Member Spotlight - October 2026 - Prabha Srinivas

Member Spotlight

The Power of Us: Our Stories

 

Meet Dr. Prabha Srinivas

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a Leadership Development Coach based in New Jersey. I work with rising leaders, who want to improve behavioral skills necessary for effectively performing their current role, and prepare themselves for promotion. My clientele spans diverse sectors such as technology, education, and social justice.

As an Organizational Psychologist and a certified Emotional Intelligence coach, I partner with clients to gain insights into self–limiting behaviors, which may hold them back. We identify and improve emotional intelligence competencies such as emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, empathy, impulse control, and stress management. The intention is to get better at managing disruptive emotions that come in the way of performance and relationships. An outcome of my work in mindfulness and emotional Intelligence has been the design of a 4 R framework (Recognize, Refrain, Relax, and Reframe) for identifying emotional triggers and managing distressing emotions. I have designed a workshop that allows participants to practice and apply the framework. 

As a certified group coach, I currently run a program for school principals, where the educators share challenges and benefit from their collective wisdom.

What sparked your interest in becoming a coach?

Coaching was the natural progression of twenty-five years of work, in learning and development, during which I had the opportunity to design, develop, and deliver training programs for refining behavioral skills to senior management. I have witnessed the struggles of executives who have not had the resources to help them transition from an individual contributor to team leader. Experiencing constant stress can lead to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. 

My own journey exploring and practicing mindfulness for stress management led to the realization that people are often driven by fear and in constant flight or fight mode, more so, in the professional world. Eminent thinkers Dalai Lama, Pema Chodron, Robert Sapolsky, and Eckhart Tolle, influenced my thinking and compelled me to delve deeper into the topic of Emotional Resilience. Emotional well-being decides the quality of our lives, personal and professional relationships. We cannot change people around us, but we sure can change our own perspective, mindset, and behavior and steer ourselves toward wellness. Coaching facilitates the change of mindsets, habits, and behaviors to reach this goal. 

What matters most to you about the people you serve or the work you do?

I am committed to helping people reduce the distress they experience from unmanaged negative and disruptive emotions such as anger, disappointment, sorrow, and jealousy. Emotions are normal; however, disruptive, extreme or inappropriate emotions can come in the way of personal and professional success. All around me, I see instances of hyper emotionality leading to untold misery and upended relationships. It does not have to be this way. Emotional self-awareness can lead to better relationship management. An abundance of research suggests that professional success is more a result of high EQ rather than IQ. 

I offer my clients a space to talk through their emotional challenges and develop a mindset that will help them lead a stable and happier life.

What’s one lesson, quote, or coaching philosophy that continues to guide you?

“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates – Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” –Rumi

Rumi provides the guidelines for emotional management with this quote. Kindness prevents unnecessary wounds, while patience allows us to consider constructive responses. Taking the time to respond to any situation or person will help us identify and deliver the least destructive message. Harmful words and actions cause distress to both the receiver and the perpetrator. I facilitate the process of deliberation to help my clients understand their emotionality and tackle challenging situations with an approach that works for them. 

The board in my office reading “Haste makes waste” serves as a constant reminder to “pause” for as long as I need to and let the best response to emerge.

"When you press the pause button on a machine, it stops. But when you press the pause button on human beings, they start. You start to reflect; you start to rethink your assumptions.” –Thomas Friedman

What’s a recent win or milestone you would like us to celebrate with you?

As a certified group coach, I have had the opportunity to work with a group of school principals for over a year. The educators, who are highly successful and accomplished women, demonstrated the need for a safe, judgment-free space to talk through challenges they are unable to discuss in public settings. 

The success and consequent extension of this program serves as a strong reminder of the dire need for psychological safety at all levels. 

Is there a project, program, or new initiative you’re excited to share with our community?

In keeping with my mission to provide support to middle managers, I write a newsletter on LinkedIn, highlighting behavioral skills that are relevant and critical for effective team leadership. The newsletter focuses on “self-development” and offers concepts which promote the understanding of behaviors critical for leader success. 

I provide tools/practices that are helpful in cultivating behaviors relevant for successful team leadership. That over 250 professionals have subscribed to the newsletter is ample evidence of the paucity of such resources for this audience. 

Series:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-self-development-series-prabha-srinivas-phd-acc-pqwie/

What has being part of ICF New Jersey meant to you personally?

ICF New Jersey has provided me with a “COMMUNITY” of wonderful colleagues, from whom I have gained valuable insights. My coaching skills have been sharpened thanks to the workshops and networking opportunities I receive as a member of the community.

What opportunity, connection, or experience are you hoping to gain through the ICF New Jersey community?

I want to take the message about being a “savvy” emotional being to people who seek equanimity intentionally. I welcome individual and group coaching opportunities which will aid my mission of promoting concepts and practices promoting emotional resilience.

In the chaotic and complex world, we live in, everyone can ease emotional distress by learning about emotional intelligence competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. This will lead to tangible benefits in terms of professional advancement, fulfilling relationships and better physical and mental health. 

For individuals, let me be your partner in the journey toward better emotional control in the face of daily struggles such as financial worries, relationship complexities, or painful interactions with bosses, colleagues, family members. For organizations which care about the well-being of their employees, I am available for group coaching and training on emotional resilience building practices. 

Dr. Prabha lives in Somerset, NJ. Interested in connecting with Coach Prabha to learn more about her story and the impact of her work, reach out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prabhasrinivasphd/ and visit Dr. Prabha’s website: https://paperbell.me/prabha-srinivas

Let’s engage, celebrate, and get involved in shaping the future of the ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter.  – ICF New Jersey Community Networking