Hajara Chettali
Hajara Chettali is a dedicated Career Counsellor with over five years of experience, having worked in schools in India and the UAE, as well as in educational institutions. Currently freelancing, Hajara has built an online venture called Youleadbyhajara, which embodies the philosophy “I have taken the lead to help you take the lead.”
Born in Kerala and raised in Bangalore, Hajara is passionate about affecting change in society regarding career decisions and educational aspects. Despite holding a B.Com and an MBA, her career path diverged from her formal qualifications, as she has always been driven by a desire to mentor, guide, and influence others. This passion aligns perfectly with her ikigai, or purpose in life.
Hajara’s journey into career coaching began with extensive self-research, creating presentations, and seeking opportunities by reaching out to schools in Bangalore and Kerala. She also established an Instagram page for career content, which has now amassed over 50,000 followers.
Realizing her potential in this field, she pursued an International Certified Career Coach certification and has since coached more than 1,000 students in stream and career selection. Additionally, Hajara conducts training sessions to help other professionals understand the importance of educational skills, further showcasing her commitment to empowering students to choose the right career path rather than merely opting for the most popular one.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your Entrepreneur journey/venture/initiative.
Travelling through the wrong career route of pursuing B.Com and MBA showed me no happy career. Registering for CA, CS took me to nowhere. Even after Post graduation, I was devastated for not making the right career choice.
It was then, I decided to explore myself, and I realised, I will be happy when communicating, networking, guiding and teaching. I had been into public speaking from Grade 6, that brought a spark. I was chasing the “BEST CAREERS” ignoring the right one for me. I decided to help my youngsters choose their right career, giving importance to exploring and understanding themself.
I am drawn to the role of a Career Counsellor because it allows me to combine my passion for mentoring with my desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I am excited about the prospect of guiding individuals through the complex process of career decision-making, empowering them to achieve their professional goals and find fulfillment in their work.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
The motivation behind starting my initiative as a career counsellor and educator stemmed from my passion for empowering individuals to discover their true potential and my love to communicate and network with people around. I realized early on that many people, especially students and young professionals, were unsure of their career paths or lacked the guidance to make informed decisions. That uncertainty motivated me to step in and provide the support and direction they needed.
The “YES, go for it” moment came when I saw firsthand how powerful the right guidance can be. Witnessing individuals transform their lives through informed career choices, skill-building, and confidence made me believe that I could create a meaningful impact. The desire to help others thrive in their professional journeys was the fuel that propelled me to take that leap.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
I am playing the role of a mentor to students, home makers and professionals. Mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding students towards the right career choices by providing valuable support, advice, and insights. Mentors can identify and nurture the skills and strengths of their mentees. Through my guidance and feedback, students can enhance their professional skills and gain a better understanding of the competencies required in their chosen field.
Having a mentor who believes in a student’s potential and provides positive reinforcement can significantly boost the student’s confidence. This confidence is essential for making bold career choices and pursuing ambitious goals.
Career paths are rarely linear, and students may encounter various challenges along the way and I provide advice on overcoming obstacles, handling setbacks, and navigating transitions in a way that books or classroom instruction may not capture.
Mentors often serve as role models, demonstrating not only professional success but also qualities such as resilience, integrity, and effective leadership. Observing these traits can inspire students to develop similar qualities in their own careers.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
Some of the achievements that I would like to mention would be:
*Invited as the Guest Speaker by Stanford Global Education to hold a session to parents and students on topic “Future of Education”
*Featured in Excel Edu Magazine, Dubai “Navigating the Future, A Roadmap to Career Dream, 2024
*Invited as Panelist for World School Summit on topic “Inclusive Education – Building Diverse and Equitable Learning Environment – 2024
*Successfully mentored 1000+ individuals from different nations in achieving their career goals through personalized advice and guidance via DMs, Zoom and Direct consultations.
*Provided Training for teachers on Topic Differentiated Teaching and Learning
*Hosted a Leadership Lecture Series in School by Inviting expertise from different industry to help students understand the career route.
*Holding virtual sessions with expert individuals and posting on Instagram to help students understand and familiarize with careers.
*Recognized by Youleadbyhajara for impactful collaboration on career development campaign and earning followers of 50k+ on Instagram Platform
*Good percentage of the resume that I drafted for the clients has got calls from the organizations/schools and many placed in their respective roles.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
Absolutely! As a career counsellor, if given the opportunity, I would love to see a world where women entrepreneurs are fully empowered to pursue their dreams without limitations. I envision a future where gender equality is not just a goal but a reality—where women have equal access to funding, mentorship, and resources, and where societal norms don’t hinder their ambitions.
I would love to see more platforms and networks that support women entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration, innovation, and leadership. By breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes, we can create an ecosystem where women feel confident to take risks, lead boldly, and inspire the next generation of female leaders.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
As a career counsellor, I believe women leadership today is an incredible force reshaping the global workforce. Women bring diverse perspectives, emotional intelligence, and collaborative leadership styles that foster innovation and inclusive work environments. Their unique ability to balance empathy with assertiveness allows them to lead with both heart and strategy, creating teams that thrive.
While challenges like gender biases still persist, the progress we’ve seen in women breaking barriers across industries is inspiring. It’s important to continue advocating for equal opportunities, mentorship, and professional development, as empowering women in leadership ultimately strengthens organizations and society as a whole.
What would you want to say to our young leaders/audience reading this?
I would ask the students or young leaders to start early with career Exploration. Don’t go behind the best career, it’s the right career. Choosing the right career can take some time, But trust me , taking time it’s worth it.
Earning high without happiness in career makes no sense in life. Chase your dream, chase your passion, you will find with time, hard-work, determination and consistency, Money will follow.
When you know your Mondays are interesting, when you know it’s hard but you love it, when you know you earn small but happy – YOU HAVE FOUND THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE.
Chase your passion and live your dream