Welcome to South Asian Trailblazers! I’m Simi Shah, and here, I dive deep into the journeys of trailblazing South Asian leaders. This issue concludes Season 6. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or any major podcast platform and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates on Season 7!
A Note
In our season wrap issues, I usually share reflections specific to the season. But as I shared in my speech at our Celebration of 3 Years and 6 Seasons, this season felt like our very own coming-of-age story. When I first started South Asian Trailblazers, people would ask if there were enough trailblazers for me to fill a single season. Today, we’re swimming in South Asian leaders — many of whom have to our attention by way of our own research… and suggestions from strangers and supporters! Does it make the work harder? More important? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. As Kunal Merchant said about our community: “This is not our moment. This is our time.”
This season captures that sentiment. Yes, because of the range of guests (wider than ever before). But also because of the modality. We hosted a live podcast with Akshay Kumar and Bollywood’s rising stars — who crossed oceans for a red carpet event in Atlanta, Georgia. We hosted another with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal at IAImpact’s Summit — a historic gathering of South Asian policymakers and public servants in our nation’s capital. I tasted Pooja Bavishi’s ice cream before I ever knew her and watched Zarna Garg break my parents with her jokes before we ever spoke. This season felt like watching a movie in IMAX for the first time. It came to life. And we experienced each story as if with all 5 senses.
I’ve been building Trailblazers for 3 years. And this season culminated in my feeling like maybe 3 really is a magic number. This season is magic. (As are the last 5.) What more can I say then to convince you to pull out your phones and hit play on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts? Was that too on the nose? I’ll let you listen and let me know. Until then….here are the sparknotes on Season 6. As always, thank you. Thank you for listening, supporting, and most importantly, trailblazing.
The Highlights — this season we…
🌎 Reached listeners in 3240 cities in 135 countries
✍️ Featured in Apple’s AAPI Heritage Month Collection and as #1 on FeedSpot’s Top 40 South Asian Podcasts
🎙️ Hosted LIVE podcast recordings in 3 different cities: with Anjula Acharia (NYC), Congresswoman Jayapal (Washington D.C.), and Akshay Kumar + the Entertainers (Atlanta)
📅 Organized 2 community events: a breakfast for CPG founders with Republic and a Rooftop Celebration of 6 Seasons with CitizenM Hotels. We also brought our trailblazers to Room to Read’s annual gala!
🤝🏽 Partnered with 20+ organizations including Impact, Free Agency, McKinsey, Kahani Digital, Tinto Amorio, Rupee Beer, Silk + Sonder, DesiGalli, and others
🔥 Showcased 10 phenomenal leaders across film, finance, F&B, Bollywood and beyond
In case you’re wondering how to…
Support our growth!
🌟 Write a review on Apple or Spotify
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🌟 Share this newsletter with a friend
🌟 VOTE for our panels ft. trailblazers on The Evolving Business of Media AND Practical Productivity for Multi-Hyphenate Creators
Season 6 Sparknotes — quotable moments
Episode 1: Anita Chatterjee — Founder & CEO, A-Game Public Relations
You have to remember, that at the end of the day, you are the expert. I believe we make magic happen for our clients, so I go into every conversation with confidence. Payal Kadakia once said to me, 'If someone doesn't believe in me, that's their problem, not mine.' I fully agree.
Episode 2: Akshay Kumar & The Entertainers — Bollywood Stars
What advice do you have for aspiring creatives and entertainers who want to ‘make it’ as you have?
Nora Fatehi: I don't really like to call it advice, but a tip is lots of self belief and self confidence. You have that and the sky's the limit. Oh and… you need to keep one hype man with you!
Mouni Roy: There's no shortcut to hard work. Something that my father taught me when I was very, very young was you have to know when to say ‘no.’ There's a lot of power in the power of negation. And also, only your work begets more work, so when when you're doing something today, give it your 100%, because only that can make your tomorrow even better.
Akshay Kumar: The best thing about the industry is it acknowledges people who work hard, so keep working hard.
Episode 3: Pooja Bavishi — Founder & CEO, Malai Ice Cream
We want to change the way the ice cream market is perceived. It should feel as normal to pull out a pint of masala chai ice cream from your grocery store freezer as it is to pull out a pint of cookies and cream. That has always been the goal.
Episode 4: Anjula Acharia — Investor & Manager to Priyanka Chopra Jonas
After my company failed, I returned to San Francisco. People kept offering me jobs and I was confused. I realized that in Silicon Valley, failure is seen as a stripe. It's seen as being one step closer to success. Failure isn't what matters. Trying is what matters.
Episode 5: Medha Gargeya — Associate Legal Counsel to Vice President Kamala Harris, Air Force Reservist, & Adjunct Professor
The idea of doing something for the sake of service is really enticing to me. I clerked for a judge who served in the U.S. army. It was so distinct from the rest of his legal trajectory. He never approached it as 'What skills am I going to get? or, 'How's this going to look on my resume?'
Episode 6: Pooja Goyal — Chief Investment Officer of Carlyle Global Infrastructure and Head of Renewable & Sustainable Energy
Private capital has an incredibly important role to play in the energy transition. These companies are dealing with complex issues. They need capital that has patience, capital that can withstand volatile market conditions.
Episode 7: Zarna Garg — Comedian
Nobody seems to take pride in the job they have. Everybody's sights are on the next thing. When I decided to do comedy, I devoted myself it. That's the only way I think you can succeed at something. You have to love it that much.
Episode 8: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal — 4th Term Congresswoman (U.S. House of Representatives)
Think about what you want to do, not who you want to be. Because at the end of the day, you can have a position. But if you're not using it for something that actually matters, then it doesn't really matter.
Episode 9: Gaurav Shah — CEO and Co-Founder of Rocket Pharmaceuticals
Neuroscience has proven that all decision-making is ultimately emotional. You take all the facts, but at the moment of decision, the parts of the brain that light up are the emotional ones. There's no such thing as a rational decision.
Episode 10: Shruti Rya Ganguly — Filmmaker, Writer, Producer
It's important for our community not to operate in the model minority myth that there's only room for a few of us. Support each other. Hire each other. Elevate each other.