Young women around the world are stepping forward with bold ideas, community-centered projects, and a desire to lead with purpose. Through the Ignite Initiative, coaching helps emerging leaders transform that potential into meaningful action.

One example is Shenomics’ Lead Like a Girl Fellowship, a six-month global leadership development program that combines customized leadership training, group coaching, and project-based learning to help young women build the confidence and skills needed to advance their ideas and create lasting social impact.

Through an Ignite project with Shenomics, the top 15 fellows—selected from more than 60 fellowship projects—received pro bono coaching to strengthen and advance their passion projects. The project was independently conceptualized and led by Aditi Sheoran, PCC, from Delhi, India, with guidance from Uttara Patnaik, who was serving on the ICF Foundation Council of Ambassadors at the time. (2023-2024)

Impact at a Glance

• 15 coaching recipients supported (These were Young Women Leaders, whose social impact projects qualified as the top 15 among  a cohort of 60 fellows)
• 7 volunteer coaches engaged
• 89 coaching sessions completed

Coaching that Helped Projects Grow

The fellowship participants came from developing nations across the globe, each bringing forward a project rooted in purpose, leadership, and social impact. For many, coaching has become a bridge between vision and execution, helping them reflect on their strengths, clarify their goals, and take meaningful next steps with greater confidence.

One meaningful outcome was seeing participants begin to start up and scale their passion projects into business ventures with renewed clarity and confidence after their coaching journeys. For Shenomics, the coaching offering amplified the impact of the Lead Like a Girl Fellowship by providing not only recognition and encouragement to the top participants, but also customized support to help them carry their projects forward.

This is the power of coaching in action. It does not replace a leader’s vision; it helps strengthen the person carrying that vision. It creates space for reflection, decision-making, resilience, and growth, especially for women navigating complex personal, professional, and social environments.

Voices of Impact

For participants, the coaching experience offered more than professional development. It became a source of self-awareness, confidence, and momentum.

One participant, Farwa Mehmood, shared that coaching helped her navigate personal and professional challenges with greater clarity. She described the experience as “enriching,” noting that her coach provided guidance, support, and practical tools that helped her identify strengths, areas for growth, and actionable steps toward her goals.

Another participant expressed gratitude for the opportunity, sharing that the coaching sessions were “incredibly enlightening” and helped her gain insight into her capabilities. Through thought-provoking questions, she was able to reflect more deeply, take positive action, and better understand the significance of her work.

For Aimah Moiz, coaching supported a career transition from scientist and researcher to social entrepreneur. She shared that coaching helped her reflect on her accomplishments, build confidence in her abilities, and think differently about her business and life goals.

Strengthening Leadership Through Coaching

Beyond professional development, the project gave participants dedicated space to reflect on their future, strengthen their resilience, and lead with greater purpose. In a fast-paced and often complex environment, that kind of support can help emerging leaders stay grounded while continuing to move their ideas forward.

For Shenomics, the partnership reinforced its mission to nurture the next generation of women leaders by combining leadership development with individualized coaching.

A Shared Commitment to Social Impact

This Ignite project reflects what becomes possible when coaching meets purpose. Through the commitment of Aditi Sheoran, the volunteer coaches, Shenomics, and the participating fellows, coaching helped emerging women leaders gain clarity, confidence, and momentum in their work.

The project was supported by coaches Sruthi Venkatramani, Snehil Ponde, Vijay Krishnamurthy, Sangeeta Dasgupta, Aanchal Broca, Aditya Sisodia, and Prekshya Maharana, with Aditi Sheoran serving as project lead. From Shenomics, Bhavna Toor (founder of Shenomics) and Bhagya also supported the work.

Together, their efforts helped demonstrate the ripple effect of coaching: when young women leaders are supported, their ideas grow stronger, their confidence deepens, and their impact can extend outward to the communities and causes they serve.

2026 Ignite Initiative applications are now open. Continue the ripple effect by submitting your application by September 17, 2026.