South Asian Trailblazers

I love a book launch - and in my lifetime, I’ve been privileged enough to ?launch?a few. ?? 3 years ago today, Attorney & #IndianMatchmaking star Aparna Shewakramani sat down with me for South Asian Trailblazers to launch her memoir: She’s Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down Drawing on her experiences being villainized on reality TV, her break from law, natural disasters that displaced her family, and a semester at sea, Aparna gave us a fiercely honest memoir about reclaiming your story. The day marked our first-ever live podcast ?? — where we dug into Aparna’s story LIVE and brought our community to LIFE for the first time. ?I think of Aparna often — and not just because we shared in this milestone that marked an inflection point for both of us. Because Aparna has become a dear friend over the years, and has taught me 3?? profound lessons: 1) Facades fade. Real leaders — the kind you want to follow — show up consistently and authentically. Despite being villainized on reality TV, she forged onward — standing tall her in truth until the world understood. 2) We took a chance on each other — her more so on me and South Asian Trailblazers to tell her story authentically. She showed conviction in us. And vice versa. The lesson: Early believers go a long way. 3) A lot of people might get a say in your story, but you get the final word. Aparna, I’m proud to be in your orbit and even prouder to have shared this milestone with you. ?? Happy Launch-a-versary! ??? Relive the magic of this special episode — ??? in the comments!

Artists like Louis Tomlinson, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Coldplay,?Green Day, and?Glass Animals?have been making their way to?#India?recently, and the excitement has been off the charts! From record-breaking shows to iconic?Lollapalooza?performances, we’re seeing a new era of cross-cultural collaborations. Who do you want to see take the stage next? #SouthAsianTrailblazers

??New Episode Alert ??Dilawar Syed —, Former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. #SmallBusinessAdministration joins Simi on @SouthAsianTrailblazers. At the time of this recording, he was the highest-ranking Muslim official in the U.S. government, nominated into the role by President Biden. ???? ?? From leading global tech companies like #Yahoo, #Freshworks, and #AI company #Lumiata to shaping economic diplomacy at the State Department, Dilawar’s career bridges #tech, #entrepreneurship, and #publicservice. ?? In this episode, Dilawar reflects on: ?????His immigrant journey from Pakistan to the U.S. ?????His brutal confirmation battle and fight for representation ??♀???How small businesses can thrive in the U.S. ???His experience in tech, business, and public service ?? Watch this ep on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts. ??in comments!

"In 1936, Merle became the first (South) Asian actress to be nominated for an Oscar... There was, however, no barrage of splashy news headlines to follow…” In honor of?#WomensHistoryMonth, we share a poignant piece about Merle Oberon, as written by Anna Kodé for the New York Times, and captured in Mayukh Sen’s new biography, “Love, Queenie.” Today, Merle Oberon stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices early trailblazers had to make and the strides we’ve made in the decades since. But that journey isn’t over. Just recently, we caught up with actors Charithra Chandran and Manish Dayal to discuss South Asian representation in Hollywood ahead of the 2025 Oscars. Tune in anywhere you listen to your podcasts. This one’s for Merle. #SouthAsianTrailblazers #SouthAsiansAtTheOscars

Wishing Trailblazer Adi Raval, Head of Communications at Forterra, a very happy birthday! At Forterra, Adi drives #Strategy for the defense tech firm, shaping its brand and public perception. Prior to this, he led communications at Shield AI, a venture-backed #AI company serving the national security industry. His career spans several influential teams, including Taskrabbit (acquired by IKEA), Illumina, Bechtel Corporation, and Lime. Adi’s impact goes far beyond the private sector. He served as Communications Director for President Obama’s Power Africa initiative through USAID and was also a U.S. diplomat based in Afghanistan. Before stepping into #Communications, Adi began his career as a journalist with BBC and ABC News, including time as BBC’s bureau chief in Iraq. Adi’s career is a testament to the power of purpose-driven #Leadership. Wishing you an incredible year ahead, Adi! #SouthAsianTrailblazers

Advice for aspiring #Actors! We caught up with trending?#DeliBoys?star Saagar Shaikh — better known as “Raj” in the new comedy-drama. And this half of the Dar brother duo has a word to the wise. For Saagar, this dream is 15 years in the making. And boy is he making it — DELI BOYS made TOP 5 on Hulu! In our?#SouthAsianTrailblazers?episode at?#TheOscars, Saagar reflects on the #Hollywood hustle and the parallels between him and his character — one half of the Dar brothers. #SouthAsiansAtTheOscars

South Asian women are the blueprint! #InternationalWomensDay This #WomensHistoryMonth, we celebrate the trailblazers who have long been the architects of progress — boldly pushing boundaries and rewriting the norm. At?#SouthAsianTrailblazers, we have the honor of diving deep into the journeys of leading?#SouthAsian?women. Celebrate?#IWD?by learning something new from any one of their stories — wisdom from women of the world. Who’s a trailblazing?South Asian?woman who inspires you? Give them their flowers in the comments!

Wishing the sweetest belated birthday to the queen of ice cream – Pooja Bavishi, Founder & CEO of Malai! Since launching in 2015, Pooja has transformed Malai from a passion project in her Manhattan apartment into a nationwide beloved brand. Pooja is launching a #Cookbook this spring! Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors comes out on April 8th (available to pre-order!). Pooja shares the secrets behind Malai’s flavors like Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Mango & Cream, and Coffee Cardamom. She also shares how to make their famous Orange Fennel French Toast, Parle-G Masala Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches, and more. Pooja, we’re in awe of you – scoop by scoop, you’ve turned childhood nostalgia and bold #SouthAsian flavors into an ice cream empire. And you’ve done it all with your signature warmth and unwavering belief in the magic of good food shared with good people. Wishing you an amazing year ahead! #SouthAsianTrailblazers

Our full newsletter recap of all things #SouthAsians at #TheOscars went out to subscribers this morning! Get the inside scoop on the night’s biggest conversations and exclusive interviews with Trailblazers like Charithra Chandran and Manish Dayal. Subscribe to our Substack: https://lnkd.in/e-RqR6rg #SouthAsianTrailblazers

Is that Baba from Deli Boys? Your new binge-worthy obsession is out on Hulu TODAY. While celebrating?#SouthAsians at #TheOscars, we caught up with Iqbal Theba, head of the Deli Boys Dar family on screen and a true trailblazer off of it. Known for his role as Principal Figgins in Glee, Iqbal has spent over three decades in #Hollywood and has seen firsthand how far South Asian #Representation has come. #SouthAsianTrailblazers