Malls and Mandarin: Dhawal Doshi’s Expat Experience | Diasporaa Podcast Episode 24

Welcome to Diasporaa, the show where we share the remarkable stories of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. This week, host Aditya Mehta is joined by Dhawal Doshi, the head of research and ESG at NWP, a large mall developer in Indonesia. Dhawal discusses his journey from Surat, India, through the US and China, before eventually settling in Jakarta. The episode delves into his unique experiences adapting to new cultures while maintaining his Indian roots, insights into the dramatic evolution of Surat, and his educational and professional journey. Dhawal also shares his experience learning Mandarin and living in Shanghai, the influence of Indian culture in Indonesia, and his current pursuit of an executive MBA at the University of Chicago. Dhawal's story is both inspirational and insightful, highlighting the complexities and triumphs of the immigrant experience. Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from the South Asian Diaspora!

List of Resources:

Ahmedabad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabad

Bollywood: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bollywood-film-industry-India

Chicago booth MBA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Booth_School_of_Business

Hazira: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazira

Hinduism in Bali: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_Hinduism

Jab Tak Hai Jaan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jab_Tak_Hai_Jaan

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuch_Kuch_Hota_Hai

Ramayana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana

Shatabdi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatabdi_Express

Surat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surat

Surat’s big diamond building: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surat_Diamond_Bourse

Tudou si: https://youtu.be/3urEosJwm7k?feature=shared

About the Podcast:

Diasporaa was Aditya's third startup based in Vancouver, BC. It focused on helping new immigrants in Canada find their feet, get off to a running start and ease their assimilation into Canadian life. A big part of the platform were conversations, community and support. Though the startup stopped growing once Aditya moved to Seattle, WA - it remained alive in the form of several discussion groups and online communities.

Now, Diasporaa has been resurrected in the form of a podcast focused on uncovering and sharing interesting immigrant stories from the South Asian diaspora. It is available on YouTube, all major podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc. and is also broadcast as a radio show on Alternative Talk 1150 AM and 98.9 FM HD Channel 3 on Wednesdays from 2-3pm PST.

About Aditya Mehta:

Aditya is a Bombay boy who has lived in Austin, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Vancouver, before making it to his current home in Seattle. He has degrees in marketing, urban planning, real estate and strategy but has spent his career in financial services, social media and now real estate - mostly as an entrepreneur and partly as an employee at Amazon.

He balances Indian, Canadian and American culture, loves helping those who are new to North America and looks forward to the interesting stories that his interview guests bring each week. When not podcasting, he is helping his wife Prachi build her pharmaceutical business or hanging out with his son Arjun.

Connect with Diasporaa:

-Instagram: @diasporaapodcast

-YouTube: https://linke.to/dspyoutube

-Bio Link: linke.to/diasporaa

-Listen on Spotify: https://linke.to/dspspotify

-Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://linke.to/dspapple

-Diasporaa Podcast on KKNW Alternative Talk Radio: https://linke.to/kknw1150