I Ran Away at 21 to Build a Global Business Empire: Kaanti Suresh

Kaanti Suresh Shetty, President and CEO of Indus Synergy Partners, shares how she left home at 21 with a single suitcase and built a career bridging business between India and the United States. Kaanti talks about being born a girl in a town that asked "what will she achieve?", losing her father at six and turning that grief into drive, and why running away from home was the boldest move she ever made. She reframes self-doubt as useful ("doubting is good, because then you start working on how to get out of it"), leads with "faith over fear," and explains why empowering women is about presence, not charity. From a state-level hockey career in India to developing a Dallas commercial center that offers low-cost space to women entrepreneurs, Kaanti's story is about owning the room and rewriting the rule book.

Chapters:
0:00 The BS Kaanti had to break through: clarity
2:05 Born a girl in a town that asked "what will she achieve?"
6:41 How losing her father at six became her drive
14:38 Why running away from home at 21 was the boldest move
29:00 Why empowering women is not charity
43:58 Owning the room and rewriting the rule book
44:35 Faith over fear: advice for women who doubt themselves

Be Better Than Your BS is an original talk show from Zerlo Network, hosted by Risha Grant. Streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire — search: Zerlo Network.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

What's up, y'all? This is way better than your BS with which the growth of people's children. No fluff, no filters, just real women with real receipts. Talking leadership, life, pressure, purpose, and what it really costs to show up for. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or building something of your own. If you've ever felt too much for some rooms and not enough for others, pull up a chair. These conversations are for you. This is Zerlo Network, powered by people who make it possible. Life and business are about more than titles and wins. They're about how you show up and the culture you create around you. Sports taught me that early discipline, teamwork, and knowing how to pivot under pressure. And that's why I do this show. I'm Risha Grant, the People's Champ, and I am here to bring you real conversations with leaders, change makers, and everyday people who are shaping culture in powerful ways. From Dubai to Dallas, today's guest has been building impact across borders. She's a strategist, investor, and a change maker whose work proves that profit and purpose can coexist beautifully. As president and CEO of Indus Synergy Partners, Conti Suresh Shetty is creating bridges between India and the U.S., empowering women and leading community-driven development that uplifts both economies and hearts. But her story isn't just about business, it's about belief, belief in yourself, your purpose, and the power of creating something bigger than you. Today we're talking about how she built a global mindset, broke through barriers, and stayed grounded in compassion while driving success on a worldwide scale. This is Be Better Than Your BS. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you, Risha, for having me here. It's truly a pleasure. Yes, I'm ready to get into it. So, as you know, before we jump in, I start every conversation right here. Because let's be real, we all have BS. So, what was the BS that you had to break through to get to where you are today?

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Clarity. Clarity is the key to me. Um, there were several ideas, several thoughts, and I wanted to be a go-getter, be confident, and um, you know, make it big in the world. Because my childhood I had a few challenges, and there were in our country, you know, when it's a female child that's born, uh, especially in my town, they would say, Oh, it's a girl, you know, what will she achieve? Um, but my father uh said this girl is going to make us proud one day. And I grew with that um kind of um uh you know, the the bit of hatred that came from the women of the family. Yes. Uh but I then grew up to be like more of a boyish character, uh, you know, run all the elections and be in every sport. Uh that teaches you confidence, uh, belief. And then what I want to be, where do I want to go? And I believe that song, K Sarah, Sierra, whatever will be, will be. Yes. And that uh also um, you know, it brings about a statement there, as one word that's clarity. It evolved through the to as time passed, it evolved, and I got more, better clarity, worked through it, worked through the flaws, and my belief system I would say is clarity and the right mindset.

SPEAKER_04 3:11

And I love I love clarity because so many times we jump into things without having the clear understanding of why we're doing it, what we're doing it for, and who it's going to impact.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Absolutely, absolutely. I totally agree with that. And you rightly said, who is it going to impact with your uh decisions that you take? And it's not that I have not been through it. I have had uh, you know, um weird ideas and thoughts, and I've tried, um uh invested money, executed, uh, it has impacted a few people's lives and jobs. Yeah. Um and I am uh very um you know mindful of what I do next. Uh so every phase of your life is a lesson that you learn, and the lesson that you learn is your decisions should not uh you know uh hurt or tamper with their uh dreams as well, because they have dreams too. Sometimes they believe in you, they have faith in you. So uh to me uh it's about faith, it's about resilience, it's about how you impact people's lives and you know how you make them smile is up to you. And uh you're an instrument that God has sent, so make the best use of it. Right, right.

SPEAKER_04 4:23

And you said something that I find so interesting that I want to dive into a little bit. You said in my country, women, being a woman wasn't necessarily a good thing, and you grew up around the hate. How do you get your mindset to to think? And I know you had your dad who sounds amazing, but even with that, how do you get your mindset to to think something different when you are born into something that says that you aren't enough?

