Leaders
Sahibaa Singh: Following an all round approach for Image consulting & Psychological counseling
Sahibaa Singh
Founder & Image Consultant, The Lighthouse
According to a recent report by Grand View Research, the global image consulting market size is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2027. The world has witnessed the emergence of many young entrepreneurs in this domain who have been able to provide exclusive image consulting services considering an overall development for the client. However, in order to provide a fool-proof consulting, a provider must be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of a client that would help create a customized program. This is exactly what Sahibaa Singh does while taking up any project. She is not only a certified image consultant but also a soft skills trainer and a behaviour consultant who adds more value to any project she undertakes. The Women Entrepreneur magazine engaged in a conversation with Sahibaa to know more about her career and her ideologies as an entrepreneur.
Give us a brief account of your professional journey and how you reached where you are today.
My professional journey started way back in Gargi when I got my undergrad done from there in German Language and Psychology. Post my graduation, I got married and started tuition classes on the professional front, and became mother to a baby girl. I think most of the women can relate to being a wife and then a mother. It creates loads of life-style changes and hardens the way on which one was, before taking the responsibilities. But I believe this is inevitable too. Thanks to my nature of being an enthusiastic and passionate learner, I continued to pursue my career then as well. That decision contributed a lot to what I am today.
Moreover, from that already existing notion of being a homemaker, doing chores 24/7, I chose to create my own identity because of the feeling that I got lost somewhere in making, managing and caretaking ‘home’. When I finally got the realization of what I wanted to do, I enrolled for Image Consultant Course, Soft Skills Training and Train the Trainer Program. And, once I got into this field, there was no going back and I genuinely felt like going on and on. To broaden my horizons more, I enrolled for various international counselling certifications and diplomas. While being in the journey of learning, re-learning and unlearning in these courses, I discovered a very unique relationship between image consulting and psychology. It paved my way to be a psychologist then. So, the journey never ends; it just leads somewhere, where you can start something new again.
Tell us a little bit about your experience and expertise in the field. What are the unique capabilities that you bring to the table as a professional?
My expertise as a soft skills trainer is to help individuals develop interpersonal skills that are not necessarily related to technical knowledge or job-specific skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and leadership. As a therapist, on the other hand, my duty is to assist individuals overcome emotional, psychological, or behavioural issues by using a variety of techniques such as talk therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and interpersonal therapy to help individuals work through issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship problems.
"When individuals develop strong soft skills, they are better equipped to handle challenges, build stronger relationships, and achieve their personal and professional goals"
Last but not least, being a happiness coach is just beyond happiness for me. Using a variety of techniques such as positive psychology, mindfulness, and visualization, to help individuals achieve greater happiness and life satisfaction is just what I do in this arena. All in all, I believe that the impact of a trainer be long-lasting and far-reaching. When individuals develop strong soft skills, they are better equipped to handle challenges, build stronger relationships, and achieve their personal and professional goals. This, in turn, can lead to greater job satisfaction, career advancement, and overall life satisfaction, which according to me, is the need of every other person.
What motivated you to start off with The Lighthouse? Give us a brief account of the inception story of the company.
Having gained immense wealth of experience in the art and science of image management and personal branding, I founded the image management brand 'The Lighthouse' seeking to illuminate and stimulate lives of people, facilitating them to create a winning image and a powerful personal brand. My own passion for embracing people, instilling confidence and authenticating their personality, enabling them to strive towards gaining their full potential has resulted into this brand. The underlying idea behind starting an image consultancy is to help individuals and organizations create a positive and professional image that aligns with their personal values. As for the ultimate goal of an image consultant, I have always triedto help clients feel confident and empowered. I help them achieve their personal or organizational goals through an authentic and impactful image.
What is your advice to the aspiring women entrepreneurs of the nation?
The very first and the most important advice that anyone can give is to ‘Believe in yourself, always and forever, no matter what. Stick to your ideas and your beliefs and how you perceive them. Second of all, a woman must create/ build a support network surrounding her for the required guidance, support and encouragement. Calculating risks while embarking on the journey of whatever one wants to do is as important as other things.
Sahibaa Singh, Founder, The Lighthouse
Like the ‘Lighthouse’ serves as a beacon for navigational aid, guiding vessels safely in an out of harbours, I founded this brand with a vision of helping the ones who seem to have lost their light. To remind them that the light still exists within them, to reiterate this till they grow aware of their light and to retell their story differently is what I aim to do through my profession.
The darkness might overshadow light but can never overpower it; this is my mantra which is helping me move forward in life with grit. Few years back, before becoming a single mother, with no hope of a donor for a liver transplant for my father, I stepped up to be the one by taking the risk of donating my liver to him. Knowing well I had a daughter and a husband, I still took this step for the person who made me. I was appreciated by many people and also condemned by many; still I advanced by making this move because I couldn’t bear the pain of never having to see my father again. It not only gave him a new life but to me as well, as my resilience paved way for a hope of a better tomorrow. This has been my biggest motivation in life giving me assurance that I can overcome the most challenging times by trusting the light within and believing in myself. That eventually became my super power.