2024, thanks for the memories 📸
A banner year, thanks to you.
Happy New Year’s Eve, trailblazer! Simi Shah here. You might remember that this is South Asian Trailblazers — a media platform, community, and agency dedicated to elevating leading South Asians. Usually, I’m dropping an episode with a trailblazing South Asian leader here. But today, I’m sharing our 2024 Wrapped — and let’s just say, this year deserves a moment.
A Note on 2024
Look in the end, even with all the amazing wins we catalogue, it all comes down to the community. We don’t exist without you guys — if you all don’t show up and show out. Thank you. Thank you for being a part of the Trailblazers tribe. This year, more than ever, I can see the ties we’ve forged — not just with you, but among you, among our Trailblazers — and the distance that goes. That’s what counts. That’s what lasts. I hope we can make them even stronger and greater in 2025.
🎁 2024 Year in Review. This year, we…
🌎 Went bi-coastal, to the capital, and global
We can’t wait to come to you — for the first time, or the next time, on this side of the Atlantic or the other — in 2025. The best way to follow our community events is to follow us across platforms. This year, we:
Hosted our FIRST networking receptions on the West Coast AND internationally in London (pics below!)
Hosted our Dinner with Trailblazers series for South Asians in politics in Washington D.C. with Social Currant and for South Asian investors with MUFG in New York
Co-hosted networking receptions in support of two non-profits: Sakhi for South Asian Survivors in New York; and with Indian American Impact for womxn in politics and public service in Washington D.C.
🎉 Launched a Season 8 full of surprises, including 4 Live Podcasts
With the launch of Season 8, we decided to make it possible to watch — not just listen to — every future episode of our podcast, so you can experience our conversations as if you’re in the room. Of course, many of you were in the room for our 4 incredible live podcasts this year with:
Jay Sean, Multi-platinum Artist, Entrepreneur, & Record Label Executive
Karishma Mehta, Founder of Humans of Bombay — coming soon 😉
Gurbir Grewal, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement
Neha Parikh, Former CEO of Waze — coming soon 😉
🚀 Brought the Trailblazers Agency to Harvard and the United Talent Agency
In 2024, we propelled the South Asian leaders in our network to mainstages around the globe, and enabled ambitious professionals like you to tap into their expertise by scheduling time with them through our expert network. The highlights:
🤝🏾 Forged 8+ new partnerships — including MUFG Bank to Sakhi for South Asian Surviors
We partnered with 8+ multinational companies and global non-profits: Social Currant, MUFG, CitizenM Hotels, IAImpact, the National Women’s Hall of Fame, SABANY, Morrison Foerster, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors. Thank you to their amazing leadership teams!
🌟 Represented Trailblazers from the White House to Forbes to the NYSE
We represented at key institutions and in media this year: the White House, the New York Stock Exchange, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Forbes 30 Under 30, the National Women's Hall of Fame, Yahoo Finance, and made our Times Square debut!
🛍️ Shopped South Asian across industries
We collaborated with 20+ South Asian-owned brands: Laumiere Gourmet, Karma Wellness Kitchen, Kulture Khazana, Stitched Sweets, Aayka Fashion, Bollygood, Rupee Beer, Woops!, Malai, DesiGalli, Tinto Amorio, Banyan & Birch, Pics by Dhaval, MishMedia+, Ravi Ray Audio, The Third Place Creative Co. Check out our annual #ShopSouthAsian Holiday Guide below.
🌎 Built our trailblazers tribe in 70 countries IRL and URL
Reached listeners in 70 countries and crossed 10,000 followers on Instagram and 5,000 on LinkedIn. Oh, and by the way, we launched on TikTok.
👪 Grew our team
A note of gratitude to the amazing women who keep the Trailblazers world turning: Sarah Cherian, Rhea Mehta, Aashna Sheth, Ariba Ahmad! And a special welcome to Karishma Pandit and Aditi Trehan.
Be the most trailblazing member of the tribe in 2025 🎆
🗣️ Share your story. Did a certain leader’s story resonate with you? Did you come to an event that changed your day, or life? We’d love to know! Reply here or send us a DM on socials. This is what means the most.
🤝🏽 Work with us. Sponsor an event, an episode, a swag bag. Use our Agency to source a South Asian speaker for your next conference or ERG event. Tap into the South Asian experts from our Expert Network. Partner with us for executive support if you’re a South Asian leader yourself.
🎙️ Subscribe and write us a review on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any major podcast platformm
👍🏾 Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, & TikTok. We share all about our upcoming content, community events, and agency across the board.
✍🏼 Share this newsletter with a friend
👕 Sport some South Asian Trailblazers swag (all the cool kids are wearing it!)
Until 2025, Happy New Year, trailblazers. - Simi Shah