You will meet Padma Lakshmi (Emmy nominated host of Top Chef, Award winning model, author, actress and jewelry designer), Rohini Dey (Restaurateur – founder/owner of Vermilion NYC and Chicago, formerly McKinsey & Co. and the World Bank), Alpana Singh (Master sommelier, Director wines and spirits LEYE restaurants group, Host Emmy winning Check, Please!, author “Alpana Pours”) and Maneet Chauhan (Vermilion executive chef, Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park) and (WelcomeGroup India). 

The dinner will be held from 6pm to 9pm at Vermillion and reservations are required.  Tickets are $75 per person.  For more information call 212. 871. 6600.

Can you tell us a little about DSPAC and your work schedule?

Dancing Shiva opened its doors in September of 2004 with only a handful of students. 5 years later we have over 130 students, 5 teachers and have moved into our own dance studio. Dancing Shiva was created to give people of all ages the opportunity to take different types of dance classes and then choose which one suits them best.  We offer classes in Bollywood, Bhangra, Contemporary Indian, Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Hip Hop. Each student gets the chance to perform on stage 2-3 times a year at various local and regional events.

How do you balance your career, growing your business and being a mom?
 

Being a mom is probably the most fulfilling yet also one of the most challenging jobs any woman could have.  It’s the one job that where you will never really know if you’re doing a good job or the right thing.  Initially it was really difficult trying to balance my school and my baby. I didn’t want to neglect either part of my life, but there was only one of me, and I couldn’t be in both places at the same time.Luckily, I have a great support system.  I rely heavily on my mother to help take care of my daughter.  It’s important to have someone you trust in your life, whether it be your spouse, your nanny, or someone else, to be there when you physically can’t be.  Since my hours are different than many working moms, I can’t place my daughter in daycare, but have found a great support system in my family.  In addition to my mother, my husband is extremely supportive of my career and helps with my daughter in any way he can.  He and I are both on the same page when it comes to taking care of our family and our careers.  Since my career demands that I work weeknights and weekends, I rely heavily on my support network to care for my daughter.

Dancing is my passion and my school is something I truly believe in.   I am extremely busy running it in an organized and efficient manner.  Although classes run in the evenings, I spend my days doing a lot of administrative work, scheduling, costume design, contacting events, marketing, etc. We also attend 15-20 different events during the year where I am always present.  It’s really important that I attend all the performances, large or small, to support my students.  I haven’t even started talking about our competitions.  With those, we have a lot of extra rehearsal time, which takes place on the weekends and adds to my already busy schedule.

What advice do you have for women looking to balance both a career and being a mom?

It is really important to realize that you can’t be everything all the time.  Being a mom is a full time job itself.  Working on your own business in addition can be extremely overwhelming. Make small goals for yourself and let go when you need to.  For example, I hired an office assistant to help with marketing endeavors for my business so that I could spend more time with my daughter.  Once you set realistic expectations for yourself, you feel better about your accomplishments  and are able to accomplish more.

My other piece of advice is that if you don’t care for yourself, you can’t take care of everything and everyone else.  It is really important to take time out for yourself.  Try to squeeze in one day a month for yourself, whether its going to the spa, taking a dance class, or meeting up with friends for a drink. Taking even 2-3 hours out in a month can make a big difference in the way you manage the rest of your time. You will also feel better about yourself, your relationship with family and your work.

For more information about DSPAC please visit http://www.dspac.com/

CitySaheli:  What inspired you to go into acting?

Shetty:  Growing up in England, I was always interested in music.  I started playing the piano at 7, the guitar at 11 and the violin at 12.  It was when I came to America, during high school, and auditioned for honors choir in Virginia and got first place, when I realized I could be more than just a good musician.  This experience encouraged me to continue auditioning for musical roles.

I started college as a pre-med student, but continued to try-out for operas and musicals.  My sophomore year of college, a teacher approached me and told me I had a unique talent and should pursue a career in music.  I listened to her advice, and started with opera.  This turned into musical theater and now television.  Once I started, I just couldn’t turn back. 

City Saheli:  Was your family supportive of your decision to go into acting?

Shetty:  I come from a family of scientists, so at first it was hard to tell them that I wanted to pursue acting rather than medicine.  I have great parents, however, who are very liberal and understanding.  My father at first was not happy with my decision, but they trusted me to make the right choice.  I remember saying “Dad, if I don’t try this, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”  He just couldn’t say no.

CitySaheli:  Describe an unforgettable moment during your career.

Shetty:  When I was on the Bombay Dreams tour, a little girl came up to me.  I asked her, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  The girl replied, “I want to be you.”  That was me as a little girl and I realized the impact I am making on young girls’ lives.  I will never forget that time.