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Right. Um, that was a very good question. Um, I'm sure you'd have heard stories um that in the 1900s or earlier uh in those days, that uh women are considered to be as you know non-revenue generators. Yeah. But um they would have them aborted uh sometimes with uh without the permission of the woman who's conceived uh uh or after the child is born. So um the only reason that they feel was you know a woman is uh vulnerable, uh, she is exposed to risks, uh risks of being um you know into the uh the treacherous hands of the men sometimes, you know, who are very demanding, who can be abusive. And there are a lot of you know um domestic abuse stories that you hear from you know the several parts of India or Asia as such, and then even Africa for that matter said that. Um when I grew up with um when I heard stories of saying that I wasn't accepted when I was born, and uh it took a while for you know my f the the female members of my family to uh accept me. And um, so I grew up with that, you know, right from three to five. Unfortunately, I was good with my uh academics. Um being on a petite side, you know, sports was a challenge, but then I could be an athlete. I was a state-level hockey player. Um, cool. Yes, I was. Um, but then that also um I said, okay, fine. I had a boycott, and then I I did all the elections and I became the president of the um college that I was studying with. So the uh the the the stuff that I would do was more male-oriented. So they were like they would call me a tomboy. Yes, yes, yes. But my goal, unfortunately, I lost my dad when I was uh six years old in an accident. So that gave me um even more strength to make his dreams come true than what he expected for me to be. He said, never quit, be it homework or be it anything, never quit. When you start something, you you quit when you finish the work and when you feel proud that you have made that difference. So that one uh statement of what he told me when I was five years old, I still carry it with me even today. Yeah, and that's amazing.

SPEAKER_04 7:18

And I and you know, this sport, this this show has a sports theme to it. So when you said hockey, I'm like, now how how did sports play into your foundation for you?

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Right. Um uh back in those days when my uh you know when I would uh study in college, uh they would say you would get a federal job or a central government job back in India if you go via the sports quota. Okay. So um, and I always um saw sports as where you get, you know, a lot of limelight. Yeah, and uh I like to be, you know, in the midst of people. I'm more of a people person, I can have a conversation anywhere you go. Um so so that's why I took up um I took up hockey because um I tried basketball, volleyball, and I didn't fit the court uh because of my height. And then so I took up hockey, it wasn't easy, it was very tiring, and it was not that I got the prime position, um, I was a substitute.

SPEAKER_02 8:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Yeah. So there was a chance when we had intercollegiate matches that I had an opportunity to actually dribble that ball to the uh goal post, and then there was this um girl who was you know very tough from the other college who came and said, Hey B, just lead the ball. And that triggered the the boy in me and I said, Here you go, dribble, dribble, dribble, goal. And then that was when So you scored honor? Yes, yes. I did. Yes, and then and then and then at that moment I said even a substitute or a janitor can make the difference to your team. And I learned the lesson that one day is do not underestimate anything, anybody, or any idea. Execute it, try it, have clarity. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 9:12

I love it, y'all. Yes. You cannot call this woman out her name or she's gonna score on you. Take that away. So was there ever a moment that you doubted yourself? Oh, there were many times. And how did you push past that?

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Yes, but um also let me tell you, Risha, you know, doubt is not a negative um, you know, thought or character attribute per se. When you start doubting, you know, what I would do when I doubt is I have a uh notepad, I scribble down, I draw a roadmap, a mind map, and then I have a roadmap. And then in that roadmap, I have different branches. So where is my doubt actually coming from? Then branches on that. Okay, what can I do to clear those doubts? What are the resources that are evil that are available that I can reach out to? Who can help me with? And then if I achieve that and work on that doubt, how many of them can be impacted, how many of them can have uh you know value-driven purpose that I can include them with? Right.

SPEAKER_04 10:12

So you figure out where is this doubt coming from so that I can eliminate it or come up with a plan to eliminate the reason for the doubt. Because typically, if we spend the time thinking about it, we can pinpoint why we're feeling like this is not gonna work, or something to that again.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

So I would like to give this piece of advice that doubt is good. Okay, because then you're thinking of yourself. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 10:35

Yeah, I like that. I like that because you don't hear that doubt is good, it's always seen as negative. But that is a reframe. So I I love that.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Yes, yes, indeed.

SPEAKER_04 10:43

So, what mindset, and I think we've already kind of gotten into this, but carries you from Dubai to Dallas, because I can only imagine, you know, how different. I went to Dubai in 2023 and absolutely loved it. It was hot. I told you if I had one complaint, I was like, it is super hot. But what mindset, because I can only imagine the the culture, the the difference in cultures is is pretty big.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

It is indeed. Um, Dubai per se, when I was there in 1995, was only sand and then a few buildings here and there.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:15

I would love to um highlight and um the vision of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, is dream big, dream bold, dream as big as you want, because the sky is not the limit. He has transformed that sand dunes into the biggest, the boldest, the widest, the largest of everything in Dubai. Dubai is a destination place where everyone wants to be there because it's the epitome of luxury, is what people see. So I've seen Dubai transforming, and fortunately I was um honored to be on the committee along with uh the vision of his highness Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktu to be a senior assessor with him in his uh in his vision called um excellence of Dubai. So in though in that mode, you know, I've learned several attributes of what takes you to be to be big, to dream big.

