Full Transcript for Founding the Immigrant Academy, balancing a 9-5 while being an entrepreneur, and tricks to adapt to a new work environment quickly with Anjali Nair

become a brand manager, so it was a great job. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:14.480 Um, I was traveling all over the country, uh, you know, had some great perks, career was going great. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:18.079 Um, and then there's always a twist in the story, right? 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.720 So how did you get here? 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:21.519 Uh-huh. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:28.319 So I met my now husband um in India through a matrimonial platform. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:40.800 So, how you have dating apps here, we have matrimonial platforms in in India where you're on the platform to meet someone that you wish to get married to. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:46.480 So, more for more serious and more, you know, to find like-minded people. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:56.560 So, my husband and I got matched on that platform, and he he happened to be in India, he was he was visiting his family, he lived in the US. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.079 Um, and we met. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.399 Oh, he was based in the US, okay. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:15.439 Yes, he was based in the States, he he came down to India to meet his family, and that's when you know our profiles matched, and we got to meet, our families got to meet, and that's when the sparks flew. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:25.839 Um, we we you know we got to know each other for from whatever little time we spent with each other, and then we decided that we want to get to know each other more. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:31.920 So that was the beginning of the long distance relationship, um, which went on for a year. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:50.240 Um, and then we got engaged, we got married, everything happened in India, and it was it was very um surprising to my family and friends because um I never, never, never for once even thought of moving outside of Mumbai, let alone India. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.680 So they were like, Are you sure you want to do this? 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:58.879 You have to like be, you know, away from your family, you know, United States is very far. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:05.360 Um, it's it's a 25-hour flight journey, Lola, India to Florida. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:16.560 So um that was, I don't know, at that point when you like meet your life partner, the location, the geography, things like that just didn't matter, right? 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.600 I was like, you know what, I'll figure it out. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:30.560 I'm sure like there's you know, thousands of people who you know move out of their comfort zone and go to a new city, go to a new country, and they restart their lives. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:36.240 And at least I'm going to an English speaking nation, you know, I don't have to like pick up a new language altogether. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:40.320 So I think that's what I thought, right? 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:50.399 So um, yeah, that's that's really like how or like the the catalyst for me being here is right. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:59.679 Um, and I as you were just talking, I was like, since so many alignment with our story, and I think we already talked a little bit about that because I also studied biochemistry. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.639 I ended up discovering like, okay, I don't want to do this all my life. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:10.399 Um but I I you know I studied biochemistry, I did my master's in biotech. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:14.879 Um, but I stayed in the industry, I didn't necessarily work at the bench. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:19.360 Yeah, um, I I got into operations, into project management. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:21.919 Um so do you think you know what? 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:34.159 Because that that was my experience, but I'm just curious, do you think your pharmaceutical science background helped, even though you were in a completely different, seemingly different um job, you were doing marketing. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.000 Do you think your background helped with your your sales experience? 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:53.039 It absolutely helped because you know, um, entering into the pharmaceutical industry with knowledge of the subject combined with business skills was, you know, like matchmade in heaven. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:54.960 That's exactly what they're looking for. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:09.360 Because if you come from a background, if you have a business degree, but you don't have any background in sciences, it's very difficult for you to like learn why, what am I selling and why and how do I market this? 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:10.399 You have no idea. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.720 It the learning curve is much more for you. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:23.679 So I feel like the degrees that I had in place, the knowledge that I had in place, was very instrumental for me to not only land the job, but also succeed in my job. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:24.720 Right, right. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:37.840 I I think um one of the things I realized quickly when I was doing my master's in biotech, uh, because before I started my master's, between my bachelor's and my master's in the US, I had worked, I had work experience. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:45.440 And that was one of the first things I recognized was well, why do we always treat these two as separate, like business and then the scientists? 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:49.919 You know, in an industry, everybody needs to work together to achieve the goal. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:54.639 Um, so there were three, I remember there were three minors that everybody could take. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:01.600 I was the only one from my class that took the business minor, even though I was getting a master's in biotechnology. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.080 Yeah, minor concentration in business. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.320 I was in class with MBA students. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:10.799 Um everybody else was going, I was like, Well, I want to know both. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:14.960 I couldn't see myself being at the bench running experiments every

day. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:21.279 Um, I I need to talk to people, I need to understand what the company is doing, I need to understand the financial. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.639 Yeah. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:34.000 So, no, I think it's also part of why you ended up in the industry too, because the value that you bring having an MBA then having a pharmaceutical science degree. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.159 For sure, for sure. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:41.200 And um, when I moved to the states, I I thought that you know this is great. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:42.960 I have some experience in India. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:48.559 Now I can come and you know, just uh, you know, catch from where I left. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.799 And this is all very wishful thinking, right? 00:11:52.960 --> 00:12:00.879 Because I have no idea how how what is the healthcare system in the states, or you know, uh what is the job market in the states. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:10.559 I come in with just like, you know, rose tinted classes with dreams and just you know, this uh idea of how my life would be here. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:15.679 But um, we all know about that reality check and the shock that we get, right? 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:21.840 I think the one that always uh throws me is just thinking, oh, it's the US, they speak English, right? 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.480 So I'll be fine, it's the same language, right? 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.960 But it's very different, as we can tell. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:30.480 So let's let's get into the career aspects, right? 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:38.320 So how has it uh been getting to work or getting your first role even in the US back in the corporate world? 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:45.279 Oh so um after I landed here, um, I had my phase of culture shock, right? 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.360 So that went on for a few months where I'm like, oh, this is new. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.879 Oh, why do they do this here? 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:53.360 This is not how it is back in my home country. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.440 You are so good. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.559 There are all these comparisons that I make. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:04.080 I'm like, you get better food in India, or you know, why do they not have public transport in Florida? 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:06.240 I started questioning everything. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:13.679 Um, but did you do the money conversion in your head when you're like good, Lola? 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.120 But you know, that's why I mentioned my math has never been good. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:36.879 So it was it was actually a blessing in disguise because I'm like, you know, I'm calculating this, it sounds really high in my mind, but I also need to eat the food, so I know it took me a couple of months to stop doing that, like converting everything to Nigerian money and then saying, Oh, that's expensive. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.799 That's expensive, yeah, yeah. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:43.279 But I'm just like, I I but I want that ice cream, so I'm getting it. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.399 Yeah, yeah. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:58.159 I think like the days of um you you do realize that you're immersing yourself more into the country when you like stop doing, you know, the things that you were doing on your day one. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:13.039 Like I I no longer uh you know, uh look at things with uh, you know, amazement in my eyes, or I don't uh start converting uh into a different currency or convert to a different time or you know use a different metric. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:24.240 Um and and that just shows like how you are assimilating into the new new culture, new country, and um uh that you know it doesn't even come to your mind anymore. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:31.279 And and that just like shows how you've spent enough time here to to really embrace and accept it, right? 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.759 Um uh but yeah, that was the initial few months, right? 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:42.080 Where you start observing these things and you you want to know how do you fit in here, right? 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:50.000 You you you consider yourself as an outsider and you're like um everything is new to me, but how do I what is step one? 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.759 What do I do next, right? 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.080 That's always this big question you have. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:05.679 Um, and career was always like top of my mind because once you start working, once you start earning, you want to keep continuing with it, right? 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:19.440 So um it took me um uh a little more time than I anticipated, uh, of course, because you know the plan that I had in my head was not exactly how it all all penned out. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:26.960 So um one of the questions that I that I most often get is why did I move out of the pharmaceutical industry, right? 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:31.840 Because I had this amazing degree, I had the knowledge and the experience. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:44.799 Um, but I did not know that when I moved to Florida, with all the amazing weather and the perks, um, it's also not a hub for healthcare and pharmaceutical sciences, right? 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.519 It's not. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:53.679 Um, you either have to move to the Northeast to be in Boston, New York, New Jersey, um, to even, you know, start applying to the jobs there. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:58.399 And this is back when there were only in-person jobs, right? 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:03.039 And and it sounds like a long time ago now because everything is work from home. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:15.840 Um, but but back then, if you wanted to like, you know, get a job in a particular industry or um, you know, at a particular company, you have to move, you have to be open to move to another state. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:19.519 And my husband moved to Florida for me. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:33.440 He he was in Minnesota and

