Most women—especially brown women—face countless societal expectations about marriage, children, and success, often feeling they’re running against a ticking clock. Rashmi Gill, a gifted visual storyteller and entrepreneur, reveals how she defied the odds to craft a life filled with purpose, authenticity, and resilience—long after societal pressures sought to dictate her path.From her early days in London, dreaming of becoming a lawyer, to her journey into photography, Rashmi shares raw, honest insights into overcoming self-doubt, valuing her craft, and building a thriving business in New York City. You’ll discover how she navigated the challenges of feeling unseen as a creative, the importance of valuing oneself, and the pivotal mentor moments that shifted her mindset from hobby to professional success.In this episode, we break down:

• The transformative power of self-worth and how to price your skills confidently
• Why societal expectations around marriage and motherhood can create internal conflict, and how Rashmi processed her own journey
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs: ask for help, delegate, and prioritize authenticity over perfection paralysis
• Building a community and ‘village’ in a new city when family isn’t nearby
• How storytelling through photography can help you craft a compelling personal brand that’s uniquely yours

You’ll also hear about Rashmi’s powerful stories of grief, motherhood, and finding her voice after years of societal pressure. Her wisdom offers hope and permission: it’s never too late to redefine success, to honor your truth, and to embrace your own timing in life.Whether you’re an aspiring creative, a busy entrepreneur, or someone questioning societal expectations, this episode equips you to live life on your terms—boldly, authentically, unapologetically. Rashmi’s journey shows that the most remarkable stories are ones you write yourself—and they start with believing in your own worth.Perfect for anyone feeling the weight of external pressures or seeking inspiration to trust their own clock, this conversation is your reminder: your best chapter is still ahead. Hit play and get inspired to own your story.

Follow Rashmi Here: https://www.instagram.com/rashmigillphotography/

Follow Dhara Here:

https://www.instagram.com/itsdharasingh/

In this Episode Dhara Interviews Stephanie Cartin, a serial entrepreneur, community builder, podcast host, angel investor, and your biggest business cheerleader. She co-founded Entreprenista, a media and membership platform reaching millions of women entrepreneurs each month through our content, business resources, and a thriving membership community of 2,500+ founders inside the Entreprenista League.

After leaving her corporate job in 2012 to launch Socialfly (acquired in 2024), she discovered my true passion: creating spaces where women can connect, collaborate, and grow together. This conversation touches on storytelling in all forms, a no-plan B scenario where Stephanie knew she would succeed at all costs, and an overall honest conversation.

Follow Stephanie and learn about Entreprenistas:

https://www.instagram.com/stephjillcartin/

https://www.entreprenista.com/

Follow Dhara Singh (also a member of Entreprenistas) and learn about Stories to Sales:

Get in touch for future podcast episodes/sponsorships: [email protected]

Learn about Stories to Sales:

https://www.storybydhara.com/workwithme

The podcast conversation covers the introduction and specialized therapy approach, the passion for specialized work and early career, the influence of social media on eating disorders, client-centered approach and empowerment, differentiation in practice and client support, and the root causes of eating disorders and recovery journey. The conversation delves into the importance of authentic storytelling and ethical marketing in the context of entrepreneurship and therapy. Rachel Evans shares her personal journey and the challenges she faced in sharing her story, emphasizing the impact of authenticity. The discussion also highlights the ethical considerations in marketing and the responsibility of entrepreneurs in sharing their stories.

