Aligned Ambition with Pooja V.

Pooja Venkatraman
  • 5.0 (6)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Hi! I’m Pooja – I’m a double Harvard grad, ex-BCG consultant, and now a writer, thought leader, and executive coach. I help high achievers tackle stress productivity, performance and purpose so they can fulfill their biggest ambitions and unleash their fullest potential… …without sacrificing their sanity, their relationships, their authenticity, or their paychecks. Let’s build the life and career you actually want – one that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Book a free consult call to discuss working together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

  1. 4D AGO

    489. 5 key career mistakes high achievers make (part 2)

    If you’re a high achiever who knows SOMETHING has to change in your career…  But you’re stuck in figuring out exactly WHAT that change is, and what you want to do next… You’re probably making one of these 5 career mistakes. And it’s keeping you spinning in circles, instead of moving forward with clarity and confidence. This week’s podcast episode is all about Mistake #2: Trying to “arrive” or “make it.” Counter-intuitive, right? Don’t we all want to “arrive” and “make it”? Isn’t that the whole point? In this episode, I’ll tell you why the desire to “make it” is actually keeping you stuck and confused about what you want to do next. And I’ll give you 3 steps to take to get you un-stuck. So listen in, and then book your Free Career Audit with me: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  I’ll help you implement and operationalize exactly what I tell you to do in this episode – faster and more effectively than you can do it yourself.  Subscribe to my email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a single installment of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/  And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    28 min

  2. MAY 4

    488. 5 key career mistakes high achievers make (part 1)

    If you’re a high achiever who worked really hard to build your career, and you thought you’d feel successful, happy, and fulfilled by now… But instead, you’re feeling stressed, dissatisfied, and like something’s not quite right… You’re probably making one of these 5 key career mistakes. You haven’t screwed things up. There’s nothing wrong with you. And you’re not being privileged or ungrateful. This 5 part series is going to give you clarity about WHY you’re feeling this way and a clear path forward for exactly what to do about it. These 5 mistakes are 100% understandable and 100% fixable. Listen to this week’s podcast episode for a deep dive on Mistake #1. And then book your Free Career Audit for a chance to take a big-picture look at your career, get clear on what you want, identify the gaps, and make a doable plan to close them: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  Subscribe to my email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a single installment of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/  And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    41 min

  3. APR 27

    487. The top 5 challenges high achievers face when they get promoted

    When you get promoted, there are 5 key skills you need to succeed at your new level.  NONE of them are “be good at the core job.” Being good at the core job is table stakes.  What you need to succeed are 5 NEW skills (or 5 skills that you’ll be spending significantly more time on than before). For a breakdown of all 5 skills and how to build them, listen to this week’s podcast episode. And then book a free call with me and let’s do a Skill Audit together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  We’ll examine exactly how you’re doing along these 5 dimensions right now. And then build a clear game plan to close the gaps.  Book your free call now: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  Email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠ And if you’d like to chat with Megan Porter, executive coach for first-time C-suite leaders, email her at megan@mppadvisory.com

    43 min

  4. APR 20

    486. The real reason why high achievers burn out

    The most important thing, when you’re trying to cure or avoid burnout, is to understand what CAUSES burnout. Because the last thing you want to do is change your job and overhaul your life…only to find yourself burnt out again 6-12 months later. High achievers think burnout is caused by long hours, demanding bosses, and high-pressure targets. And while those things are correlated, they’re not the true root cause. Which is why I’ve seen too many high achievers switch to the “more chill” job…and still end up unhappy. To understand the REAL root cause of burnout – and what you can do to cure or avoid it – listen to this week’s episode. And if burnout feels close (or has already arrived) for you, book a call with me and let’s do a Burnout Audit together. We’ll assess exactly what’s causing your burnout now.  And we’ll map out a simple, doable plan for you to stop feeling depleted and get back to feeling like yourself again. Book your free call now: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  For a summary of the key concepts in this episode, check out this guide: https://poojav.substack.com/p/free-guide-the-real-reason-high-achievers And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    44 min

