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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Guest: Angelica Silva

When Angelica told people she wanted to pursue journalism, the response was often disbelief. "Why would you pick a career where you'll make no money?" they'd ask. As a South Asian Australian woman, she was expected to follow what she calls the "golden triangle" – medicine, law, or engineering – the only careers many deemed worthy of pursuit.

Today, Angelica stands firmly in her decision as an accomplished ABC journalist specializing in stories about the South Asian diaspora in Australia. In this captivating conversation, she reveals how cultural expectations shaped her early self-doubt and how finding her voice as a storyteller transformed not just her career, but her understanding of success itself.

"Success to me isn't how much money I make," she explains. "It's how meaningful my work is, how much it resonates with someone, whether it's making change." This perspective powers her groundbreaking reporting on issues affecting South Asian Australians – from women's health taboos to financial dynamics in relationships that challenge traditional gender roles.

Born in Australia to parents of Indian origin from Singapore, Angelica navigates complex cultural waters both personally and professionally. Her work exposes critical gaps in media representation, like her recent investigation into why South Asian women have the lowest cancer screening rates in Australia. Behind her success lies a stark reality: journalism isn't the glamorous career outsiders imagine. She details the grueling shift work, emotional toll of verifying distressing content, and constant pressure of public scrutiny.

For aspiring journalists from minority backgrounds, Angelica's journey offers powerful guidance: network relentlessly, seek mentors, develop thick skin against criticism, and remember your purpose. "You can't be what you can't see," she emphasizes, underscoring why diverse voices in media matter. Whether you're considering an unconventional career path or seeking authentic stories about multicultural Australia, this conversation will leave you inspired to challenge expectations and tell the stories that truly matter.

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Brown Queen Diaries by Priyanka Nomula

Directed by Sandeep Raj

Presented by Aussie Talkies

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https://www.instagram.com/thebrownqueendiaries/
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Deepa's journey from corporate strategist to cultural entrepreneur showcases the powerful intersection of heritage, passion, and purpose. As founder of both Chandralaya School of Dance and POC Beauty, she has created platforms that celebrate and empower South Asian identity in Australia.

Her dance odyssey began at just five years old in Chennai, eventually blossoming into a school that serves students from age six to sixty. What makes Chandralaya special isn't just the teaching of Bharatanatyam—it's how Deepa has expanded it into artistic commissions, cross-cultural collaborations, and community building. For many adult students, the school provides not just cultural connection but therapeutic benefits, with some crediting the dance practice with helping them through significant life challenges.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Deepa reveals how her 25-year corporate background in IT strategy and transformation gave her the tools to succeed as an entrepreneur. The turning point came during motherhood when, working 60-70 hour weeks, she questioned her purpose and made the bold decision to launch her dance school. "If I fail, I fail," she recalls thinking, but those corporate skills proved invaluable in building her businesses.

Particularly compelling is Deepa's insight into her beauty brand. POC (Proud of Color) Beauty emerged from her frustration with mainstream skincare that doesn't address the specific needs of melanated skin. Her first product—a natural lip scrub with ingredients like fermented papaya and beetroot extract—exemplifies her philosophy of creating skincare-infused beauty products that work with the body's natural systems rather than against them.

Throughout our conversation, Deepa advocates passionately for embracing cultural heritage, recommending minimalist skincare routines over trending 10-step processes, and encouraging women to support each other professionally. Her parting wisdom resonates deeply: "Build slow, take your time, own your story, and don't be afraid to take up space." For anyone balancing multiple roles or contemplating entrepreneurship, these words offer a roadmap to authentic success.

Send us a text

Support the show

Brown Queen Diaries by Priyanka Nomula

Directed by Sandeep Raj

Presented by Aussie Talkies

Send us a text

Support the show

https://www.instagram.com/thebrownqueendiaries/
https://www.facebook.com/thebrownqueendiaries
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPjW_Zw62eWa4QcQNJW3yHw76rlkqGr72&si=zUrI5wzOPV-k1gjE