Our People
DARSHANA BALAKUMARAN
Managing Partner
Darshana has over 12 years of experience working in communications and PR across industries and disciplines in Malaysia and the region, and leads Illuminairre’s strategic communications services. Her strength in this area of specialisation has enabled her to lead successful communication campaigns at national and regional levels throughout her career.
Darshana is committed to helping our clients find their ‘why’ and ‘how’ when it comes to aligning to business goals to purpose through empathy, compassion and strategy. She has a knack for connecting the dots, seeing patterns and information, and creating processes where chaos exists.
As a certified Ikigai coach, Darshana also works with our clients in navigating and embracing challenges that impact their professional growth.
She has a particular interest in youth development, and volunteers with an international NGO as a facilitator for young adults in her free time.
Fun facts about Darshana: She’s currently writing a book, and is a closet artist who paints intuitively. Darshana considers herself deeply spiritual. She is trained as a practitioner in mindfulness, tarot reading and energy medicine.
MICHELLE BOON
Managing Partner
With over 11 years of experience in performing arts, publications, media, journalism and education, Michelle leads Illuminairre’s professional coaching programmes. She’s a certified professional and Ikigai coach who’s worked with clients to discover their breakthrough learnings in work and life.
A defining moment in her career was leading and transforming a young team of writers for a successful weekly newspaper pullout focused on leadership development.
Michelle is an energetic, highly-creative individual who truly believes that getting clear with your ‘why’ can change everything for you. She lives and breathes Ikigai, the Japanese philosophy of purpose-driven living.
Michelle has always believed that education is the key to changing an entire nation, and this is why she spends her time outside of Illuminairre educating the young minds of our future.
When she’s not working, Michelle spends her time exploring dance and performing arts. Fun facts about Michelle: She LOVES food, and has a pretty sweet tooth. She’s also a certified dance instructor and piano teacher.