  5. APR 13

    485. The closer you are to traditional success, the harder it is to find fulfillment

    If you’ve achieved some measure of external success, but something still feels “off” in your career, this podcast episode is for you. Achieving the things you’ve worked so hard for – and then finding yourself unhappy or unfulfilled on the other side is…confusing. You wonder: Have I done something wrong? Am I on the wrong path? You look down the long road of the rest of your career, and you’re like, “Is this it? For 30 more years?” Logically, your career makes sense. So you don’t know why it doesn’t FEEL right. But what’s the alternative? Quit and become an artist? That doesn’t seem very practical. In this episode, I explain WHY this happens to high achievers. (Don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong. And you don’t have to give up everything you’ve worked for to correct this.) And I tell you what to do about it.  This is the unique dilemma high achievers face: Your true path often takes you very near (or straight through) the vortex of external success. And if you want to be both successful AND fulfilled, you have to learn how to navigate this vortex successfully. Step 1 of doing that? Book a Free Career Audit, so we can:  Assess exactly where the vortex is pulling you off course todayHelp you can anchor back to what you want – not what you’re supposed to be doingAll while keeping the practicalities of finances, security, and lifestyle in mindSchedule yours here today: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    27 min

  6. APR 6

    484. How to do something you don’t want to do

    Have you ever made a grand plan to do a big project over several days…only to find yourself scrambling at the last minute to get it done? Or told yourself you’ll get up early to work out…only to hit snooze six times the next morning? Or even promised you’ll stop working late in the evenings and spend more time with your family…only to find yourself writing ONE last email before you log off? This week’s episode is all about what to do in that moment.  This week’s episode is all about what to do in that moment. When you’ve made a plan that you genuinely WANT to do… But the time has come to execute… And your brain is rebelling and saying, “I don’t want to!” You don’t have to give in and give up. And you don’t have to use willpower and discipline to MAKE yourself do it. Instead, do what I tell you to do in this episode :)  And if using this tool makes you realize – “Hang on, I actually DON’T want to do these things…” Book a Free Career Audit with me and let’s figure out why you have a career full of things you don’t want to do – and what you’re going to do about it: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  You'll walk away with: A simple diagnosis of what’s working + not working today A clear game plan for what to do next An objective assessment of whether 1:1 coaching could accelerate your progress And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    23 min

  7. MAR 30

    483. How to know when it’s time to invest in a coach: a 7 point checklist

    This week, I’m making something publicly available for the very first time. Normally, you have to get on a consult call with me to hear about this… But I decided to release it out into the world for everyone to see. It is: My 7 point decision making checklist for whether or not to invest in a coach. And I wanted to make it publicly available because, too often, when something is off in our lives…  We deliver ourselves into the arms of an expert and relinquish all control. You go to a doctor, a therapist, a financial advisor, a personal trainer, a coach… And you throw yourself at the feet of their expertise and say, “I don't know what’s going on. I’m stumped. I’m confused. You tell me what to do.” And even though it’s often easier to make a sale when someone does that… I actually don’t want you to do that. I want you to feel EMPOWERED, in control, and fully in the driver’s seat of your own career. EVEN when things feel off. EVEN when you’re stuck. EVEN when you’re not sure what to do next. I want you to bring in support like a CEO brings in an advisor. Not like a student with low grades sheepishly hiring a tutor. This decision making checklist is designed to help you do exactly that: Make a powerful, in-control decision about what kind of support you want at this point in your career. It’s a simple series of questions to help you get back in the driver’s seat again. Listen in to hear all about it. And then book your Free Career Audit with me, and let’s talk about exactly what feels off in your career right now, pinpoint the root cause, and build a simple game plan for closing the gap: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact  And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    31 min

  8. MAR 23

    482. What if it’s just not possible to build the career you want?

    I want you to imagine all the elements of your A+ career. The title. The compensation. The trajectory. The hours. The day-to-day work. The location. The fit with the rest of your life. Chances are, within 3 seconds of even STARTING to imagine that A+ career… Your brain shut you down and said, “That’s not possible.” And guess what? You’re right. It might not be possible. But in today’s podcast episode, I give you 3 reasons why it’s still worth it to try. 3 reasons why you’ll be BETTER off if you try, than if you don’t. Even if you fail. Even if it’s not possible. Listen in to find out. And then book your Free Career Audit with me, and let’s map out exactly where your current career is falling short of A+ and how we can close the gaps: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact And email me anytime with thoughts, feedback, and topics you’d like to see covered on the podcast! ⁠⁠pooja@poojavcoaching.com⁠⁠

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hi! I’m Pooja – I’m a double Harvard grad, ex-BCG consultant, and now a writer, thought leader, and executive coach. I help high achievers tackle stress productivity, performance and purpose so they can fulfill their biggest ambitions and unleash their fullest potential… …without sacrificing their sanity, their relationships, their authenticity, or their paychecks. Let’s build the life and career you actually want – one that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Book a free consult call to discuss working together: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact

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