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#SouthAsianSuccess #SouthAsianPodcast #SuccessStories
Welcome to Season 2 of South Asian Success. This season, Parul Bhandari is going beyond the surface to explore the real stories behind success, the risks people took, the pivots they made, the doubts they faced, the lessons they learned, and the moments that changed everything.
South Asian Success was created to connect people with inspiring creators, founders, writers, entrepreneurs, dreamers, and community builders who are carving their own paths. Season 2 takes those conversations even deeper, bringing in more diverse stories, new perspectives, and topics that often don’t get talked about enough.
Parul also shares a little of her own journey, including the launch of her new book, Good Brown Girls, and why trying something new often means leaning on community, resources, and the people around us.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, writing a book, building a creative career, exploring a new path, or simply looking for inspiration to take your next step, this season is for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode 00:00 – 00:35 – Opening Hook
00:35 – 01:25 – South Asian Success Season 2 Intro
01:25 – 04:25 – Why South Asian Success Was Created & What Season 2 Brings
04:25 – 05:25 – Going Deeper: Stories, Risks, Pivots & Lessons
05:25 – 06:35 – Inspiration, Community & Taking Your Next Step
06:35 – 07:02 – Sponsor Message – CustomerXSuccess
07:02 – 07:32 – Closing Message & Outro
This podcast episode is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess. We're building customer experience and building better businesses.
www.customerxsuccess.com
Subscribe to South Asian Success and join us as we explore the stories, journeys, and people redefining what success can look like.
#SouthAsianSuccess #SouthAsianPodcast #SuccessStories #Entrepreneurship #SouthAsianCommunity
#Infertility #SouthAsianWomen #GenerationalTrauma
From infertility and motherhood to becoming an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s voices, Julie Patel shares the powerful story behind her journey.
In this episode of South Asian Success, Parul Bhandari sits down with Julie Patel to talk about infertility, the pressure of silence around difficult conversations in South Asian families, motherhood, writing, representation, entrepreneurship, and breaking generational trauma.
Julie Bio:-
Julie opens up about her personal fertility journey, why she decided to share her experience publicly, and how her story eventually inspired her memoir What Will Be. She also shares how her daughter’s experiences inspired their children’s book Dear Friend, and why representation of South Asian characters in books matters.
Julie Website:- Website
Julie Book:- Amazon
Julie Instagram:- Instagram
What You’ll Learn:00:00 – Introduction
01:24 – Julie Patel’s Journey Begins
02:45 – Marriage, Fertility & Starting a Family
03:37 – Struggling With Infertility
05:00 – Writing Through Her Fertility Journey
06:00 – From Journaling to Becoming an Author
07:22 – The Journey Behind Dear Friend
08:21 – Talking About Infertility in South Asian Families
09:03 – Miscarriage, Isolation & Breaking the Silence
11:25 – Why South Asian Families Avoid Difficult Conversations
12:12 – The Importance of Sharing Your Story
13:01 – Breaking Generational Patterns
13:32 – How Dear Friend Was Born
16:27 – Helping Children Process Their Emotions
18:23 – Communication & Raising Emotionally Strong Children
19:48 – Breaking Generational Trauma
21:27 – Why South Asian Representation Matters
23:48 – Julie’s Fashion & Entrepreneurial Journey
25:31 – Leaving Finance & Following Her Passion
27:18 – Building Her Fashion Boutique
28:59 – Honoring Culture Through Fashion
30:07 – Julie’s Message to the World
30:23 – Raising the Next Generation
31:22 – Her Father’s Legacy & Strength
32:32 – Using Social Media for Purpose
33:49 – Grief, Growth & Moving Forward
35:08 – Julie’s Final Thoughts
35:40 – Where to Find Julie’s Books
36:03 – Closing
#FailureToSuccess #Resilience #ImmigrantStory #CareerAdvice
In this inspiring episode of South Asian Success, Dr. Vijay Mehrotra shares his incredible journey from growing up as one of the few South Asian families in America, facing racism and bullying, to becoming a Stanford PhD, entrepreneur, professor, and founder of the world's first MBA Customer Success program.