CitySaheli:  What challenges, if any, have you faced as a South Asian actress in the US?

Shetty:  I have seen some type casting, but this problem is getting better in the industry.  Times are changing and change takes time.  The writers for Royal Pains, for example, have allowed me to create a strong female character in Divya.  The character isn’t an Indian girl, but instead a strong woman.

CitySaheli:  What are your future aspirations?

Shetty:  Everything I have done so far has been fueled by blind passion.  My goal is to look back and be proud of the work I do.  For now I plan to stay with Royal Pains.  In the future, I would like to do more  movies.  It’s a great compromise between theater and television.  Through entertainment, I want to inspire others. 

CitySaheli:  What advice do you have for aspiring South Asian actresses?

Shetty:  If acting truly moves you, then you should go for it.  And go for it with EVERYTHING.  It is really hard work, so be sure you love it.  It’s also important to realize that you need to be thick skinned, feisty, determined and persistent in this industry.  Also, you need to have a lot of luck.  The best thing to do is study.  Never stop studying.

Here are some of Gina’s survival tips for CitySaheli readers:

1. Update your resume and upload it to sites like Monster and LinkedIn. What have you done in work and play that you’ve not included? If you are applying for more than one position, vary your resume accordingly. Write your resume and cover letter to suit the job you are applying for. Don’t send out a standard resume to everyone. Hirers are looking for people with flair and imagination. People who either save – or make money – for their company. Which one are you? There are many professional resume services who will help you. Plus plenty of free advice online.

2. Maximize your social and face-to-face networking. Use Twitter and Facebook to help get you noticed. Look for any chances to promote yourself and research new job opportunities. There are also hundreds of meet-up groups in NYC that will not only help you further your career but you could also make new friends too. Visit meetup.com and mediabistro.com for inspiration.

3. Learn to present yourself more effectively. Do you ever wish you could talk more confidently about yourself at meetings or socials? Or even refine your elevator speech? Try toastmasters.com.  They are a global public speaking group who will support and encourage your first steps in public speaking. Great for confidence boosting, as well as professional networking.

4. Add to your skill set. Take advantage of all the learning programs your company offers. You may be on staff now, but who knows what the future may bring. Or if you are freelance, look for inspiring adult education classes.

5. Practice positive thinking. What kind of work would you really love to be doing? Make a list. Continually visualize the work you’d like to do. Write it down – every detail. Create a mood board and cut out photos from magazines to represent your ideal working environment and your ideal job. Listen to your intuition! Have the courage to follow your gut feelings.

Life coaching can help you discover what you really want in life, take action to achieve your goals and make choices that inspire and motivate you.  Want to give it a try?  Gina Baksa is offering 50% off life coaching packages for all CitySaheli readers.  Just mention CitySaheli when you call.  Sessions are face-to-face in Manhattan or by phone.

Phone: 631 312 8475
Email: gina_baksa@hotmail.com
Website: www.ginabaksa.com

Not sure where to begin? CitySaheli did some digging to help you find the funding to pursue your venture. 

Government First

The US government gives millions of dollars a day in grant money and is a great place to start your search for capital.  Federal grants are available to women for various reasons, which include bettering the status of women in business, the arts, or in the fields of science and technology. Federal grants typically require an application, a stated goal and a promise that the funding will be used solely for the purpose for which the grant was created.   Here are some great resources to get started:

The Economic Development Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, aids women entrepreneurs in obtaining grants, loans and other tools for success.

SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) is an excellent source of information on small grants and loans and offers free classes and workshops on a variety of business aspects.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (or SBA) provides loans to women entrepreneurs and keeps readers up to date on grants offered by the government and partners of the SBA.  The SBA also helps the Women’s Business Centers around the country provide grants and other services to women entrepreneurs. The Women’s Business Centers have at least one office in every U.S. state.  Check out the SBA official site as well as your local SBA chapter.

Grants.gov and WomanEntrepreneur.com have grants that are specifically created for minority women.  You can obtain applications for many of the grants directly on these sites.

Private and Corporate Grants

Private and corporate funding is typically available in the form of grants or scholarships.  Private grants are funded by groups or individuals with a personal interest in promoting certain kinds of activities through their generosity. Often a private organization is set up as a foundation with a board of directors and possibly a committee that handles grants and awards.

See if your college or graduate school offers private grants.  You can also find grants that are offered by wealthy well-known individuals.  Individuals who provide private grants include Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet, Bill Cosby and Martha Stewart.  Also, don’t forget to go to the Chamber of Commerce to look up businesses and organizations that provide minority business grants for women.

Do your homework.

