NV Paulose, Chairman, Global TV +91 98441 82044
Rashmi Shetty’s journey is of an inner transformation that begins in doubt and matures into purpose
Rashmi Shetty, a VOICE coach, is someone whose presence speaks before her words do. A storyteller at heart and a guide by choice, she has built a life around voice, intention, and conscious communication. Her journey is not marked by sudden breakthroughs, but by a series of deliberate responses to moments that demanded courage, reflection, and inner resolve. Over time, these choices shaped a woman who not only found her own voice, but now helps others discover theirs. Her Success is defined by the quiet consistency that had chosen growth over comfort.
From Stage Fear to Global Voice:
One of the earliest and most defining turning points in Rashmi’s life came in 1990. During an election campaign in college, she forgot her speech midway and stood exposed in front of an audience, overwhelmed by fear and regret. An introvert by nature and deeply averse to public speaking, she questioned her own decision to even step forward.
For many, this moment would have been reason enough to retreat permanently into self-doubt. For Rashmi, it became the beginning of conscious self-work. Instead of allowing embarrassment to limit her, she chose discipline and learning. She enrolled herself in public speaking classes, actively sought opportunities to speak, and represented her college in debates and paper presentations.
What followed was not merely improvement, but excellence. She completed her postgraduate education receiving the Best Outgoing Student Award, a recognition that reflected not just academic merit but personal transformation. The fear that once held her back slowly became a strength she would later build her life around.
The Courage to Choose Consciously:
Her professional journey mirrors this same spirit of initiative and courage. When she completed her Masters in Public Administration & cleared the UGC(Net) exams, joined her alma mater as a Faculty member. When her family moved from Chennai to Bengaluru, She knew her life was set, however her subject was Public Administration & there were no colleges in Bengaluru offering the subject. Forced to change her line, Rashmi made a bold and unconventional move by writing letters of interest to several five-star hotels without any assurance of response. The outcome was remarkable.
Every one of them called her back, giving her the rare privilege of choice and finally she joined Ashok Hotel in sales. This led her to a mentor who played a significant role in shaping her professional values. Over the years, Rashmi’s career evolved across diverse domains.
She worked as a book advisor with Time Warner, joined All India Radio as a Radio Jockey, and later moved into the world of storytelling with the publishing house Katha. Eventually she moved into Behavioural facilitation. Each transition added depth to her understanding of communication, narrative, and human connection.
Voice as Identity, Not Just Sound:
Her decade long association with radio introduced her to the profound power of voice, not merely as sound, but as presence, emotion, and identity. Her Voice carries the weight of unspoken stories, the warmth of empathy, and the power of personal truth. In the intimate, unseen space between speaker and listener, she witnessed how a voice could project a person, how a pause could convey doubt, a shift in tone could reveal irony, and a steady pace could assure unwavering conviction.
This profound understanding reframed her voice as the primary channel for genuine human presence, where emotion and identity become palpable, transforming mere communication into a revelation of self.
Leading with Empathy: The OODA Loop of Conversation:
On her audio podcast U n’ I with Rashmi Shetty, she conducts interviews the way a seasoned fighter pilot navigates combat, instinctively moving through what military strategists describe as the OODA Loop. She begins by observing deeply, listening not only to what her guests say but to the pauses, tonal shifts, and emotions that surface between sentences.
She then orients herself in real time, absorbing their lived experience with empathy and contextual understanding. Her questions emerge as conscious decisions rather than scripted prompts, shaped by the moment rather than a preset agenda. When she finally acts, it is with gentle precision, asking questions that open rather than corner, and invite reflection rather than performance.
By staying within the emotional decision cycle of the conversation, Rashmi creates a space where guests feel safe to drop their defences and speak from the heart, often sharing insights they did not know they were ready to voice. Conversations touch the hearts of everyone.
Alongside professional growth, Rashmi made deeply personal and courageous decisions. She took a conscious break with motherhood, a choice that required clarity, conviction, and self-trust. Later, as a freelance behaviour facilitator, she piloted the demanding years of raising toddlers while managing professional assignments without any extended family support at home.
These were years marked by exhaustion, struggles, and constant recalibration. Through this phase, she learned that work life balance is not a fixed formula but an ongoing process of integration, acceptance, and compassion toward oneself. The challenges she overcame shaped her philosophy and character. Overcoming the fear of public speaking was the first step. She learned to handle unfamiliar subjects with confidence as a result.
She managed responsibilities that demanded both emotional strength and practical discipline. Each challenge refined her ability to remain steady in uncertainty and purposeful in action.
Recognition followed naturally. Rashmi cleared the UGC NET examination, was selected as an FM Radio Jockey with AIR FM Rainbow, and went on to win both national and international awards for scripting and narrating radio documentaries. She was honoured with the “Iconic woman making a better world for all” by the Women Economic Forum.
Her work as a podcaster also received accolades. Yet, beyond awards and titles, what she values most are the messages from clients whose lives changed after coaching, and the inner satisfaction of seeing growth where once there was hesitation.
A Legacy Beyond Awards: Impact Through Authenticity:
Among all her successes, Rashmi holds one closest to her heart. The way her sons have grown into young men who respect every person around them. This stands, for her, as a quiet but profound achievement. It reflects the values she lives by rather than those she merely speaks about. Professionally, Rashmi expanded her impact by becoming a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and founding The Third Eye. She served on the global board of the ICF Foundation from January ‘21to December ’25.
Over time, she evolved into a global Voice Coach, working with leaders across countries and cultures. Her work today integrates communication, leadership, self-awareness, and authenticity.
She does not train people to perform. She guides them to show up fully as themselves. Through her journey, Rashmi has distilled powerful learnings that guide both her life and her work. Her inspiration is the Bhagavad Gita. She believes that every outcome in life depends on how one responds to events beyond one’s control. Kindness, she feels, is not weakness but wisdom.
Faith, for her, is an act of surrender to a higher intelligence that sees possibilities beyond immediate understanding. Above all, she believes deeply that the present moment is the only moment that truly matters and that living with intention is the greatest discipline of all.
Rashmi Shetty’s life is not a story of sudden success or effortless talent. It is the story of deliberate becoming. From a forgotten speech to a global voice, Rashmi Shetty’s journey retells us that when courage is chosen repeatedly and quietly, it shapes a life of depth, purpose, and enduring influence. Her journey tells that fear can be a teacher, voice can be a calling, and purpose often reveals itself only to those willing to respond consciously to life. Her story is a testament to what becomes possible when one chooses courage again and again.
