Priya Nalkur: Becoming Who You’re Meant To Be – A Journey from Expectations to Empowerment

About Priya Nalkur: Priya Nalkur, Ed.D., a psychologist with a genuine and authentic approach, has earned her educational stripes from Harvard and Yale. She is the heart and soul of the RoundTable Institute, a pioneering force in inclusive leadership and professional coaching. Her recent book, Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect Leadership, offers an engaging and human narrative of her journey, beginning with her formative experiences as an outsider in a small Canadian town and evolving into a heartfelt mission to reshape leadership with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

At the RoundTable Institute, a new leadership philosophy is embraced under Dr. Nalkur’s authentic and human-centered leadership. It’s about being unapologetically yourself, tackling differences head-on, striving for equity, and creating brave spaces that unlock the potential in everyone. Leadership is about being an ally and doing the unimaginable while maintaining a solid bottom line. It’s where leadership transcends traditional competencies, embodying bravery, imagination, and the constant evolution toward inclusive workplaces.

Dr. Nalkur believes today’s leaders must be allies, boldly pushing boundaries and nurturing inclusive environments that bring out the best in people. Living in Austin, Texas, with her two vibrant children, Dr. Nalkur finds her balance and inspiration in nature, family kitchen dance parties, and the joy of exploration.

In this episode, Gary and Priya Nalkur discuss:

• How early coaching shifted Priya’s life trajectory and awakened her purpose
• The role of resilience, endurance, and focus in navigating uncertainty
• Human-centered approaches to leadership, conflict, and collective wisdom
• Building The RoundTable Institute and why courageous conversations change organizations

Key Takeaways:

• Endurance isn’t just physical stamina—it’s the willingness to stay in the work long enough to discover who you really are and what you’re capable of becoming.
• Real growth comes from focusing on what’s actually within your influence: your attention, your beliefs, and the meaning you assign to challenges—instead of trying to control everything outside yourself.
• Resistance in a room isn’t a threat—it’s an invitation. When leaders treat differing viewpoints as opportunities for connection, teams unlock deeper wisdom and stronger relationships.
• Purpose tends to reveal itself over time. You don’t need all the answers at once; you just need a clear direction, the courage to take the next step, and the humility to keep learning along the way.

“What you can control is what you focus on, and what you believe and how you approach it. So stop trying to control other people’s reactions to you and the weather and the traffic and all these other things. It’s a waste of your time and energy.” — Priya Nalkur

Connect with Priya Nalkur: 

Website: https://www.priyanalkur.com/ & https://www.theroundtableinstitute.com/  

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Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/

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