Guest: Prerna Karnani

What happens when workplace discrimination meets entrepreneurial spirit? For Prerna, founder of Shadis and More, being the only South Asian woman in decision-making roles throughout her decade-long fashion retail career sparked a remarkable transformation.

After a manager bluntly told her that her desire for advancement stemmed from being "an immigrant and a woman," Prerna began questioning whether corporate Australia had space for her talents. Taking stock of what truly fulfilled her—creativity, business strategy, cultural connection, and freedom—she realized no existing job could satisfy these diverse passions. This revelation, combined with her experience planning her own wedding from Melbourne for an event in India, illuminated a genuine market gap.

Shadis and More emerged as Australia's first comprehensive platform connecting people planning South Asian cultural events with vendors who understand specific cultural needs. Need a mehendi artist in Sydney who's available for multiple ceremonies? A florist who knows what a "vermala" is? A photographer comfortable with week-long celebrations? Prerna's platform now spans 13 categories across every Australian state, solving problems she personally encountered.

The journey wasn't straightforward. Navigating postpartum anxiety while launching a business required tremendous courage, especially when she discovered how workplace experiences of being made to feel "not enough" had affected her mental health. Yet these challenges only strengthened her resolve to create something meaningful.

Whether coordinating fashion shows, multi-vendor exhibitions, or helping brides find rickshaws for grand entrances, Prerna demonstrates how creating your own opportunities often proves more fulfilling than fighting to climb existing ladders. For anyone feeling stuck or undervalued, her advice resonates powerfully: "If you're not seeing the opportunities that you want, then it's time to create the opportunities."

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Brown Queen Diaries by Priyanka Nomula

Directed by Sandeep Raj

Presented by Aussie Talkies

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