Neuroscientist of the Mind, Coach at the Core | Purpose-driven mindset Coach | NLP Practitioner | Researcher & Lecturer | Founder of The Courage Quest | PhD in Cognitive & Behavioural Neuroscience

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." – Nora Roberts
This quote isn’t just on my wall—it’s in every brave step I’ve taken. From leaving home to pursue a life built on science, service, and soul work, it’s been my anchor through fear, growth, and becoming.

Who I am:
I’m Dr. Srinidhi Desikan—a Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscientist, Lab Manager, Lecturer, NLP Master practitioner, and Life & Mindset Coach. My path bridges many worlds: the rigour of academia, the depth of the human psyche, and the quiet (yet loud) transformations that happen when someone remembers who they are.

What I do:
- I manage the VU Behavioral Lab, where I’ve built systems and community across faculties to support research in human behavior.
- I guide students through their academic and personal journey of discovery.
- I coach individuals—often those navigating identity, fear, and transition—through a non-profit, pay-it-forward practice that centers on growth over transaction.
- I write, speak, teach, and listen. And I hold space for people, even (and especially) when they don’t know what they need yet.

How I do it:
With both precision and depth. I bring together neuroscience, psychology, NLP, and lived wisdom.
My approach is raw and reflective—I go beneath the surface, gently but directly. We get honest. We get clear. We shift from “Why me?” to “Why not me?”

Why I do it:
Because too many people live beneath their truth. Because I’ve been there. Because I’ve watched science transform systems and life—and seen presence transform people.
And because I believe that courage, when met with the right support, creates lives that feel like home.

✨ Curious to work with me—on research, coaching, or something in-between? Just send a message.

Dr. Srinidhi Desikan

Empowering female Directors to become successful VPs with my 7-step Passport to Promotion Framework | 10/12 women aiming for the VP role landed it in under 365 days, my about section shows you how to become the next.

👋 Hi, I’m Jill Avey, Founder of SisterSmart® . And I'm a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Ivy League MBA graduate... and Leadership Mentor for ambitious women navigating the path to the C-suite.

I help high-achieving women break through the “Stuck VP” phase... and elegantly step into executive roles with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

💡 Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re an accomplished VP or Director with years of hard-won results. But, despite your dedication... you still feel like you’re not being taken seriously.

You’re leading teams, handling high-visibility projects, and solving complex problems. Yet, vague feedback like “be more strategic” or “you need more executive presence” leaves you wondering what more you need to do.

You’re juggling critical responsibilities at work while balancing personal life... and the pressure feels relentless.

You know you’re capable of more. But, the self-doubt creeps in when stakes are high... and it feels like you’re constantly having to prove yourself.

If that sounds like you, know this: 

You’re not broken. You’re just in a system that wasn’t designed for women leaders.

That’s where I come in.

My Signature 7-Step Passport to Promotion™ Framework: 

I combine neuroscience-based leadership strategies with real-world experience to help you move from stuck to unstoppable. 

The 7 Steps:

1. Self-Leadership: Build resilience and confidence
2. Brain-Based Communication: Develop your executive presence and influence 
3. Intentional Career Planning: Create a strategic plan for your career 
4. Confidence Without Burnout: Learn how to advocate for yourself 
5. Authentic Leadership: Lead in a way that’s true to you
6. Mindset Mastery: Break free from imposter syndrome and self-doubt
7. Support Network: Connect with a community of like-minded women

Real Results:

Over 180 clients have secured VP and C-suite roles in healthcare, tech, and finance—often within just months of completing the program.

They report feeling more confident, visible, and valued—and see real results in compensation, influence, and career satisfaction.

🏆 Why Work With Me? I’ve actually been in your shoes. 

After 25 years as a corporate executive, I know what it’s like to navigate high-stakes leadership while balancing personal ambitions and professional expectations. My approach is research-backed, heart-led, and rooted in real experience.

I believe you deserve a leadership journey that’s both successful and sustainable. And I’m here to help you build it.

📩 Send me a DM: Let’s build your path to the C-suite together.

Jill Avey

Stop chasing a job. Start pursuing yourself. 

7 Reflections to find clarity in your career. 
 
If you’re feeling lost, pause and reflect. 

** This post is from my friend Rachel Park. Give her a follow for career advancement without sacrificing wellbeing. 
 
The problem might not be the job. 
It could be that you’ve lost sight of yourself. 
 
We often focus on titles or promotions. 

But we forget to ask the real question: 
What do I really want? 

Here are 7 things to reflect on to reconnect with your career goals:
 
➊ Find What Fulfils You 
 ⇢ Reflect on when work excites and energizes you. 
 ⇢ Focus on your strengths and passions. 
 
➋ Disconnect from Expectations 
 ⇢ Are you following your own path or others’? 
 ⇢ Ask yourself what you’d do without judgment. 
 
➌ Take Small, Unconventional Steps 
 ⇢ Experiment with new projects and side hobbies. 
 ⇢ Clarity comes through taking small, bold actions. 
 
➍ Redefine Success 
 ⇢ Define success based on what matters to you. 
 ⇢ Pursue what aligns with your values and goals. 
 
➎ Give Yourself Permission to Change
 ⇢ Careers are not linear; it’s okay to pivot. 
 ⇢ Shifting paths doesn’t mean you’ve failed. 
 
❻ Reconnect with Your Values 
 ⇢ Identify your core values and past alignment. 
 ⇢ Use values as a compass for career decisions. 
 
