Career Coaching & Resources

Let's get you where you belong! Whether you are a student aiming for a standout first job or internship, an intrapreneur seeking to disrupt from within, an entrepreneur transitioning to the corporate world, or a professional looking to transfer skills to a new domain, I provide the blueprint for unprecedented success. As an award-winning Global Executive and Scholar, I specialize in engineering radical career transformations across industries and continents. My expertise lies in: • Student-to-Professional Transitions: Guiding students to secure impactful first roles in their chosen industries • Intrapreneurship: Cultivating innovation within established corporations • Entrepreneurship-to-Corporate Transitions: Helping founders leverage their startup experience in Fortune 500 roles • Cross-Industry Pivots: Translating skills between seemingly disparate fields • Re-entry Coaching: Empowering mothers returning to work and professionals re-entering after sabbaticals or extended career breaks • Global Mobility: Facilitating seamless career transitions across international markets My clients have secured roles at: • LVMH • Kering • Cartier • The New York Times • Hugo Boss • Netflix • Google • Boston Consulting Group • United Nations • ...and more! Industries I have successfully helped my clients navigate include: • Diplomacy • Academia • Luxury and Fashion • Media and Entertainment • Tech • Consulting • Advertising and Marketing • Hospitality • Real Estate • Non-profit My approach is rooted in: • Cultural Intelligence: Leveraging my experience across five continents to navigate global business landscapes and cultural sensitivities • Cross-Pollination of Ideas: Applying qualitative and quantitative insights from leading industry conferences I regularly speak at and exclusive trend reports • Future-Proofing Careers: Anticipating industry trends to position clients ahead of the curve

Avinash Mahalingam brings 14+ years of strategic product management , product coaching and business development experience across diverse global industries in USA, Canada and India, led AI platform innovation at RBC and earlier led several 0 to 1 Products at Amazon. He's passionate about empowering product professionals with practical insights gained from building and scaling successful products. He currently is the Co-Founder and CEO for an AI-powered Holistic Wellness Platform and leads a Product Management Course on Maven. Key Experiences & Expertise: 1- He led AI platform product development for an internal developer platform at a major Canadian bank, offering first-hand exposure to the intricacies of building and scaling AI-powered products. 2- At Amazon Freight, Avinash spearheaded the product strategy and launch of 4 0-to-1 products in billing and payments, demonstrating a proven ability to navigate the complete product lifecycle from inception to market. 3- A highly-rated mentor (4.9/5) who has guided 50+ product professionals 1:1 on career growth and skill enhancement, bringing a wealth of experience in nurturing product careers. 4- He Co-led product management courses for 60+ individuals in live cohorts.

WHY should you hire me as your coach? BLUF (Bottom Line, Up Front). Quick bulleted list and story form both provided below, based on how you learn/read best. The Short List: -Former Recruiter for the Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm. I know what it takes to get into rooms and to walk out as the "candidate to beat" in a lineup of interviewees. -10+ Years experience coaching professionally (full-time) for students and experienced professionals, including top business schools like the USC Marshall School of Business (UG, MS, MBA). - Helped clients land roles in: corporate finance, CPG, entertainment (business side, marketing, finance, etc), internal consulting/strategy, supply chain/ops, pharma/medical, tech, automotive, IB and management consulting (undergrad only), brand management and product management, to name a few. - Consistently called out by clients as being the best when it comes to mock interviews (behavioral) and resume notes/edits. - Expert copy writer. - Lived and worked in Los Angeles for 22 years. I survived the Great Recession (2008), multiple SAG and WGA entertainment strikes and almost strikes, changing industries and job functions multiple times, and have landed roles with some of the most competitive companies in the world (Disney, DreamWorks, USC). Story Version: One of the best reviews on my page is from a former MBA student (and Military Vet). He said, "Kira is an incredible career coach and an even better human." This is what matters. Yes - that I am a knowledgeable and experienced coach. But more than that - I care about my clients and their overall well being. Job searching, grad school, transitioning from the Military and career switching are all incredibly stressful - a lot of times, more stressful than I think people anticipate. I love seeing people walk through these challenges and come out the other side, literally transformed. Often achieving more than they themselves thought possible! I have helped first gen, international students, recently separated military vets, and other non-traditional students (or clients) break into new industries and build a career path that they are excited about. When I graduated from undergrad, I graduated off cycle in December, because I kept changing my major and had to take extra classes. I landed my first job as a Production Assistant at DreamWorks Animation by February. In April, at graduation, all my friends were freaking out. Those I'd worked with in production on campus asked how I got my job and if I could teach them how to land jobs like the one I had. In addition to working with friends individually, I referred 5 people to the studio where I worked. Within 12 months, 4 of them were hired and the person who wasn't was an artistic prodigy and now works at Netflix. This has always been something I've loved doing. It just took me a while to realize it was an actual job :). My main goal in any conversation is to help YOU get clear about your next step - and to identify what you need to do in order to reach your short and long term career (and life!) goals. I'm typically a good fit and have a lot of experience working with people who: - Are MBAs recruiting for internships or full-time for all role types (Corporate Finance, Marketing/Brand, non-tech PM, PMM, Leadership Programs, Supply Chain/Ops, Business Intelligence, Sales, Startups) outside of IB and Management Consulting. I have experience working with clients and students in IB and Consulting - but there are a lot of folks on the platform who have more hands on experience here. I will say - I do a mean behavioral interview - and have had folks with a bent towards IB and Consulting remark that they have benefitted from my approach to the behavioral portion of the interview process, while working with other coaches on the technical/case portion. - Are making a significant career pivot (to a different job function, industry, or both - or out of Military service). - Are neurodiverse (ADHD, etc) and need help with productivity hacks and finding work streams that work for them. - Are students at any level (undergrad to graduate) and searching for an internship or full-time job - Are early/mid career professionals looking for a new career direction and need some help shaping and managing their career search/exploration process. - Are international students struggling with networking best practices in the US and understanding the basics of H1B and STEM OPT. I have worked with programs where 70-90% of the students were from outside the US. That said, I am not an immigration professional and cannot provide legal advice. - Are interested in careers in the entertainment space (film, TV, streaming, etc.) OR who are wanting to transition out of entertainment into a more "traditional" corporate role. Networking can be tricky for everyone! My top asynchronous recommendation? A play-by-play handbook "The 20 Minute Networking Meeting". I suggest it so often, I finally made an affiliate Amazon link: https://amzn.to/454gEpO

