Meet Veena Rao

We recently connected with Veena Rao and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Veena, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I am a late bloomer. I spent most of my life hiding behind shadows, letting my silence define me. But sometimes, the curveballs life throws at you can have some unexpected rewards. My life’s journey of launching a newspaper with zero funds and very little expertise, and later writing an ‘own voice’ novel, helped me grow not just professionally, but also as a person. It forced me out of the comfort of the shadows and helped me find my voice. Unfortunately, I waited until I was close to 50 to feel comfortable in my imperfections; and to decide that what others thought of me was not as important as what I thought of myself. In fact, I believe that your self-confidence and self-esteem are projected onto others and shape their opinions of you.
I attribute my transformation from a shy, vulnerable woman to who I am today to my close family and dear friends who believed in my strengths much before I believed in them myself.
I do not take how I feel about myself for granted. Confidence takes constant work. It involves self-pep-talks, facing fears constantly, practicing self-care, and building on one’s strengths and talents. It is also important to surround yourself with people who exude positive energy and uplift you.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Seventeen years ago, I acted on a whim and launched a free newspaper to serve the Indian American communities of Georgia. No other woman had done it before me. It wasn’t always the glamorous mission I thought it would be when I started out in 2006. But after a very challenging but rewarding 17 years, we are still standing and growing every year. We closed our print operations in 2021 to focus on our digital channels. Today, NRIPulse.com is the go-to Indian American news source in the Southern US, and around the country. We are a small team of enthusiastic women who have taken on the enormous responsibility of informing, educating, and fostering community engagement with objectivity and free of bias.

I am equally excited about my debut novel, Purple Lotus, which came out in the fall of 2020. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, my novel is about a young immigrant from India who is trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage, and who must find the courage to stand up for herself and rise above adversities. It took me ten years to find a publisher for my book because when I started pitching it, the publishing industry was not very open to diverse, ‘own voice’ stories. Finally, in 2019, Purple Lotus won a manuscript contest that included a book deal. Now that the book is out, it has resonated with readers and won several awards including the American Fiction Award and the Georgia Author of the Year (as a finalist).
My next novel, which is a work in progress, is set in rural north Georgia, and I am excited about taking it to readers in the near future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe passion is that spark that sees you through the toughest of challenges. Without it, a project would just be a job to be completed. If you love what you do, you’ll give it your all. That is 50 percent of success.

Perseverance helps you stay strong during all the curveballs that are inevitable in business (and the business of writing), just as they are in life. Don’t give up. Believe that you can and you will.

Think outside the box. Be willing to adapt and learn. Keep up with technology. It is very important to constantly evolve and reinvent yourself in order to thrive in dynamic environments. Staying stagnant can hinder progress and success.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
At NRI Pulse, we are always looking for partners, writers, sponsors, and collaborators. I can be reached via email at editor@nripulse.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sumi’s photography

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