Global IndianstoryAyan and Ani Sayal: Indian-American brothers bringing authentic masala chai to New Yorkers

Ayan and Ani Sayal: Indian-American brothers bringing authentic masala chai to New Yorkers

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(February 2, 2024) Indians love their chai – no matter whether they are in India or abroad. Two Indian-American brothers with their roots in Kolkata often took to the streets of New York in search of that kadak cup of chai. But all they got was a westernised version that lacked the authenticity of a good Indian tea. This led to the birth of Kolkata Chai Co. in 2019 – which has Ayan and Ani Sayal on a mission to bring authentic tea to New Yorkers. “Kolkata Chai started with a simple idea: How do we extend the authenticity, respect, and tradition behind a cup of masala chai to NYC?” the brothers write on their website.

Massachusetts Masala

It was in 1987 that their parents landed in Massachusetts to fulfill the American dream, and growing up as first-generation Indian Americans, their concept of home was ever-shifting. “In 90’s America, we listened to hip hop, ate pizza, and begged our parents for a pair of Vans sneakers. Every other summer or winter, we’d spend a couple of months in Kolkata. An earth-shattering contrast, there, we would jump in monsoon puddles, eat mangsho-jhol, play cricket in the streets, and drink chai every day,” they added.

Ayan and Ani Sanyal

The brothers often joked that the street vendors of Kolkata possessed some magical skills. “From eating bhel puri in newspaper cones to visiting the same chai stalls that our mother would frequent during her college years, we developed a deep respect for the tradition and personal nature of food,” Ayan said in an interview. They would enjoy kulhad chai on the streets of Kolkata, something they missed dearly on their return to the US. “The satisfaction we got from smashing the clay bhar cups into the ground after finishing our chai was unparalleled,” said Ani, adding, “There was a lore to street food. It was democratising, generational, and spoke to all socio-economic levels.”

Recreating Kolkata street food charm in NYC

Upon their return from one such trip to Kolkata, they were brimming with excitement to bring the authentic desi cup of chai to the people of New York, and that led to Kolkata Chai Co. They wanted to make South Asian culture and cuisine accessible to everyone through chai and street food. “For the first 18 months after we had the idea, we would do pop-up shops and farmers markets in NYC, and got a great response. Following this success and getting a sense that people loved desi chai, we opened the NYC cafe to a line of 700 people in 2019,” added Ani. Apart from chai, their menu includes Indian street food – which encompasses Kolkata-style egg rolls, samosas, chaats, and more. “We also feature seasonal menus for the fall and summer, where you can catch our ‘Ma’s Ginger Chai’, a take on the simple, yet highly effective ginger tea our mother made for us growing up. We also serve mint lemonade, which is a spin on a childhood classic we grew up with in Kolkata,” said Ani.

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Betting on themselves and their food culture

However, starting their own venture wasn’t a cakewalk for the Sanyal brothers due to lack of capital and resources. Moreover, they had no clue that running a food business in an expensive and competitive place like New York being would be difficult. “Barely six months into our cafe operation, the pandemic shut all the restaurants in the city down and we were forced to close,” added Ani. But that didn’t stop the Sanyal brothers who knew that had to bring in a new strategy to keep their business afloat. They started delivering chai in their car across NYC and shipping the chai mix across the country. “These lessons taught us to be sharp operators and we’ve been able to sustainably grow ever since,” revealed Ayan.

Keen to put Kolkata in NYC, they did everything to bring authentic flavours to the city. For them, a perfect cup of chai is a balance of cardamom, ginger, milk, and really strong black tea. “If you get all these things kind of perfectly done, then it makes a really wonderful, warming, and energizing drink,” said Ayan, who takes care of the retail while his brother Ayan runs the marketing and branding of the brand. They are happy that New Yorkers are open to education their own palettes, and have embraced Kolkata Chai with open arms.

