full

Unshackled: An Immigrant’s Guide to Thriving in the US | Soundarya Balasubramani - E18

Published on: 15th May, 2024

Soundarya Balasubramani, an NIT Trichy and Columbia graduate, writer, and founder of Unshackled.club, details her journey from India to the U.S. Her career shifts from Salesforce to entrepreneurship, and even ventures into writing, including her blog Curious Maverick and books 'Admitted' and 'Unshackled'. The discussion spans her motivations, the importance of writing in her professional growth, insights into self-publishing, navigating U.S. immigration, and her latest decision to step back from Unshackled.club to focus on writing. Soundarya provides valuable advice for immigrant entrepreneurs and shares her vision for her next writing project, leveraging her experiences and challenges to guide and inspire others in their personal and professional journeys. 

Key Takeaways:

  • The persistence and resilience it takes to navigate the hardships of U.S. immigration
  • What to consider when applying for an O1 visa
  • The power of writing a journal for clarity of thought, problem-solving and emotional processing and the app that’ll make it easy to maintain
  • Understanding the book writing process and marketing as a self publishing author
  • How to strategically use social media to market yourself
  • The act of writing on paper, particularly journaling, serves as a powerful tool for 


Key Timestamps:

  • (00:00) Meet Soundarya: A Journey from India to Authorship
  • (03:10) The Power of Writing: From Personal Therapy to Professional Tool
  • (08:21) The Transition from Corporate to Creative: Soundarya's Leap into Authorship
  • (15:51) Navigating the Complex World of Self-Publishing and Editing
  • (21:30) The O-1 Visa Saga: A Tale of Persistence and Resilience
  • (26:29) A Return to Roots: Soundarya's Time in India and Reflections on Life
  • (30:27) Comparing the Self-Publishing Journeys of 'Admitted' and 'Unshackled'
  • (38:30) Immigration: From Application to Approval
  • (47:47) Transitioning Roles: From Founder to Writer
  • (51:50) Support Systems and Startup Tech Stack: A Founder's Toolkit
  • (56:42) Final Thoughts and Future Projects


Key Topics Discussed:

Journaling, author, legal immigration system, ONA visa, O1 visa, H1B, L1, EB2 National Interest Waiver, RFE, Unshackled


Mentions:

Website: https://www.unshackled.club/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soundarya-balasubramani/

Unshackled: A Practical Guide For Highly-Skilled Immigrants To Thrive In The United States


Check out the Funds & Founders Community:

Reach out to Abhi at abhinavsinha.podcast@gmail.com

Website: fundsandfounderspodcast.com

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs

About the Podcast

Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs
Welcome to "Funds & Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs," where we dig deep into the stories of successful Austin founders. Instead of focusing on their successes though, we dive into their journeys, particularly the struggles and obstacles they had to overcome.

This weekly podcast is tailored for Austin founders navigating the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey and hosted by fellow Austinite Abhinav Sinha. Here’s what to expect by tuning into Funds & Founders:

🚀 Embark on a Journey to Success
Join Abhinav as he takes you behind the scenes, exploring the highs and lows of building a company. This isn't your typical success story – we dive into the failures, the struggles, and those pivotal breakthrough moments that define a founder's path.

🌟 Real Conversations, Real Insights
Abhinav's approach is refreshingly different. Rather than dwelling on success, he crafts casual conversations that unravel the untold stories. Identify the setbacks that helped them grow, the lessons learned from failures, and the breakthrough moments that fueled these founders.

🤔 Why Didn't They Quit? Learn and Apply.
At the heart of each episode, Abhinav delves into the 'why' behind the perseverance. Why didn't they throw in the towel during tough times? And, most importantly, how can you apply their insights to your own journey? Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical takeaways for your entrepreneurial adventure.

🤝 Decoding Venture Capital
Ever wondered what goes on in the minds of Austin's venture capitalists? Abhinav sits down with local VCs to decode their criteria for investing in early-stage companies. Gain valuable insights into the world of venture capital, understand what investors look for, and appreciate the vital factor of founder-investor compatibility.

🎙️ Meet Your Host, Abhinav Sinha:
Abhinav's soft-spoken yet inquisitive style creates an intimate atmosphere, allowing guests to share their authentic stories. His genuine curiosity and insightful questions make each episode a captivating journey into the minds of Austin's most successful founders.

If you're a budding Austin entrepreneur seeking the inspiration and insight needed for building a successful company, "Funds & Founders" is your go-to podcast.