00:00:00 – 00:00:08 Nitin Bajaj

Hey everyone, welcome to the industry show. I’m your host, Nitin Bajaj, and joining me today is Neeharika Munjal. Neeharika, welcome on the show.

00:00:08 – 00:00:12 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you so much, Nitin, for having me. This has been a great opportunity.

00:00:13 – 00:00:16 Nitin Bajaj

It’s great to have you here. Let’s start with: who is Neeharika?

00:00:18 – 00:00:40 Neeharika Munjal

Neeharika is someone who wants to make a change in today’s world, who wants to make an impact for future generations and our current generation. She is someone that is dynamic; she wants to make change, she wants to make an impact, and make a better future for especially the Indian youth.

00:00:40 – 00:01:03 Neeharika Munjal

I think she is driven, she’s motivated, she’s a full Desi girl who likes to have fun but also is really committed to making a change in the world. And she is someone that just wants to leave a legacy so that the future generation have a better, stronger society and better, stronger society as well as community.

00:01:04 – 00:01:11 Nitin Bajaj

I love that. I know you’ve started this thing; it’s really cool, has grown substantially.

00:01:11 – 00:01:11 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you.

00:01:11 – 00:01:18 Nitin Bajaj

Tell us, what is the YIPNE and why did you start this?

00:01:19 – 00:01:47 Neeharika Munjal

Yeah, so I started this organization 4 years ago when I graduated from Boston University. I graduated a little bit earlier than my peers, so I was literally put into the real world. And for me, that was kind of scary. I was like, how do I navigate the real world, and how do I navigate as a young adult to make friends, make connections, connect with my culture? Because I think that’s really important for me, is to connect with my Indian culture. And I was like, how do I do this?

00:01:47 – 00:02:12 Neeharika Munjal

So with a lot of market research on social media, I found absolutely no groups that was for that. It was literally groups that were not for Indians, and they were professionally networking organizations, but they didn’t have the events that I was looking for. So I found that this was a really big need, and this was a problem that the society was facing in Boston, that there was no young professional organizations meant for the Indian youth.

00:02:12 – 00:02:40 Neeharika Munjal

I feel like this community was so auntie-uncle driven. I feel like the aunties and uncles have provided us with such a great foundation with creating charity-based organizations and also cultural-based connections, organizations that are for, like, the Indian culture. But there was not really anything for the youth. And I was like, this is a problem that we are facing in our society. We have so many Indian youth in Boston that would really benefit from this organization.

00:02:41 – 00:03:08 Neeharika Munjal

So my parents have been very supportive, and I was just speaking to my parents about this. I kid you not, I don’t think YIPNE would be where it is today without the support of my parents. They’re my biggest cheerleaders, so I always thank them for everything they have done for me. So basically, I was just talking to them about my problem, and I was like, I need to do something. And I think just talking about something won’t do anything. I think it’s when you give the actions that speaks volumes.

00:03:08 – 00:03:39 Neeharika Munjal

So I took matters in my own hands, and I was like, you know what, I’m going to create this organization. Even if I make 10 new friends, that’s 10 new connections. I think that’s very valuable. I never really realized that my problem was many others’ issues, problems as well. So I started this 4 years ago with no intentions in mind. I consider myself like an accidental entrepreneur, actually, because I’m like, I don’t know how this all started, but it just started something that ended up to be where it is today.

00:03:40 – 00:04:06 Neeharika Munjal

So I started this simple mindset, saying that this is going to be a collaborative networking platform meant for the Indian youth to make meaningful connections, get job opportunities through my initiatives, and also to stay in touch with our Indian culture today, because that is very important with us being not in India. So that’s when I started this, and now we have 10,000 members strong, more than 10,000, actually.

00:04:06 – 00:04:36 Neeharika Munjal

We have launched a lot of initiatives. One of them is the South Asian Founder Circle, where I provide initiatives for the founders that have founded businesses and services and products. I’ve also done a small business Saturday initiative, which I promote small businesses every Saturday. I also do a lot of small and large networking events, so all of them have been sold out. We’ve hosted large-scale events with over 400 people to just small events with 30, 40 people, with the networking brunches.

