Her Formula : Discipline, Focus & Ambition
Introduction
“A good friend knows your stories. An old friend remembers living them with you.”
Although we have known each other since our college days, our friendship became stronger during our ILP training in Trivandrum. I still remember the comfort I felt knowing that I had an old friend, someone I already knew, in this new chapter. Introducing to you all, Nimmi.
I still remember one of our early sessions where we needed to pick female partners for a task, and she had already chosen someone else (what luck, haha). The memories of us enjoying the New Year Party on 31 Dec 2014, to the long conversations on the TCS campus roads after office hours, take me back to that time. I still remember our conversations about who we used to like in college and what kind of future or life we were looking forward to.
The funniest and yet most admirable thing she said was when we were planning to go on our first trip and finalizing the group count. She was like, “I will go only if Gaurav goes.” (She may not remember it.) But it felt like, oh, someone does look forward to having me around as well. 🙂
I still can’t forget one conversation where she was feeling a little vulnerable about how the training would go and how everything would turn out, and me giving her fake confidence like, “Na na, don’t worry, everything will be fine.” (As if I was pretty sure of the future ahead :p).
QnA Session With Nimmi
1. From India to Canada 🇮🇳 ✈️ 🇨🇦
Moving countries is a big adventure! Tell us a little about your journey from India to Canada. What surprised you the most, what challenges did you face, and what did the experience teach you—both personally and professionally?
Moving from India to Canada felt like pressing “Restart” on life—with extra snow and fewer knowns around to rescue you! 😄
The biggest surprise? How quiet everything was… and how early stores close! I moved from the crowded energy of India to one of the calmest cities in Canada, and that contrast was both beautiful and challenging.
The toughest part was balancing studies, work, parenting, and rebuilding a career from scratch in a new country.
Personally, it taught me that comfort zones don’t grow people—challenging seasons do. Professionally, it pushed me to learn continuously, adapt quickly, and gradually build a stable life here. India will always be my janmabhoomi and the place where I built my values, education, and work ethic. Canada gave me the opportunity to test those strengths in a completely new environment.
So yes, the journey came with snowstorms, stress, and a lot of coffee ☕—but also a stronger version of me, and a deeper belief that resilience, consistency, and the courage to keep moving forward can take us further than we can imagine 🌎
2. Social media with a purpose 📱✨
I love how you’re using platforms like Instagram not just for fun, but also to help people grow in their careers and work towards financial freedom. What inspired you to start doing this? And if someone wants to connect with you for guidance or advice, what’s the best way to reach out?
I always felt that social media is most meaningful when it adds value. I’ve never really been a “share everything on social media” person. 😄 So when I started thinking about social media, I asked myself: If someone connects with me, what value can I actually give them?
And I also believe that sometimes scrolling through generic advice isn’t enough. You might find a hundred answers online, but your situation may be completely different. Sometimes you need to ask a specific question, talk through your situation, or simply have someone say, “Yes, I’ve been through something similar.” That little conversation can sometimes give you the confidence to take the next step.
That’s really what I want my page to become—a place where I share what I’ve learned, and where someone who wants to explore something more specifically can reach out and have a conversation.
Moving from India to Canada, studying, working while raising a family, and building a life in a new country has taught me many lessons, some the hard way. I still consider myself a learner first, and I’m learning social media myself—it’s definitely a learning curve! 😄 But I love learning new things and challenging myself. And honestly, the happiness I get from helping someone is much bigger than the discomfort of putting myself out there. So, here I am! ❤️
If someone wants to connect, Instagram DM is the easiest way. I may not have every answer, but I’m always happy to share what I know and learn together.
3. Life beyond the screen 🌿
In the age of AI and social media, sometimes it feels like our screen time is competing with our sleep time! 😄 How do you make time for yourself while juggling work, family, and everything else? And what does an ideal fun weekend look like for you?
I’m quite disciplined with my daily routine, and becoming a mom made that even more important. A little person is watching, learning, and copying us every day 😄.
I protect my early mornings because that’s my quiet time to think, plan, reflect, or simply enjoy a few peaceful moments before the day gets busy. I’m not a workaholic and not very social either, so my idea of self-care is usually calm mornings rather than crowded places.
My perfect weekend would be slow mornings with chai, no rushing, and then ending the day with fun activities, good food, and quality time with the family and friends we’ve built here in Canada. Simple, warm, and full of laughter—that’s my kind of luxury.
4. Throwback to the good old days 🎓❤️
We’ve known each other since college, but I think our friendship really became stronger during ILP training. What are some of your favorite memories from those days? Any funny or unforgettable moments that still make you smile? And be honest—do you miss those days? 😄
Oh, ILP days deserve their own movie! 😄
Although I had already experienced hostel life during college, ILP was the first time I truly felt carefree and independent—or at least what I thought independence meant at that age. It was also my first trip to South India, so everything felt exciting, new, and full of adventure.
One of my favorite memories is going to the beach for the first time, and that too at night. It was a quiet beach, and I still remember the sound of the waves and the thrill of being there with friends. I think that was the moment I discovered that I’m secretly a beach person 🌊❤️
The funniest memory has to be our stop near a waterfall or valley (I don’t remember the place name) on the way to Ponmudi, where everyone was trying to walk on the wet stones and people kept slipping one after another 😄. At that moment it looked chaotic, but now it’s impossible to remember it without laughing. And honestly, there are just too many memories to pick from—walking extra miles just to find a place serving rotis, playing random games, enjoying the rains, and those morning “walks” to the office that felt more like a hike! 😄
Do I miss those days? Absolutely! Maybe not the assignments and training sessions 😄, but definitely the friendships, late-night conversations, freedom, laughter, and that feeling that life was just beginning.
5. A little wisdom for the road 🚀
You’ve experienced quite a journey yourself, so what advice would you give someone who is just starting their career—or someone who feels ready for their next big move? Is there a roadmap you’d recommend, or is figuring it out along the way part of the fun?
Starting a career or making a big move needs a mix of a solid plan and room for surprises. A flexible roadmap gives you some safety, while an open mind lets you enjoy the journey.
My simple roadmap would be: Research → Build → Embrace.
Research the change—the job market, the country or city, housing, costs, culture, and the practical realities of the move. Build—your network, your savings if needed, your documents, your skills, and connections with one or two people who have already made a similar journey. And then embrace the journey. Your original plan will probably change as you learn new things, and that’s okay.
You don’t need to guess every single step right now. Sometimes trial and error teaches you things no roadmap can.
The biggest lesson I have learned is:
“Ready is not a feeling; it’s a decision”
Most people don’t feel completely ready for a new job, a new country or a big opportunity. Growth usually begins after you take that step.
My personal mantra is: Fill your life with “Wow, I did it” rather than “I wish I had done that.” ✨
To befriends with Nimmi, you can connect with her on
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