This conversation explores how failure, resilience, mentorship, identity, and courage shaped his life and career. If you're navigating career uncertainty, balancing family expectations, or trying to find your own path, this episode is for you.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Vijay Mehrotra is a Professor of Analytics at the University of San Francisco and a globally recognized expert in analytics, AI, and Customer Success Management. A former tech CEO and business analytics executive, he has spent over 20 years helping organizations turn data into real business value. Named one of the Top 100 Customer Success Strategists in 2023, he holds a PhD from Stanford University and has published research in leading journals, including Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.
Vijay Website: Website Website
Vijay Linkedin: Linkedin
What You'll Learn
✔️ How racism shaped Dr. Vijay's childhood
✔️ Why failure is the biggest teacher for success
✔️ How immigrant parents influence career choices
✔️ The importance of mentors in your life
✔️ From Stanford PhD to entrepreneur and professor
✔️ Why your career doesn't have to be linear
✔️ Building confidence despite rejection
✔️ How to redefine success on your own terms
✔️ Advice every South Asian student and professional should hear
✔️ Why resilience matters more than perfection
Timestamps00:00 Introduction
00:40 Meet Dr. Vijay Mehrotra
02:26 His father's immigration journey
06:15 Growing up with racism in America
09:04 Finding identity and confidence
11:30 Choosing an unexpected career path
15:15 From Stanford PhD to entrepreneurship
20:18 Building the world's first Customer Success MBA program
27:30 Challenges and lessons from leadership
30:10 Why failure is the secret to success
32:30 Redefining success for the next generation
34:13 Final thoughts
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at http://www.customerxsuccess.com
#SouthAsianSuccess #DrVijayMehrotra #SuccessMindset #FailureToSuccess #Resilience #ImmigrantStory #CareerAdvice #Leadership #Entrepreneur #Podcast
#Health #Wellness #FunctionalMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine
Discover how to build a healthier, happier life by combining the power of ancient wisdom with modern medicine in this inspiring conversation with Dr. Keshav Grover, an expert in Integrative & Functional Medicine.
In this episode of South Asian Success, Dr. Keshav Grover shares practical strategies to improve your health, increase longevity, prevent disease, and create sustainable daily habits that actually work. From nutrition and exercise to sleep, mindfulness, wellness routines, and preventive healthcare, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Guest Bio:-
Dr. Keshav Grover, DO, MS, IFMCP, is the founder of Aesthetica, PLLC d/b/a Grover Health and Aesthetics and Grover Health and Wellness, PLLC. He is a physician, keynote speaker, and champion of functional/integrative medicine and of eating a whole foods, plant-based diet. He has spoken to leading organizations including Penske Automotive, Detroit Athletic Club, Farbman Realty, the Plant Based Nutrition Support Group, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has been featured on CBS and Fox News as a wellness expert.
Wellness bridge Book: Wellness bridge Book
Dr. Keshav Grover Website: Dr. Keshav Grover Website
Dr. Keshav Grover Instagram: Dr. Keshav Grover Instagram
In the news:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/9798891386327
👇 What You'll Learn:
The difference between modern medicine and functional medicine
Why prevention is better than treatment
Ancient wellness practices backed by science
The biggest health mistakes people make
How nutrition becomes medicine
Daily habits that improve long-term health
Why movement and exercise matter at every age
The importance of sleep, mindfulness, and stress management
How to build a wellness routine you'll actually stick to
The secret to healthy aging and longevity
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Meet Dr. Keshav Grover
01:00 Why He Wrote Wellness Bridge
02:45 The Philosophy of Living Well
05:35 Growing Up with Ancient & Modern Medicine
13:05 Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Healthcare
17:58 Fitness & Movement for a Longer Life
24:08 Food as Medicine
29:03 Why Dr. Grover Wrote This Book
34:05 The Biggest Health Misconceptions
37:20 Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
#Health #Wellness #FunctionalMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine #HealthyLiving #Longevity #Nutrition #FoodAsMedicine #Mindfulness #HealthyHabits #SouthAsianSuccess #DrKeshavGrover #Podcast #HealthPodcast #SelfImprovement
#WomenInBusiness #SmallBusiness #FounderStory #Startup
In this inspiring episode of South Asian Success, Kanika Batra, Founder of Sukoon, shares her incredible journey from a corporate career in India to rebuilding her life in America and creating a purpose-driven home and lifestyle brand.