IG for Rachel Evans: https://www.instagram.com/rachel.evans.phd/

https://eatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/

IG for host Dhara Singh:

https://www.instagram.com/itsdharasingh/

https://www.storybydhara.com/workwithme

Takeaways

• Specialized Therapy Approach
• Impact of Social Media Authentic storytelling
• Ethical marketing

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Specialized Therapy Approach
• 08:35 Influence of Social Media on Eating Disorders
• 15:46 Root Causes of Eating Disorders and Recovery Journey
• 27:18 Ethical Marketing and Responsibility

The conversation explores the themes of serendipity and the magic of unexpected encounters, as well as the journey of reinvention and self-discovery. It delves into the power of leaving room for magic in life and the process of evolving and discovering one's true self. The discussion highlights the significance of embracing change and the transformative nature of personal growth. The conversation delves into the themes of embracing change and authenticity, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself and adapting to life's transitions. Rochelle and Dhara share personal experiences and insights that emphasize the value of authenticity and the acceptance of change as a natural part of life.

Follow Rochelle Here: https://www.instagram.com/rochelle.gapere/

https://rochellegapere.com/

Follow Dhara:

https://www.instagram.com/itsdharasingh/

Let's work together:

https://www.storybydhara.com/workwithme

Takeaways

• Serendipity and leaving room for magic
• The power of reinvention and self-discovery Authenticity
• Embracing change

Chapters

• 00:00 The Power of Serendipity and Magic
• 32:46 Embracing Change and Authenticity

In this episode, Dhara and Harika discuss the challenges and triumphs of embracing a multi-passionate identity, pursuing multiple interests, and overcoming cultural conditioning. Harika shares her journey of balancing a corporate career, fashion modeling, and entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of aligning with one's passions and overcoming societal expectations. The conversation covers the themes of negotiating your worth, career pivots, navigating corporate life, effective negotiation strategies, and embracing a multi-passionate identity. The discussion delves into the importance of asking questions, analyzing risks in career pivots, and sharing experiences of navigating corporate life and negotiating salaries. Additionally, it emphasizes effective negotiation strategies and the significance of embracing a multi-passionate identity.

Takeaways

• Multi-passionate identity
• Pursuing multiple interests
• Overcoming cultural conditioning Negotiating Your Worth
• Multi-Passionate Identity

Chapters

• 00:00 Embracing Multi-Passionate Identity
• 11:41 Overcoming Cultural Conditioning
• 24:01 Negotiating Your Worth and Asking Questions
• 31:04 Navigating Corporate Life and Negotiating Salary
• 42:19 Embracing a Multi-Passionate Identity

Connect with Harika on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/hsabbineni/

Connect with Dhara on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/itsdharasingh/

Connect with Harika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harika-sabbineni/

Connect with Dhara on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharasingh/

Want to collaborate/sponsor an episode? [email protected]

Learn about Stories to Sales:

https://www.storybydhara.com/

Subscribe to all our inspiring episodes!

Pamela Valdez is a NJ-based content creator (60K+ followers), entrepreneur, and founder of Valdez Agency, a media company that blends digital media, community, and content to empower the next generation of creatives and professionals. 

Neha Shah, CEO of Diaspora Nutrition, a culture-rooted nutrition platform that's helped thousands of clients, shares her journey from personal struggles with gut health as an immigrant to creating a profitable nutrition empire that's helped immigrants across the globe. It’s a rallying cry to embrace your heritage, question mainstream advice, and redefine what healthy truly means for your unique body. Neha's story of turning her struggle into a profitable business will inspire you!

Connect with Neha on IG: https://www.instagram.com/diasporanutrition/

Connect with Neha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-shah-immigrant-nutrition-for-indian-diaspora/

Learn about Diaspora Nutrition:

https://diasporanutrition.com/

Connect with Dhara on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/itsdharasingh

Connect with Dhara on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharasingh/

Want to collaborate/sponsor an episode? [email protected]

Learn about Stories to Sales:

https://www.storybydhara.com/

Subscribe to all our inspiring episodes!

Our best 6-figure+ ideas find us. But we have to follow the nudges and push through life's challenges. I was a journalist at Yahoo Finance and a Master's student at Columbia Journalism School, but I craved something more. Through a serendipitous turn of events, here's what unfolded next. This podcast will share stories of highly successful individuals and how they turned life's lows into highs. #sales #business