“I had a desire to have an impact on people’s lives.” 

What work were you doing previously?    

After completing my hotel management education, I began my career managing food and beverage outlets in five-star hotels.

The hospitality industry was vibrant, fast-paced and full of energy. 

Every day brought new guests, challenges and the thrill of service excellence.

I loved the camaraderie of working with large teams and the exposure that came with being part of a well-oiled corporate environment.

What are you doing now?    

Today, I run a leadership coaching and consulting practice with a small, passionate team.

We work with leaders and organisations across industries to help them grow, lead with integrity and create impact.

Why did you change?

I had a desire to have an impact on people’s lives. 

I wanted to help them lead better lives. 

When was the moment you decided to make the change?    

In 2002, I made a life-changing decision. 

The decision was to shift my career towards learning and development, and eventually, leadership coaching.

How did you choose your new career?

It wasn’t an impulsive move – it was a calling that had been growing for years.

I'd seen first-hand how good leadership could transform not just businesses, but individuals and teams.

Coaching felt like a natural next step, something that aligned deeply with my values and my curiosity about people.

Are you happy with the change?  

Absolutely. 

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

I miss the team camaraderie and the buzz of large-scale operations.

I don't miss the endless meetings or corporate politics that often came with big organisations.

How did you go about making the shift?

I started by shifting into L&D roles within organisations. 

I gained experience as a trainer and facilitator and eventually completed my professional coach certification.

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

I gained my skills through practise. 

What didn’t go well? What wrong turns did you take?

The transition was far from easy.

Moving from the structured world of hospitality to building a practice in leadership development came with its share of uncertainty.

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?    

I'd saved enough to sustain myself for two years.

With my spouse’s support, I could focus on building the foundation of what would eventually become my own leadership consulting firm.

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

While I was confident about my ability to coach and develop others, running a business was a completely different challenge.

For the first four years, I struggled to build a steady practice. I partnered with others, often at the cost of my own growth and branding.

There were moments of doubt and fear; fear of failure, fear of not being good enough, fear that I'd made the wrong choice.

What help did you get?

What helped me through this phase was my belief in learning, persistence and the support of people who stood by me.

My family, spouse, mentors and a close network of coaches and trainers.

What have you learnt in the process?    

Go after your dreams and don't let self-limiting beliefs hold you back.

I truly believe in the power of self-belief. Success is not linear and plans don’t always work out.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

Looking back, I wish I'd started this journey earlier and learned business management sooner.

But every detour, every delay taught me something vital.

Success, I’ve realised, is never linear. It’s a winding path that tests your resilience, faith and adaptability.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation? 

If there’s one lesson I carry from this journey, it’s this: go after your dreams and never let self-limiting beliefs hold you back.

Learn continuously, believe in abundance, and cultivate a growth mindset.

And if you’re considering a similar shift, invest time in learning sales, marketing, psychology and influencing; these are the real enablers of success.

What resources would you recommend to others?

I draw inspiration from books like Atomic Habits, The Psychology of Money, and The Almanac of Naval Ravikant.

Podcasts and lifelong learning have also been my constant companions on this journey.

To find out more about Prakash's work, visit https://prakashnairrconsulting.com/

What lessons could you take from Prakash's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.