From working Mother to Mrs India: Sharad Mishra’s Journey of Courage, Ambition and Self-Belief
India: For many women, life often comes with
expectations about what they should prioritize and what they may have to give
up. For Sharad Mishra, however, the journey has been about challenging that
very idea. A single mother of two boys, an HR professional working in the US
healthcare sector, and a PhD research scholar, Sharad has built a life around
perseverance, responsibility, education, professional growth, and personal
ambition.
Her decision to step onto the Mrs India platform was not
simply about competing for a title or wearing a crown. For Sharad, it
represented a deeply personal journey of self-belief and an opportunity to send
a larger message to women who may have placed their own dreams on hold while
taking care of their families and responsibilities.
In an exclusive interview, Sharad Mishra opens up about her
journey, the challenges she has faced, her decision to pursue the Mrs India
platform, and the message she hopes to share with women everywhere.
Q. You are a single mother, an HR professional, and a PhD
research scholar. How would you describe your journey so far?
Sharad Mishra: My journey has been a combination of
responsibility, learning, resilience, and continuous self-discovery. Being a
single mother of two boys has taught me the importance of strength, patience,
and making decisions with courage. At the same time, my professional career in
the US healthcare sector has allowed me to grow independently and understand
the value of discipline and consistency.
Pursuing a PhD alongside my professional and personal
responsibilities has also been a significant part of my journey. There have
certainly been challenging moments, but I have always believed that different
aspects of life do not necessarily have to compete with one another. With
determination and proper priorities, it is possible to continue working toward
multiple dreams.
Q. What motivated you to participate in the Mrs India
platform?
Sharad Mishra: My decision to participate in Mrs
India came from a desire to challenge my own boundaries. For me, it was never
simply about a crown, a title, or being on a stage. It was about asking myself
whether I was ready to step outside my comfort zone and pursue something that
was meaningful to me.
As women, we often become so involved in fulfilling our
responsibilities that we unintentionally stop giving ourselves permission to
dream. I wanted to change that narrative in my own life. I wanted to remind
myself that motherhood, career, education, and personal aspirations can
coexist.
The Mrs India platform became an opportunity to express that
belief and represent women who may be managing several responsibilities while
still carrying dreams of their own.
Q. Did becoming a mother and managing responsibilities
ever make you question your ambitions?
Sharad Mishra: There were certainly moments when
responsibilities felt overwhelming. But I don't believe that circumstances
should decide the limits of our aspirations.
Motherhood has actually strengthened my determination. My
two boys are an important source of motivation for me. I want them to see that
challenges may change the path, but they do not have to determine the
destination.
I also believe that children learn from what they see. When
they see their mother working, studying, pursuing her goals, and continuing
despite difficulties, they understand the importance of resilience and
self-belief.
Q. What does the Mrs India journey mean to you
personally?
Sharad Mishra: Personally, this journey represents
self-belief. It is proof that we can continue discovering new versions of
ourselves at different stages of life.
For me, the crown is symbolic. The real achievement is
having the courage to stand on that platform and say that my dreams matter too.
I wanted my participation to communicate that success does
not come with a fixed age or timeline. We should not tell ourselves that a
particular opportunity has passed simply because we have entered another phase
of life.
Q. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced
while balancing everything?
Sharad Mishra: Time management has been one of the
biggest challenges. Being a mother, professional, and researcher requires
constant planning. Every responsibility demands attention, and there are days
when you have to make difficult choices about how to use your time.
There are also emotional challenges. When you carry multiple
responsibilities, it can sometimes become easy to forget your own needs and
aspirations.
I learned that taking care of yourself and pursuing your
dreams does not make you selfish. It makes you stronger and more fulfilled.
That realization has been an important part of my journey.
Q. What has this experience taught you about yourself?
Sharad Mishra: It has taught me that we are often
capable of much more than we believe. Sometimes the biggest limitation is not
our circumstances but the belief that we cannot overcome them.
I have learned to embrace my individuality instead of
comparing my journey with someone else's. Every person has a different starting
point, different responsibilities, and a different definition of success.
The most important thing is to keep moving forward.
Q. What message would you like to give women who feel
that it is too late to pursue their dreams?
Sharad Mishra: I would simply say: it is never too
late to believe in yourself.
There is no universal timeline for success. Some people
achieve their dreams early, while others discover their purpose later in life.
Neither journey is less valuable.
Women should not allow age, motherhood, career
responsibilities, setbacks, or societal expectations to convince them that
their dreams are no longer important.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Learn, grow, and
keep moving.
Your circumstances may influence your journey, but they do
not have to define your future.
Q. What does success mean to you today?
Sharad Mishra: Success, for me, is not limited to a
title or achievement. It is about becoming the person I want to be while
remaining true to my responsibilities and values.
Success means being able to look back and know that I did
not give up on myself.
As a mother, I want to be an example for my children. As a
professional, I want to continue growing. As a researcher, I want to keep
learning. And as a woman, I want to continue pursuing dreams that make me feel
alive and fulfilled.
Q. What do you hope people take away from your story?
Sharad Mishra: If my journey can inspire even one
woman to say, “If she can do it, so can I,” then every step of my journey has
been worth it.
I want women to understand that they are not defined only by
their roles. Being a mother, wife, daughter, professional, or caregiver is
important, but women are also individuals with their own dreams, identities,
and ambitions.
We should encourage women to dream fearlessly, work
relentlessly, and embrace who they are.
My journey is not about proving that one woman can do
everything perfectly. It is about showing that even when life is challenging,
we can continue moving toward the things we believe in.
Sharad Mishra’s story is ultimately a story of resilience
and possibility. Her journey from balancing motherhood and a demanding
professional career to pursuing academic ambitions and stepping onto the Mrs
India platform reflects a belief that personal dreams do not have an expiration
date.
For Sharad, the Mrs India experience is more than a personal
milestone. It is an opportunity to create a message that reaches beyond the
stage—a message encouraging women to reclaim their aspirations, believe in
their abilities, and recognize that their circumstances do not have to
determine the boundaries of their future.
Her story stands as a reminder that courage does not always
mean having an easy path. Sometimes, courage is simply deciding to take the
next step despite everything standing in the way.
Visit:
Instagram:@sharad.m_official