Seeing their parents struggle to make their American dream come true, the Sanyal brothers are telling a story of their culture through their chai. “We don’t get to really tell our story a lot of the time. And I think that’s what, you know, we’ve done with Kolkata Chai — is really plant a flag for where our family comes from, what our culture is about.”

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Published on 02, Feb 2024

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Ryuko Hira: Bridging cultures and building legacies between India and Japan

(October 2, 2024) It was in 2022 that Ryuko Hira found himself accepting the Padma Shri award from the then President of India - Ram Nath Kovind - for his contribution to trade and industry. Having played a pivotal role in India-Japan trade relations, the President of HMI Hotel Group in Japan, Ryuko moved to the land of rising sun in 1966. Over the years, he found strong ground as a hotelier, investor, and philanthropist in Japan, who became widely recognised for fostering Indo-Japan economic ties, advancing Indian cultural outreach, and his steadfast devotion to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. [caption id="attachment_57190" align="aligncenter" width="548"] Ryuko Hira received Padma Shri in 2022[/caption] Pioneering Indo-Japanese Trade Relations Born as Kamlesh Punjabi in Jaipur in a family of Jagtianis who were in the business of procuring jewels and ornaments from Muslim Royalty or Mirs. Over the years, the family expanded their business across Southeast Asia and Japan. Taking advantage of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-1922) which allowed 50 Indian companies to set up operations in Japan, Hira's uncle partnered with a firm in Yokohama. Soon he expanded into the export of silk and seeing the business flourish, other family members joined him. After the Great

cross Southeast Asia and Japan. Taking advantage of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-1922) which allowed 50 Indian companies to set up operations in Japan, Hira's uncle partnered with a firm in Yokohama. Soon he expanded into the export of silk and seeing the business flourish, other family members joined him. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, the business shifted base to Kobe and they switched to buying cultivated corals for export to India. Post WWII, Japan saw a period of intense industrialisation and the businesses grew rapidly. Keeping up with the modernisation, Hira's two brothers established offices in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong in 1950, around the time when Hira was born.

After attending school in Mumbai, Hira graduated in gemology from the Gemological Institute of America and even attended a 12-week course at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. But things took a U-turn after tragedy hit their family as Hira's father, uncle, and eldest brother passed away in the same year, leaving Hira with the option of stepping up. He left for Hong Kong to learn the tropes of business from his elder brother, and soon the business shifted base to Tokyo in 1966.

Kamlesh Punjabi to Ryuko Hira: A Journey of Transformation

Being born in the same year as independent India, growing up, Hira saw three wars with China and Pakistan. "I was fortunate as my family had some small overseas business which is now nearly 100 years of age. As soon as I finished high school, the Pakistan and the Chinese wars were going on and the ladies and the young ones at home were sent abroad for safety. So a decade later in the 1970s, the situation in India got from bad to worse," said Hira in an interview, adding, "Being a stateless refugee family from Sindh, Pakistan where we had lost and left everything due to the partition (of India and Pakistan), we did not want to live in poverty once again. So my eldest brother said one family member should become a Japanese national to save the family's assets from being nationalised in foreign countries."

[caption id="attachment_57193" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Ryuko Hira | Global Indian Ryuko Hira with former Japan PM Shinzo Abe[/caption]

Being a little fluent in Japanese, thanks to the language course from Sophia University, Tokyo, he turned out to be the perfect family member to achieve the feat. He married a Japanese woman, became a naturalised Japanese citizen, and adopted the name Ryuko Hira. However, he was initially hesitant to change his name and give up on Indian nationality. A disciple of Sathya Sai Baba, he spent some time at the sacred Mount Fuji asking for guidance from Baba. "I came back with the answer that a passport document of nationalisation doesn't make you an Indian or another national. As Baba said - a true Indian is a person who carries the divine values in his heart," he added. Moreover, the reason for changing his name took root in the fact that Japanese language is calligraphic. They don't use alphabets, instead the pictorial characters make the Japanese script. It was a priest at a Hindu temple on top of Mt Hira in Shiga who gave him the name. "Hira is the name of the mountain on which the temple stands and in Ryuko, 'Ryu' means the dragon and 'ko' means tiger," he revealed in an interview.

