Executive Healthcare Leadership Coach – Shiyen Shu
Shiyen with Marshall Goldsmith, World’s #1 Executive Coach
One of my favourite quotes is from the great Rumi, who said..
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Most leadership coaches will tell you they can help you “reach your potential.” That’s not my approach.
You’re already successful. You don’t need a coach—you choose one because you refuse to plateau.
I work with health leaders who are done playing small. The ones who know that real leadership isn’t about titles or strategies—it’s about courage, clarity, and the ability to create real change in a complex system.
I’ve spent years coaching executives, frontline leaders, and visionaries who don’t just want to lead—they want to transform the way healthcare works.
My approach isn’t about surface-level motivation. It’s about cutting through the noise, challenging assumptions, and pushing you toward the kind of leadership that changes organizations, industries, and lives.
I was born and raised in the bustling city of Mumbai, India and moved to Toronto at the age of 16. From a quiet, shy, confused person, to a recognized leader, mother, speaker and executive coach, my journey has been about resilience, growth and stepping into my own power.
There’s nothing I ask my clients to do that I have not done myself.
Shiyen with Justin Trudeau, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada
Shiyen with Justin Trudeau, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada
My approach isn’t about surface-level motivation. It’s about cutting through the noise, challenging assumptions, and pushing you toward the kind of leadership that changes organizations, industries, and lives.
I was born and raised in the bustling city of Mumbai, India and moved to Toronto at the age of 16. From a quiet, shy, confused person, to a recognized leader, mother, speaker and executive coach, my journey has been about resilience, growth and stepping into my own power.
There’s nothing I ask my clients to do that I have not done myself.
Who I Work With
01
Leaders Who Refuse to Settle
If you’re just looking for professional development, I’m not your person. I work with those committed to bold, strategic, and lasting transformation—in their leadership and in their lives. Their word is their agreement.
02
Leaders Who Want More Than Just a Promotion
Career growth isn’t the goal. Impact is. I help leaders expand their influence, sharpen their decision-making, and lead with conviction—without burning out in the process.
03
Healthcare Changemakers
The system is complicated, but that’s no excuse for staying stuck. If you’re here to drive innovation, build high-performing teams, and create lasting solutions, we’ll get along just fine.
What Makes This Different?
No Fluff, Just Results
This isn’t about theory or generic advice. Expect real talk, tough questions, and strategies that get measurable outcomes—for you, your team, and your organization.
Fast-Paced, High-Impact Coaching
No drawn-out, one-size-fits-all programs. Every conversation is focused on what moves the needle now so you can create change, not just talk about it.
Beyond Coaching – A Leadership Movement
Whether it’s through executive coaching, immersive workshops, or powerful keynote talks, this work isn’t just about improving leaders—it’s about reshaping health leadership for the future.
As a professional speaker, she has shared the stage with legendary leaders such as Jack Canfield (co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series).
She draws upon her unique skill set of certifications in executive coaching, leadership and organizational development, project management, neuroscience, cognitive-behavioural therapy, yoga and meditation to create a truly holistic and empowering approach.
She started her journey serving the most vulnerable in the healthcare industry, as an Occupational Therapist and quickly progressed to leadership roles, leading strategic projects and large teams. She is also a Certified Yoga and Meditation teacher.
She is living the immigrant dream in Canada, having been born to a middle-class family in Mumbai, India. Being a mother of three, she makes it appear too easy to integrate all elements of life successfully.
Shiyen is a life-long learner and volunteers much of her time to serve her community. She is the recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2022, an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and also serves as Chair on the Board of Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.
Calm, inspirational, visionary, and compassionate are words others use to describe her.
Her clients say that she has a unique skill set and gentle, yet tough approach that is guaranteed to transform your leadership and life.
Creating Exceptional Health Leaders and Teams
Qualifications & Achievements
Trusted by leading healthcare organizations and leaders
What Our Clients Say
Real Leaders. Real Impact.
“Thank you, Shiyen, for all you’ve done to support us. Our work has surfaced key issues that were previously under the surface. The Senior Leadership Team now has a shared language to better understand how we interact, and we’ve built a stronger foundation of trust and open communication. We are having more deliberate and spirited conversations—even challenging one another in ways that strengthen our team. There is an awareness now of what it means to operate as ‘Team 1’ and how we can support one another. Thank you again for your guidance and expertise.”
“Navigating a major career transition – especially into a new work culture – can be overwhelming, but working with Shiyen made the process seamless and empowering.
