What does one do when they feel uninspired? What do you do when monotony consumes life to such an extent that every little creative neuron you have in your brain decides to take a holiday?
Well if you are anything like me, You give yourself time to have a mild anxiety attack and freak out. After I am done being irrational I gather myself and get a plan together.
I have been feeling a lack of inspiration and direction in life for a while. So before things got worse I decided to go out and seek it and like they say “Dhoondne se to bhagwan bhi milta hai”. So once I was able to determine the kind of Inspiration I was seeking, my path became clear.
Coming to a new country you know nothing about and trying to navigate the unfamiliar way of life on my own had put me to task and I was often feeling the need to find myself a mentor or guide. But in a country where people don’t have time for themselves, where was I to find this guidance. As it isn’t just about being a migrant, It’s also about being a woman and an ambitious one at that.
That is when it hit me, I don’t need just one. I can have many. 🙂
I have always been someone who has found motivation and learning in someone else’s struggles. So I decided to also search for motivation in other people’s success. I also wanted to explore more relatable stories. Success stories of everyday women that I could personally talk to and learn from.
In my aspiration, I came across some brilliant, beautiful and extraordinary women. Women who are proof that you can have it all and on your own terms. Women who came into an unfamiliar environment and culture and made it their own and kicked ass in the process.
Keep reading to meet one such brilliant woman who I chanced upon and I am ever so glad that I did.
The first time I met Maneesha as a competitor in a beauty pageant, the thought that crossed my mind was “Damn! this girl is pretty as hell and fit and stylish” (She won the title of “Ms Style Icon” so I guess I was right), I also noticed she did not talk much. Now If I did not know any better I would dismiss her as standoffish or arrogant in the first go but life has taught me that silent people have the loudest of minds and this could not be more true for her.
She turned out to be a pint-size fire cracker who looks nothing close to her age. From getting up at 4:00 AM in the morning to train to running her own law firm, a content management business and being an artist. She could outlast the energizer bunny any day.
So if you have been able to steal your gaze away from that beautiful face. Keep Reading to find out a little more about what makes Maneesha tick, in her own words.
DP: Tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
MP: I’m Maneesha Prakash owner and, Principal Solicitor at Lexology Lawyers. I am also the founder and Director of Aashray, a non-profit organization that provides an information hub for women of Indian origin affected by domestic violence. I am a Nationally Accredited Mediator. Outside of law, I am the founder and Creative Director of Wordology Inc, a content creation firm for businesses. My hobbies include photography and art, and I am represented by RAW Artists Australia. I am deeply passionate about issues affecting women of colour.
DP: What does International women’s day mean to you?
MP: International Women Day is a day to celebrate how far we’ve come, and it also provides an opportunity to reflect on how far we still must go.
DP: What do you miss most about home/India?
MP: I think what I miss most about home is the sense of community and belonging, of being surrounded by people who look like me, and being in a place where I am not “exotic” or “different” or the “other”.
DP: As a woman in Business, what has been your biggest struggle?
MP: Being taken seriously. I think when people see a woman, semi attractive and young-looking, they automatically assume there is no substance there. The amount of times people express surprise at my profession and position within my firm is ridiculous, as if mascara glues my eyes shut so I can’t read case files. There’s also that widespread bias that women don’t have the head for business that men do and add to that the fact that I’m a woman of colour – the struggles can be many and varied.
DP: What are your key learnings as a Business women?
MP: Key learnings revolve around personal growth, I learnt that I need to believe in myself first, and chase dreams that no one else sees or understands but me. I learnt that standing up for myself and my clients is important, and that I could use the negative assumptions about me to my advantage. I learnt if they underestimate you, they never see you coming.
DP: As a woman in Business, have you had your “I made it” moment yet? If not, what do you think will make you feel that way?
MP: I can’t honestly say I have. I can’t possibly feel that way when there is so much work to be done. My sisters still struggle to have their voices heard, still struggle with violence. How can I consider myself a success when so many women still suffer?
I think that regardless of how much personal business success I may have, while the situation is what it is, I cannot in good conscience consider myself a success.
DP: Who is your idol and why?
MP: Definitely my parents. To come to a new country and restart a whole life, with a family and no support network seems like the hardest thing to do. And to leave their friends, family and support networks to move to a place where they will never truly be seen as belonging would have been extremely challenging. I am externally grateful for the sacrifices they made for our futures.
DP: Tell us of a time when you have faced failure. How did you cope and what kept you going?
MP: I fail continuously. You can’t grow without it. But I know that failure is not fatal and that every time I fall, it is an opportunity for me to rise up stronger.
DP: Apart from work, what keeps you busy?
MP: I try to engage in community service. I use creative outlets as a break from work, such as photography and art.
DP: Define a great leader—what are some traits you think great leaders have?
MP: Great leaders are the ones in the trenches as their employees. The ones who lead by example and really know their people. I think to be an effective leader, you cannot get caught up in the hierarchy of titles, and you should know what each of the people you oversee does.
The Desi Pardesi 