The HMI Hotel Group: Building a Hospitality Legacy

Over the years, Hira expanded his business to such great success that it became one of the leading foreign enterprises in Japan. So much so that the achievement was highlighted in a one-hour special documentary aired by Japan’s National Television, NHK in 1984. After the untimely death of his elder brother in 1986, the family business was divided harmoniously, with Hira taking responsibility for the real estate development sector. Drawing on his talent, experience, and the traditions of his family lineage, the Global Indian went on to establish the foundation of the Ora Group of Companies in 1986.

In four years, he established the HMI Hotel Group, which now welcomes over 13.7 million guests each year and has been recognised by the Nikkei Marketing Journal as the eighth-largest hotel chain in Japan. Hira’s group of companies also excels in various areas, including proprietary hotel management, hotel management services, capital raising through building leases and trusts, hotel planning and development, property management, technical consulting, and the hotel supplies industry.

[caption id="attachment_57194" align="aligncenter" width="700"] HMI Group Hotel Hotel Pearl City in Kobe[/caption]

Strengthening Indo-Japanese Relations

Apart from being a businessman and investor, Hira has played a significant role in strengthening Indo-Japanese affairs. In June 2004, he became the first Indian to be elected as a Director of the Japan-India Association. He also serves as the representative director of the Sai Hira India Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to fostering public benefit between Japan and India through tourism, economics, philosophy, and culture.

The growing Indian community in Japan, though modest in size, has played a vital role in fostering trade and cultural exchanges between the two nations, exemplified by figures like Ryuko Hira. The Indo-Japanese trade relationship has evolved into a robust partnership, with Japan being one of India’s largest investors, particularly in infrastructure, technology, and automobiles. India's exports to Japan include textiles, seafood, and chemicals, while Japan’s exports to India focus on machinery, vehicles, and electronics. Figures like Hira have not only bridged economic ties but also fostered mutual respect and cultural integration, underscoring the shared values that strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

Spiritual Values Guiding Business and Philanthropy

A strong advocate for Indian culture and traditional values in Japan, he has established prayer halls across the country where Japanese men and women gather to chant the Vedas and sing bhajans. At these prayer halls, volunteers also prepare 20,000 meals annually to support homeless individuals. Hira explained that all volunteers recite hymns and prayers while cooking, offering blessings for the recovery of the homeless. Having established five prayer halls dedicated to community service, he describes this work as both the passion and mission of his life. In October 2019, Hira organised the foundation stone ceremony for the Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti - Spiritual Centre at Tsumagoi Resort - Sai No Sato. This project aims to enhance cultural exchanges between India and Japan.

[caption id="attachment_57195" align="aligncenter" width="587"] Sri Sathya Sai Prayer Hall in Tokyo[/caption]

Ryuko Hira's journey from Kamlesh Punjabi to a respected figure in Japan shows his commitment to connecting India and Japan in both business and culture. He has made significant contributions to the hospitality industry and engaged in charitable work, promoting Indian spiritual values in Japan. As a businessman, Hira grew his family’s legacy into a successful company, and as a philanthropist, he helped strengthen ties between the two countries. His desire to give back to society, inspired by his faith in Sri Sathya Sai Baba, continues to motivate him. Today, Ryuko Hira is not just a symbol of strong India-Japan relations but also an example of how cultural exchange, humanitarian work, and a life guided by spiritual values can make a difference.