Knowing I was stepping into a new and complex public-private organizational culture, I engaged Shiyen to help me navigate this unfamiliar landscape with confidence and clarity. Shiyen’s expertise, insight, and tailored approach provided me with the clarity and confidence I needed to navigate this transition effectively. Her ability to understand complex challenges and offer actionable, results-driven solutions was truly exceptional. The impact of our partnership has been invaluable, not only in achieving key milestones but also in shaping a long-term vision for success.
I highly recommend Shiyen to anyone looking for a trusted partner and advisor in strategic growth and transformation.”
“Shiyen’s deep listening, incisive questions and timely sharing of spot-on learning resources have enabled me to smoothly navigate a major inflection point in my career. Our rewarding partnership has reignited my authentic, caring, energetic and confident leadership approach. This renewal was a vital catalyst and continues to fuel me as I drive healthcare system transformation in my region.”
“A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Mentor, Shiyen
We want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to someone who has made a huge impact on our journey: Shiyen
Shiyen is the epitome of what it means to be a mentor—relentless in her dedication to helping those she works with succeed. She doesn’t just guide us during our scheduled mentoring sessions; she goes above and beyond. Even when we’re not in a formal meeting, she continues to share invaluable resources, thought-provoking ideas, and books that challenge our thinking and push us to grow. Her commitment to our success—and to the success of eL8—is unwavering.
Her support is not just professional, but also deeply personal. She truly cares about the people she mentors, and it’s clear that her drive to help others thrive doesn’t stop when the clock runs out on a session. We’ve never felt more encouraged to push beyond our limits, knowing that we have such a dedicated and knowledgeable mentor in our corner.
Thank you, Shiyen for all the guidance, inspiration, and tools you’ve shared. You are making a difference, not just in our lives, but in the lives of everyone you mentor.”
“A few years ago, I learned about Shiyen through a former co-worker and friend who described working with her as a game-changer. She truly is. At the time, I was an overwhelmed parent of young children, unsure of my next direction in healthcare and how I could be of service. Shiyen took the time to get to know my goals, values, skills and passion. Her background as a clinician also resonated with me. Shiyen’s expert guidance helped me move ahead and take some steps I wouldn’t have otherwise. It also helped reinforce the importance to me of a dynamic, supportive and committed environment and ways to foster it for others. Years later, the influence of her encouragement for continuous learning/improvement is still there. Clients, whether a large organization or individual leader, are fortunate to work with Shiyen.”
“Working with Shiyen has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career. Her approach to coaching and mentorship provides a safe environment to get personal and dig deep into who you are as a person. Working with Shiyen has allowed me to refocus my efforts at bettering myself and my life, as that is truly what enables me to be a great leader. She pushes you to explore your own potential and truly make your leadership journey your own. I can’t thank Shiyen enough for her wisdom and grace in enabling me to see that as a leader, my growth has been 100% up to me.”
“Shiyen is one of the best coaches I’ve had the pleasure to work with! We engaged Shiyen to work with some of our SE leaders to help them grow into their full potential. I have to say that Shiyen’s values based framework and methodology, aligned perfectly with our culture and values. Shiyen is an amazing, trusted partner who delivers value well beyond what is expected! We are very pleased with the outcomes from her coaching work! Thank you Shiyen!”
“I was fortunate to attend not one but two of Shiyen’s workshops! One on Executive Presence and other on Time Management. Shiyen is brilliant with her content and the style of delivery. She leaves you in a state where you want the conversations to continue for a longer time. The powerful tips she shared are forever to keep and take advantage of in the professional journey. Highly recommend!”
“I’m incredibly grateful that our paths crossed, and you came into my life – it made me believe in myself.
Prior to working together, I lacked confidence and was overwhelmed by my constantly growing workload. After working together, I was able to present myself with confidence, stay calm in stressful situations, influence senior executives, and manage my time more efficiently and productively, which has made a huge positive impact on me, my team, and my organization. Whenever I have doubts, I’ll instantly think of you (and your teachings/coaching) to gain my confidence.”
“Through working with Shiyen, she has really shaped my own thinking and broadening my knowledge/views to the next level. She is part strategist, part thought provoker, and part cheerleader. Her values-centered guidance challenged me to think beyond just “the job search” and focus more on finding a career that would capitalize on my passions and strengths. She effectively identified my strengths and helped me to establish a personal brand and value proposition. Working with her helped me value what I do and gave me the courage to do things in a bigger, more visible way.
She was relentlessly positive, supportive and motivating from the beginning to the end. I find myself often thinking about her words, remembering them and acting upon them. Thank you Shiyen for pushing me into my “big leap”. I really appreciated Shiyen’s support and guidance and would highly recommend working with her!”