SPEAKER_04 12:12

I want to get into that, but this is why I love this part of the conversation because it's the real behind the resume, right? But now, now that we know where your mindset came from, let's talk about what you did with it so we can get in. And I want to talk about Dune Buggy, and also so let's get into the play, the major moves and the risks that made the vision real. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio to name a few. Now, you've clearly made some bold moves, and what I love is that every one of them has purpose behind it. But success isn't just about the wins, it's also about what we learn and how we help others rise. And so I always say that personal culture is the vibe that you have when you bring in the room that you bring in the room and the impact that you leave behind. And it's the mix of how you see yourself and then how others experience you. So, who did you have to become from a personal culture standpoint to get where you are today?

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Right. Um, from being that humble Kanti, uh there were times that um, you know, because I grew up in uh the Indian Hindu culture, Hindu tradition, where women do not raise their voice versus the men. Women wouldn't smile, they wouldn't show their teeth when you know there are people around. So that's the environment that we come from. Well, the bold move was I did smile, I did show my teeth, and I was bold with my words, I was very loud with my voice, I was very vocal, because they said, Oh, women wouldn't achieve much as what men would do. This is a man's world. I respect that. But then women can also achieve what men can do within that thin line that they draw between the man and the women, which is respect, learn, yeah, you know, and empathy. So the more the one of the bold moves was um they said, Oh, Kanthi, you wouldn't achieve much your height, your I did achieve with my academics, I was a rank holder. Um finally I you know became a cost accountant. Then the uh opportunities in India weren't as good enough or alluring as much as you know uh the overseas would offer. Right. And then but my my household would not allow me to go and work outside because it's not a thing that the women in our household would go and work. It's the men who earn and the women would cook and serve them. Right. So I ran away from home.

SPEAKER_04 14:51

Wow. Now that is that is the risk of all time.

SPEAKER_01 14:55

Yeah, and I was just 21. I just took a suitcase, ran away from home, stayed as a paying guest in one of my friends' house, we moved to New Delhi and off to Dubai. They didn't know where I was for about five years, but there was an interview of mine that was published, and I was the retail manager of um a brand called Nine West, and that's how they got to know where I am. Okay. I remember Nine West. Yes. Used to shop there, yes. So that's one of the boldest moves I've taken uh to be where I am, and success does not come with you know the comforting words, as you know, grass on the other side of the fence always looks green. And um saying that working overseas was not at that easy because of the culture differences. Uh Dubai at that point of time was very strict with his culture, uh, with the way we dress, uh, with how women are being treated there. Uh there was a lot of uh shift, a mind shift that one had to uh you know adapt to that city. Yes. But then my job also required moving on with promotions, travel around the world, adapt different cultures. So success comes with a lot of resilience, patience, grace, and grit. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:11

And I would say that Dubai still is pretty strict about what women can wear because when we went over in 23, um, there was a lot about what we should wear, um, what was appropriate, what was inappropriate. Right. Now, when you ran away and your family found you, were they accepting, were they proud of what you had become?

SPEAKER_01 16:31

Uh not the men.

SPEAKER_04 16:33

Right.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

But the women were really proud that, you know, you're the first woman or the girl of this family, the legacy that has broken barriers.

SPEAKER_04 16:43

I love it. That's what it's about, breaking barriers. But the courage that it took. I just I commend you for the courage that it took. It says like something like that.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

The attributes that in your head is uh clarity, you know you have to do it, focus. So once you've been you're once you're in the fire, you have to be a go-getter. There's no looking back. So you have to pursue your dreams, and to pursue your dreams takes a lot of hurdles that when you have faith in God, yeah, and He's the only one that will hold your hand, when you stick with it, I believe it will be manifested.

SPEAKER_04 17:18

Well, I just can't imagine the level of fear of leaving behind everything that you've known, and then going out there and I mean, doing this global work that you're doing. So I mean that's that is amazing. So tell us what inspired you to create Indus Synergy Partners and bridge business between India and the US?