00:04:36 – 00:05:13 Neeharika Munjal

Recently, we just did a Bollywood ballet class, which was really fun. So we do a lot of fun activities. We choose a lot of fun venues in Boston as well. And that’s basically what we do, and we provide a lot of initiatives. We provide a lot of opportunities for people to make meaningful connections and also to get jobs as well. So that is the gist of what YIPNE does. And we have been featured on a lot of local news articles as well as international news articles, which has been crazy. And also, we just recently got a governor citation for Maura Healey. So I think that was a really nice recognition that we were able to get.

00:05:14 – 00:05:21 Nitin Bajaj

That is so amazing, so cool, and really exciting. Congratulations on all of these successes.

00:05:21 – 00:05:22 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you.

00:05:22 – 00:05:42 Nitin Bajaj

And truly well-deserved. And as you rightly said, there is a tremendous need for this in our community. And I’m glad that this what you started as a place to satisfy your own needs has found many others and has grown into a movement. So super excited.

00:05:42 – 00:05:53 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you. No, I really do love the work I do, and it’s really great to see people going together and really making that connection and making friends, and that just means the world to me.

00:05:54 – 00:06:12 Nitin Bajaj

That’s awesome. Now, as you’re navigating all of this, bringing people together and growing at a really fast clip, I’m sure there are some hurdles, barriers that you come across every so often. What’s the one big challenge you would like to call out?

00:06:13 – 00:06:57 Neeharika Munjal

So breaking in into a community that is already well-established, with organizations that already have been there for 10-plus years, I feel like that was a really big challenge was to, how do I create something that is so niche and something that will have the community have my support? I think it was something that I was like, how do I do this? Like, how do I break that barrier that, yes, I’m the youngest, I think I’m the youngest ever person to start an organization in Boston. So how do I make myself look legit, and how do I make myself serious to really persuade people on what my vision and mission is? And how do I get people to convince themselves for their support? I think that was a really big challenge that I was facing.

00:06:57 – 00:07:21 Neeharika Munjal

But with the way that people have responded to my organization, I think that was a really nice, heartwarming thing that, yes, I do have the community support. And it really is because of just what I’m trying to cater and what I’m trying to do for the future generations. So I think that was a really nice thing that the community has done for me, is to be able to support and just be able to be there for me when I need them.

00:07:21 – 00:07:50 Neeharika Munjal

And I think it’s really important that things happen through a mutual collaboration. I never believe in competition. I think that competition is something that is a big Indian stereotype that I would like to break, because Indians are very competitive. They compare each other with different people. And I think that stereotype is something that I really hate and I want to break, because I think when you all mutually collaborate together, it creates something that is very strong, and it creates something that is unbreakable.

00:07:50 – 00:08:14 Neeharika Munjal

So I think doing things with mutual collaborations and always having a two-way stream and always being a community partner to one another builds your community stronger, and that’s how you build communities. It shouldn’t be about competition. And I think any challenge is something that can be a success, because I think that every challenge has its hardships. But if you put your mind and soul to it, anything is possible.

00:08:15 – 00:08:29 Nitin Bajaj

So true. And I think one thing I’ve realized in studying our community and being a part of it, both in India and here, is it’s time we go from having a mindset of scarcity to a mindset of abundance.

00:08:29 – 00:08:29 Neeharika Munjal

Yes.

00:08:29 – 00:08:45 Nitin Bajaj

And you’re a great leading example of that mindset of abundance. So I really applaud and appreciate all the things you’re doing for the youth and our community. Now, on the flip side of challenges come opportunities.

00:08:45 – 00:08:45 Neeharika Munjal

Yes.

00:08:45 – 00:08:48 Nitin Bajaj

What’s the one you’re most excited about?

00:08:48 – 00:09:08 Neeharika Munjal

So I’m really excited about how I can bring YIPNE to the next level. For example, our collaboration, that’s something I’m very excited about, with how ASIIN and YIPNE can really work together to form something on a more national scale. I think that is really important. I really am excited about how we can build our community more stronger and how we can put South Asians on the map.

