I used to cringe at the question “where do you see yourself in five years?”

I started my corporate career by doing all the right things. The degrees, the jobs, the promotions, the pay, the prestige.

Then (fast forward a couple of decades) I suddenly quit my job as COO and co-founder of a retail tech company. I knew in my heart that I was done with the role.

But I had no idea what I wanted to do next.

After a year of some consulting projects, a global pandemic, and plenty of virtual coffees where I had to make my way through the “What kind of job are you looking for"?” question, I grew desperate.

I was drawing a complete blank on my vision for myself.

In my desperation, I just knew one thing- and that was that I wanted to get away. I wanted to pause and just be still.

So I did.

And it was in that stillness that my life purpose began to unfold.

Of course I had no idea what it was. But slowly, very slowly, I began to notice vague interests and ideas. I followed the breadcrumbs.

Now almost three years since that moment I am fully living my purpose and have been doing so for some time. The purpose path for me has twisted, widened, narrowed over the months. Sometimes it makes abrupt turns. But I always know when I’m on it.

If someone like me can find what it is I am meant to do, then it’s possible for anyone.

My “bio”

Serena Lal is a Master Certified Life Coach. She brings to her coaching a twenty year tech career in sales, strategy, and general management across B2B software, digital media and retail tech. When not coaching, Serena is also a passionate investor in female business leaders who she believes are fulfilling their life’s purpose. She is a founding member of Fempire x SoGal, an angel investing community that teaches strategies and skills to women who want to invest in women. She’s also Board President for Collective Initiatives, a Chicago-based woman-led nonprofit serving Black and LatinX business owners.

Serena holds an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. She has a bachelors degree in Computer Science from Cornell University and holds her coaching certifications through Martha Beck’s Wayfinder Life Coach Training program and Master Life Coach Training program.