a businesswoman or entrepreneur. I never had formal training, never worked a full-time corporate job, and starting a business felt less like a choice and more like a necessity—there wasn’t anyone else doing the work I wanted to see in the world. It allowed me to combine my artistic and educational passions, but I still sometimes feel like an imposter, wondering, “How am I actually pulling this off?”

That said, the thought of having a regular job does cross my mind—especially during moments when the responsibility feels overwhelming. One of the most vivid times I wrestled with this was about a year ago. I’d just wrapped up a tough negotiation with a client who was pushing for a discount on services I knew were already undervalued. At the same time, I was trying to manage cash flow, market my business, and take care of personal responsibilities. It was late at night, my laptop open on the dining table, and I distinctly remember Googling, “Jobs for empathetic, relationship-focused people.”

As I sat there reading job descriptions, I imagined what it might be like to have a structured 9-to-5 where I could turn off at the end of the day and let someone else take the ultimate responsibility. I thought back to my last job, which had given me financial stability and a clear role—but also left me frustrated and creatively stifled. I remembered how I struggled under certain leaders to whom I gave disproportionate amounts of power (at my own expense) and environments that didn’t allow my ideas to flourish creatively. Those experiences ultimately pushed me toward creating my own space.

That night, as I stared at those job listings, I asked myself: Am I really craving a “regular job,” or am I just wishing for a different path? I realized what I truly wanted wasn’t a paycheck or a steady schedule—it was to feel less alone in the weight of decision-making. I reminded myself that I had built this business on relationships and solutions, qualities that come naturally to me, even if “business strategy” does not.

The conclusion I came to is that being a business owner lets me express my full creativity and align with my values. I love the freedom to decide what I’m building and how I serve others. Still, I learned something that night: I can—and should—ask for more help. It was a turning point that made me double down on delegating tasks, reaching out to mentors, and creating my own support network.

So yes, sometimes I think about having a “regular job.” But when I reflect on what I’ve built and why, I always come back to this: running my own business, even with all its challenges, is worth it because it feels like the truest expression of who I am.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Priya Nalkur, and I wear many hats—psychologist, executive coach, educator, writer, and entrepreneur. At the core of all my work is a singular passion: helping people step into their fullest potential with confidence, courage, and compassion. My work centers on building high-performing, inclusive workplaces where individuals and teams feel valued, empowered, and connected, creating environments where success is not just possible but sustainable.

How I Got Started
I didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur or business owner—it’s a path that found me. Trained as a psychologist, I’ve always been deeply fascinated by human behavior, interpersonal dynamics, and the ways people interact in organizations. Before I started my business, I faced challenges in traditional work environments, particularly in navigating power dynamics. In these settings, I often found myself giving away too much of my own power, which stifled my creativity and my ability to make an impact. I eventually realized that the kind of work I envisioned—helping leaders build workplaces grounded in inclusion, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence—wasn’t being done in the way I thought it needed to be. That realization pushed me to create my own path.

Starting my business gave me the opportunity to combine the things I love most: listening deeply to others, fostering long-term relationships, and designing solutions that empower leaders to show up authentically and lead effectively.

What I Do
As the President of the RoundTable Institute, I lead a global team of coaches and facilitators who help leaders, teams, and organizations thrive. Here’s a snapshot of what we offer:

Executive Coaching: Working with individual leaders to grow their emotional intelligence, navigate difficult decisions, and achieve personal and professional goals.
Workshops, Keynotes and Trainings: Covering topics like conflict resolution, difficult conversations, inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, boundary-setting, empathy as a leadership skill, and team dynamics.
Leadership Offsites: Facilitating deep, honest conversations for teams to uncover hidden dynamics, build trust, and work toward shared goals.
Our approach is tailored and relational. We always start by listening—whether it’s conducting stakeholder interviews or using reflective tools like fishbowl exercises to mirror back what’s happening in an organization. This process helps us meet clients exactly where they are while inspiring them to move closer to where they want to go.

What Problems Do I Solve?
The work I do isn’t just about surface-level leadership tips—it’s about uncovering the deeper obstacles that are holding people back, including implicit biases, fear of vulnerability, and misaligned power dynamics. I help leaders and teams:

Build workplaces where every voice is heard.
Navigate conflict as a productive path to shared wisdom.
Cultivate self-awareness and empathy to improve decision-making and relationships.
Balance the demands of work with a full and vibrant personal life.
At the heart of my practice is the belief that effective leadership starts with self-awareness and that creating safe, inclusive spaces leads to greater innovation, collaboration, and fulfillment.