00:09:08 – 00:09:40 Neeharika Munjal

I think lately we’ve been having a really great run with putting South Asians in the main market, and how can we really bring other cultures to understand how valuable and how rich our culture is. So that’s what I’m really excited about, is how do I take YIPNE to the next level, and how do I promote the South Asian culture into a better audience? And how do we make our culture more mainstream? Because that’s what is really the main thing, is how do we celebrate our culture? And that’s through community building. So that’s what I’m really excited about.

00:09:40 – 00:10:04 Neeharika Munjal

I’m really excited about what other opportunities YIPNE is having. And I really do feel like with mutual collaboration, anything is possible, and that’s how we grow as a community, and that’s how organizations grow. So I’m really excited about the things that are yet to come. I think that this is just the beginning. I think 4 years is very young. But through collaborations and through initiatives, I think this is going to be something that’s revolutionary.

00:10:04 – 00:11:01 Neeharika Munjal

And I want to be able to bring all the South Asian youth generation, all in every city in the US, and how can we really hone into the fact that we are one and we are considered to be Indians? Because another thing that I really don’t like is how Americans from India American people that are Indian, they consider themselves a fake Indian, because it’s just like, yes, we are in America, but we are Indians at heart. I don’t like the term American-born confused DAISY. I want to break that. I think it’s American-born cultured DAISY. And even though we’re living in America and we were born here, it doesn’t mean that we’re not Indian. So that is something that I want to break, and I think that’s a really big opportunity that I want to do it for YIPNE.

00:11:01 – 00:11:27 Nitin Bajaj

I agree 100%. Now, as we look forward, I’d like to pause and reflect. And I’d like to invite you to share two moments from your life, one where things did not work out as you had expected. There was disappointment, failure, lessons. And another where things exceeded your expectations and became a success beyond your imagination.

00:11:28 – 00:11:43 Neeharika Munjal

Yeah, so I would like to start with a positive. So I think something that really this is a moment that will always remain my core memory, is that during one of my networking events, one young couple came to me and literally were like, so thankful.

00:11:43 – 00:11:49 Neeharika Munjal

They were like, they firstly didn’t even say hi or hello. They just said thank you. And I’m like, oh, for what? What did I do?

00:11:49 – 00:11:56 Neeharika Munjal

And then they were like, oh, in your previous event, we met someone who was able to give a lead and gave my husband a job.

00:11:57 – 00:11:57 Nitin Bajaj

Nice.

00:11:57 – 00:12:31 Neeharika Munjal

And that, to me, means the world that this organization is being able to provide people with jobs and be able to change their lives drastically, because this person was unemployed. And the fact that they came to one of my events and met someone who gave them a job just means the world to me. That was very heartwarming. And that just reminded me about what my core mission is with YIPNE, is that I’m not doing this for the recognition. I’m not doing this for the awards. I’m doing it to change people’s lives. And the fact that I was able to change this young couple’s life meant the world to me.

00:12:31 – 00:12:51 Neeharika Munjal

Now, something that didn’t work out for me is, obviously, there’s been a few collaborations, a few community partners that did not work out to where I wanted to be, and which I thought in my mindset that it would be really revolutionary. But with Indians and competition, I think that’s what drove it to be a challenge and something that I did not like.

00:12:51 – 00:13:16 Neeharika Munjal

But to me, a challenge is something that is not really negative. I mean, you learn the best from your failures. So I looked at it as an opportunity, and I’m like, OK, now I know who not to talk to. But it just made me realize that, you know what, challenges are going to come, but it’s the way it’s how your mindset is. That’s how you’re going to overcome it. So I think just with determination, I think nothing can be a challenge.

00:13:17 – 00:13:28 Nitin Bajaj

And it’s amazing to hear this from you at this age. There is so much wisdom, and there’s so much long-term thinking. I am super excited.

00:13:28 – 00:13:29 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you.

00:13:29 – 00:13:35 Nitin Bajaj

That our youth are being led by someone like you. And I know there’s a lot more to come from there.

00:13:35 – 00:13:36 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you.

