Coaching by Former Director of Engineering at Google
Listen to Your
Inner Voice
Leadership Coaching · Career Coaching · Inner Wisdom
Bridging corporate success with inner fulfillment.
Your deepest answers already live within you.
The voice of the Self — Manovaani — is the truest guide you will ever know.
Manovaani — the voice of the mind.
The quiet inner voice that speaks truest when everything else goes still.
Jayanthi
Sampathkumar
After a stellar 25+ year career in tech, most recently as Director of Engineering at Google, I retired in 2025 to pursue the passions outside of tech — Carnatic music, Vedanta, running, and cycling. I started coaching as a way to give back to the community and put a lifetime of tech leadership and deep listening in service of others. My philosophy is one of constant learning, and I bring that in earnest to every conversation.
My Story
I began my career at Microsoft in 1999 as a Software Engineer after my Master's at The Ohio State University. In over 25 years across Microsoft and Google, I worked on products such as SQL Server, BizTalk Server, Bing, and Google Cloud Data Analytics and Technical Infrastructure — solving deep technical problems and earning patents along the way. The Hudson Institute of Coaching — one of the world's most respected ICF-certified programs — felt like the perfect way to formalize a lifetime of mentoring. In parallel, I have been deepening my study of Sanskrit and Vedanta philosophy at the Hindu University of America — a journey that continues to shape how I think, listen, and lead.
I have been a student of Carnatic classical music since the age of 5 — a training that above all sharpened my ear for nuance. Music, for me, has always been Naadopaasana — a path inward, not a performance outward. The same quality of deep, patient listening that music demands is what I bring to every coaching conversation — both are practices of turning inward to find what is already true.
I love cycling and running — and in 2017 I completed a full marathon in Hyderabad wearing a sari, earning an entry in the Guinness World Records. Across 4 full marathons and 2 ultramarathons, I have come to know that training the body and training the mind draw from the same well.
As a coach, I bring together seasoned technical leadership, the rigor of evidence-based coaching, the wisdom of Vedanta and Naadopaasana, and the discipline of a long-distance runner — for a holistic approach that works from the inside out.
What Manovaani Coaching Can Help With
Through a one-to-one coaching partnership, Jayanthi works with clients to find clarity, direction, and a deeper sense of purpose. Here are some of the ways that journey begins.
You are a leader navigating change
A new role, a difficult team dynamic, a transition you didn't plan for. You have the experience — but the path forward isn't clear yet.
You feel the gap between outer success and inner satisfaction
You have achieved what you set out to achieve — and yet something feels unresolved. You're looking for meaning, not just momentum.
You are at a career crossroads
A pivot, a layoff, a role that no longer fits. You want to think clearly about what's next — and find a direction that feels genuinely yours.
You're not sure yet — but something feels off
You don't have a clear question yet. You just know you want to think more deeply about where you are and where you're going.
Coaching services are designed to support personal and professional development. Individual experiences and outcomes vary, and specific results are not guaranteed.
Coaching is not a substitute for therapy, counseling, mental health treatment, or medical care.
Please see the Coaching Agreement for full terms. · Privacy Policy
The Voice of the Self
Manovaani is grounded in the belief that true wisdom is not found outside — in frameworks, formulas, or prescriptions — but in the quiet, still voice that lives within each of us. My work as a coach and musician converges at this single point: helping you listen more deeply.
Deep Listening
Creating space for you to hear what you already know, beneath the noise of daily life.
Whole-Self Inquiry
Exploring your values, emotions, and inner landscape with curiosity, not judgment.
Grounded Action
Moving from insight to meaningful, values-aligned change — at your own pace.
What Coaching With Jayanthi Looks Like
A structured, evidence-based process — grounded in the Hudson Institute methodology and Vedantic wisdom — that meets you where you are.
A Forward-Looking Partnership
Coaching is a collaborative relationship in which we work together to clarify your goals, identify patterns, expand perspectives, and support intentional action. It is not advice-giving, mentoring, therapy, or consulting — you hold the expertise on your own life. You retain full agency over every decision and outcome.
Evidence-Based Methodology
Sessions draw on the Hudson Institute of Coaching framework — a rigorous, developmental approach to personal and professional growth. Jayanthi also integrates Vedantic teachings, including the principles of self-awareness, discernment (viveka), and inner steadiness, to help you build a sustainable, values-aligned life.
What Happens in a Session
Each session is a 60-minute structured conversation held via video call (Zoom or Google Meet). It typically includes: reviewing progress since our last session, exploring your current focus area, reflective inquiry, surfacing limiting beliefs or patterns, and co-creating concrete next steps. Jayanthi comes fully prepared to every engagement.
Between Sessions
Jayanthi may offer reflective prompts, journaling exercises, readings, or other practices to deepen your work between sessions. Engagement with these is entirely at your discretion — and often where the most lasting shifts happen.
What My Clients Say
Working with Jayanthi over the past 15 years has been one of the most valuable investments in my life. Her guidance has shaped not only my career decisions but also my personal growth in ways I never imagined.
She has an incredible ability to listen deeply, ask the right questions, and challenge me to think beyond my comfort zone. During critical moments in my career, her clarity and perspective helped me make confident, well-informed decisions. On the personal side, she's helped me build resilience, improve my mindset, and stay focused on what truly matters.
What sets her apart is her genuine commitment to my growth. She doesn't just give advice — she empowers me to find my own direction while holding me accountable.
I can confidently say that I wouldn't be where I am today without her consistent support and guidance. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to grow both professionally and personally.
Testimonials reflect individual experiences and are not a guarantee of future results.
Let's Begin a Conversation
Whether you want to explore coaching, find out more about my approach, or simply find out if we are a good fit — I would love to hear from you. Reach out through the form or the details below.
Whether you are new to coaching, a returning client, or curious about Carnatic music — find the right path forward.
Get in TouchPrefer email? Write directly to jayanthi@manovaani.com