What happens when you choose not to follow the path laid out for you?
Paru Radia grew up in a conservative Indian household in England where gender roles were clear, expectations were set, and the idea of forging your own path — especially as a woman — wasn’t encouraged. And yet, that’s exactly what she did. She went against her family’s wishes, moved to New York on a one-way ticket just before her 32nd birthday, and built a career advising some of the world’s most senior executives on communication, strategy, and leadership.
In this episode of Stand Out Get Noticed, Paru and I go deep on breaking cultural and gender norms to forge your own path. We explore what it actually takes to know yourself, back yourself, and lead with confidence — whether you’re navigating a boardroom or a conversation with your family about the life you want to live.
Key Takeaways
Breaking cultural and gender norms to forge your own path takes self-knowledge — and guts
Paru has naturally had a curious mindset, and worked hard from a young age to get clear on who she was and what she valued. Growing up, she learned to negotiate with her parents from the age of 4! That early experience of advocating for herself in an environment where the odds weren’t in her favour became the foundation of everything she now teaches.
Everyone is in survival mode — including your CEO
One of the most grounding things Paru shares in this conversation: the insecurities don’t disappear at the top.
- The higher up you go, the stronger the insecurities
- The stakes are higher, there are fewer positions available, and the exposure is greater
- When you recognise that senior leaders are also navigating fear, you can see them as human (like you!), which helps you communicate with them in a calm and confident way
Trust is built from day one
- Start building relationships from the moment you walk in the door. Be reliable, be honest, be straightforward, and — crucially — make it about the other person
- The professionals who get chosen for the best projects and recommended for promotions are the ones who’ve spent time understanding what matters to the people around them, and then delivering on that
- Don’t make it all about you!
Influence starts with understanding what the other person actually wants
- Whether you’re asking for a raise, trying to bring stakeholders on side, or navigating a difficult conversation — you need to understand what the other person wants and why. For example: they want to look good. They want to be recognised
- Once their needs are met, their defences come down — and there’s room for you to get what you need too. This reframe alone can transform the way you approach difficult conversations at work
Know yourself deeply before you can lead others well
- Know what you want AND why you want it. Don’t just say “I want to make C-level”. WHY do you want to get to C-level — and are you prepared for the extra sh*t that comes with it?
- If you can know yourself really well, you can lead others better, and also clearly communicate your needs and wants
- This is especially powerful for anyone who’s been told — by culture, by family, by gender expectations — what they should want. Getting clear on what you actually want changes everything!
Your natural strengths may be invisible to you
- Paru realised 15 years into her corporate career that the way she approached communication and influence wasn’t how everyone operated. Wait what?! Turns out, what came naturally to her was genuinely rare!
- If people are regularly asking ‘how did you do that?’ or ‘how did you know that would work?’ — that’s the signal! That’s your strength worth paying attention to
About Paru Radia
Paru Radia is an executive coach and founder known as the C-Suite Whisperer. She has spent 25+ years advising CEOs and C-suite leaders on strategy, communication, stakeholder management, and navigating the complex dynamics that come with executive leadership. She works with clients from organisations including British Airways, King and Spalding, Indeed, and numerous VC-backed startups.
Website: https://paruradia.com