❼ Seek Advice but Trust Yourself 
 ⇢ Get guidance, but trust your gut first. 
 ⇢ Ultimately, only you know what’s right for you. 

If you’re a woman director debating whether to chase the next internal promotion, jump companies, or quit the field entirely, it could be a good time to reach out to a professional for guidance on how to get clear on your next steps. 

I see so many people throwing in the towel altogether when the solution can be one simple pivot. 

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲:
💬 Send me a DM with “journal prompts” for a list of prompts that you can use to explore each point here. 

Quote Credit: @elevated.states

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Helping High-Achieving Women Get Seen, Heard, and Promoted | Proven Strategies to Stop Feeling Invisible at the Leadership Table 💎 Fortune 100 Coach | ICF PCC-Level Women's Leadership Coach

How to earn respect in every room (fast)

8 habits that make people trust your leadership in seconds

Looking polished is about more than a fancy title; it’s about showing up with intention when it matters most.

Many capable professionals chip away at their authority through unnoticed habits.

That’s why this topic is central in our leadership coaching: it shapes every interaction.

(Ready to move up? Take the VP Readiness Quiz: https://lnkd.in/gtMw9CzG)

When my clients use these 8 habits, they build trust from the start:

➊ Know your numbers
» Few things signal “not ready to lead” like making it up on the fly.

➋ Sharpen your language
» Each filler word subtly undercuts your presence.

➌ Command your space
» Your body language makes the first impression.

➍ Start with structure
» A clear flow earns instant confidence.

➎ Polish like it’s for the CEO
» Sloppy details quietly erode credibility.

➏ Guard time like money
» Going over time isn’t thorough — it’s inconsiderate.

➐ Respond with calm, not speed
» Staying composed always beats reacting fast.

➑ Make it personal
» Use names. Hold eye contact. Build connection.

Professionalism isn’t perfection.

It’s consistent, deliberate habits that build trust.

Choose one to practice this week — that’s how respect grows.

If you feel ready to move up, take the VP Readiness Quiz to find out where you stand: https://lnkd.in/gtMw9CzG

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No one teaches this in leadership programs

You show up prepared.
You deliver results.
And somehow you still hear: 
“too aggressive”
“not strategic enough”

The research is clear: women leaders face a no-win scenario. 

When I was sure of myself, I was ‘aggressive’. 
When I focused on our mission, I was ‘cold’. 
When I laughed and smiled, I was ‘not serious enough’. 

This is the double bind.

Here's the truth nobody says out loud:
You can be brilliant and still get dinged for your delivery.
You can drive results and still hear you're not strategic enough.
You can advocate for your team and get called emotional.
And none of it is about your competence.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
You don't need to shrink. 
You don't need to soften. 
You don't need to become someone else.

You need tactical moves that let you show up fully without paying the likability tax.

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:

🔸 Lead with strength and warmth.
Open with your decision, then invite perspective: “What am I missing?”
It’s strategic, not playing small. 

🔸 Use clear, direct language.
“Given A and B, I’m choosing C. 
What risks do you see?”
No apologies. No hedging. Just clarity.

🔸 Stay authentic while reading the room.
Your values stay constant.
Your delivery adapts.
That’s not compromise, it’s leadership.

🔸 Tell stories that show the whole picture.
The win and the team behind it. 
Both matter.

🔸 Build your circle.
A mentor. A sponsor. 
A peer group who gets it.
You don’t have to do this alone. 
And you shouldn’t.

This isn’t about fixing you.
You’re not broken.

It’s about refusing to let an unfair system steal your confidence—or your opportunities.
Try one practice this week.
Notice what changes when you stop second-guessing and start using moves built for the reality you’re in.

You deserve to lead without the Sunday-night dread.
You deserve credit for your work.
You deserve to rest knowing you’ve led on your terms.

P.S. If you’re ready to lead on your own terms, join our Sisters in Leadership community—where women are done playing small and ready to rise.

♻️ Repost if you’ve ever left a meeting replaying every word you said.
➤ Share this with a woman you admire

7 Moves to be Seen as Both Effective and Relatable

Your hard work won't save you this time.
I know that's hard to hear.

You've been told your entire career that if you just work harder, stay later, and take on more, you'll be fine.

But the rules changed while you were busy proving yourself.

AI can now do the analysis you spent years mastering. The reports you stay late to finish. The data work that used to make you indispensable.

So what does that leave you?
The messy, beautiful, irreplaceable human stuff.

The ability to:
➙ Read a room and know what's not being said
➙ Build trust when the stakes are high
➙ Navigate conflict without damaging relationships
➙ Lead with courage when the path isn't clear

These are the skills that will matter in the next 5 years.

And most of us have never been taught how to identify them, let alone strengthen them.

That's why I'm hosting a workshop on December 5th called Future Proof Your Career.

In 2 hours, you'll:
✅ Identify your Zone of Brilliance (the skills that set you apart from AI)
✅ Discover your Secret Sauce (what only you can bring to leadership)
✅ Find your Ikigai (where your strengths meet what the world needs)

This isn't theory.
It's a map.

By the end, you'll know exactly how to position yourself for the jobs that require work only humans can do.

I've watched too many brilliant leaders panic because they're competing on the wrong playing field.

You don't need to work harder.
You need to work more human.

December 5th
8-10 PT / 11-1 ET
(recording)

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gufdkFM3

The leaders who thrive in the next decade won't be the ones who can do everything AI does, just slower.

They'll be the ones who double down on being irreplaceably human.

P.S. What's one skill you have that you know AI could never replicate?

♻️ Repost to help your network prepare for what's coming.

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