From Code to Coaching: My Journey Thriving at Oracle

From Shy Engineer to Leadership Coach: Pramoda Vyasarao’s Journey of Growth and Impact

Pramoda Vyasarao’s career journey is a testament to the power of self-awareness, deliberate action, and continuous learning. Starting as a software engineer at Oracle in Bengaluru with limited English-speaking skills, Pramoda transformed himself into a respected leader, coach, and founder of Changesmith Coaching. His story offers valuable lessons for professionals looking to grow beyond technical expertise and build communication, leadership, and coaching skills that create lasting impact.

Overcoming the Fear of Speaking

When Pramoda joined Oracle India in 2002, he was confident in his coding abilities but struggled with verbal communication. English was his third language—Kannada was spoken at home, and he didn’t begin learning Hindi until age nine. This linguistic background made expressing complex ideas in English particularly difficult.

In meetings, he often felt like an observer rather than a participant. He had great ideas but couldn’t articulate them effectively during conference calls. Public speaking triggered physical symptoms—his voice would tremble, and he would freeze under pressure. Despite reading books on public speaking and communication, he saw no real progress.

The turning point came when he realized that knowledge alone wasn’t enough—he needed to act. As motivational author Nathaniel Branden once said, “The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” Pramoda began reflecting on his weakest link: impromptu communication and public speaking.

Finding a Path to Growth: Toastmasters International

A colleague introduced Pramoda to Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people improve their communication and leadership skills. Curious and determined, Pramoda attended a meeting at Oracle’s local club. What he found was a supportive environment where mistakes were not only tolerated but celebrated as part of the learning process.

The structure of the meetings helped him develop key skills:

• Word-of-the-Day: Expanded vocabulary through daily use.
• Grammarian Role: Allowed gentle correction of speech without embarrassment.
• Table Topics: Forced impromptu speaking, which was exactly what Pramoda needed.

Inspired by the community, Pramoda became a regular attendee and eventually took on roles that required preparation and leadership. Over four years, he delivered more than 40 speeches across different settings, gradually building confidence and competence.

By 2007, Pramoda had become an articulate and visible contributor at work. His improved communication skills led to two promotions and opened doors to new roles such as product manager and enterprise data architect. He even helped establish new Toastmasters clubs within Oracle, mentoring others along the way.

Transitioning from Individual Growth to Guiding Others

As Pramoda grew in his role, he began sharing his insights with colleagues who sought help with presentations and public speaking. He formalized this mentorship into structured courses covering topics like speech writing, rehearsal techniques, and managing anxiety. With support from his manager and VP, he proposed internal training sessions focused on communication and leadership.

His proposal included several strategic points:

1. External teaching would occur only on weekends.
2. Course materials were attached for transparency.
3. No conflict of interest existed since the content wasn’t tech-specific.
4. Toastmasters certifications and awards demonstrated credibility.
5. Feedback from external organizations validated his approach.

After receiving approval, Pramoda facilitated free workshops at Oracle, training over 300 employees. His efforts earned recognition, including glowing LinkedIn testimonials from participants and their managers.

Becoming a Certified Leadership Coach

In 2011, Pramoda was promoted to Director, overseeing a team of 70 professionals. As his responsibilities expanded, he recognized the need for deeper leadership development. He turned to Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s Stakeholder Centered Coaching program, a research-backed framework for measurable leadership growth.

Pramoda proposed his certification to Oracle leadership, highlighting:

• The lack of follow-up after traditional leadership training.
• The proven effectiveness of Goldsmith’s methodology.
• A strong ROI (estimated at 50X) for the company.
• Peer support from other directors.

Once certified, Pramoda coached dozens of managers through 12–18 month programs using 360-degree feedback and monthly coaching sessions. He also developed group programs, including Team Building Without Time Wasting, which helped teams build trust, empathy, and collaboration.

Balancing these initiatives with his day job required discipline, delegation, and energy management. He credits practices learned from The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz as essential tools for sustaining high performance.

Expanding Horizons and Embracing Change

In 2015, Pramoda relocated to the United States for a new role at Oracle America. He continued coaching while joining a Toastmasters club in California. In 2021, he transitioned to Meta as a Data Engineering leader, conducting internal workshops for senior engineers and engineering managers.

However, in early 2023, Pramoda faced a major professional disruption when he was impacted by layoffs at Meta. Rather than seeing it as a setback, he viewed it as an opportunity to pursue his long-held vision: launching his own coaching business.

He registered Changesmith Coaching in California and embarked on what he calls an MBA in Solopreneurship. Leveraging his decades of experience, he created a value ladder offering:

• Free: Weekly newsletter Beyond Your Limits
• Book: Beyond Your Limits available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify
• Digital Courses: Self-paced learning modules
• Live Cohort Courses: Interactive group experiences
• One-on-One Coaching: Personalized leadership development

This phase of his journey continues to evolve, proving that career reinvention is not only possible but can be deeply fulfilling.

Lessons for Career Growth

Pramoda’s journey offers actionable insights for professionals at any stage:

• Start with self-awareness: Identify your weakest link and commit to improving it.
• Take consistent action: Join communities like Toastmasters or find mentors who challenge you.
• Build a personal brand: Share your knowledge through internal workshops, articles, or public speaking.
• Invest in leadership development: Formal coaching frameworks provide structure and accountability.
• Be open to reinvention: Layoffs or transitions can be catalysts for pursuing your true calling.

Ultimately, Pramoda’s story reinforces a powerful quote by Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure… As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

Whether you're an engineer seeking to build leadership skills or a leader ready to make a greater impact, Pramoda’s journey proves that transformation is possible—one small, deliberate step at a time.