In Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month: In Conversation with Sanya Deshpande
Vincent Cota
What elements of your AAPI experience shaped the course of your career? What is it like being an AAPI leader today?
AAPI leaders are challenged by forces beyond their control. This means you're often straddling two worlds, one that is your own, and the other you grow up in almost always feeling the pressure to fit in while owning your unique story.
As a first-generation Indian immigrant woman, I have always felt challenged to be comfortable in my own skin and hold on to my roots while assimilating with Western culture. However, seeing other AAPI leaders rise -- who look and sound like me -- offers a sense of reassurance that with the right mix of talent, luck, and opportunity the sky is the limit.
What do you want to share with the co-lab community about your AAPI experience and what you are hopeful for or inspired by for the future?
My AAPI experience is unique because I still hold my Indian heritage and roots close while leaning into my Western schooling and career. I grew up in Mumbai, India and moved to Boston, MA for college over a decade ago, but my backgroud is multi-layered defined by my experiences living in Asia, UK and the US. I am hopeful because I have met other AAPI and non-AAPI leaders who have been kind enough to open doors for me. They have been a source of optimism, pushed for my advancement, and advocated for my success, and for that I am eternally grateful. Always remember to send the ladder back down.
What advice would you share for the next generation of AAPI leaders? What do you wish you had known starting out in your career?
I would love to share snippets of advice that I have received: "there is no substitution for hard work; and when there is will, there is a way." Although simple, these principles have stayed close to my daily practice in work and life. Perseverance combined with the right attitude and skills opens many doors.
The one thing I wish I had known when I started is: how hard it can be, and to not be hard on myself. I came into American corporate culture knowing little about visa sponsorships and the challenges that go with it. My naïveté might have set me up for failure, but at the same time it offered a steady dose of optimism to keep me going.
What does being an ally with the AAPI and BIPOC communities mean to you?
Being an ally first and foremost means taking the time to educate yourself about various cultures, communities, and perspectives that shape our world today. And not being scared to zag, when everyone else zigs. The world needs more thoughtful, well-researched and pointed opinions from diverse communities.
LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanyadeshpande/
Instagram: @sanyadbedi
The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States and the co-lab shares in celebrating the vital contributions, achievements, and influence Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had within our industries and communities. We also use this time to continue recognizing the on-going challenges that face the AAPI community, especially with the increase of violence and discrimination over the last year. As articulated in our DE&I statement, the co-lab unwaveringly stands for equity and inclusion and condemns racist, discriminatory and hateful acts of any kind.
In the spirit of celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and elevating diverse AAPI voices, we are highlighting some of our wonderful AAPI co-lab members on our Instagram @jointhecolab and on our website.
To learn more about Asian American history, the AAPI experience or organizations that are driving positive change towards a more equitable future, please explore our resource library. This is not a comprehensive list, and if there are additional resources that you believe would be helpful, please email us at info@jointhecolab.com.
—the co-lab DIVERSITY COUNCIL
