While coaching with me my clients enjoyed success in different areas in their lives. Here are some recent examples:
Career move, Connecting with his teen age son- Director at Microsoft, June 2011
Better balancing a very challenging life of PhD work, Job and family- PhD Student at UBC and Dad of a one year old, June 2011
Better understanding of corporate culture and expectations - Software Engineer at Microsoft, June 2011
Better understanding about her position in this world - Release Manager at Microsoft, Nov 2010
Job promotion- Software Engineer at Microsoft, Oct 2010
Below are the testimonials from some of the wonderful people who have worked with me. If you are interested to learn about my client base and what kind of results they have achieved, take a look at "My Ideal Clients" and "Ten things coaching can do for You" at the Learning Center.
Sharmin is an amazing coach. She is able to think through an issue and provide valuable insight. She is personable, articulate, professional and has good integrity. I am better off having worked with her.
A. Adil, Director at Microsoft, Redmond WA, July 2011(south asian origin)
Things I have achieved while doing the coaching:
I have remembered what it was like to be able to ask questions and not be criticized for it. I have opened up and have learned that I can truly come up with plans and ideas and then follow them through.I have also learned to "be present" which has helped me to take decisions, in the last few days I made a strong decision and it has worked very well because I didn't let the other force me into a decision but I gave myself space to think in peace, and in peace I made the choice, and I've noticed that when I feel tired or something after this decision, I remember that peace of the decision and I am motivated again.
Having you listen to me has also been very interesting, because at the same time that I act as the "client" I am also observing your reactions and what you ask me, in a small way I have copied your style in certain situations, helping the other person get closer to an answer they find by themselves rather than me giving it.
You made me realize that I can just be myself and think honestly. So far, thank you very much!
A. Novak, Software Engineer at Microsoft, Redmond WA, June 2011 (south american origin)
I appreciate Sharmin's coaching very much! It has helped me to grow in my career. My manager noticed that I have made significant improvement in last couple of months, I got a promotion. I am now recognized as one of the top performers in my team!
-H. Haque, Software Engineer at Microsoft, Feb 2011 (south asian origin)
I thank you for this seminar - definitely it was helpful and I would recommend to others.
-A participant at the Tele seminar on March 21 2011
(Through coaching) I've realized my entire life was looking for approval and acceptance rather it was consciously done. Always seeking for permission to do anything and being afraid of doing something that will upset others (afraid they they won't like me). I don't need to seek permission or acceptance by those I know. That feeling.. is... my freedom!
-K. Tam, Release Manager at Microsoft, Redmond WA, Nov 2010 (Asian origin)
Thanks much for bringing the opportunity for such a great conversation about “how we can manage our life well”; it empowered some of the decision making key metrics in my case.
-A participant at the Tele seminar on Sept 13th 2010
Everybody recognizes the usefulness of mirrors in self-grooming. A good life coach like Sharmin is an interactive and intelligent mirror for grooming my life. Coaching with her has been a pivotal point of my life. When a person is confused, he needs direction, when he is wrong, he needs correction when he is right, he still needs confirmation. My experience with Sharmin as a professional life coach comprises of all three of these- direction, correction and confirmation. She directed me when I was confused whether to adopt more precise time management practices. She corrected me in resolving the conflict between my two internal selves. She confirmed me of the appropriateness of my actions during my internship applications.
When I started, I had problems in prioritization and chunking of the numerous tasks I wanted to get done on a daily basis. I used to blame myself for not achieving unrealistic deadlines that I had set for myself. I knew I had to connect the dots but struggled to discover where they were. My technical background blinded me from seeing that the cost of perfection and precision is not always worth it.
Sharmin helped me identify these problems. She guided me in taking 'baby steps' (it works for adults too!) to fix them, one at a time. Now I am less hard to myself when I fail in something, and still manage to achieve more. I am writing this testimonial after a 'field study' on myself during my first internship in the US. Coaching with Sharmin has enabled me to bring the desired changes in my life. I am a more contented person now.
