Isha’s story of personal growth:Finding a different way

Isha’s story of personal growth : Finding a different way:

When Isha Sharma arrived in New Zealand from India in 2017, she thought her future would be in medicine. Instead, she found herself standing beside raceways full of fish.

What began as a practical alternative soon became a passion. Fascinated by aquaculture, Isha immersed herself in understanding fish health, behaviour and survival. She started as a hatchery operator, cleaning raceways and feeding fish, before progressing into increasingly senior roles. Today, she is an Early Life Stage Supervisor at New Zealand King Salmon, helping oversee the critical early stages of fish development.

The science came naturally to Isha, but the people side was harder. “I’m good with fish,” she laughs. “People are much more difficult.”

By her own admission, Isha was direct. If something needed to be said, she said it. If there was a problem, she wanted it solved. She approached conversations with the same efficiency and focus she brought to her work. But as her leadership responsibilities grew, she realised that technical expertise alone wouldn’t be enough. “I wanted to learn how to communicate better. I wanted to understand how to deal with people from different backgrounds and different personalities. I knew that was something I needed to work on.”

That desire led her to AWDT’s YOU programme. Initially, she wasn’t convinced she would even be accepted. “There are so many amazing women doing incredible things,” she says. “I thought, why would they choose me?”

When the acceptance email arrived, she was thrilled. But the journey to the programme almost didn’t happen. A family emergency meant she missed her flight and arrived late, stressed and convinced she had already made a terrible first impression. Instead, she was met with kindness. “I thought everyone would be judging me. I thought they would think I wasn’t organised or responsible. But nobody judged me at all. They just asked if I was okay and how my daughter was.”

It was a small moment, but a profound one. “I realised I was looking at everyone through my own lens. I was judging myself far more harshly than anyone else was.” That lesson would become one of the most important she took away from the programme.

A different way of communicating

Over two days, Isha discovered that effective communication was not about having the right answer or delivering information quickly. It was about understanding the person in front of you.

She learned to slow down. To listen and consider what someone else might be carrying before responding. Previously, her instinct had been to react immediately. If there was a problem, she wanted to fix it. If something was wrong, she would address it directly. YOU challenged her to approach situations differently. “I learned that not everyone wants to receive information in the same way. You have to understand the person first.”

One simple exercise stood out. When faced with a difficult situation or a frustrating interaction, she was encouraged to pause and ground herself before responding. Rather than reacting immediately, she learned to create space. “Now I stop, calm myself and think about what else might be going on. It helps me handle situations much better.”

Back at work, people noticed almost immediately. “My manager and leaders said, ‘We don’t know what they said to you, but you’ve changed.’”

The difference was not that Isha had become less capable or less driven. If anything, she had become more effective because she was communicating with greater awareness and empathy. And people responded differently to her too. Her conversations became easier, relationships became stronger, and leading her team started to feel more natural.

The confidence to be yourself

Like many women, Isha admits she had spent a long time judging herself. But part of YOU was encouraging participants to reflect deeply, including writing a letter to themselves. For Isha, it became an opportunity to examine the expectations she carried and the pressure she placed on herself.

“We can be very harsh on ourselves,” she says. However, the experience helped her realise that she didn’t need to prove herself to everyone around her. Instead, she could focus on being the best version of herself. That shift brought an unexpected sense of freedom. “I became more open and patient, and more relaxed.”

The impact also extended beyond work. As her colleagues were noticing a change in her, so too did her husband. And even her daughter benefited from a calmer, more thoughtful version of the woman she had always been. “Now I’ll ask, ‘Is this a good time to talk?’ or ‘Are you in the right frame of mind for this conversation?’ Before, I would just launch straight into it.”

The change might seem simple, but for Isha it has been transformative. “I’m a lot happier now.”

Finding her people

For Isha, one of the most unexpected outcomes were the connections she formed with the other women in the programme. Although they came from different industries, backgrounds and parts of New Zealand, she found herself relating deeply to their experiences.

The women shared their stories openly, listened to one another, and offered support without expectation. For someone who had often felt she needed to prove herself, it was a powerful experience. “We were all struggling with similar things in different ways.”

Months later, the connections remain. Catch-up calls still bring smiles and encouragement, and the strong sense of belonging has endured long after the programme finished. “I feel like I’ve known them much longer than I actually have.”

Looking ahead

Isha has ambitious plans for her future in aquaculture. She hopes to continue progressing through the industry and one day lead a recirculating aquaculture system facility. But while her career goals remain important, the biggest change from YOU was personal because it not only accepted who she is, it also gave her the tools to better understand herself, communicate more effectively, and approach both others and herself with greater compassion.

For someone who arrived hoping to learn leadership skills, the outcome was far more meaningful. “I learned that sometimes you need to stop judging yourself and just focus on growing and moving forward.”

And for Isha, that growth continues throughout every aspect of her life.