Pooja Shah shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Pooja, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I think procrastination, or taking one’s time to respond to a task or action is actually an asset. There are many times where I put off doing something (that is not urgent) because I want time to think through it before providing a response.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Pooja Shah and I am an attorney and a freelance journalist. I am originally from NYC but have lived in London for the last three years with my husband and my 10 month son. I started freelancing during Covid and have really loved exploring the depth of my writing and learning how to report better.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I was born in India and came to New York when I was 2. English was not my first language, and I remember enrolling in ESL (English as Second Language) courses when I was in kindergarten. My mom would always encourage me to read and I often spent afternoons in the library because it was a free and money was tight. I distinctly remember developing a passion for books and reading which I told my fourth grade teacher Ms. Vallerugo of PS 199. She was the one who saw the potential in my writing and would give me essay prompts to develop the skill. She gave me great feedback, but more importantly, she encouraged me. Not once did she make me feel that an immigrant who just learned the language could not excel in its written form.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
We all go through stages in our lives where suffering or pain is inevitable. Suffering taught me how resilient I am. Going through some dark times post-college, I don’t think I realized how strong I was until I was faced with a situation that really tested me. To anyone who is going through a difficult time, just remember that you will get through it. Make that your entire mindset.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I come from a South Asian background and hospitality is something we are ingrained with since we are young. In my household, whenever you have a guest over, you do everything to accommodate them. In fact, there’s even a Gujarati saying “mehman bhagwan hain” which translates to “guest is God.” As a result, I value the traditional sentiment that expresses the idea of treating guests with utmost respect, honor, and hospitality, as if they were a divine presence. I also want to teach my son to be the same because it’s important to teach this value from a young age.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Stressing. As a Type A person, I try to plan and dictate my life and my future and often that is associated with a lot of stress. On a deep level, I know that stressing will not pay off in the next decade, but in fact, be a flaw. I’m definitely learning better ways to manage my stress.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.forbes.com/sites/poojashah/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poojashah1130/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poojasmistry/
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