From Army Boots to Coaching Suits: Major Kiran’s Power Move
- Prafulla Deori
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
👮♀️ Growing up, I was always fascinated by uniforms—Army, police, doctor… who wasn’t? 🎖️ I’m pretty sure most of us had those dreams as kids, but life moves on and they sometimes fade away… until Operation Sindoor sparked mine again! 🚀
That’s why on the latest I AM A RECRUITER™ podcast, we invited an Army veteran who’s now thriving in civilian life and building her dream company, Read, Rise, Repeat! 📚✨
Fun fact: during my engineering days, I cleared every Army interview except the HR round! 😅 Little did I know I’d end up in HR and even start a community of my own. Now I get to live my childhood dream by chatting with our amazing guest, sharing her story, and more! 🎧❤️
PS: We recorded this on May 2, 2025, but held off releasing it for a few days due to recent events. 🎉
Watch I AM A RECRUITER™ latest podcast at 8PM IST in YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgT3RurXDs
🎙 Introducing Maj Kiran Bala(Retd) on the I AM A RECRUITER™ Podcast! 😊
🌟 “I was just a river flowing wherever life took me—I had zero clue what I wanted to do.” That was Kiran, a bright but directionless engineering student… until a 5-day SSB in Varanasi flipped her world! 🎖️
⚡ Boot camp hit like a thunderbolt:
No sports background → stress fractures
First 10m pool jump → heart pounding like a drum
Mandatory head-shave → “Goodbye hair, hello focus!” ✂️
But shoulder-to-shoulder with her mates, she learned shared sweat builds unbreakable bonds! 💪
🚀 Fast forward: Commissioned as the only woman officer in a 750-strong engineer regiment. Respect? She earned it by showing up, mastering her role, and leading with quiet confidence. From cycling 200 km through desert villages to marching in the 2015 Republic Day Parade, she proved grit + grace = leadership. 🌍🇮🇳
❤️ Toughest choice: Missing her daughter’s first steps. After 11 years of service, she traded her commission for stolen moments with family—and found a new mission.
✨ Today, Maj Kiran Bala(Retd) is the Founder of Read, Rise, Repeat empowering students & young pros with leadership coaching, communication training, and LinkedIn optimization (with a dash of AI magic!).
🔑 Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ Mindset First: Serve with purpose.
2️⃣ Trust Your Tribe: Together, “I can’t” becomes “I did!”
3️⃣ Discipline Wins: Fewer distractions unlock your best.
4️⃣ Own Your Story: Authenticity is your superpower.
“A journey of 1,000 miles begins with one brave step.”
🌈 Ready to take yours? Tag someone who needs this spark today! 😊 From Army Boots to Coaching Suits: Major Kiran’s Power Move
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