We invited Bhavna Dalal the Founder and CEO of Talent Power Partners. She is a Master Certified Coach and Specialist in helping Mid-Level and Senior Level Executives develop their Leadership Skills to the Next Level and lead successfully with clarity, conviction, and connection. Let’s get to know about her entrepreneurial journey.
- Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as an entrepreneur
My name is Bhavna Dalal. I am a Leadership Coach, Author, and Speaker. I run a Leadership consulting company called Talent Power Partners based in Bangalore, India. My new book, ‘Checkmate Office Politics,’ has just been released by Sage Publication. I write and give talks about several aspects of Leadership in my articles and speeches on many platforms like Fortune and Forbes India and company off-sites. I also serve on various compliance committees and as Vice President on the board of Bodhi Education Society.
2. Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job?
Being a coach and author is my Career 2.0. I started this journey after the age of 40. While several challenges arise due to the late start, there are some advantages as well. One of the main reasons is that whatever I do now is to prove to myself and not to anyone else. This situation gives me room for more risk-taking, no fixed pace, and being picky about the kind of work I want to do – what excites me which means sometimes choosing that over something more financially lucrative. Entrepreneurship allows you to do all that. I am incredibly passionate about writing. It fits in very nicely between my coaching sessions, speaking assignments, and leadership workshops. Because I have a clear vision of where I want to go, entrepreneurship was my only choice. This path gives me more options to fulfill my dreams.
3. What was the vision behind it?
My journey started from, of course, wanting to help people. I slowly realized that the best way to help others is to tap into your potential and work on your clarity, passion, and purpose first. As I embarked on that journey, I realized I was an excellent mother, a go-getter, and an efficient and resourceful person who can get things done. It led to me becoming a coach and author and founding Talent Power Partners, a leadership development consulting company. Hence, I nurture leaders and help them get to the next levels in their careers and personal growth. It is incredibly fulfilling for me to see people succeed as I help them through their leadership challenges. My writing helps me take this message to a broader audience. In my book Checkmate Office Politics, I talk about all the tools required to succeed in the corporate world.
  4. Describe the services that you offer to your customers and in what way they are unique?
As a Leadership Coach, I help people managers from the manager level up to CXO and board members to become better leaders and become even more accomplished. I work in one on one and group sessions with leaders on topics like building executive presence, leading through influence, women leadership, networking skills, strategic thinking, etc.
As a master certified coach, with the global experience of living and working in the USA, South Africa, and India and having an engineering background, I understand my clients’ needs well. All my work is focused on the clients. The strength of my company lies in the adaptability towards that. Excellence in whatever project we take up is vital. I do not take up assignments where I feel we cannot do full justice.
 5. What difficulties which you have faced or you are facing?i
Several difficulties. Starting from scratch in a new field at a much later stage in life comes with it’s set of challenges. People think they can pay you less, or late or try getting extra work done as a woman running the show alone. There is a specific set of issues you face until you have proved your credibility, and different problems arise once you are established.
Pushing through fixed mindsets and expectations can be exhausting. Balancing on all fronts requires some skill. Learning about new technologies continue to take your business to the next level while doing your core job can be quite challenging.Â
Sometimes difficulties are signs that tell you to pause because it is not the right decision or the right time. You have to listen to your intuition to discern that and use those difficulties to change course or readjust your strategy.
6. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
The best way to manage stress is by keeping in mind the larger picture of what truly matters. Your health, family, friends, and well-being must be remembered as a priority no matter what is going on around you.
The practice of staying in the moment as much as possible is necessary and helpful. Staying connected to your emotional state a few times in a day is another excellent practice. As a coach, I cannot serve my clients well if I am not exercising, meditating, and maintaining my pure presence.
7. How do you market your business?
Marketing happens through word of mouth and social media like LinkedIn and blog posts.
 8. In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
The key to success is recognizing what gives you joy and pursuing that, irrespective of what the world thinks. By world, I mean people close to you, who matter to you. Often, in listening to them and trying to appease them, we dilute our passions and allow fears and limitations to inhibit our journey.
 9. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur?
 My advice would be to initially spend a large amount of time clarifying your vision—fundamental questions like why you want to be an entrepreneur and why in that particular area. Next, work hard on learning and practicing the skills that you need – for example, if it’s hiring the right people, then throw yourself in that. Recognize what you need to outsource and what you have to learn to do yourself. I would highly recommend hiring a coach. It is an investment that will pay off like no other. The ‘how’ will work itself more quickly if you do the above.
Connect here,
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavnadalal/?originalSubdomain=in
Also read,