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Risha, this is such a very uh powerful question, and it's very close to my heart. I can write a book on that. And you should. But but um one of the factors that inspired me to start Indus Synergy Partners, um, you know, kudos goes to my brother as well, who's back in India. He's a senior at uh uh attorney and uh he also serves the the federal uh court of India. Uh so culture India, Dubai, United States, there's several, several, several Indians uh living in the United States. Um philanthropy is uh is a part of my life. It's not because I want the name or you know, whatever. Said that um I see that several Indian students, because I studied in UTA, I pursued um my majors uh in um real estate and finance with UT Arlington. There were several Indian students, so they had issues with visas. Some uh parents, you know, or senior citizens would travel down to the US to live with their children. Some of them were domestically abused. Some of the wives who got married would come and join their husbands, you know, but they the some of the husbands would abandon them. Where do they go? So there are several agencies where Indian communities and the council general uh counsellate office in Houston also helps um you know Indian citizens. But how much can they do? So I would several, you know, for example, this is very disturbing. One of the Indian students working in a gas station was shot. Boom. He had a nine-month-old child and a 21-year-old wife back in India.

SPEAKER_02 19:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

They depended on him for you know financial stability. Said that they didn't know what to do. The body was lying in the mark for about you know three, four days. With my resources and um contacts, I you know, uh got in touch with the right resources, got the detective uh working on that, helping them, connecting with the you know, family. We found what has to be done. The body was then transported to India, the rituals were done, they got the certificates, but then I was doing it uh as you know a volunteer. Said that they were married wealthy people as well, that I would volunteer to do it. But then what I realized here was now this has to come from you know the the wealthy people, you know, pay, and then that percentage, a percentage of that would go to those people who need the funds or who need uh real help so I can be that contact. Okay. When I say I, you know, so the my my brother's on the legal side, so you know he can help there, he can use his expertise, and I can use my contacts to help them. And then it's not only on that side, you know, where we also take businesses from not only India but other parts of the world, and you know, have America and America's business to you know to India or other parts of the world. What a beautiful collaboration that is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 20:34

Yes, for sure. So you are helping people build their businesses here, there, wherever, wherever they should be. Okay. And pride. Okay. Yes. I love that you said that. Now your Dallas commercial development is rooted in community. So why was that project so personal for you?

SPEAKER_01 20:51

Right. Um, like I said, we all speak about women empowerment, don't we? Women empowerment, woman empowerment, women empowerment. What are we doing about it?

SPEAKER_00 20:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

Um so um there was this uh piece of land that my husband gifted it to me for my birthday. So he said, What do you want to do out of it? That is a hell of a gift.

SPEAKER_04 21:10

That is a great gift. I'm sorry, I had like that's that is your husband knows how to give gifts. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Let me say I'm blessed. Yes. Uh but then, you know, why don't I share that blessing, right? Yeah. Yeah. It's it's beautiful because when you share blessings, blessings multiply. When you bring a smile on your face, if I had to bring a smile on your face, then I would have many people smiling at me with you know respect and uh expectations of you know they I could make a difference to their lives. Having said that, the shopping center, the business person in my husband said, Oh, let's start a hotel, let's start uh condom condominiums or uh, you know, single family homes, and I was like, No, no, no. Then I said, Why don't we start something that can help single women you know start their businesses? You know, they have um no place to start. Businesses because the rents are higher. So let's give them an opportunity. So I spoke with the councilwoman, the commissioner at that point of time for District 8, and she was very, very instrumental in helping me perceive that dream. The Mayor Pro Tem at that point of time, Mr. Atkins, was very, very proud when I explained to him that this is my vision to help single women, you know, have a you know a piece of um space in that uh shopping center that I'm coming up with so they can build their dreams. Yes. They can believe in what the dreams will manifest.

SPEAKER_04 22:35

Somewhat of an incubator program?

SPEAKER_01 22:36

Uh it is not a program. So, you know, there's a shopping center. Okay. For example, they are florists or they are nail artists or they are, you know, a daycare. Okay. Uh, you know, that community needs a clinic. So why don't I encourage women entrepreneurs to be there who really need the space and I don't charge them that high lease amount and can be nominal, but then they can make their living, they can take care of their parents or children, and then also in addition to that, um I also plan to start financial literacy programs and collaborate with other agencies to work with me on that program to make that community a better place to live in.

SPEAKER_04 23:14

Okay, this is great. This is great. We are going to be right back. So you've clearly made the bold moves, and what I love is that every one of them was about purpose. It is. Yeah, it's so important. You've clearly made some bold moves, and what I love is that every one of them has to do with purpose. So now let's take it to the post-game. This is where we're gonna reflect, slow it down a little bit, and really provide some practical tips for people, women who want to go into business and be entrepreneurs. We'll be right back. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and IHER Radio to name a few. So after all the milestones and accolades, how do you personally define success today?

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Success is again all about um patience.

SPEAKER_04 24:25

Patience, okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:26

Patience, yeah. Um and the second is I would stress every time I speak is clarity. When you're clarity when you have the clear picture in your mind what I want to be, then you have a plan. When you have a plan, then you have focus. When you have focus, then you have execution. So you have a mind map and a roadmap, and then where you how you execute it, how best you use your resources, and the key is communication. How clear are you with your communications and what you speak, what you want, what you ask. If you don't ask, you don't get. When babies cry, they get their milk.

