S7EP5: Courage, Identity, and Starting Over: A Conversation with Raihana Ali-Aggarwal
The Top 3 Reasons Why this Episode is for You
You'll be inspired by a story of real courage and identity that might just hit you right in the heart. Raihana Ali-Aggarwal opens up about her decision to wear a hijab in 2015 — and how that single, deeply personal choice gave her an inner clarity and strength she hadn't expected. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to fully own who you are, even when others are watching and judging, this one's for you.
If you're in the middle of a major life transition — a layoff, a career pivot, becoming a new parent — and you're desperately trying to "get back to normal," this episode will reframe everything. Raihana shares a powerful framework for stripping away the external titles and roles we hide behind, so you can reconnect with who you actually are at your core. Spoiler: you don't need to go back to normal. You get to go forward as yourself.
You'll walk away with a fresh perspective on what self-care actually means. Raihana introduces the idea of sensory wellness — and y'all, this one was mind blowing. It's a reminder that managing the overstimulation of modern life isn't a luxury, it's a practice. Learn how building in intentional pauses and moments of de-stimulation can help you stop operating on autopilot and start making decisions that actually align with who you are.
Podcast Summary
This episode is a conversation I know you're going to love. I sat down with identity and transitions coach Raihana Ali-Aggarwal to talk about something so many of us quietly struggle with — how do you stay true to yourself when life is asking you to make some major changes?
Raihana brings her whole heart to this conversation. She shares her deeply personal story of choosing to wear a hijab in 2015, and how that act of bold faith — despite the external judgment that came with it — became one of the most empowering decisions of her life. Her story is a reminder that owning your identity, fully and unapologetically, is one of the most courageous things you can do.
We also dive into what it really means to navigate a major life transition — whether that's a layoff, a new chapter in parenthood, or any other moment that leaves you asking who am I now? Raihana offers a beautiful framework for separating your sense of self from the external roles and titles that used to define you, so you can move forward instead of trying to hold onto something that was never meant to define who you truly are.
And because self-work is never one-and-done, Raihana introduces an aspect of wellness that doesn't get talked about enough: sensory wellness. In a world that’s constantly competing for our attention, she shares why building in pauses and intentional de-stimulation isn't optional — it's essential.
This episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and equipped. Come ready to noodle on some big questions about identity, courage, and what it really means to thrive in the middle of change.
About Raihana Ali-Aggarwal
Founder of RAA Coaching and Consulting, Raihana helps high-achieving professionals navigate "Identity Drift" to rediscover who they are beneath their roles. Through her "Play-First" methodology, she creates intentional "Third Spaces" where titles are left at the door. By bypassing the professional ego through curiosity-led play and bespoke purpose coaching, Raihana guides leaders to reconnect with themselves and rewrite their personal narratives. It’s time to move from performing your life to living it with presence.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfaggarwal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfaggarwal
Instagram: https://instagram.com/raacoaching
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@raacoaching
Visit me at: https://www.raacoaching.com/raihana
The Radiate newsletter is a weekly "Permission Slip" designed as a digital sanctuary for high-achieving women to pause and reconnect with themselves. Each issue offers gentle reframes, reflection prompts, and intentional invitations to help you move from simply surviving to truly thriving. www.raacoaching.com/newsletters/radiate
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Connect with Host Jocelyn Auyeung:
Jocelyn Auyeung is a Life and Career Transitions Coach (ICF PCC) helping people trust their intuition while honoring the reality of their life as they navigate major life and career transitions — so they can move forward with both clarity and alignment. A former educator, mom of two (yes, a tween AND a teen — she's in it), and the host of the Empowered Working Mom Revolution podcast, Jocelyn brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every conversation.
Website: jocelynauyeung.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jocelynauyeungcoach
Podcast Website: empoweredworkingmomrevolution.com
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