Has your Desi ethnicity and upbringing helped/hindered your business and plans?
Definitely! I strongly attribute my persistent nature of getting things done to my desi upbringing. My natural flair for science, math, music and dancing definitely comes from constantly being surrounded by exceptionally talented people. Also, it wasn’t too bad to be the “exotic girl” at all the American parties when I was living in Tennessee. Although, I kind of lost that privilege once I moved to the bay area!!! On the negative side – well, sometimes I do find myself being stingy and haggle for pennies.
What drives you? Is it the approval of someone you are trying to impress, consciously or subconsciously?
My parents and my grandfather. My parents faced a lot of financial hardships but always managed to focus on what was important. They were very clear in raising their two daughters to be very independent, hard working and filled with passion, despite being in a very conservative society that still holds back women. My grandfather was a man who simply enjoyed science! He was someone who got extremely excited when he saw Skype for the first time. He will call me to talk about the centrifugal and centripetal forces. Each time I make a small progress in augmented reality, I think of him and just wish he were here to see it.
What next? Where do you go from here?
Right now Sturfee is a small team of 6 working out of tiny office space in San Jose. Hopefully, in 5 years, we would own a few buildings in the heart of Silicon Valley.
What are you most excited about in your life right now?
Right now, I am very excited about snowboarding. My husband has been snowboarding for years and is teaching me now. It is teaching me a lot about falling down and then getting back up.
Any ‘lessons learnt’ that you would like to share with our readers?
Inhibitions should be shed, locked in a box and buried six feet under. If you do not ask you will never know if you would get it or not.
Any practical and philosophical advice you would like to share?
Be passionate. If you do not have enough passion towards something, it would eventually show.
Any charity or non-profit you support that you would like readers to know about?
I am a strong supporter of Karuna. It originally started as a charity event to support a fellow-student from University of Texas at Dallas who was suffering from cancer. But the event organizer was very inspired by the outcome and established a full-fledged trust that helps under-privileged cancer patients.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite City – New York
Favorite Movie – One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
Favorite Song(s) – Abhi na jaao chod kar
Favorite time of day - 5.30am
Weirdest thing you have ever done – Accidentally pulled into a private farm in Texas and almost got shot by double barrel.