Sharleen Baird is a compassionate coach and leader who turned a challenging chapter of her life into a powerful mission to support others. After experiencing burnout and a difficult health journey, she chose to rebuild her career with purpose—creating a path rooted in empathy, resilience, and authentic leadership. Humans of Fuzia is proud to spotlight Sharleen for her unwavering commitment to helping people grow, overcome self-doubt, and rediscover confidence. Her story encourages our 5M+ community to embrace compassion as strength and to champion both He-for-She and She-for-She leadership.
Q: What inspired you to begin your coaching journey?
A: It started during a difficult period when I became unwell and needed surgery. I couldn’t return to the high-pressure job I had before, and I realized I needed to prioritize my health. During recovery, I reflected on the feedback I’d received over the years—how I supported staff, built strong teams, and naturally stepped into leadership. That made me explore coaching as a career, something that allowed me to use my strengths while caring for my wellbeing.
Q: What challenges did you face while establishing yourself, and how did you overcome them?
A: One of the hardest parts was simply not knowing what to do. Social media often makes entrepreneurship look easy, but the reality is very different. Learning how to sell, market myself, and stand out in a crowded space was overwhelming.
Self-doubt also creeps in—Am I good enough? Can I really do this? I reached out to coaching services, some helpful and some disappointing. Those experiences taught me what kind of coach I never want to be. I try to overdeliver, not because I have to, but because helping people is in my nature.
Q: What is your perspective on women in leadership today?
A: I think women in leadership are powerful when they embrace confidence and self-belief. Women often internalize things more deeply—we replay conversations, rethink decisions, and sometimes feel we must prove ourselves more than men.
But compassionate leadership is a strength, not a weakness. Respect, empowerment, and mutual trust help teams flourish. Women lead differently, and that difference is valuable. We just need to support each other to step into those roles with more confidence.
Q: What message would you share with future women leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: Never give up. Self-doubt is part of the journey, but let those moments teach you, not stop you. Growth comes from being open to learning and pushing through challenges. Barriers don’t mean you’re on the wrong path—they make you stronger and more determined.
Q: How do you deal with imposter syndrome?
A: I remind myself—and others—to focus on strengths and achievements. We’re quick to list our weaknesses but struggle to acknowledge our strengths. Even without formal qualifications, our lived experience and expertise matter. It’s about recognizing what we bring to the table and being honest about what we don’t know, then working to build those skills over time.
Q: What does success mean to you, personally and professionally?
A: Success is being happy, fulfilled, and knowing that I’ve made a positive impact, no matter how small. I love learning from people, sharing knowledge, and watching others grow in confidence. Ending the day feeling content—knowing you’ve helped someone—that’s success to me.
“Success is simply ending the day knowing you helped someone grow—even in the smallest way.”
Connect with Sharleen Baird
Sharleen Baird | LinkedIn
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