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.
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