SPEAKER_04 25:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:04

Yes. So that's where you have to be loud, you have to be vocal, but you have to stand positive. And every statement you make, where I try always is, you know, never make a statement which I say, oh, I cannot do it. But I would say I can make it happen, however, I would need XYZ. Yeah. It can be a twist of words, but I believe in manifesting. So the more positive you stand with your statements, the more manifestation will work in your favor. But Kandi, let's go back to patience. What do you say success is about patience? Patience, like I said, is you know a big context that we can discuss on. But however, if I had to make a long uh explanation, a shorter version, patience is how you learn to observe than speaking. In a boardroom, you know, the intelligent person would listen to everybody who speaks in that boardroom. Everybody would talk, talk, talk, talk. He would listen and then he would take that decision with the excerpts where he gathers from what everybody spit. Some of them would be, you know, 100% not worth it, some of them would be 90% worth it, but then he has his points. So he wasn't, you know, pouring in a lot of energy. But his patience are to listen to them, to observe them. And he's done his due diligence, for example. You know, all are the attributes that can that that comes to the equation of patience.

SPEAKER_04 26:27

Well, see, and when I think about patience with success, um, I I love your version of it because for me it's like you almost don't have a choice. Like you want to hurry this thing up, and you you're trying, you're doing all that you can do, but it happens when it's supposed to happen. And me really figuring out that all the things that I had done up until that time got me ready for that space that I was supposed to be in. And I didn't really handle the patience part of it well because of course it's like, well, I've got to get this done because this affects my my finances, which affects how I take care of myself and um anybody else that's that is dependent on me. Yes. So it seems like it seems for like patience when it comes to entrepreneurship is forced. But you're saying, no, it's it it may be, but at the same time, if you're patient, right? You're bad.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

I would I would say, you know, don't be so patient that you get cold.

SPEAKER_04 27:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:20

But you know, you have to be, you know, you know, your due diligence. I mean, when I say patience, have resilience, have grace, have grit. You know, sometimes, you know, patience um is also to deal with the temperament of different people. Sometimes, you know, you have people banging your desk, you know, you don't have to react. Because when you react, then it becomes worse.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 27:41

Patience is, you know, when you have um, you know, people standing against you, you know, you don't have to jump into that, you know, puddle. Right. You know, because they say when you throw a stone in the pond, there will be ripples.

SPEAKER_02 27:54

Right.

SPEAKER_01 27:55

So to deal with those ripples, it will take time and energy. So why do you have to waste your time and energy in dealing with what is not required and you know, deal with what is required? So invest your energy in what is what is needed to be done.

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

So that also patience goes to focus, focus goes to execution, execution goes to I love you have you have your like it is. No, I wouldn't say that I was born, you know, patience and you know, all the grace you get. I was a go-getter. Yeah, you know, I had no patience. But then the wounds that I, you know, the the time it took to heal the wounds without patience that I've done things on, it takes a while. Yeah. And sometimes it lives with you, you know? Yeah, for sure. Yes, so most times I think all of them. So there's a saying, once bitten, twice shy. So it's best to have patience with due diligence, and you have the strategy that you work towards too, success is the key. That's it. Sustaining that success is another story.

SPEAKER_04 28:53

Okay. So you said that empowered women empower economies. What does that look like in in real action?

SPEAKER_01 29:00

Uh, see, for me, empowering women is not charity. Many of them take it as, oh, I have donated so and so and so. Yes. How much have you been there to hear their story? So time is wealth and time is money. So that is real charity, I would say. So when you sit with that XYZ, or say woman for that matter, she has an ex issue, do you have the patience to really listen to her? Are you still looking at your watch or scrolling and then yeah, I keep talking? I'm just gonna throw you this check. What that woman at that point of time would need is, you know, your eye contact, uh, your uh validation that you're there for her, right? And that hope that she's come with, spending her time, hoping that you know you would come up with a solution. And the solution that I may have is not only wealth, it's not about donation, it's not about funds, it's also the resources that I can connect her to make her issue you know resolved. And then you know there's a permanent solution to the problem she has. For example, a single mother, she may not have you know a job and she needs to take care of her parents, her children. It's just not you throw a you know, a thousand dollar donation on her, help her get a job. Right. I have the resources, and those resources I do it with my networking. God bless. So I believe strongly that I am the channel and I am the instrument that God has sent me to this world with a purpose to serve. Yeah, and that service has no value.

SPEAKER_00 30:30

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 30:30

Yes. To me, that is okay. Now, when this woman gets empowered, she's working, she's escalating the economy by contributing to the growth of the economy. Let's say that.

SPEAKER_04 30:41

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

So woman is power.

SPEAKER_04 30:43

Yes, yes, truly. And I love the explanation for that. So there's anyone dreaming of entrepreneurship, and many are. What's that first real step look like?

