Meet
Dr. Natasha
Meet Dr. Natasha
Leadership Coach, Psychologist, Professor
Dr. Natasha Thapar-Olmos (she/her) is a board-certified coach, licensed psychologist, and tenured professor at Pepperdine University. Trained at the top clinical psychology Ph.D. program in the country, she has held numerous leadership roles within national professional organizations and at Pepperdine University, where she was awarded the institution’s highest honor for teaching faculty.
She also has considerable experience as an administrator, overseeing the launch of Pepperdine University’s suite of Master’s programs in psychology, hiring a team of faculty and staff, and growing enrollment from 17 to over 1,000 students in three years while ensuring academic excellence and faculty development.
Her coaching approach combines evidence-based psychological principles (based in cognitive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and multicultural counseling) with practical strategies, creating a powerful methodology for lasting change.
A sought-after speaker, Dr. Natasha has delivered presentations at national and international conferences, and has conducted over 10 consultation workshops for professional and general audiences. She has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, L.A. Parent, and PopSugar, writing on topics like confidence, perfectionism, and the intersection of mental health and identity.
Why I Do What I Do
Growing up as the daughter of immigrants from India, I have always inhabited multiple cultures and contexts, and I’ve dedicated my career to the impact of culture on our psychology - not as an end in itself - but as a way to effect
Growing up as the daughter of immigrants from India, I have always inhabited multiple cultures and contexts, and I’ve dedicated my career to the impact of culture on our psychology - not as an end in itself - but as a way to effect
understanding
change.
The turning point for me came when I realized that compartmentalizing who I was in different spaces (to try to fit in and please others) was making me a lesser version of myself, burned out, and less impactful.
The journey of validating my story, learning from mistakes, and taking strategic risks was difficult, but liberating and it’s a privilege to be able to walk alongside others in their journey.
As a professor, I invite my students to take their profession and privilege seriously, and use them to empower themselves and those they work with.
As a therapist, I consider each client’s cultural history and integrate their experience with my expertise to build a fulfilling life.
As a coach, I work with individuals to explore their values and goals as a pathway to designing effective plans for change.
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