I have been able to take my life experiences, good and bad, to overcome hurt and fear, and turn it into something amazing and powerful.  I have been there, I have done that, and I have found a way forward. I want to share this gift with you!  

 
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I have worked for over two decades as a scientist, an academician, a lawyer, a policy, planning & outreach specialist, and an executive.  I was good at, and loved what I did.  I believed I could have it all and do it all - regardless of my chosen field.  I had embraced a masculine style of leadership - those were my role models - and that style produced tremendous results for me.  I had walled off my personal life from my professional persona.  In fact, there was no space for “Me” or my “Family” on my Wheel of Life.

In 2004, I learned I had an advanced, rare form of cancer. This generated deep anger within me.  The anger at the outset was a great resource, because it provided me with the energy I needed to continue for next six years.  

 

The gift of my cancer diagnosis was realizing I did not know how to stop and “breathe.”

 

Instead of “being” a “human being,” I had concentrated on becoming a “doer” - a “human doing.”  I was not being a leader in any aspect of my life.

These events have defined who I am today.  During the last six years, I focused myself to realize my true calling: empowering others to embrace their entire being.  Today, I am embracing my imperfections and letting go of things that have very little significance in my life - I am still a work in progress!

During this evolution, I realized that creative change does not result from changing formal structures - it takes place when we are able to change our foundational beliefs.  I realize that I have a great ability to inspire people to turn their obstacles into opportunities by embracing more empowering beliefs and actualizing their highest aspirations of themselves and their future. 

 
 

Sunaina Sharma, PhD, MSc, LLM, LLB, ECPC, ICF PCC

I am Dr. Sunaina Sharma, a Strategy & Leadership Sherpa/Mentor, Professional Certified Executive Coach with over 2000 hours of coaching in my toolbox, Speaker, and a Trainer affiliated with International Coach Federation (ICF).  Amplifying leadership competencies in academia, healthcare, government, and not-for-profit sectors is in my DNA.

Currently, I am a Board Member and the Director of the ICF Vancouver Charter Chapter Coach-Giving Leadership Portfolio, overseeing ICF credentialed coaches elevate leadership awareness, development, and effectiveness to new heights in the non-for-profit sector with a social conscience.

As a solution-focused coach, I take immense pride in facilitating excellence from you, a vision and the precision to accelerate your journey towards a whole new level as a leader by mastering the four key leadership competencies that makes a leader extraordinarily successful.

We will co-create practical workplace wisdom in the face of rigorous demands, warring ambitions and unrelenting pace by continually fostering the very best in you and those who cross your path.

Throughout this experience you will connect with your wisdom, confidence, curiosity and competence to create transformational results you desire personally, professionally, individually, and organizationally.

You will reflect upon and crystallize your vision of yourself and your highest future potential.  You will be eager to be the best you can be, to discover your true power in order to focus upon the end results, on the powerful future you want to create: to connect, to reflect, to innovate, and to act.

You will become: more effective, more influential, bolder, and more decisive - ultimately revealing your brilliance and amplifying your genius in your work, and your life.

Work Experience

With deep experience in the trenches of government, academia, private, and the not-for-profit sectors, I have steered my professional path and curiosity towards empowering leaders and teams navigate and grow within existing structures and push through status quo to make meaningful change.  

Notable appointments are:

As an Executive Coach, Speaker & a Trainer

  • Northwestern University ASCEND Program (Evanston, IL);

  • University of Illinois Engineering Faculty Leadership Forum (Urbana-Champaign IL);

  • Big 10+ [US East Coast Universities] Women's Workshop 2016 (Milwaukee WI);

  • TrostCon 2016, Stanford University (Stanford CA);

  • Backpack to Briefcase, Simon Fraser University (Burnaby BC);

  • Erickson Coaching International (Vancouver BC);

  • ICF Vancouver Charter Chapter (Vancouver BC);

  • Vantage Point Governance Academy (Vancouver BC);

  • Powell River Division of Family Practice (Powell River BC);

  • BC Cancer Management Staff Engagement Society (Vancouver BC);

  • BC GP Oncologist (Nanaimo BC);

  • BC Centre for Disease Control Foundation (Vancouver BC);

  • Tides Canada (Vancouver BC);

As an Executive

  • Director, ICF Vancouver Charter Chapter Coach-Giving Leadership Portfolio (Vancouver BC);

  • Executive Director, Patients In Action Together Society (Vancouver BC);

  • Executive Director, Community of Federal Regulators, Government of Canada (Ottawa ON);

  • Director, Policy, Planning & International Affairs, Health Canada (Ottawa ON);

  • Head, Policy, Planning & Outreach, Health Canada Western Region (Burnaby BC);

  • Chief, Manufacturing & Chemical Evaluation Division, Health Canada (Ottawa ON). 

As a Lawyer

  • Church & Co. Barristers & Solicitors (Vancouver BC);

  • Davis & Co. Barristers & Solicitors (Vancouver BC).

As an Academician

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Western University (London ON); 

  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Women’s Faculty Award Recipient, Department of Chemistry, Western University (London ON);

  • NSERC of Canada Visiting Research Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University (Stanford CA);

  • Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara CA).