SPEAKER_01 30:54

I would still emphasize clarity, clarity, clarity, clarity. Yes. You have several ideas, you know. My sister always keeps saying, many of them come with ideas, you know, she's an investor. Uh so people come with, you know, the big oh, I have this dream. Fine, you know, but do you have the resources? Money is not everything. Do you have the resources to get it done? Do you have the context to get it done? I would encourage women to join uh agencies. Uh there are several uh women empowerment groups, uh, you know, grants that they would also get. Many of them don't even know that you know the the cities or the state give you grants. So that's where where I am looking at having programs to uh educate women uh or men maybe, you know, that there are several agencies that give you grants, financial literacy.

SPEAKER_00 31:47

Right.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

So if you want to start a business of your own, do your homework.

SPEAKER_04 31:52

Yes. And come with that clear plan because if you're talking to an investor, they want to understand what is what is this product or service and how are we going to win with it. Right.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

Sometimes you may not even need an investor because the city can help you, the state can help you.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

Yeah. It's it's all about how you how well you execute those ideas. Because when you have a clear picture in front of you, then it's easy to do the road to success.

SPEAKER_04 32:16

So let's talk for a second about international business for people that are interested in that. Because I've always thought it was just such a great concept, but it also seemed very hard to do, right? International business. If I wanted to start one, what would be oh, my step be there, my first step?

SPEAKER_01 32:33

Uh when you when you when you look at um you know exploring international businesses, my first advice would be understand the culture of that country. Uh the do's and don'ts. For example, uh, my sister was planning to launch her skin product uh in Japan. Uh however, they wanted her to redesign the logo in the Japanese language. Interesting. Yes. Okay. So she did her due diligence. Yeah. So she did not go and you know invest first and then you know, once bit and twice shy. So that's where when I would encourage every person who per wants to pursue international business to do their due diligence, uh the do's and don'ts of the government rules, the compliances. You know, they have state compliance, they have federal compliances.

SPEAKER_00 33:19

Right.

SPEAKER_01 33:20

And um, you know, what it takes to do the tax uh payments that needs to be done, uh, trademarks, uh IP, uh, you know, uh the IP things that needs to be done as well, several several things. So can uh also contact an attorney, and that's where Indusynergy partners serving.

SPEAKER_04 33:37

And industry can handle that. Yes. So what is one failure or tough moment that ended up being the best teacher in your journey?

SPEAKER_01 33:44

One of them was trust. Okay. In what way? Trust, um, you know, I'm I'm a very emotional person. I try to, you know, show myself as one of the tough cookies, but um, you know, I'm like a coconut, you know.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:57

Soft from the inside, but very, you know, my features are very uh tough looking. Said that um there was a company that I uh went out with, uh, they were veterans, so my thought in my head was, oh, they're veterans, you know, they've served the country, you know, they will never cheat. So out of emotion, I got this collaboration between India and United States, the businesses, and I was like, Oh, this isn't my city, so the first company to go to India and bring Indian businesses here, and I'm doing this and that, and you know, their veterans did everything. I did a lot of investment too. Yeah, finally, the person you know did not go as per you know the rules and the code of conduct of conducting businesses. Um, I had to have my attorney at that point of time, and my husband had to come step in, and then you know, it was a traumatic moment. So I realized, you know, what happened to my trust? So, you know, a mix of emotion and trust is is is sometimes can, you know, yeah, um it can you know spoil the business conducts. Right. So, in the best interest of both the parties, I would say do your due diligence in business. Right, integrity trust is required, but yes, due diligence is a must.

SPEAKER_04 35:12

Yes, I think it is in any business. You have to you have to figure that stuff out because it will come back to bite you in some way. Yes. And finally, how do you stay better than your BS as you continue growing, leading, and giving back? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

I see every day as an evolvement of myself, my personality. Every day I sit down before I start my day. I I look at healing myself, forgiving, let go. Uh, it's not that I don't have any anger or temper issues, but I have vengeance, you know, there are bad qualities as well. We all get it, yes. Yes. But what I think uh when I wake up is you know, gratitude. You know, God has still given me those five senses. Right. So why don't I make the best use of it? What difference can I make to make at least one person smile and make a difference in their life? Got it and make that impact, yes.

SPEAKER_04 36:09

I love that. And you've given us the strategy, the mindset, and the mission, and what stands out is that everything you do from business to community, again, is it's really about purpose for you.

SPEAKER_01 36:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 36:20

And so I think um you can actually create the life you want by being purposeful and helping others. So we will be right.

SPEAKER_01 36:30

You know, I I'm sorry to interrupt, but I would want to add, uh there is an exercise in yoga, you know, to get all that negativity out of your system, that hatred, that revenge, you know, all of that. In India, we you know, we have an exercise, you know, especially the older people, they you know, get in the park, they get together, and then they laugh out loud. They really laugh out loud.

SPEAKER_04 36:52

I saw that on one of my favorite reality shows just last week. They laugh out loud.

SPEAKER_01 36:58

Yeah. So, you know, the hormones and they live in India, and then you walk out with pride.

