How this CA went from a shy and conservative girl to a successful leadership coach and speaker

• Hi, I am Dineshrie Pillay a Chartered Accountant and Leadership Coach from South Africa.
• After becoming a CA, I joined the corporate world. In a few years, I was offered the opportunity to become an Audit Partner however, I left that opportunity to join a large corporate in an FMCG.
• After 6.5 years in that position, I left my well-paying job to start my own venture of business coaching and leadership training.
• Over the past 3 years alone, I have been blessed to have coached just over 300 people either in an individual or team coaching capacity.
• Here is my story.

Tracing Back Roots – How I Began My Career In CA?

I was born and raised in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa.

Growing up, I did not consider myself to be a “bright” student until Grade 7 when I changed schools due to our family relocating to a new suburb. It was at my new school that I was surrounded by more supportive teachers and friends that were more collaborative than competitive.

My grades started improving and I eventually matriculated with an “A” Aggregate. This experience taught me that everything can be achieved when you are surrounded by people who believe in your ability.

I enjoyed accounting in school and helped my parents file month-end invoices and payments from age 14. (I am not sure why they gave this task at that time – perhaps to teach me to be responsible with money.)

Also, my friend’s father was a Chartered Accountant and I became intrigued with the career – it did help that I loved finance, numbers, and reconciling things.

At the time when I matriculated, South Africa was a new democracy. In addition to my love for accountancy, the profession was also considered to be a secure career to pursue and I was accepted at the University of my choice – it all just worked out. And here started my CA journey.

Contrary to what I had expected, my CA journey was not a straight road. 

I failed multiple times. Facing failures developed a never-give-up attitude in me. Critically, it made me strive for more. I also started studying towards the CIMA qualification.

In hindsight, I feel grateful that I went through these challenges early on in my career.

Leap Into The Corporate World & Re-evaluating my life

Knowing that my father and my brother ran their own business inspired me to do the same for myself. But I knew that I needed to gain more life experience and corporate knowledge before I started my own business.

After qualifying, I spent 1.5 years in the audit profession as a Forensic / Internal Auditor / Audit Manager; followed by a 6.5-year stint in FMCG.

In my last position working for a corporate, one of my roles was to organize the annual CPD event for all the qualified finance professionals in the company. This role gave me the opportunity to put a 2-day training event together; to source the best speakers and industry experts to speak over the course of these 2 days.

In putting the event together, I gained a sense of fulfillment, knowing that every person who attended was inspired by the content and could now be more productive in their finance roles.

When I was the MC at this event, I saw the speaker that I could become. This entire situation got me thinking!

I have to mention, growing up I struggled with my personal identity. I often acted in a way to please others or in a way that was considered to be “normal”; “respected” and “cultured”.

At some point in my life, I did not recognize the person in the mirror. I felt stifled, controlled, and limited.

I remember soon after this, (I was in my late 20’s), I made a decision to live my life according to my own terms! From a shy girl to a great speaker & coach while working full time

Changing beliefs is easier said than done.

I had to re-evaluate the people I associated with and the way in which I spent my time, resources, and energy.

I started living life authentically and it was the sense of freedom that my soul long yearned for.

Around 2007, I recall purchasing a health magazine and the feature article was about the work that Dr. John Demartini was doing in South Africa as a Human Behavioural Specialist – I was hooked.

Fast forward 3 years later, I was so moved by Dr. Demartini’s teaching and process of healing that I later became a facilitator in his method

At that time, I had a full-time position so I used to work and coach people in my spare time on weekends.

It was during these times when I worked with people that I realized that my love for making a difference in people’s lives meant more to me than being a Corporate Finance Professional.

What next?

Taking a leap of faith and going the Entrepreneurial route

For a few years, I continued fulfilling my full-time position and coaching professionals over the weekend.

And in all my interactions I realized that there are many other people like me: technically brilliant and yet lacking leadership skills in dealing with teams; business acumen and presentation skills to help them become greater in their positions.

I knew that If I could find a way to develop programs to deal with these challenges, there would be many more inspired leaders in business and in society.

But I also knew to achieve all of this I had to quit my corporate position and focus 100% on my vision.  

That is when in September 2010 – in my early 30s – I decided to quit my corporate finance career and start my own consultancy firm focusing on leadership training and business executive coaching. My company is called “Neospectives Consulting”.

My decision was sealed and there was now no turning back.