People come to ActionCOACH from all walks of life and from all over the world; take Shweta Jhajharia for example … Why did Shweta, Global Marketing Manager with Unilever, decide to leave her promising corporate career at just 29 years of age?

People come to ActionCOACH from all walks of life and from all over the world; take Shweta Jhajharia for example … Shweta’s an MBA graduate of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), India’s top management institute, and was with Unilever for over 8 years in various management roles across Asia and Europe. So why did Shweta, Global Marketing Manager with Unilever, decide to leave her promising corporate career at just 29 years of age? Shweta explains, “When I earned my MBA, I knew that I wanted to spend at least seven years in marketing, then move on to a consulting role.”

When she began exploring her future business options she came across the ActionCOACH franchise and she felt it was a great opportunity, offering unrivalled training and support, but still wanted to make sure it was the right fit for her. 

Even though Shweta had solid grounding in business management in the various roles she had undertaken the question was ‘would ActionCOACH work for me? Or should I go independent, or get diplomas from coaching academies?’ Shweta says that “I sat down with my husband one night and we decided that if I was going to do this then go with the best PLUS I wouldn’t be doing it alone, I would have the invaluable support and advice a new business needs but doesn’t get as a ‘self-employed sole-trader’.” 

Shweta had a positive first impression of ActionCOACH, saying that, “Despite the success I had experienced in corporate life, going out on my own was a daunting prospect, but I could see from the outset that ActionCOACH had an energetic, vibrant and inclusive culture with great support systems. During my due diligence and meeting existing ActionCOACH franchisees”

Shweta found the fact that her ActionCOACH business would be based on mutually beneficial relationships to be particularly motivating – her business and financial success, as an ActionCOACH, would ultimately depend upon her clients’ success. 

Shweta made the decision to take up the ActionCOACH franchise in the midst of the economic recession of 2008, a time when others may have thought twice, but Shweta had the reassurance, help and guidance of her Master Franchisor who was always on hand anytime she was unsure and, in her early days, she frequently called upon this; something she would not have been able to do had she decided to go it alone. 

Shweta was certified as an ActionCOACH and completed her franchisee training in December 2008; she got her first client in month 1 (January 2009) and has since coached over 200 business owners towards greater profitability and sustainability. Shweta continues to shuffle the demands of being an ActionCOACH alongside managing an energetic young child. 

Since the beginning of 2009, Shweta has worked with, and improved, the operations of more than 200 businesses in the London area. By focussing on her core competency of improving businesses, she has been able to target businesses stagnating due to the economic recession and also work with successful business owners to help them take their businesses to the next level. Testimonials from these business owners attest to the efficacy of Shweta’s ActionCOACH business coaching. 

Shweta’s boundless enthusiasm, knowledge and ideas impress her clients, she identifies the issues that are holding businesses back, puts systems in place to address those issues and, and ultimately delivers significant improvements in what can be successful, but faltering businesses. One such client comments that “Shweta has been a fantastic asset to my business. I’m so pleased I took the plunge and hired her because it actually turned out to be the best thing I have ever done! We have grown by 83% in under 2 years, with improved margins and systems and we now have bigger plans for the future.” 

Shweta’s long-term vision is to expand her ActionCOACH business and current leadership in the business coaching industry. With so many achievements behind her in such a short space of time, Shweta Jhajharia is indeed the woman to watch. The future truly does look bright for this inspiring young ActionCOACH.