SPEAKER_04 37:05

They had an American woman on there just laughing for no reason, and she's like, Why am I doing this? So I just saw that. We will be right back with the lightning round. Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fire, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio to name a few. So, here we go. Quick fire. Want to get to know you a little bit better? I'm ready. All right, one word that describes your leadership style. People-driven. People driven. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

Coffee, chai, tea, something stronger. Uh coffee in the morning and chai, the Indian masala chai in the afternoons.

SPEAKER_04 37:51

I love chai so much. What is your go-to mantra when things get hard? Faith over fear? That's it. What book changed the way you think about business or life?

SPEAKER_01 38:03

Uh there are two books, rather. The Alchemist, uh, which also teaches you that gratitude is very important. And then um the uh law of the universe, manifestation. The law of the universe. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 38:15

What is your superpower in business? I think it's Rhonda Brown, sorry.

SPEAKER_01 38:20

Oh, say that again? Dr. Ronda Brown?

SPEAKER_04 38:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 38:22

I think it's a good one. Dr. Rhonda Brown. Okay. Uh, your superpower. What's your superpower in business? Superpower in business is uh be proud of yourself. And uh, you know, uh dignity, pride is what I would say. Is there one thing that you do every day to center yourself? When I feel lost, I sit there and I thank God. I thank God for that moment that I'm still alive, uh, the wisdom that I still have, and then I can do better. It takes me about you know half an hour to half a day to get back, but gratitude is what takes me to my other level.

SPEAKER_04 39:00

So just being able to sit with it.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

Yes, yes, practice gratitude. It makes a huge difference. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:06

Because when you do, you really realize how great you have it, especially when you can look at what other people may be experiencing going through.

SPEAKER_01 39:14

Most of us we underestimate the power of blessings. And we do not realize how blessed we are, but we go on those negatives than the positives.

SPEAKER_04 39:24

I was thinking about this and I said, honestly, I think this has been one of the worst years of my life. Um but when I'm in meditation and I'm in prayer, I I sit there and I I spend time being thankful for all the things. And you're right, it really does help you feel better from the perspective that it's like, wow, but I'm still doing this, I have this, I have this, I have this, and you know, or you talk to somebody else and you realize that um I'm not there. And that's it's definitely something to be thankful for.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

Risha, if I may add, you know, God sends everyone for a reason. We meet for a reason. It could be a season, it can last for a lifetime. Why would God script our meeting? Okay, so when we get together, we can make a difference. Right. So we are his you know children.

SPEAKER_00 40:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:11

Everyone is a special child of God, and he has a reason, he knows it better. If you're going through this time at this moment, there must be a learning lesson and something big that he has for you. He might take the cycle, the bicycle that you have, yeah, to give you a BMW. Yeah. But there's a process. Process is something else.

SPEAKER_04 40:30

Process is something else. Who inspires you the most right now?

SPEAKER_01 40:34

My son, Sai. And why is that? He makes me believe that the purpose of our lives is real is the real luxury.

SPEAKER_00 40:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 40:44

Uh, it means more than you know uh money, it means more than you know the material wealth that you have, but it's purpose-driven.

SPEAKER_04 40:52

Okay. What's your favorite city that you worked in and why?

SPEAKER_01 40:57

Um it would not be right if I say um, you know, is Dallas, but it's India, is Dubai, and it's Dallas Fort Worth. Uh, because every city has taught me something. India has taught me grace, uh, Dubai has taught me to dream big, and um the United States has taught me to speak loud. Speak loud. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 41:19

It sounds like that was something that was already in you, though. You just got to a place where you can let it go. Yes. Okay. If you weren't in business, what would you be doing?

SPEAKER_01 41:29

My son and I would have an animal sanctuary. So we would be taking care of the abandoned animals instead of having to put them down. And the night I would be mentoring um youngsters if they had the patience to, you know, stay with me.

SPEAKER_04 41:42

I love that. And I am I am so not an animal person. And my partner is and wants to have, I believe, a farm for disabled animals. Yes. That's yes, yes. Because it's always like, can we get this this dog that can't hear, this goat that can't see, this, you know, like no? No, we cannot. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:00

But they have lives too, you know.

SPEAKER_04 42:02

I yes, they do, and I don't think my calling or my blessing is to get a dog a wheelchair and it's a side service. Yes. That she will have to do on her own. I agree. But there are agencies that can help. Yeah, okay. Well, I'm gonna have her talk to you about that. What's one cultural lesson from India that influences how you lead today?

SPEAKER_01 42:25

Grace and resilience. Uh, because in India, if you see, uh there's um a lot of um uh attention that's given to um you know service. Service is the key. Uh you know, being polite is what you know you believe in. But now trends have changed, so you know, when you're polite, you also have to stand by what you have to achieve. Yes. Uh so India has taught me grace, resilience, grit, and uh a sense of achievement.