After moving to the United States, Kanika had to start her career from scratch, adapt to unexpected challenges, and embrace uncertainty. What began as buying handcrafted décor for her own home unexpectedly turned into a thriving business serving customers across the U.S.
This conversation explores entrepreneurship, resilience, spirituality, purpose, mindset, business growth, and the courage to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative professional, immigrant, small business owner, or someone searching for purpose, this episode is filled with practical lessons and inspiring stories.
Guest Bio:
Kanika Batra, Founder of Sukoon After moving to the United States, Kanika had to start her career from scratch, adapt to unexpected challenges, and embrace uncertainty. What began as buying handcrafted décor for her own home unexpectedly turned into a thriving business serving customers across the U.S.
Visit Website: SUKOON
Evgenia instagram Kanika Batra
👇 What You'll Learn In This Episode:
✔️ How to start over in a new country with confidence
✔️ Why unexpected setbacks can become your biggest opportunities
✔️ Building a purpose-driven business from scratch
✔️ Transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship
✔️ How spirituality influences leadership and decision-making
✔️ Lessons from building the Sukoon brand
✔️ Finding product-market fit by listening to customers
✔️ Balancing career, business, family, and motherhood
✔️ The power of meditation and mindfulness for entrepreneurs
✔️ How courage, faith, and persistence create long-term success
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Meet Kanika Batra & The Story Behind Sukoon
02:05 Life Before Entrepreneurship
03:00 Moving From India to America
05:15 Starting Her Career From Scratch
06:55 How Sukoon Was Born
09:20 The First Pop-Up That Changed Everything
12:45 Growing From Home Décor to a Lifestyle Brand
15:35 Selling Spiritual Products to Non-Indians
18:15 Finding Product-Market Fit
19:50 The Success of Copper Water Bottles
22:30 Balancing Business, Career & Family
24:10 Meditation, Mindfulness & Mental Clarity
26:05 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
28:20 A Customer Story That Changed Everything
30:05 Final Thoughts
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
#KanikaBatra #Sukoon #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #SmallBusiness #FounderStory #Startup #BusinessSuccess #SouthAsianSuccess #PurposeDrivenBusiness #ImmigrantSuccess #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #Motivation #SuccessStory
How I Overcame fertility challenges, Postpartum Anxiety & Mom Guilt | Conscious Motherhood with Urvi Shah
In this powerful episode of South Asian Success, Parul Bhandari sits down with Urvi Shah certified coach, spiritual healer, and founder of Inner Serenity Life Coaching. Urvi shares her raw and inspiring journey through a long fertility struggle, IVF, pregnancy pressures, postpartum anxiety & depression, and how she discovered Conscious Motherhood.
She shares her tools and techniques, including a book and podcast, which she uses to coach other women like her.
Guest Bio:
Urvi Shah is a certified mindfulness coach and spiritual healer supporting women who are on their motherhood journey (from fertility to postpartum). I have been running my coaching practice for 5 years now - evolving over time as I evolve spiritually and expand my consciousness. I also am a mindfulness teacher - certified in teaching meditation, breathwork, and EFT tapping. I also have other certifications for spiritual healing like Reiki, energy healing,
👉 Follow Urvi Shah: Linkedin
• Website: Inner Serenity Life Coaching
• Instagram: Urvi Shah
• Book on Amazon: Soul Diaries Urvi Shah
🔥 What You'll Learn:
• The real emotional struggles of IVF and pregnancy in South Asian culture
• How to regulate your nervous system as a new mom
• Practical ways to overcome mom guilt and perfection pressure
• The power of intuition and self-advocacy in the medical system
• Why "chapters" in motherhood are the secret to not burning out
• How to reframe guilt and be present for yourself and your children
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
00:44 - Urvi Shah's Journey into Conscious Motherhood
02:10 - The Pivotal Moment: Long IVF Journey & Feeling Alone
03:35 - Postpartum Anxiety & Depression Struggles
04:32 - Cultural Pressures on South Asian Moms
06:10 - What Does Success Look Like After Motherhood?
