A graduate with a Masters in Global Business & Govt from Vic University, in Wellington, Aishwarya Taukari is a first generation graduate, office worker in her family.
Milestones
Still just scratching the surface. Don’t think promotions, client wins, awards etc entice me anymore although I have been lucky to have some share. Some milestones maybe:
- In Mumbai, after I finished Xaviers I had the rare opportunity to work directly with, and sometimes assist, the founder of India’s largest PR agency, Mr. Bahal. Watching him work, a man in his 60s with the energy of someone in their 20s, was inspiring.
- I also got to observe some of India’s top tech CEOs as they launched, built, and scaled complex tech products with great efficiency.
- But the biggest milestone came when I quit my first job, went to Auroville, and began freelancing out of Goa. It was all accidental. I started working with young founders who were solving real socio-economic challenges like healthcare access and poverty.
- In Goa, I worked four days a week, earned twice as much as I did in a full-time job, and eventually made the move to New Zealand.
- That same period also gave me the chance to spend meaningful time with my ageing parents. This was one of the most important milestones of my life. Being able to fund their holidays and make them happy means a lot.
How is life in NZ and what have you learnt?
Very good, surprisingly. I didn’t think I’d come to like it this much. I’m not romanticising it. Of course, some days are hard as an immigrant. Your family is far away, and the culture can feel alien, isolating even. But what I really appreciate here is the access to green spaces. I live in Wellington, the capital, which in my opinion is one of the most walkable cities in the world. What I enjoy most about Kiwis is how active and outdoorsy they are. They’re adventurous, fit, and deeply connected to nature. It rubs off on you.
As a young person, that makes a huge difference. So many of us are glued to screens, and anxiety levels are through the roof. I truly believe a lot of it can be eased by just being outside. I think kiwis themselves take their own country for granted. They are so lucky. I’d rather spend an hour running than take pills to calm my nerves, though I have nothing against the latter. I just think governments around the world need to do more for our generation.
Challenges
Lack of self-belief and confidence. I think quieting inner voices is the hardest. Where I come from, many don’t make it out from the same ends. Teen pregnancy, early marriage, alcohol addiction, etc., were the norm growing up. Access to opportunities as a girl was even harder.
Although my family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers always formed a protective layer around me, you constantly fear letting yourself and loved ones down simply because you fought so hard to get out. The kind of pressures you grow up with are very different.
Barring that, I believe as a young, ambitious woman, navigating career and personal relationships is also complex these days. Being an ambitious man is a norm, whereas the same energy can be seen as intimidating, selfish, or “too much” when it comes from a woman. You’re constantly balancing how much space to take up, in the boardroom and the living room. Assertiveness gets mislabelled as arrogance. Priorities are questioned. And the ambition that should be celebrated is too often met with silence, suspicion, or unsolicited advice.
Think over the years I’ve just learned to laugh it off. Always look for the light at the end of the tunnel. And not pay much heed to naysayers and just continue with work as usual, irrespective of the ups and downs.
Movement and action help me far more than overthinking ever has. I’ve realised clarity often comes after doing, not before. Sitting still breeds doubt, but taking that next small step, even in chaos, keeps me grounded. Over the years, I’ve learned to laugh, move, adapt, not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary.
Read the full story that first appeared in Global Indian here:
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