he moved to Florida so that I, you know, better adapt and adjust to a new country because the weather is going to be, you know, uh a really good transition for me. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:38.159 Um, so I dare not speak about moving to a different state. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.279 I'm like, you know what? 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:47.919 Yeah, still also, also, pharmaceutical world is not my my first call. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.679 It was not a true love for me. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:49.919 Right. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.919 So it's not like it was a big deal enough to make a move for that. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.039 Exactly, exactly. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.399 So I was like, you know what? 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.799 That's just one tiny industry. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:02.240 There is so much out there that I don't even know of. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:12.319 And probably this is the time when I get to try out a new industry, a new role, and and see what's out there and really like broaden my horizons. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:29.920 So I started applying to all kinds of marketing roles in the healthcare space, in the house in the in the space of you know, um, medicine and hospitals, uh uh uh uh medical devices, um, physicians' offices. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:34.720 I still like stuck to healthcare, but I like but I still broadened myself. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.440 And I think that that's that's the beauty of it though. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.839 I think that industry took uh you know is broad, right? 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:55.359 Like medical health, health services, health care marketing is it's well we'll we'll get to what what you're doing now because I think that's part of why how you bring this secret source to the work you're doing. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.240 Yes, yes. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:07.599 Position yourself is the way you position your skills, uh is how you look at the entire picture and and and and highlight your value uh to grow. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.640 For sure. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:18.720 So when I started applying to these jobs, Lola, I I thought that you know what, I'm gonna start getting interviews left, right, and center because I have, you know, like really great experience. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.200 Um, I only got rejections. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:26.559 Like not one person called back to be like, hey, we would like to interview you, you know. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.920 That that did not happen. 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:45.279 And I was shocked because I I I was so confident when I started applying for the jobs, but when you start getting rejection after rejection, um, after applying to 200 plus jobs, um, I I started lowering my standards. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:58.799 I started applying to entry-level jobs, I started applying to marketing, sales, advertising, anything, anything and everything that I could, you know, um, where I felt like I could contribute, I would apply. 00:18:59.039

--> 00:19:01.839 And nothing worked, nothing worked for me. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:31.599 I barely got an interview to go to, and um, I feel like my confidence was dipping day by day, and my husband could see that, you know, this energetic bubbly girl I married to is like slowly like losing herself, you know, day by day, just because um, you know, it it was it was not what I expected, and I I was I was lost because I didn't know who should I talk to, who can I get advice from. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.960 Um, I was I was so new here that I didn't know anyone else other than my husband. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:46.720 So it was a a very um uh uh emotionally draining phase for me, but also it was a time of self-discovery. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:58.880 I I realized what are my strengths and weaknesses, and I became so obsessed with the US job market that I started studying like how do things work here? 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.440 Who are the key players in the job market? 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.799 Who am I supposed to know? 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.720 Who am I supposed to talk to? 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.119 How do I present myself? 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:11.920 What are the skills I should showcase if I'm going for an interview? 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.680 How do I project myself? 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.759 This is not the time to be humble. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:20.400 You need to like talk about your achievements, you need to talk about everything you've accomplished. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:31.200 And my husband played a key role here because he would like take mock interviews with me and he would tell me, you know, you have so much to offer, but don't be don't be humble right now. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:35.359 Interviews is not the place to be, you know, you know, lowball yourself. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:47.599 And I think from everything that I learned through trial and error, I finally landed my first role here in the States, which was completely different from what I did. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:58.240 So I got the role of a B2B marketing specialist at an advertising tech startup, which was a 25-mile drive for me. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:08.880 And it was an experience that I am never going to forget because um I don't think I worked so hard to achieve something in my life. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:13.599 And when I landed that job, Lola, I could finally breathe. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:20.960 I could finally breathe because till then I just like felt so suffocated and so unaccomplished. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.759 Like that feeling was really bothering me. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.160 Um, even though I had everything here, right? 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:36.880 I had the privilege of, you know, having the backup with my husband, with finances, with having a roof over my head, not having to worry about, you know, when the next paycheck comes in. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:45.599 But it's so difficult to explain this as an immigrant who