07:45 - The Power of "Chapters" in Life as a Mom
09:40 - Nervous System Regulation Explained (Must Watch)
13:08 - How to Handle Mom Guilt & Emotional Outbursts
15:52 - Reframing Guilt & Apologizing to Your Kids
18:57 - Urvi's Podcast "Soul Diaries" & Her Book Story
23:22 - Advocating for Yourself in the Medical System
26:13 - Trusting Your Intuition as a Mother
29:22 - 3 Daily Questions to Design Your Best Life
Subscribe for more inspiring South Asian success stories
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
In this powerful episode of South Asian Success, Parul Bhandari sits down with Ash Grewal, a high growth tech strategist and founder of The OverachieveHers, a thriving community for ambitious women.
Ash shares her inspiring journey from growing up as one of the only South Asian kids in small-town Nashville to building a 10 million reach community that’s empowering high-achieving women across the world.
Many women are ambitious, but struggle to build the career and community they want. Ash is building this in her career and helping others build theirs, one OverachiveHer at a time.
Guest Bio:-Ash Grewal is the founder and CEO of The OverachieveHers, a community and media platform for ambitious women that reached 10 million people within its first six months. Born from her own experience rising through the ranks as an ambitious woman of color, it has become a leading resource for women finding balance between power and pause. Ash brings over 15 years of experience across adtech, marketing, and executive leadership, having played pivotal roles scaling high-growth tech companies to billion-dollar valuations and most recently leading the buildout of a creator economy ad network spanning more than 32 billion annual impressions. That career gave her a sharp understanding of how brands and individuals capture attention at scale, and she now channels that into building a movement that reflects the lives and ambitions of women like her.
Visit Website: Website
Ash Linkedin: Linkedin
Follow on Instagram: Instagram
What You’ll Learn00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:30 - Ash Grewal’s Background & Career Journey
03:00 - Growing Up South Asian in Small-Town Nashville
06:30 - Identity Struggles & Feeling “International”
10:45 - Founding The Overachievers & The 10M Reach Story
13:50 - Who are The Overachievers For?
17:20 - Getting Laid Off & Choosing Entrepreneurship
22:40 - Mentoring Young South Asian Women
28:30 - Career Advice for Burnout & Boredom
32:00 - Balance, Somatic Practices & Self-Awareness
35:00 - Closing Thoughts
This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
In this powerful episode, Parul Bhandari sits down with Mrinal Gokhale a true multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, author, business analyst, and mental health advocate. Mrinal shares her inspiring journey from marketing and journalism to becoming a full-time Business Analyst while running a successful side business in digital marketing, writing, and editing.
She opens up about her two bestselling books on South Asian mental health raw, real anthologies filled with true stories of trauma, neurodiversity, intergenerational stigma, model minority myth, domestic violence, and breaking silence in the diaspora.
Guest Bio:
Mrinal Gokhale is the author of two anthologies on South Asian mental health, a full time Business Analyst, and the founder of a boutique digital marketing, writing & editing service. She is a passionate advocate for mental health, neurodiversity, and breaking cultural taboos.
Links:
Buy Mrinal’s Books → https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09PJQ9YZY
Mrinal Linkedin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrinal-gokhale-14a19b46
Follow Mrinal on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/mrinalg_/
What You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
00:35 - Mrinal Gokhale’s Journey
01:05 - From Marketing to Business Analyst
02:05 - Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
03:26 - Her Two Books on South Asian Mental Health
04:44 - The Story Behind "Taboo"
06:59 - Common Struggles in South Asian Families
09:31 - Self-Stigma & Generational Trauma
10:45 - Community Reception & Feedback
14:05 - Upcoming Events & Future Plans
18:23 - Her Digital Marketing Business
19:37 - Honest Advice for New Entrepreneurs
24:28 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Mrinal
This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
#MultiHyphenate #SouthAsianMentalHealth #BreakingTaboos #MentalHealthMatters #MrinalGokhale #SouthAsianSuccess #WomenEntrepreneurs #GenerationalTrauma #ImposterSyndrome #Entrepreneurship #TabooBook #DesiMentalHealth #MultiHyphenateLife #Podcast #SouthAsianPodcast
Join Parul Bhandari in this episode as she sits down with Neetika Gupta, founder of Kaira Kollection, for an inspiring conversation on building a culture rooted fashion brand while balancing a tech career and family life.
Neetika shares how her daughter Kaira inspired the brand name and vision modern, stylish, and deeply connected to South Asian roots. From starting as a multi-designer store to pivoting to original designs, made-to-order pieces, and block-print fusion wear, this episode is full of real talk on small business challenges, production in India, customer expectations, tariffs, and community building.
