"And remember — the people who matter won’t judge you, and the ones who judge you don’t matter. Confidence in communication comes after you start, not before."
Q. What inspired you to transition from teaching Sociology at Unacademy to becoming a full-time Communication Coach?
While teaching Sociology, I realized that many brilliant students struggled not because they lacked knowledge, but because they couldn’t express themselves confidently in English. I felt a deep calling to help people bridge that gap. That’s what led me to become a full-time Communication Coach — to empower people to speak their minds fearlessly and fluently.
Q. What are some common challenges your students face in mastering spoken English, and how do you help them overcome these?
The biggest challenges are fear of judgment, lack of vocabulary, and hesitation to start. I focus on building their confidence first through small wins — like short speaking tasks — and then gradually introduce vocabulary, real conversations, and mindset training. I always remind them: it's not about perfect English; it’s about effective communication.
Q. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when building your brand as a Communication Coach?
Building trust was the hardest. In the beginning, I didn’t have a fancy degree in English or a huge marketing budget. I had to rely solely on my skills, authenticity, and consistency. It took time to prove that results matter more than credentials — but once students started getting results, word spread organically.
Q. Who has been your biggest inspiration in your journey as an educator and entrepreneur?
Instagram - Sakshi Patel
Youtube - I am basically felicia
Interviewed by Ishika Ahuja
While teaching Sociology, I realized that many brilliant students struggled not because they lacked knowledge, but because they couldn’t express themselves confidently in English. I felt a deep calling to help people bridge that gap. That’s what led me to become a full-time Communication Coach — to empower people to speak their minds fearlessly and fluently.
Q. What are some common challenges your students face in mastering spoken English, and how do you help them overcome these?
The biggest challenges are fear of judgment, lack of vocabulary, and hesitation to start. I focus on building their confidence first through small wins — like short speaking tasks — and then gradually introduce vocabulary, real conversations, and mindset training. I always remind them: it's not about perfect English; it’s about effective communication.
Q. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when building your brand as a Communication Coach?
Building trust was the hardest. In the beginning, I didn’t have a fancy degree in English or a huge marketing budget. I had to rely solely on my skills, authenticity, and consistency. It took time to prove that results matter more than credentials — but once students started getting results, word spread organically.
Q. Who has been your biggest inspiration in your journey as an educator and entrepreneur?
I would say my students themselves have been my biggest inspiration. Watching them overcome their fears, get jobs, give interviews, or just speak boldly in day-to-day life — their transformations constantly remind me why I started. Apart from that, I deeply admire people like SRK, Sandeep Maheshwari and Jay Shetty for their ability to connect with audiences.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who feels nervous or hesitant to start speaking English in public?
Start small. Speak a few lines daily, even if it’s just to yourself. Celebrate progress, not perfection. And remember — the people who matter won’t judge you, and the ones who judge you don’t matter. Confidence in communication comes after you start, not before.
Q. How do you keep your content fresh and engaging for your followers across different platforms?
I listen closely to my audience — their struggles, their questions, their wins. I also keep experimenting with different content formats: real-life scenarios, skits, interviews, challenges, and even humor. The key is to stay relatable and never sound like a textbook.
Q. What future goals or projects are you excited about for Felicia English and Basically Felicia?
Q. What advice would you give to someone who feels nervous or hesitant to start speaking English in public?
Start small. Speak a few lines daily, even if it’s just to yourself. Celebrate progress, not perfection. And remember — the people who matter won’t judge you, and the ones who judge you don’t matter. Confidence in communication comes after you start, not before.
Q. How do you keep your content fresh and engaging for your followers across different platforms?
I listen closely to my audience — their struggles, their questions, their wins. I also keep experimenting with different content formats: real-life scenarios, skits, interviews, challenges, and even humor. The key is to stay relatable and never sound like a textbook.
Q. What future goals or projects are you excited about for Felicia English and Basically Felicia?
I'm working on launching specialized courses for different needs — like Communication for Job Interviews, Business English, and English for Teenagers. I also dream of creating a community platform where learners can practice daily without fear. Big things are on the way!
Q. Looking back, what moment made you feel, 'Yes, I made the right decision by choosing this career path'?
When I saw one of my students, who once couldn’t introduce herself in English, land a dream job purely because of her new communication skills — that was the moment I knew. No corporate title could ever match the fulfillment I felt then.
When I saw one of my students, who once couldn’t introduce herself in English, land a dream job purely because of her new communication skills — that was the moment I knew. No corporate title could ever match the fulfillment I felt then.
Bio
Sakshi Patel, popularly known as Felicia, is a renowned Communication Coach and the founder of CelebrityEnglish and the Basically Felicia app. With over 4.3 lakh followers on Instagram and 1 lakh subscribers on YouTube, she has become a digital powerhouse in the field of spoken English education. Sakshi, who hails from Champa, Chhattisgarh, has been featured on platforms like Josh Talks and previously taught UGC NET Sociology on Unacademy.
Through her dynamic content and engaging teaching style, she empowers individuals across India to speak English fluently and confidently, bridging the gap between aspiration and communication.
Instagram - Sakshi Patel
Youtube - I am basically felicia
Interviewed by Ishika Ahuja
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