-S K Chowdhury, Ux Researcher, St Josheph MO (south asian origin)
This new year's day I bumped into Sharmin's website. I was very intrigued as I went through her story of career change and how she followed her passion. I knew sharmin as a teacher 15 years ago when I was an undergrad student of Computer Science in her class. I knew whatever she was upto would be of high quality. I decided to seek her help to find a direction in my life - I signed up with her for life coaching.
After having her as my coach for last two months I know It has been a great privilege for me. It has literally redefined me and helped me in ways that I didn't think would ever be possible. The scientific process she followed during the life coaching process felt like magic.
I can't write enough about the achievements and progress that I made so far working with her. I am looking forward to work with her again soon. I wish her the best and I strongly believe that anyone who got her as a life coach is very lucky!
-Z. Islam, Software Engineer, Dallas TX (south asian origin)
I had the opportunity to work with Sharmin and was able to establish open and honest communication from day one. Her experience helped me identify joint opportunities quickly and her personality helped foster these relationships. While working with her I was impressed with her intelligence, knowledge and ability to quickly understand the needs of my complex situation. She was a very approachable, supportive and interested in helping others. She exhibited a professional and gracious manner and took a sincere interest in developing people and encouraged people, including myself to be the best.
-Sabira Arefin, CEO at LocalBlox, Bellevue WA (south asian origin)
I started the coaching session with Sharmin at a time when I have been feeling overwhelmed with the activities related to my academic, professional and personal lives. In the very first session Sharmin created a positive environment to make me feel safe and guided my thoughts very well, at the end of that 30 minute I smoothly landed on the prioritization activity. Even though I am very independent and I make my own decisions, I was amazed that with Sharmin’s coaching I was able to make even better decisions that I am already getting the benefit of. Sharmin is a strong listener; she nicely summarizes my view point keeping the essence intact. I have known Sharmin as a good friend who listens very well, now I am impressed by her professional service as a great coach as well.
-Joydip Das, Solution Development Manager, Vancouver BC (south asian origin)
I have felt very lucky to be working with Sharmin as my life coach, she has helped me to create more peace and balance in my life. Sharmin has the ability to create deep learning and awareness that leads to powerful action. She has been a great support that has helped me to gain confidence, stay grounded and make positive changes. Sharmin is truly a naturally gifted and insightful coach.
-Lydia A., LLMSW, Mental Health Therapist, Howell MI (north american origin)
I would like to thank Sharmin for introducing me to this new interesting path. I am enjoying working with her; she is an excellent listener, optimistic, positve and encouraging. Her thought provoking questions helped me to explore deep withing myself and take the step toward self realization, streamline my thoughts and solve confusion. I would heartily recommend working with her if you are interested in exploring your professional and personal growth.
-Faranaz Chowdhury, Business Developement Consultant, Redmond WA (south asian origin)
I know Sharmin for several years now. We worked closely together in the high-tech industry as peer managers. I have more than 15 years of experience in the high tech industry and very confident in my abilities both as a contributor and as a manager. Once I had a management issue in my hands, I walked into her office and asked for a feedback. I didn’t have high expectations when I did that, but very quickly realized that I found a person who can think differently and offer a valuable alternative perspective. Sharmin has become my unofficial “sounding board”.
After some time, Sharmin has followed her passion into becoming a professional coach. I admire that she was able to make such a radical career change, especially during uncertain economic times when high-tech salary is a good source of comfort and stability. Most of people I know only talk about how they would like to make some radical changes in their lives and Sharmin was one of the very few who actually did it.
Even though we don’t work together anymore, we still stay in touch and I have an opportunity to get coached by Sharmin. It is great to see Sharmin to fully express herself in an area where she has so much passion and talent. I’m expecting even greater things to come from her as she continues to blossom in this area. I feel lucky to know her.
-Vladimir Pogrebinsky, Senior Development Manager, Redmond WA