Welcome to my corner of the internet!
AVNEET KOHLI
A seasoned Coach, Entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for
personal and professional growth.
My journey unfolds from the Arabian sands of Abu Dhabi to the bustling streets of Mumbai, where I pursued my higher education and delved into the vibrant world of media and entertainment. Over nearly a decade, I hosted over 400+ live events for renowned organizations like Samsung, Apple, and Google to carve a niche for myself in the spotlight.
I was living the dream.
Alongside the glitz and glamour at age 23, I embarked on my first entrepreneurial venture - a boutique image and soft skills training company.
The relentless pursuit of success led me to burnout which today has become a blessing in disguise and has reshaped my path towards coaching founders and ambitious minds. In hindsight, how I wish someone had told me that life was not about running on a hamster wheel—it's about deliberate design.
I love coaching because it allows me to play a role in others' journeys toward progress and fulfillment.
Alongside my coaching practice, I co-founded the StartUp Network, Encubay, and am committed to empowering women entrepreneurs. Through mentorship, networking, and fundraising support, we elevate women in entrepreneurship.
Watch my TED Talk
The 2 Lovers That Kill Dreams
Growth is never linear. Neither was mine,
2004
Got appointed as the school head girl where reading the morning prayer served as my initiation into the world of public speaking.
2007
Moved to the city of dreams, Mumbai, to pursue my higher education in Business Management where destiny had something else lined up for me…
2008
Got introduced to the world of live events by a friend and started freelancing as an Event Assistant.
The job title sounds fancy but essentially I would usher celebrities to their greenrooms, iron their clothes, and manage food, beverages, and tantrums.
2008
An emergency required me to step in to make a voice-over announcement to an audience of nearly 3000 people in concert which got noticed by the organizer and landed me my first opportunity as an Emcee.
2010
Completed university and decided to focus on growing a career in media and live events. By the end of the year, I made my first appearance as a television presenter for CNBC TV18.
2011
I stumbled on a newspaper article that mentioned the field of Image Consulting and decided to pursue formal education in the same alongside my presenting career.
2012
Crossed the mark of hosting 200+ live events for renowned brands such as Samsung, Apple, L’Oreal, Adani, Google, and the Reliance group across 4 continents and shared the stage with the likes of Amitabh Bachhan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Mahender Dhoni, and Donald Trump to name a few.
2013
Set up a boutique image and soft skills training company in India called, iOpener.
2014
Successfully delivered corporate training programs for organizations such as the Times Network, Nissan, Forever New, Wizcraft, Clean & Clear, and nurtured future leaders in reputed educational institutions such as ISDI Parsons, Mod’Art School of Fashion, EMDI Institute of Media & Communication to build confidence, leadership and communication skills.
2015
Awarded Best Female Emcee in India by the apex live talent recognition platform, Live Quotient Awards.
2015
Just when I thought I had arrived, my high-pressure glam profession and non-stop hustle as an entrepreneur transformed overnight when I got diagnosed with mental health issues.
2016
Battled depression.
2017
I got obsessed with the human mind and understanding how to leverage the same to have a sustainable and fulfilling life and career.
On my universe-guided sabbatical, I explored different modalities for personal development, learned yoga, listened to multiple self-help gurus, and accidentally met with a coach who opened my eyes to the world of coaching.
2018
Gradually started building myself back to the front. Faced an audience after 2.5 years
Gave my First Motivational Talk at E-Summit, IIT Mumbai.
2018
Married my best friend.
2019
Restarted iOpener with a mission to help ambitious entrepreneurs and professionals take a holistic approach to success alongside well-being.
2020
Gave a TEDx Talk named
"The 2 Lovers That Kill
Dreams - Mindset & Confidence."
2021
Earned my ICF Coaching Credential for excellence in Life & Career coaching and got appointed as Regional Ambassador of PowerMBA, a one-of-a-kind digital business school where you learn from inspiring leaders like the founders of Youtube, Tesla, Netflix, and Waze.
2021
Ventured into my second business - A Startup Network called Encubay which helps women entrepreneurs accelerate business growth through mentoring, networking, and fundraising assistance.
2022
Added the "Author" feather to my cap with the
Life Planner - A thinking system in a toolkit that helps you achieve your Life Vision.
2023
Awarded for being the “Most Influential Woman in Women Empowerment” courtesy Filmfare Middle East.
2024
Continuing on my path to help ambitious minds attain Success alongside Well-being.