Whether you're a fashion lover, aspiring designer, or South Asian entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights and beautiful fusion fashion inspiration.
👗 What You'll Learn:
Guest Details:
Neetika Gupta is the founder of Kaira Kollection, a Chicago based South Asian fusion fashion brand. A tech professional by day, she co-created the brand with her Masi in India. Her designs focus on modern silhouettes with traditional Indian crafts like block printing, perfect for everyday wear, vacations, and special occasions.
📌 Timestamps:
🔗 Shop Kaira Kollection:
Website: https://kairakollection.com/
Follow Neetika & Kaira Kollection:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kairakollection.in/
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
#SouthAsianFashion #KairaKollection #FusionWear #IndianFashionDesigner #BlockPrintFashion #DesiFashion #CultureLedFashion #SouthAsianSuccess #WomenInBusiness #SmallBusinessStory #DesiEntrepreneur #MadeToOrderFashion #ChicagoFashion #IndianBlockPrint #ModernIndianWear #NeetikaGupta #ParulBhandari
AI is everywhere but are companies actually adopting it effectively, or just chasing the hype and risking costly mistakes?
In this special AAPINH Heritage Month episode of South Asian Success, host Parul Bhandari brings together an incredible panel of South Asian tech leaders for a raw, practical, and insightful conversation on AI in 2026.
Featuring:
They dive deep into the real challenges: biggest barriers to adoption, hidden risks (hallucinations, legal issues, privacy, competitive blind spots), new roles emerging (AI governance, AI operators, Go-to-Market Engineers), practical ways to move from skeptic to power user, and leadership lessons on driving meaningful change from the top down.
Whether you’re a founder building AI tools, an executive trying to scale adoption, or a professional navigating the AI shift in your role this episode gives you clarity, real-world strategies, and inspiration from leaders who are living and breathing AI every single day.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & AAPINH Heritage Month Special
01:24 – Panel Introductions & Morning Routines (Chai vs Coffee)
04:04 – Biggest Barriers to AI Adoption in Companies
09:27 – Practical Steps: From Skeptic to Confident AI User
12:01 – New Roles & Skill Sets Emerging in the AI Era
18:56 – Risks of Building Your Own AI Tools vs Using Purpose-Built Solutions
23:18 – Organizational Trends & How Executives Are Driving AI Engagement
27:41 – Internal AI Adoption Examples, Workshops & Talent Shows
39:57 – Final Leadership Lessons & Actionable Advice for 2026
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This podcast is sponsored by CustomerXSuccess, a consultancy which helps drive Company Growth through a focus on Customer Success. Follow along at www.customerxsuccess.com
#AIinTech #AIAdoption #AAPINH #SouthAsianSuccess #AILeadership #TechLeadership #AI2026 #AIPanel #SouthAsianTech #LeadershipLessons #AIGovernance #AIForBusiness #WomenInAI #LeadershipLessons #HeritageMonth #AIRisks #AILeadership
From the publisher's feed
South Asian Success is a podcast celebrating the stories, experiences, and journeys of South Asian professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders, and changemakers who are building meaningful…
Hosted by Parul L. Bhandari, author, speaker, and experience consultant, the podcast explores career growth, entrepreneurship, leadership, identity, culture, inclusion, community, and the experiences that shape South Asian success.
@Parul Bhandari Author
Through honest conversations with inspiring professionals, founders, creatives, and thought leaders, South Asian Success highlights diverse perspectives and the lessons behind building successful and fulfilling lives while staying connected to culture and community.
Our goal is to create a space where South Asian voices, experiences, and ideas are heard, shared, and celebrated while exploring how we can learn from one another and create opportunities for collective growth.
Whether you're interested in South Asian entrepreneurship, career development, leadership, personal growth, business, diversity and inclusion, or inspiring real-world stories, South Asian Success brings you conversations designed to educate, inspire, and empower.
Parul L. Bhandari is an Author and Speaker, and CEO of CustomerXSuccess you can find out more about her at www.parullbhandari.com
Follow South Asian Success for conversations with professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders making an impact across communities and industries.
Follow South Asian Success and join the conversation:
YouTube: @South_Asian_Success
Instagram: @southasiansuccess
TikTok: @southasiansuccess
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