SPEAKER_04 42:54

Okay, so what's one thing from the US that complements what you learn in India?

SPEAKER_01 42:58

Uh like I said, you know, United States and especially the cities that I've lived in, Arlington, Grand Prix, Dallas, Irving. Uh I started in Arlington, UT Arlington. So I was shy. Uh I was very conscious of my accent. Uh, because you know, one of them came and told me, oh, the Indians, you know, if they had to say yes, they would say yes, and they would say no, and then they keep nodding and shaking their head. So I am, you know, in that way, I'm very particular of what people tell me, then it works in my head. So, long story short, um my friend told me, you know, you have to be vocal and not care. But um US is a place, you know, it's for the people who are go-getters, they reward them, they are there to hear you out. They do not entertain people who sit in the comfort zone and want to say, Yeah, I can get it done. So my city is the I mean Dallas, Arlington, or Grand Prairie has given me to the person I am today. I'm grateful.

SPEAKER_04 43:54

Okay. Okay, so fill in this blank Empowered Women.

SPEAKER_01 44:00

Wow. You know, I always tell women when you walk into a room, walk into a room with pride like your ancestors have, you know, have they own that room. Exactly. Yeah. You make the rules, have patience, listen to them. But at the end of the day, you can write the rule book. And you can change the rule book.

SPEAKER_04 44:20

Yes. And I think that women are responsible for so many amazing changes. They are. Not just in their lives, but in the world. Yes, indeed. And so I and I think that we we gotta be recognized more for that. Absolutely. What's one piece of advice you'd give to a woman who doubts herself?

SPEAKER_01 44:38

I said faith over fear. Doubting is good because then you will start working on how do I get out of it. But if you don't work on that, then you will not get to where you want to be. So if you are a you know uh a doer, doubt, it's good. Work on where your doubts are, have a mind map, have a roadmap, and you will definitely have a solution.

SPEAKER_04 45:00

It's my mind map. Explain that for somebody who does has no idea what a mind map is.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

Okay, when you say, uh, I have an idea, I want to open a restaurant, uh let's say I want to start a podcast, so which is for real. So it's very weird. I kept doubting myself, I won't be able to do it. Then I had my son, I asked him, How can I do it? How can I do it? So he said, Mom, all you need is a studio, um, you need the cameras, you need XYZ. I said, How much of investment? XYZ. Okay, so what I did was around a mind map.

SPEAKER_00 45:33

Right.

SPEAKER_01 45:33

I said, podcast. Then I had a few arrows around it. To achieve what I want to be, I need a list of speakers, right? Influencers who can make an impact. So I have the I have the guest list with me. I have the dynamics, I have the investments, and then I have the place. So I have to lock in all of this. When I see the mind map on my vision board every day, so I know how to work further.

SPEAKER_04 45:58

Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Okay. It's kind of like your own personal plan here of how you're gonna do it. I think it's a vision board. Okay. Okay, got it.

SPEAKER_01 46:05

How do you celebrate your wins, big or small? Gratitude. Every day. Every day is a win for me because I wake up alive. That is true. It is true.

SPEAKER_04 46:15

I the older I get, I think about my grandmother um saying, you know, how blessed she felt to wake up in the morning because when you're younger, you're like, what's the big deal? You know, you woke up in the morning, but as you get older, you know, everybody does not. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 46:27

You know, and I I always tell people, every day is a birthday because you're waking up alive. Celebrate it.

SPEAKER_04 46:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 46:34

You know, when when you celebrate gratitude, you're celebrating uh, you know, yourself, and that's a win by itself.

SPEAKER_04 46:40

Okay. Your last question here. What's your definition of being better than your BS? I said evolve every day. Yes, yes, yes. Okay, Kanti, tell us where can we find out more about you and your business?

SPEAKER_01 46:52

Uh, LinkedIn is the best way, uh, and our website. Uh LinkedIn is Kanti Suresheti, uh, and our website is intersynergypartners.org, O R G, and that's the best way to connect with me.

SPEAKER_04 47:04

Okay. From corporate boardrooms to community front lines, Conti Sureshete is proof that you can build empires and uplift people at the same time. Her story reminds us that leadership isn't about power. Again, it's about purpose. And if you take one thing from today, let it be this impact isn't something you wait for, it's something you build. One intentional choice at a time. Conti, thank you for showing us what it looks like to be better than your BS. And for proving that when women leave with heart, whole economies rise. True. Until next time, keep doing the work, y'all. Keep breaking down the BS and remember, better people create better cultures. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 47:45

Thank you for having me. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 47:50

Got a mirror in the mind, reflecting the test. What's the truth in your soul? What's the life suppressed? Till the leggings back, onion of success. Gotta shut that nose in no time to regress. From the boardroom table to the black finesse. Rich your breaking face fucking thought no next.

SPEAKER_04 48:04

Want more of what you're watching? Watch us on Roku, Amazon Fires, or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio's name of you.