I grew up in a biracial family as my mom is Chinese and my dad is a Sri Lankan. Growing up with two diverse cultures made us different and more accepting. We celebrated both Chinese New Year as well as Diwali. As a biracial, you are aware of this sense of identity. But that’s the beauty of having siblings who support you, making up for feelings of not belonging. I have two older brothers with whom I share a strong bond, even though we have huge age gaps. 

My parents too, have guided and supported me throughout my life. My mother, a highly compliant businesswoman, had cultivated in our minds to compartmentalize our thoughts and organize our tasks. Prioritizing has been and still is an important aspect of our life and it has played a major role in all my decisions. My strengths and inspiration, therefore, comes from my family.

My work in the corporate world has also taught me a lot. My husband was my backbone while I decided to quit my job and had started my entrepreneur journey. He showed me how to be humble and taught me that a little bit of modesty goes a long way. When it comes to balancing my personal and work life, I take a me-time off of a day to just sit and do my own thing. I put on my work clothes in the morning and by evening I change to my home clothes, which makes it easier for me to switch between the two lives, even if I am working from home. 

My entrepreneur journey had started because the environment I worked for while in the corporate was becoming rather suffocating. It was a mental setback for me which is what made me quit. The disparity at workplaces has something to do with looks. When women who are attractive climb up the corporate ladder, people assume that it’s their looks and not their work. This in turn makes the women shy away from questioning or voicing their opinions and they think we don't have to look good. Women are so less in the field that I work in, that I believe we should be supporting each other instead. 

You cannot change the circumstances you are born into. But I find myself wishing that if only I could reach out to these people who require a helping hand and give them adequate knowledge, they too would be changing the world. If I had a superpower, I would ask for unlimited financial support so that I can help women who are in need. A lot of us get our opportunities because of the environment we are born in. As the saying goes, “The rich get richer and poor get poorer”. It’s not that these women are not intelligent, it’s just that they aren’t given proper training.

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