I am an Indian American entrepreneur, author & executive at a Fortune 100 company who was inspired to launch this series to showcase inspiring, real life stories & narratives from the South Asian Diaspora &  provide much needed hope & encouragement to a global audience.  I genuinely believe in the concept that life is a classroom and planet earth is a school whereby we are all students. As students of life each of us are given a variety of opportunities to learn key lessons every single day.  It my experience that the same lessons are often repeated over and over until we master what we need to learn.  As a young girl born in Columbus Ohio to parents who immigrated to the US from India in the early 1960’s, I never felt fully comfortable in my own skin. I didn’t feel at ease with who I was, who I wanted to be or what my unique gifts were to offer this great, big wide world.   My childhood in the heart of America’s Midwest was a kaleidoscope of color, sound & culture as my parents tried to ensure that my siblings and I adhered to some of the cultural and religious traditions of India while encouraging us to fully immerse ourselves in all that was America.  Growing up in an Indian American household steeped in the mores and traditions of South Asian culture while trying to be the personification of America’s melting pot was beautiful, painful, isolating and sometimes exhausting.   I realize now that I am not alone in feeling this way.  Launching A Desi Woman is a catalyst for me to find my own voice and feel comfortable enough to use it.  I’ve come to the realization that I am still a work in progress and that is ok! I have also realized that we are in this classroom of life together and many of our lessons are universal.    The voices I am seeking to join me on this series may be voices and names you have never heard before but their inspiring stories & narratives deserve to be told. Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-discovery and growth—you are always welcome here!