Hidden Gems: Meet Priya Sodha of Innergem

Today we’d like to introduce you to Priya Sodha.

Hi Priya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Anaheim, CA with my siblings & parents. I am a first-generation born American born into an Asian Indian family. My culture & identity is very important to me. By trade, I am a Certified Professional Coach, I earned my Masters in Organizational Change & Nonprofit Management from The New School, NYC & am certified in mindfulness & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace. This matters because it is important to my upbringing. I am a strong-willed, determined individual who has spent many years 100% sure that the only thing that matters to me is passion…that any career or business I pursue, I will do something I am passionate about where I am helping people. I am lucky that at the age of five, my parents signed me up for ballet & tap because dance is what shaped me to become the strong woman I am today.

I pursued my undergraduate degree at Cal State Long Beach, with a major in Sociology & a minor in Child Development but I also earned a certificate in Dance. I worked at a nonprofit soon after graduation but did not feel… complete. I had always dreamed of living in NYC & at the age of 22, I had applied to graduate school in July, got accepted in August & moved two weeks later to the big city. There I earned my Master’s & worked at various youth development nonprofits. Upon moving back to LA, I landed a big role as an Executive Director for an organization but still… did not feel fulfilled.

In 2020, when the Pandemic hit, I realized that it was time for me to keep pushing forward in my career & that was to launch my own coaching business. To me, coaching is a symbol of empowerment & I wanted to be that person to inspire other women in their careers.

Fun fact: I have been teaching Zumba fitness for 12 years & am a yoga & meditation coach.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My obstacles and challenges are closely tied to my identity & my culture. It was a long battle growing up, always feeling like I had to prove my career & my intelligence to individuals in my culture. I grew up in a culture that expected a lot out of a young Indian woman… to be married, to be “educated” & to be successful (defined by wealth). I was blessed that I had parents and siblings who supported me but it wasn’t always an easy journey. Feeling like I always had to prove something taught me a lot about self-advocacy & determination. At a young age, I knew the only thing I wanted to do was to inspire others & help them achieve their goals. I knew this would be an uphill battle of paving my own path & I am a true believer that through hard work comes success. However, I also knew that no one else was going to fight this battle but myself. I learned how to use my voice, how to navigate new industries & how to speak to individuals that looked different than me. Through this, I have been able to cultivate my own community & give back to women who struggle with self-advocacy & promotion.

My biggest challenge came a year ago when I lost my best friend to cancer. At some point in my career journey, I had lost sight of my career goals. My friend had written in her journal before she passed something about me. Something that said she most admired how hard I fought to pursue my dreams & how much she wished she had as well. It was in that moment I realized that I wanted to inspire women to go after what they want now, which is when I launched my company, Innergem.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Innergem?
Innergem is a coaching, facilitation & consulting company. At Innergem, we empower individuals & organizations to find their inner potential through techniques and tools that empower, inspire growth & reframe mindsets. We focus on 1:1 career coaching for women in career transitions, DEI workshops & trainings centered around inclusive leadership, self-promotion & communication as well as group coaching, such as our top-selling program: Leveraging Your LinkedIn Profile for your Personal & Professional Brand. Priya Sodha is also a speaker & facilitator. She speaks on the topic of women empowerment, building healthy habits hosts mindfulness circles that explore boundary setting. You can hire Priya to speak at your next event!

How do you think about happiness?
To me, happiness is defined by balance & flow. I am most happy when I am in a state of flow. Whether that is completely present & involved in my family, whether that is me moving around on the dance floor or whether that is me 110% engaged in my work. Life is short. Happiness isn’t money or status. It is finding stillness, balance and peace wherever you are. In my work, happiness is shown through my authentic approach and nature to in my 1:1 conversations & my workshops. I believe when you are happy in your work & at home, the only way you show up is by being your authentic self.

Contact Info:

• Email: priya@innergemworks.com
• Website: www.innergemworks.com
• Instagram: innergemworks

Image Credits:
@brittneyjeanphotography (Instagram) https://brittneyjeanphotography.com/