Adventures of being a female tech founder (not a typo) in India...

Lemme start by saying it is darn hard. I have not been so stretched, stressed and excited in forever;-)

I also sadly have to note that I have yet to come across another female tech founder...holler in the comments below if you are out there!!!!

I can proudly say the lead QA tester at GLEAC is a female called Saloni. Nothing goes to market without her saying YES! She used to be shy, reserved and had a hard time speaking up to the Developers. Well that changed fast;-) Now she screams.... in her own introverted way! She stood up and owned her value .... with a tiny bit of encouragement.

In all my negotiations to date, I am yet to come across a kickass woman sitting across me in discussions about APIs for our Product integrations, Market Strategy and Penetration, Machine Learning Algorithms, Tech Stacks etc. And I am not being an arrogant techie. I am the unlikeliest person to be talking about these things because I don't come with a tech background. But I am a killer learner .....I know just enough to be dangerous ;-)

My trump card is I surround myself with smart younger tech people on my team. I ask questions and they keep my learning vertical. I, in return, keep their personal growth and life/business learning at "pain in the ass" levels ....we made a deal;-)

Some of the statements that have shocked me ......

Sal, you can't spend your time teaching or mentoring anymore and you need to focus on closing deals and be a business women now across all your content and social media. Clearly this person has not gotten the memo that teaching is like prayer for me and why I am here and what sets me apart.

Sal, why don't you have kids yet? When did not having kids yet for a female over 35 become a crime in India. I wonder if there is a metric between having children and how well you do as a startup founder? (wicked smile)

Sal, do you want to have drinks later so I get to know you? ..... says the CEOs over and over (innocently I might add). Lots of business in India is pure relationship based but somehow it feels awkward when older males ask to meet outside of office hours. Mind you, I go out with tech guys all the time and feel at home and safe so this is clearly a blindspot I have with older businessmen.

Sal, I am 30 and have to marry soon and last night my parents said I should not be working for your startup since it will not be good in finding me a wife (said the day before he was to begin his job at GLEAC). Do I need to interview parents on all male hires around the marrying age of 27-30 to get their blessings?

What I love......

1. Everyone meets with me at the highest levels, hears me out and gives me a chance.

2. The team I am building and those who are supporting me. I can see them blossoming and can't wait to see who they will become one day. I often remind us all that we have the privilege of passing through each others lives right now and we will all one day be a GLEAC alum having built something extraordinary. If we do our time together right our street and future market value as GLEAC alums will be priceless.

3. India. It feels familiar. The connection, devotion and fabric of family life is breath-taking. Friendships are deep and real with yummy conversations. Families have even adopted me as their own.

4. I can really make a difference in the country with GLEAC and set an example for women in tech and business.

5. Hardcore sales people. I am not a sales person by nature but there is a dance they do that is fascinating. I am watching and customizing their moves to fit what feels comfortable to me. Let's see how that goes;-)

6. The musicality of the population. Now I know why Bollywood is huge.

7. Paneer. The extra 5 pounds since January is proof;-)

8. The young Indian men who run after me calling me Gorgeous Ma'am. It is kinda hilarious. My mother has even warned me they are going after me for my Canadian passport. I know!!!

9. Sundays. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy not being in Dubai and waking up on a Sunday in Gurgaon and feeling it's a Sunday.

10. The pulse of the Indian business world. It is a huge market and if one is ambitious as I am...just maybe one can become the first female tech unicorn in India ;-)

What I really dislike......

1. "YES" people. There is a complete lack of CANDOR and lots of INHIBITION. The Indian population does not say what they mean especially when it contradicts, is not pleasant and not "YES". India has a bad wrap for this globally and I keep experiencing it over and over at all levels personally and professionally.
2. The amount of paperwork and bureaucracy to create an Indian company. India is not a 24 hours with an operational bank account startup environment like the US. The lists are endless and never ending. Even I, an ex-lawyer, am like OMG..another form?
3. Lots of emotional and family issues to deal with at a very young age. It impacts the joy of being young, workplace attendance and it is a constant battle the family dynamic for outsiders.
4. How women cannot see and value their worth in business. I mean come one..... where are all the local female tech founders? I am just a foreigner in the country.
5. The hiring process and fragility of the workforce. Finding and keeping stars is hard in India.
6. How late people eat. See extra 5 points comment above;-) And what's the deal with Indian men not holding the door open for a woman or waiting for women to exit an elevator first just because it is a polite gesture?
7. The moving targets and haggling of deal makers. A handshake is not someone's word in India. Everything is a moving target until you get a signature.
8. How everyone keeps asking me my age. I am the youngest I have ever been is my answer of choice. My genuine humanness and wisdom about us only just passing through coupled with my smarts, confidence and razor sharp determination (I am not patting myself on the back here but women need to be able to say what their strengths are out loud) is what throws people off.
9. The premium price requested because you are an outsider. There is an undertone with business relationships and you are not treated under the same terms and conditions as locals. I am still feeling this out as I go treading carefully.
10. When I am underestimated as a female Founder in tech. I want no special treatment. I just want to be treated as I deserve and that has to start from a place of being considered equally, inclusively and fairly.

I decided after not being my true self all through my 20's that I am not going to turn into a guy to get to the top of the corporate ladder. Most women do sadly. Instead, I own that I am beautifully female, a bit nerdy and quirky..ok a lot nerdy and quirky (haha), vulnerable, wholehearted in all my actions and extremely transparent and THAT IS POWERFUL in the business world also.

As to where this is all going and what this means...... I have no idea but I am not going away;-)

A year ago I had no idea I would have a company in India , a team, offices, a growing client list, fan base and so much more. Who knows, I may even get an apartment in India soon!

Life is richer because of India and I cannot wait to see what the next 6 months holds;-)