What Sets Me Apart
My ability to connect deeply with people is one of my greatest strengths. I’m a naturally empathetic person and a great listener, but I also bring a sharp, goal-oriented mindset to my work. What sets me apart is my ability to weave emotional intelligence and practical strategy into leadership development. I create spaces where clients feel both supported and challenged, balancing authenticity and rigor to help them grow.

I also bring vulnerability and humor to my work, often using self-deprecating stories to foster connection and openness. I believe that brave leadership begins when we allow ourselves to show up as real, imperfect people—and I model that in my approach.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of the ways I’ve been able to help leaders become more authentic and effective. Whether it’s through coaching a reluctant leader to find their voice, helping a team navigate difficult dynamics, or inspiring an organization to embrace vulnerability, I’m proud of the lasting impact my work has on people and cultures.

I’m also proud of my ability to continually reinvent myself and my business to meet new challenges. As someone who once hesitated to call herself a businesswoman, I now find joy in building a thriving practice rooted in relationships, creativity, and purpose.

What I Want You to Know About Me
My work isn’t about me—it’s about you and your potential. I believe leadership is about more than driving results; it’s about inspiring people to do their best work and feel good about doing it. Whether you’re looking for coaching, training, or a transformative team experience, my goal is to help you show up fully, unlock your potential, and lead with courage.

If you’re ready to create a workplace—and a life—you can feel proud of, I’d love to partner with you.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation in the market has been built on a foundation of authentic connection, consistent engagement, and a deep commitment to delivering meaningful results. From the beginning, I’ve prioritized building long-term relationships with my clients, many of whom have become friends over the years. These relationships have been strengthened by my ability to infuse humor and levity into our work together, making even the most challenging conversations feel approachable and productive.

Flexibility and creativity are central to my approach. No two clients or organizations are the same, and I strive to tailor solutions that align with their unique needs, challenges, and cultures. My clients trust me because I meet them where they are while helping them move closer to where they want to go, often in unexpected but highly effective ways.

One of the defining aspects of my reputation is my willingness to be vulnerable and honest about my own journey. I share my story freely, including the mistakes I’ve made, how I’ve repaired them, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’ve learned to do this through some deep work with my own leadership coach, and I can’t do my work any other way now. Courage and vulnerability are central components of my fulfillment, and that’s how I must lead. This openness allows clients to see themselves in my story and feel a sense of camaraderie, and it creates a space where clients feel safe to examine their own challenges and growth edges. I shared a lot of my story in my book, Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect Leadership. It wasn’t easy to do, but it has certainly helped build my reputation as an honest, real, congruent leader.

Ultimately, though, what has truly solidified my reputation is my commitment to excellence. I believe deeply in the work I do, and I pour my heart into every engagement, ensuring that it yields real, tangible results. Whether it’s transforming leadership behaviors, strengthening team dynamics, or improving bottom-line outcomes, the impact of my work speaks for itself.

This combination of authenticity, humor, creativity, vulnerability, and results-driven focus has not only earned the trust of my clients but also helped me build a reputation as someone who creates lasting, meaningful change.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me has undoubtedly been referrals from clients who were thrilled with the work we did together. When clients experience meaningful, tangible results—whether it’s personal transformation, stronger team dynamics, or improved business outcomes—they’re excited to share their success with others. Those referrals are especially gratifying because they’re built on trust and authentic endorsement.

A close second has been the keynotes and workshops I’ve had the privilege of delivering. These engagements give me the opportunity to share insights and strategies with larger audiences, often sparking new relationships and opportunities. Whether it’s a company-wide workshop or an inspiring keynote at a conference, these events have introduced me to incredible leaders and organizations who value the kind of work I do.

Together, referrals and speaking engagements have created a powerful cycle of connection and impact, allowing me to expand my reach while staying true to my commitment to authenticity and results-driven excellence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.priyanalkur.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpriyanalkurpai
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRBzUBDhMm9ItFW-TmMNXNg
• Other: https://www.theroundtableinstitute.com/

Image Credits

Brandon Hill