“Shiyen Shu is truly inspirational. I had the opportunity to take a part of the “Executive Presence” workshop that she conducted with the WINGS for Growth Cohort 2021-22. The workshop was incredibly impactful. The presentation was relatable and breakouts truly pushed you to think beyond your comfort zones. This is the type of learning that makes you reflect on who you are and gives you tools to take those takeaways to the next level.
Thank you!!”
“I went in to Executive Coaching knowing very little about what to expect. I got more than I bargained for! It was a lovely mix between professional candor, gentle nudging, sharing of tools and resources, and a belief that someone “had your back” and was there for you. I definitely appreciated feeling like I was not alone on the journey and I would highly recommend. There were so many suggestions and ideas that I would never have thought about when creating my brand and online image, confidence, not to mention the interview support. I will look to Shiyen and Executive Coaching when able to work on the next phase of the leadership/executive journey.”
“Shiyen has taken the initiative to create a compelling series in “Lessons in Leadership and Life.” She has a genuine gift for prompting people to tackle deep questions about their own journeys, in an inviting and conversational space. Shiyen’s curiosity and courage are contagious, and I really enjoyed working with her.”
“Shiyen is a brilliant and gifted executive coach who really understands how to get the best out of me. I felt very lucky to be working with her. What really impressed me most about Shiyen is just the way how she connects with people. She is welcoming, friendly, and very supportive. Shiyen is more than just an amazing executive coach; she cares about people and very accessible when you need her.
Prior to working with Shiyen, I had numerous interviews to advance into a senior leadership role, however I was not able to stand out from the competing candidates. Within 3 months of working together, I had multiple interviews lined up with 2 offers for senior leadership roles in top organizations. I still feel like I’m in a dream and I’m totally surprised by the changes I’ve seen in myself, and how fast it all happened. I highly recommend Shiyen as a top executive coach. I’m confident that Shiyen will be able to help many more people to achieve their career goals and dreams.”
“Shiyen is an exceptionally inspirational coach and speaker. I invited her to speak at our signature annual conference, PDCI, and she impressed the audience with her insightful keynote and magnetic story telling. Over the course of the few months that I’ve known Shiyen, I’ve found her a consummate professional who sets the bar high for integrity and performance.”
“Shiyen is an exceptional coach who believed in my strength and reinstated my trust in achieving my goals. I was blessed to connect with Shiyen through LinkedIn when I started doubting my efforts, my skills and the path I was following trying to achieve my goal. She always reminded me to believe in my abilities. I have no words to thank her and just a “Thank You” does not describe how grateful I am.
Shiyen is an empathetic and a kind professional who went above and beyond to help me in achieving my career goal. I started working with her in March and in less than 3 months; I was able to achieve my goal. This is just the beginning to a life long relationship and I am happy to find a great mentor in Shiyen. Her coaching also helped me overcome stress and self-doubt, and her tips and tricks are treasures that helped me in my personal and professional life.
I would highly recommend Shiyen for her professionalism, empathy and kindness while coaching her clients to find clarity in their professional life and to achieve a balance.”
“Truly beautiful inside out, Shiyen combines pragmatism with spirituality and intuition with logical reasoning. And she does a wonderful job of it. Every session with her has given me valuable insights and fresh perspectives on myself and the world. It has been an absolute pleasure to have her as my mentor for IDEA Mississauga’s Startup Plus program.”
“The work that I have been able to do with Shiyen has completely transformed my work and personal life. Her coaching techniques are very action oriented coming from a place of my own personal values. She was able to assist me in working through some old thought patterns that were not serving me well, into a whole different perspective on my future growth and development. She helped me transform from a place of doubt, lower self-confidence and fear that had been holding me down for so many years. Shiyen has mastered the power of positive thinking and self-empowerment and has led me into the same realm of possibilities for myself.
I continue to be better and to learn more, but the tools and techniques that Shiyen has helped me learn will stay with me forever. She has given me a gift that I hope to be able to use for the rest of my life.”
“Shiyen is authentic and highly skilled at what she does. I would strongly recommend Shiyen for team building and leadership coaching.”
“I feel so much happier and more at peace, and have been able to accomplish so much already. Shiyen is the best coach I have ever met.”
“What a talented individual and great executive coaching skills. I was honoured to be asked to work with her on her project.”
“She has such a passion for what she does and working with her inspired me to find mine and ask myself the big questions in life around legacy! Thank you, Shiyen!”
“I had the good fortune to work with Shiyen as my coach, and I would not be where I am today if it was not for her amazing coaching skills.”