Today’s market demands that you are exceptionally knowledgeable, resourceful and savvy.  Following world news and the financial markets will help you understand the current state of the economy and plan your job search accordingly.  Often news reports indicate which companies are hiring and which companies are firing, which will ultimately provide you with job leads.  For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the health care, biosciences and technology industries are likely to create the most new jobs this year.

Become “BFF” with your school’s career service center.

The resources available at your career center are countless.  From help with resume writing to interview prep, your career center will equip you with the guidance and tools to get a job. Many employers post entry level jobs on college career websites, which specifically target college graduates.  Also, leverage this resource to gain professional advice on your job search.

Know your job boards.

You might be discouraged from using job boards, since they are available to the entire universe.  Posting your resume and searching for opportunities via these forums, however, is a great first step.  It gets you in the zone for your job search.   These sites also let you know which companies are hiring.  Remember, if you do see a job opening you really like, you should do more than just apply through the job sight.  Be proactive.  For example, see if any alumnae from your school work at the same company, or if a friend has a contact. 

Some websites that are especially useful for college graduates:

CollegeGrad

CollegeRecruiter

CoolWorks [great for seasonal jobs]

Experience

OneDayOneJob [great blog on entry level jobs]

Don’t waste time, get an internship or volunteer.

Internships are invaluable. Even if unpaid, you will get relevant work experience for yourself and your resume. Internships provide on- the-job training and fantastic networking opportunities. They also help you decide whether you’ve chosen the right career field.  And, some internships can lead to full time jobs.  Moreover, most companies look for past internships when evaluating their candidates. Bottom line – get an internship, it can only increase your chance at landing a full time position. 

Passionate Achievers, a team of career coaches, wants you to live life aligned with your passions. The group hosts seminars and working sessions to provide early and mid-career professional women with the guidance and support needed to make that critical career change needed to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Passionate Achievers is hosting a free information session this Wednesday.  The session will provide an inside look into turning your career dreams into a reality. 

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm 

Location: The Meta Center, 214 W 29th Street 16th Floor

The answer is, start with small steps. Consider the following, and take it one step at a time:

1) Know thyself. What do you like in your current job? What do you dislike? What do you want more or less of? The answers to these questions will guide you to a better fit. You could also consider taking a career change class or working with a coach to help you through your process.

2) Examine the Possibilities. Set aside just an hour or two a week to read about your new job or profession of interest. The internet has a wealth of information about just about anything. Or join a Professional Network in your new career area to learn more and meet people who work in that profession. Test the waters by taking a class in the field – for example, take a six-week course in marketing to see if you even like it!

3) Talk to others. Once you have a few ideas about what you might want to switch to, talk to anyone and everyone that is involved in any way. You’d be surprised how many people your friends and co-workers know and thus are in your extended network. Set up coffee with them and ask what is needed to do well in their field. Will you need to go back to school? Or could a certificate program and/or specialized classes help? As an added plus, one of them might end up getting you your next job!

4) Examine Your Finances. Often times a career change involves making less money in the beginning, while you are getting established. With careful planning however, you don’t have to go back to eating ramen noodles or sharing an apartment with four girls. Making some adjustments and planning for the future can help you prepare for the change.

Let CitySaheli know which steps you are most interested in learning more about and we’ll follow up with detailed information. In the meantime, check out helpful resources we considered when changing careers:

www.careerbuilder.com (for general career-related advice and resources)

http://online.onetcenter.org (for descriptions and salary data for almost any job)

www.linkedin.com (social networking)

http://www.morethanmoneyinstitute.com (for coaching workshops)

http://www.scps.nyu.edu (for continuing education classes)

Stay Positive

Don’t let one bad situation lead to a toxic environment.  Remember to stay positive and productive.  Negativity can lead your boss to become defensive, which will only worsen your situation.

Communicate

Communication is extremely useful and it often prevents a bad situation from getting worse. If your boss criticizes your work, consider arranging time to talk to your boss one on one.  During this meeting, ask how you can improve your performance and set methods to measure your improvement.  Showing your boss that you are concerned will automatically indicate that you are interested in your performance.  Opening the channels of communication may also show you your boss’s perspective.

Be Professional

Always remain calm, courteous and demonstrate respect.  It is wise to control your emotions from going wild.  Once you lose your cool, you lose your power and credibility. 

Don’t Bring It Home

Bringing a bad situation home only worsens the problem.  Separating your personal and professional life will lower your stress level and contain the problem. 

Report It

If your boss is truly abusive and you feel you have no other options, you should consider taking the next step: Human Resources.  Human Resources role is to intermediate between the two parties and find the best solution.  Remember, this may not be the best option if you have not tried to improve the situation directly with your boss first.