My this diverse experience adds a unique flavour to all I do now.

Volunteer Activities

With a philosophy of giving back at the core of my being, I maximize the potential of children, youth-at-risk, women, disabled persons, and healthcare systems, to reach higher and dream bigger by sharing my expertise in my various volunteer roles, such as with: 

  • Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society (Vancouver BC);

  • NatureKids BC (Vancouver BC);

  • BC Children's Hospital Foundation (Vancouver BC);

  • YWCA Metro Vancouver, WorkBC Employment Services Centre - Career Zone Youth Satellite (Vancouver BC);

  • Chinese Community Policing Centre (Vancouver BC);

  • Dress for Success Professional Women’s Working Group (Seattle WA);

  • Women Against Violence Against Women (Vancouver BC);

  • PosAbilities Association of BC (Vancouver BC);

  • Renton Veterans Centre (Seattle WA); 

  • BC Cancer, Performance Management Advisory Committee;

  • BC Patients Safety & Quality Council: BC Patients’ Voices Network, Oversight & Advisory Committee;

  • Canadian Institute for Health Research: Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR), BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Health, Core Oversight Committee;

  • International Society for Quality in Health Care, Person Centred Care Advisory Group;

  • Fraser Health Authority, Regional Patient Advisory Council.

Through my own not-for-profit society, Patients In Action Together, I inspire people living with cancer to reclaim their “new” normal by embracing, and heroically moving forward through life’s transitions.

Education

I am a life-long learner.  I hold a:

  • Master of Science (MSc) in Chemistry & Biochemistry, Punjab University (Chandigarh India);

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry & Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University (Burnaby BC);

  • Master in Law & Technology (LLM), University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley CA); 

  • Bachelor in Laws (LLB), University of British Columbia (Vancouver BC).

In addition, I hold numerous certifications and qualifications in organizational and human development.  For example:

From Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Presencing Institute (Cambridge MA)

  • Collective Leadership for Profound Innovation and Change;

  • Leading from the Emerging Future: Transforming Business, Society and Self;

  • Awareness-Based Systems Change with U. Lab - How to Sense and Actualize the Future: U.Lab.

Leading in a Culture of Change: Canadian Council for Management Development (Ottawa ON);

The Marshall Goldsmith Leadership Workshop Breakout! … Become the Leader of the Future, Today!: Bluepoint Leadership Development (Vancouver BC);

Leadership Skills for 1st Time Managers & Supervisors: Professional Development Institute (Ottawa ON);

From Erickson Coaching International (Vancouver BC)

  • The Art and Science of Coaching;

  • Training for Trainers: Advanced Level Skills;

  • Standing in Contribution: A Trainers Training;

  • Corporate Mindfulness.

From Make Your Mark Training & Consulting Inc. (Surrey BC)

  • Yes To Success: The Effortless Path to True Success and Happiness(Debra Poneman, CA);

  • Get More from your Business.

The Neuroscience Training Summit: How to Change your Brain for Better Relationships, Accelerated Learning and Increased Happiness: Sounds True Inc. (Louisville CO);

From World Business & Executive Coaching Summit Inc. (Buckinghamshire UK)

  • Coaching with Return on Investment 2017 (Lisa A. Edwards, Bloom Consulting Inc. USA);

  • The Coach Master Toolkit: Executive & Business Coaching (Andrew Neitlich, Centre for Executive Coaching, USA);

  • World Business & Executive Coach Summits(2014-17).

Group Facilitation: Powerful Methods for Facilitators: The Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs, (Vancouver BC);

From Emberin Inc. (QLD Australia)

  • my mentor:IGNITE - Career Mentoring Program for Women in Technology;

  • 10,000 Women in Technology: APAC Virtual Conference.

From Training and Development Canada (Ottawa ON)

  • Building Diversity at Work;

  • Creating a Respectful Workplace;

  • Feedback at Work: Yes it can Work.

From The Continuing Legal Education Society (Vancouver BC)

  • Dispute Resolution Conferences(2012-2014);

  • Mediation Training.

From Canada School of Public Service (Ottawa ON)

  • Labour Relations Training For Managers;

  • Staffing, Delegation & Bias Free Selection;

  • Me In Relationship with Others: How To Deal with Common Interpersonal Situations at Work;

  • Behind the Curtain to Centre Stage: The How, Now & Next in Policy;

  • Project Management Workshop for Associate Directors.

Writing Effective Briefing Notes & Memoranda to Ministers: WordClass Communications Consultants Inc. (Ottawa ON);

From Health Canada Program Evaluation Division, Ottawa ON)

  • Performance Measurement Frameworks: BMB Consulting Services Inc. (Ottawa ON);

  • Performance Measurement Training Series: Developing a Logic Model, Identifying Performance Indicators, Grappling with Attribution, Data Collection and Analysis.

Improving Global Health: Focussing on Quality and Safety : Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University (Cambridge MA).

Interests

Outside strategy, leadership, coaching, training and volunteering, I dabble in organic gardening, travel to exotic places, being a loving mom to my furry Labrador, practice aquatic fitness, mindfulness meditation, and Zhumba.