has, you know, um who's had a certain life or lifestyle before. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:52.559 When you get into this phase where you're being tested, um, you you really start questioning everything about yourself. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:59.759 So and I think a lot of times I I talk to people that, you know, people because my experience was coming in as a student. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.720 And so from students, I kind of got that padding to experience it a little bit. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:20.799 But then when I talk to other women or immigrants who have worked at their country and have experience, you have all those degrees, you have an MBA, you have work experience, and then you come here and it's almost like, I don't know anything. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.880 I'm, you know, like I'm dumb. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.039 Like nobody would hire me. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.599 Yep. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.160 Yep. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:29.440 I I really thought I couldn't frame a sentence by myself. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:36.799 I was I was so scared that I I started feeling like, did I even learn English in school? 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:42.240 Why am I having trouble speaking to the cashier who just asked me how's my day going? 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.200 And I'm like, what? 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:50.000 Like I sh like that that's how low my confidence was. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:54.799 That's how much I started feeling conscious of my accent, you know. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:00.559 Um, and and these are things that newcomers will relate to as as I talk about this. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:07.279 But as you spend more and more time here in the States, it it these memories soon start fading away. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:24.240 But but you know, this was all a part of that learning experience as an immigrant, and like breaking into um corporate America, getting that first job, you know, getting your first paycheck, making your first friend, all of these, your first driver's license, right? 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.640 Going going alone somewhere, driving. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:31.680 You know, you have all the kids that have 16, 15, they already have driver's license. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:40.880 And I feel embarrassed like taking the driver's license and trying to understand even the roads, you know, like the difference. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.279 Yeah. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.359 All of these are milestones, right? 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.640 All of these are milestones. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:54.559 And um uh, you know, even like getting that first job is is a is a story, is a unique story that every immigrant has here. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:24:06.480 And it's just like so endearing to hear about it because it's it's a lot of hard work, but it's also who do you talk to and when, and how do you apply that advice, right? 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:33.440 When I realize that I spent so much time trying to do it myself rather than you

know approaching someone who has been through my exact journey and learn from their experiences, my uh uh I don't think my struggle period would have been this long had I met someone like me, or like you, I would yeah. 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:40.640 So um, when I found that this was the biggest missing piece, I wanted to do something about it. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:52.240 Because if for all these years, women like me who do not have an education backing here in the States and who don't have work experience, how do we get started? 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.480 Who is going to give us that first chance? 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.119 Right? 00:24:55.279 --> 00:25:12.480 So that big missing piece of the puzzle is what I wanted to build because um it's something that you know really played in the back of my head even after I landed a job, even after I lost that job, even you know, when I started job searching again, it always kept playing. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:33.039 Like, why can't we have uh, you know, a go-to platform where I get to connect people with people like them who are now a part of the industry, who are now willing to, you know, share their advice and you know, mentor them or you know, provide them with a direction on on you know what is that next step to take? 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:40.720 Um, and and that was kind of the place where the seed was sown in my head that you know this is something I want to work on. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:45.839 I don't have all the answers, I don't know how I'll do this, but but this is what I want to do. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:51.519 Like that start that was that started becoming my purpose in life. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:57.039 And it all happened, you know, through these experiences that I went through. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:09.920 So it became like a personal project for me, but also when I started meeting more and more women like me, my conviction became stronger to to build a solution for for something like this, right? 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:14.480 No, absolutely, and um I I I hear you. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:27.359 I mean, sometimes the the toughest experiences that we go through help us to find our purpose, and so it's it's hard to complain when it comes out like that, but when you're living it, it's hard, right? 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:48.319 So um I I definitely know that part of my starting immigrants in corporate is even though I'm already involved with like building inclusive workplaces, is I wanted to focus on immigrants because I know that there's a unique need for the immigrant population in corporate workplace. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:58.799 And and so let's kind of go into the third section because I want you to also get a chance to share with us some of your experience after you got your job, right? 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:06.640 After you got this first job, that you know it's it's uh it's like having a first child, well, which you don't know yet. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:15.359 But it's it doesn't matter at that point what it is, you're just glad that yes, I was able to get a job. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:18.000 I you know, I'm not completely dumb. 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:20.319 I have a job. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:34.240 Um, my very first uh legal job outside of college in the US was um was at a departmental store for six dollars an hour, and this is as a master's degree holder. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:40.640 Yeah, but the joy I felt, you would think I had like a six-figure job. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:48.559 It was just, oh my gosh, I got to go in the system now, I have to understand, you know, time off, number of working hours, I get to clock in. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.319 It just felt so adult. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:54.000 For years back in my country, right? 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:56.799 Um, so I completely understand that feeling. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:00.160 So after you started work, let's go into more strategies. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:19.920 So for the audience um listening to these who are immigrants in your position, um I know you have an amazing resource that I want you to talk about a little bit for immigrants, but tell us about some of your experiences, even after you got the job um as an immigrant, what kind of environment were you in? 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:22.319 Who were you working with, and what was that like? 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:27.200 Yeah, so I'm gonna like keep switching between two of my experiences. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.599 So that first experience was at a startup. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.359 Um, it was a super small team. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.720 There it was a team of 10. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:37.839 I was 11th person when I joined, and it grew to a team of 40 while I was there. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:41.440 Um uh and they were all younger folks, right? 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:47.359 Everyone either my age or younger or slightly older than me, other than the leadership team. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:29:01.920 Um, and they would keep making like all these um pop culture references about movies and music and you know, um make um uh uh phrases with like sport references. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:08.799 And I you every time someone did that, I'm quickly, you know, searching on Google, what does this mean? 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.000 What does this mean? 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.200 What does this mean? 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:26.960 And I just found myself learning a lot more American English than I had been exposed to, because the only American English I I had been exposed to was watching sitcoms like Friends and How I Met Your Mother. 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:57.359 And you know, when you start watching those series again, and I'm saying this and on a very serious note, if people have watched these series when you were living outside of US versus when you now live in the US, when you re-watch it, you're like, there were so many references and jokes here that I did not understand back then, but

I know today, I know what is Macy's, I know what is Pottery Burn, I know like what is the Cheesecake Factory and what are they ordering. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:07.200 So, so so my point being, I learned a lot of new phrases, a lot of new um words which were added to my vocabulary. 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:12.000 And the only reason I could do this is because I was very observant. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:16.720 I would listen more, talk less, and I would keep taking notes. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:23.759 I had a running list of all the new words and phrases I heard, and how do you utilize it next time, right? 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.720 And that's how hungry I was to learn, Lola. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:32.880 That's how hungry I was to um, you know, make myself feel that I am a part of the team. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.799 Right, you know, I'm not an outsider. 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:38.640 I understand your jokes, I know what you're saying, and I want to be a part of it. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:43.039 And that's how hungry I was to learn that I did the work, right? 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:47.200 I didn't, I didn't, I wasn't like, oh, I'll be here, you know, for the rest of my life. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.359 I have you know all the time in the world to learn. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.119 No, I wanted to learn now. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:53.519 I wanted to laugh at your joke now. 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:58.240 So so that's that's how like enthusiastic and eager I was. 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:12.720 So one of the things that I would definitely advise any, you know, um if if this is your first job in the US, listen, listen to what they're saying, how they're pronouncing, you know, what kind of references they are making. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:33.759 Uh, Google it, take notes, and start practicing, you know, start using that in your day-to-day language because that is when like you start seeing the immersion of your authentic self with you adapting to the new country, to the new workspace, to the new culture. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.960 And that was incredibly helpful for me. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.759 Right. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:48.880 Going in as you know, a person who only knows, you know, or how I know how to do the job, but that's not enough to take you ahead, right? 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:59.200 Knowing what you do versus knowing how to talk to my peers or talk to my manager, or what do I do when I go for a happy hour? 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:03.200 Um, how do I talk about promotions or pay raises? 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.200 How do I present in a meeting? 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.079 How do I appreciate my coworkers? 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.759 All of this was new. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:17.200 All of this is something that you learn on the job, you learn through errors, and you know, experience it yourself. 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:23.599 And and this is something that that I spent most of my time doing in my first couple of jobs here. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:28.480 And uh, and I think that was the most fruitful memory for me. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:42.160 More than the projects I worked on, I think the richness of experience that I gained through my coworkers, and they were also incredibly sweet to, you know, make me make me feel a part of it. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:54.079 Um, and they also appreciated the fact that I am making an effort to, you know, to learn, to not just be ignorant and not just say, oh, I'm not from this country, so I don't know what you're talking about. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:59.599 I made an effort to learn and and understand and uh be a part of it. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:02.960 So that that is my biggest takeaway from that. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:07.119 Oh, and I mean, and I can tell you did a good job uh with it too. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:12.960 Um, what I also wanted to point out also is the importance of understanding that there is a season for that. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:18.160 The quicker you can do that, the better you can feel comfortable enough to then start growing. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:23.039 Because, you know, a lot of time we talk about assimilation versus integration. 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:26.240 There is a season where you are learning. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:39.680 I mean, I I would say there is going to be a decent amount of assimilation when you first start at a country, when you first start at a new job, you have to listen more and speak less. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.839 You have to observe what is being done. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:52.799 And and uh the the goal is to know when you know you're it's time to start evolving and finding your own voice in that uh space. 00:33:52.960 --> 00:34:11.679 And that is where I feel like our work kind of um connects because that's something I want to make sure we close out with is talk about the Immigrant Academy project and what you are doing in the workplace, what you're doing for immigrants right now, and what you know, how your journey has kind of shifted to that. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.360 Absolutely, absolutely. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:24.000 So um when I was going through um uh, like I said, the first job that I had, I also went through a layoff from that one, and then I landed my second job. 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:28.880 Um it, of course, it made me stronger and it made me really understand. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:35:19.519 I I've seen like every phase of a job seeker's journey by now, and um that made me, you know, start something like the Immigrant Academy, which is an organization today that is catered specifically to um skilled immigrants so that we can help them land their first job, you know, make their first friend, um, get them connected with other professionals here in the states, because uh we want to help them in every stage of their immigrant life, you know, from a newcomer to a job seeker to a homeowner, you know, there are all these like different phases in your

life where you feel like, you know, I wish there was one person who could guide me, or or a community I could be a part of, or I could just take a course and learn exactly what to do. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:22.719 And that is what we're trying to do here at the immigrant academy. 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:29.119 So I think that's that's important is a community that understands you, yeah, that gets it, right? 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:34.880 Because, you know, people sometimes will be like, well, you know, ask your co-workers or ask these people. 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:46.800 You you we as humans, we want to talk to the people that understand where we're coming from, and that's where the you know that community is very important when you're talking about the immigrant experience, you know. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:52.559 Yeah, yeah, because that's when you're you you know you find like your journeys are relatable, right? 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.039 Right. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:36:02.559 We we all have our unique journeys and stories, but there are so many commonalities that we have here that we can learn so much from each other. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:24.719 So um that was the genesis of creating this platform, just so that you know I can I can share my knowledge, my expertise, um, you know, uh in a in a very systematic step-by-step way, which will help, you know, thousands of other immigrants who are newly migrating or who are newly looking for a job. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:30.000 It really cuts down their time and effort by more than half, right? 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:34.800 Because they they're really like getting to know what do I do exactly next. 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:43.599 And that way, like their limiting beliefs or their you know um uh uh uh affinity to to failure kind of reduces. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:54.320 Um, so uh yeah, as a founder of the immigrant academy, I've I've been uh running the organization for uh two and a half, three years now. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:37:10.639 Um, we have a very large community, mostly you know, South Asian-based community, um, where we have a lot of you know people from different communities starting to find us, starting to, you know, utilize our resources, join our mentoring programs. 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:30.000 And it makes me very proud to see that now we have a platform in place for you know another Anjali who who moves into the country with dreams and and you know, she doesn't get stuck by uh reality, where you know, you're like, what do I do from here? 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:32.320 Um, and and that's what I wanted to create. 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.760 That's what I wanted to build. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:36.480 And we've come a really long way. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:53.199 We've you know, I've I've literally spent all my waking hours outside of my nine to five and on my weekends, you know, building this because that that literally became the the purpose for me to you know make it easier on others. 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:58.000 Um, so it's a mission to your nine to five, just just FYI for those listening. 00:37:58.079 --> 00:38:06.159 So, what is your nine to five currently, apart from the immigrant academy and this resource, uh, this amazing resource that we'll be sharing with the audience? 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:08.239 Um, what is your nine to five right now? 00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:09.840 Are you still in the corporate workplace? 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.920 Yeah, thank you, Lola, for bringing that up. 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:16.320 Yes, I am still in the corporate phase of my life as well. 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:19.119 So currently I play dual roles. 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:24.000 I am also an entrepreneur, but I'm also in in the 9 to 5 world. 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:32.079 I work in, I work as a product marketing manager for one of the biggest HR tech organizations. 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:38.880 And um uh again, I've been through a few jobs by now, and and this is where I am today. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:50.159 Uh, but I do want to like, you know, emphasize on the fact that um I did not give up on my um uh my stream of work, which was marketing, right? 