00:13:36 – 00:13:46 Nitin Bajaj

Now, when you’re not doing your 9:00 to 5:00 work, and when you’re not growing and building YIPNE, what do you do to de-stress, to just relax?

00:13:47 – 00:14:07 Neeharika Munjal

So first of all, I’m a huge DAISY girl. I’m like a DAISY girl at heart. So I love listening to Bollywood music. I love watching Bollywood shows, Bollywood movies. Like, I’m a big lover for that. So I love just de-stressing and just watching Bollywood movies and shows and looking at Bollywood videos on YouTube. That’s like my jam.

00:14:08 – 00:14:28 Neeharika Munjal

And then I’m a big foodie, so I love trying out new restaurants, and I love looking at them up on Instagram and finding different restaurants through that. Also, I’m really close to my parents, so I love spending time with them and doing family activities. We love going out to the beach. We love going out to try new food places. So I love spending time with my family.

00:14:29 – 00:14:49 Neeharika Munjal

And yeah, I love working out. I love trying new adventures. I recently loved doing paint nights and bowling. I think those are really fun. So things that I just want to do for fun is something that I just want to, like, not use my brain and just do something brainless and do something that keeps my sanity as well.

00:14:49 – 00:15:00 Neeharika Munjal

And then I also do love watching reels, like bedrotting and reels like that. That’s also my jam, too. But I think these things, like, really make me sane, and I think it is a good, healthy balance as well.

00:15:01 – 00:15:08 Nitin Bajaj

True. That’s amazing. Now, onto my favorite part of the show. We call this the one-line life lessons.

00:15:08 – 00:15:08 Neeharika Munjal

Yeah.

00:15:08 – 00:15:12 Nitin Bajaj

Neeharika, I would love for you to share your life lessons with us.

00:15:13 – 00:15:26 Neeharika Munjal

Yeah, so five one-liner lessons that I have learned. Keep in mind I’m only 26, so I’m still learning. I’m still growing. I still have a lot to learn from my mentors and mentees. I think it’s really important to learn from them.

00:15:26 – 00:15:48 Neeharika Munjal

That’s why I’m really connected to the Indian community here. A lot of my mom’s friends and my dad’s friends are some people that I learn from the best. The aunties and uncles have lived so many years of their lives, so it’s really nice to learn from them. So out of my 26 years of life, these are my five one-liner lessons that I think have really resonated towards me.

00:15:49 – 00:16:09 Neeharika Munjal

First, it’s always lead with a higher purpose. The measure of a leader is not through power, but it’s the positive impact that they leave behind. The second one is dream big and never stop until your vision becomes reality. The third one is never be afraid to fail or take risks in life. Growth begins where the fear of failure ends.

00:16:10 – 00:16:24 Neeharika Munjal

The fourth one is the future belongs to the young people who turn ideas into action. And the fifth one is a positive mindset turns obstacles into opportunities. Discipline fuels determination, and determination creates success.

00:16:25 – 00:16:34 Neeharika Munjal

Again, I’m only 26, but I think these are like the five key aspects that have really driven my life and have really taken me along this journey.

00:16:35 – 00:16:43 Nitin Bajaj

As I said, if someone heard you, they wouldn’t believe you’re only 26. So there is a lot to.

00:16:43 – 00:16:44 Neeharika Munjal

I get that a lot.

00:16:45 – 00:16:54 Nitin Bajaj

Yeah, and also just looking at the long list of accomplishments you’ve had at such a young age, that is just phenomenal. And.

00:16:55 – 00:17:11 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you. And so do you. You have accomplished a lot, so I really do admire, and you are such an inspiration to the Indian youth. And I think you’ve done a really great job with studying that and creating even like a song in this show as well. So I want to applaud you as well, too.

00:17:11 – 00:17:17 Nitin Bajaj

Thank you. I really appreciate it. Neeharika, I know this is just the beginning.

00:17:17 – 00:17:18 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you. You

00:17:18 – 00:17:29 Nitin Bajaj

have already done a lot and a lot more to come. Thank you for making the time to share your journey, your story, and for everything you do for the youth and for our community.

00:17:30 – 00:17:32 Neeharika Munjal

Thank you so much, and thank you so much for having me.