Courage
Publishing my memoir—a 75th birthday gift to myself—turned out to be a bigger gift than I imagined. Upon reflecting, I realized I wasn’t just courageous or strong; I was becoming fearless through my experiences. The Writing Journey: They all fainted in the background when my writing journey began to become a published author. It started […]
The Untold Culture of Silicon Valley
Since I published The Woman in Deed two months ago, one question kept popping up: Why did you decide to write this book? The answer is simple. Silicon Valley’s stories—especially those of immigrant founders and women leaders—need to be told. Not just the headlines about billion‑dollar exits, but the human stories that reveal the culture […]
Authenticity
I remember a moment in my early career when I was invited to speak at a tech event. I prepared carefully, dressed conservatively, and stuck to the script—wanting to sound polished and credible. The talk went fine, however afterward, someone approached me and said, “You were impressive, but I didn’t quite feel you in it.” […]
Expectations
At a recent literary gala, the evening began not with a famous author or polished emcee, but with an unpretentious man from a local Indi-Comedy-Club. Unknown name, ordinary appearance—expectations were low. He began with a story. A heart surgeon had given him the address of his clinic, and when the comedian went there, he noticed […]
A Revelation from the Bridge Table: “Play Your Own Game”
As a bridge player for over a decade, I’ve heard the phrase “play your own game” countless times from experts. Of course, we all play our own game, don’t we? But two weeks after a recent tournament, I realized the concept runs deeper than the bridge table. I’ve come to understand that “playing your own […]
The Real Prize
Success in Poznań, Poland
The Microphone Is Not Handed to Women—It’s Taken
Recently, I had a short but intriguing conversation with my dear friend and fellow board member at PAMF (Palo Alto Medical Foundation), Barbara. She was the most successful real estate broker in Silicon Valley for over a decade—a woman who shattered all records. As we spoke, we chuckled over the question: when a woman has […]
The Unfiltered Realities of the Startup Lane
Entrepreneurship doesn’t begin with a product idea—it begins with a mindset shift. The most critical decision isn’t what to build, but whether to take the leap at all. My defining moment wasn’t the formulation of a groundbreaking concept. It was the realization that I was ready—ready to relinquish stability without a safety net, ready to […]
Economic Empowerment of Women
I have a very distinct memory of when I was in 5th grade, 11 years old or so, in India. I had a test the next day but instead of studying, I was goofing off. My mother, who was particular about us doing well in our studies, was not pleased with me. I can still […]
Technology Cycle: Innovation to Economics
The Wheel of Technology