00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:54.960 That was something that I love doing and I continue doing it. 00:38:55.119 --> 00:39:05.519 Um, I've played many different roles in marketing, which makes me uh, you know, a lot more um uh evolved marketeer, if I could say that. 00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:11.199 And it has also helped me build an organization like the Immigrant Academy. 00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:15.039 Um, so yes, currently I I am doing both. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:26.159 Maybe in the near future you'll see me, you know, dedicating myself to, you know, um just one of the two streams and and and time will tell how how that goes. 00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:32.480 But um, yeah, currently this is what I do, and I I absolutely love what I do. 00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:51.360 Whatever, whichever one you decide to focus on, um, and that's also you know lesson for everyone is it will be fine because the thing is you already impacted so many people with the immigrant academy, and you've continued to grow your skills um in the work it pla in the the corporate workplace um in your area of strength. 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:57.679 So thank you for everything you do, and I know we're still gonna hear from you very, very soon. 00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:02.000 So I want to ask you a last question before you escape. 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:07.039 One that I always look forward to, especially because I love Indian food and I've only had the Americanized version. 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:12.079 So I usually end with a final question about food. 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:22.559 If you were to share a dish, a snack, a fruit with your co-workers that comes from your home, from your culture or family, what would it be and why did you pick that? 00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:25.199 Lola, now you're getting to my love language. 00:40:25.440 -->

00:40:27.360 My love language is food. 00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:30.239 I'm so glad you asked. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:45.519 So, um, I know um if you think of Indian food, um, the most Americanized version of it is chicken tikka masala with nan, and you know, uh samosa, right? 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:47.760 Like that's what I hear from most people. 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.559 That's what they use. 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:52.400 Goat curry, goat curry, yes. 00:40:52.960 --> 00:41:02.400 Okay, see you not many people have tried, not many people have tried goat curry, but but my palette, my palette is mixed from Africa, okay, from Nigeria. 00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:04.559 That's yep, yup, yup, yup. 00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.599 So I'm not surprised. 00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:07.280 I'm not surprised by the answer, Lola. 00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:22.079 Yes, but if I had to like share something or introduce my co-workers to something, it would be um uh a morning beverage, it's a morning hot beverage that we always have in India. 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:30.400 Chai, yes, so I'm gonna skip the word tea because tea is English for chai. 00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:34.320 So okay, it's also my pet peeve. 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:37.360 When people say chai tea, you're literally saying tea tea. 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:39.039 I try to like explain. 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:47.039 I'm like, let's just say chai because you covered, you covered that before. 00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:47.599 Okay. 00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:49.119 Oh, okay, great. 00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:50.719 So so yay, okay. 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:58.239 So chai is uh our morning hot beverage all over India, all over India. 00:41:58.320 --> 00:42:01.199 Like that's the first drink you'll see people having. 00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:12.960 And there's a snack that goes with it, which is a cookie, which is just like a plain old cookie, it's called parlay, but this is matchmade in heaven, Lola. 00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:19.679 So if if and when we meet in real life, I'm going to serve you a cup of hot pink. 00:42:20.639 --> 00:42:23.840 I have to travel to India to get these when we when we meet. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.320 Okay. 00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:37.199 When we meet, I'll give you a cup of hot chai, and I'll give you Parleji cookies, and you need to dip the cookie in the chai and take a bite, and then take a sip of your chai. 00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:38.639 Oh, okay. 00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:44.079 Thank you so much, Anjali. 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:46.000 This was this was so much fun. 00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:46.559 Thank you. 00:42:47.280 --> 00:42:52.320 Thank you for your resilience and then the work you are doing um and the difference you're making. 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:57.280 And I am so glad to have you in my network, and I look forward to talking to you again soon. 00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:58.800 Thank you so much, Lola. 00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:03.760 It's been an absolute pleasure and would love to connect with any of the listeners here. 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:06.239 Uh, connect with us at the Immigrant Academy. 00:43:06.400 --> 00:43:11.360 We're present in all social media channels, mostly on Instagram if you're there. 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:21.920 And uh, thank you, Lola, for sharing your platform and sharing our story and journeys and bringing um immigrants together and helping them accelerate in their careers. 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:22.960 Yes, to that. 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:24.239 Thank you. 00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:36.639 Thank you for joining me, Lola Adeemo, for these important conversations about the global world of work. 00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:41.280 Please rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcast. 00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:46.159 And don't forget to share our weekly episodes with your communities and co-workers. 00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:58.960 For more resources and upcoming events, visit our website www.thrivinginintersectionality.com and join our LinkedIn group Thriving in Intersectionality. 00:43:59.440 --> 00:44:04.480 Additional links and resources are listed in the show notes of this episode. 00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:05.679 Thank you.