Hello and welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience in leadership roles at top financial institutions like Capital One and JPMorgan Chase, I bring a wealth of knowledge in management consulting and leadership development to my coaching practice. As a Certified Professional Coach since 2019, I've helped numerous clients enhance their career trajectories by honing their leadership skills and navigating complex career challenges. Currently, as a Fellow at BetterUp, I continue to refine my coaching techniques to empower individuals to achieve their professional goals. Let's work together to unlock your potential and take your career to the next level! Feel free to reach out for a consultation.

I help PhDs in STEM fields transform their doctorate into a career superpower beyond academia. I hold a Doctorate in Physics from MIT and have worked with PhDs in academia and industry for over 12 years. I have succeeded in roles in C-level leadership, research, teaching, data analytics, program management, relationships management, product management, marketing, and customer service. I have learned first hand as well as from others how a PhD can accelerate a career in all of these areas. Whether you're ready to embark on a new adventure or use your analytical and technical skills to turbocharge your current trajectory, I will work with you to create an actionable roadmap to where you want to go. I only work with clients who are willing to dare greatly in pursuit of their goals and dreams. Among other things, I have helped clients: - Move continents for a new career - Transition to a new field - Effectively interact with C-level leadership - Build their own business

With a robust background in leadership, people management, and organizational leadership, I bring three decades of experience from top-tier companies like Google and Procter & Gamble. As a Career Coach and Mentor, I have successfully guided over 200 individuals in their leadership journeys, helping them unlock their potential and achieve their career goals. Let's work together to elevate your skills and drive your career forward. Reach out to start your transformation today! * Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation (ICF) * Erickson Certified Professional Coach, Erickson Coaching International * 2024 Coach Excellence Award at Google for consistent dedication to coaching, exceptional feedback received, and active contributions to the coaching community

Career Coaching | Advising I am a collaborative partner guiding my clients and students to accomplish their professional goals. I build strong relationships by understanding the unique needs of my clients, earning their trust, and asking insightful questions that can guide them to solutions and forward progression. In addition to my private coaching practice and work with the Kellogg School of Management, I offer pro-bono coaching through The Marketing Academy and ACP Advisors. Coaching Competencies I specialize in helping professionals navigate strategic career planning and various workplace situations. • End-to-end career planning, recruitment, offer negotiation, and onboarding • Assessment tools, performance feedback, and goal setting • Marketing materials and personal branding • Interview preparation and successful engagement in the recruiting process • Negotiating job offers • Strategies for effectively handling challenging situations in the workplace • Say This Instead: I help professionals find the right words during interviews, offer negotiations, over challenging topics with their boss and many other situations. The Interview Expert | Interview Readiness As an experienced communicator, I help my clients succeed in the recruiting process, whether it's during initial phone or Zoom interviews or later stages. Many people lack strong interviewing skills, which can become unpracticed over time. My coaching services focus on preparing clients for interviews by providing guidance on every aspect of the process, including interview readiness and planning.

Ever find yourself stuck in a career that's clearly not right for you? That was me 15 years ago, but let me take you even further back. In 2007 I graduated from Duke with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I knew I didn't want to do engineering, so I made my first hard pivot - I landed a job at JPMorgan as an investment banker. 4 years later with a stop in venture banking, I knew it wasn't for me. I knew I wanted to change into something with a faster pace that would allow me to flex my creativity, but didn't know how to convince anyone to hire me without any direct experience. Now with nearly 13 years of marketing experience under my belt, I can say with enthusiasm that I was able to pivot into a career that's right for me. Knowing from first hand experience how soul crushing the wrong job can be, I'm personally invested in helping people get out and onto the right path for themselves.

Welcome to my profile! I work with clients across sectors to see the big picture and create a vision for their life and work that embodies their core values and roots them in their strengths. By aligning around their own personal north star, my clients are able to bring clarity and confidence into their lives, unlocking potential to achieve goals both big and small. I'm here to support you in your journey. Let's connect and explore how I can help you realize your career aspirations!