Frank Islam: The Indian American visionary is bridging worlds through philanthropy, leadership and influence

(March 2, 2024) A few years ago, prominent Indian American investor Frank Islam, donated $2 million to his alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University. An ace philanthropist, Islam and his wife Debbie established the Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation in 2007 and have transformed millions of lives with their initiatives. Frank is the chairman, CEO, and founder of FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG). He has served on numerous boards and advisory councils supporting the arts, higher education, and civic engagement, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore Center for the Arts, UN Foundation's Global Leadership Council, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, the U.S. Institute of Peace, American University; Johns Hopkins University, George Mason University; and the University of Maryland Smith School of Business among others. Frank is also the founding chairman of Potomac Charities. In 2022, he was appointed as a member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars by President Joe Biden. A series of striking images featuring Frank Islam alongside prominent world figures such as Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, Narendra Modi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton open the documentary narrating Frank’s multifaceted life. The journey of the investor who is also a

en.

A series of striking images featuring Frank Islam alongside prominent world figures such as Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, Narendra Modi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton open the documentary narrating Frank’s multifaceted life. The journey of the investor who is also a philanthropist, civic and thought leader, author, TV host, political activist, and art connoisseur, immediately captivates viewers' attention.

His powerful words, serving as the background voiceover in the documentary, draw the audience further into his compelling story:

My story can only happen in America, not anywhere else. I was not born with a silver spoon. I grew up in a middle-class family. I always had the desire, joy, and discipline to take risks and become an entrepreneur. I always believe that if you work hard, if you try to aim high you will be successful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmNwExatdnI&t=244s

From Azamgarh to America

Frank's journey began in a quaint village in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Born in 1953 as Fakhrul Islam, he hailed from a religious family of modest means. After completing his high school education in Varanasi, he went on to study at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), an alma mater that he holds in high esteem and fondly refers to as ‘a great influence in his life, his story, and his journey.

During his time at AMU, Frank developed a deep appreciation for education, viewing it as a transformative force that not only provided knowledge and skills but also instilled dignity and hope. His love for education motivated him to go to the United States, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from the University of Colorado in Boulder. There, he also got his name Frank from one of his professors.

From the dusty streets of Azamgarh to Aligarh to America, I crossed the ocean to realize and to achieve and to attain the American dream.

Islam had remarked later in an interview

[caption id="attachment_49591" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam with the US President Joe Biden[/caption]

Taking life in his stride

Despite initial challenges of assimilating into American society, Frank remained grateful for the opportunities the country provided, and excelled with his hard work.

After graduating from university, Frank entered the workforce, gaining experience in various IT companies, while nurturing his ambition to become an entrepreneur. In late 1994, he founded the QSS Group, mortgaging his house to invest in his business. The transition from employee to entrepreneur was daunting at first, but he stayed positive and took the difficulties in his stride.

Under his leadership, QSS Group grew from a one-person operation into a company with more than 3,000 employees’ generating revenues of approximately $300M before its sale.

I started my business in 1994 and those were dark and desperate days of my life. I was only with $500 that I invested into this company, with no insurance, and no place to go. But I believed there was a future. Otherwise, I would’ve never started. So, I was willing to take the risk. And I always believed in taking a risk.

The Indo American visionary said in an interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwOa0U5ktmM

With decades of experience in IT, aerospace engineering services, and systems integration, Frank successfully made a mark for himself and received recognition in the form of the Ernst and Young Award, Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1999 and the U.S. Small Business Administration award in 2001.

He sold QSS Group, and established FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG) in 2007. FIIG specialises in offering growth capital to emerging companies and overseeing specialised and branded funds. Frank's investment approach revolves around pioneering strategies for value creation, often leading the way as an early investor in new economic models.

Creating a powerful network and legacy

Frank Islam has played a significant role in supporting the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden, dedicating time and raising millions in funds. As a member of Hillary Clinton’s finance committee, he personally contributed one million dollars to her campaign.

Politics has designed the landscape of America. This is how capitalism grows as democracy flourishes. And this is how you have a voice that should be heard, and therefore you have a seat on the table, which is very important.

Frank remarked in an interview

He has cultivated robust friendships with a network of leaders from not just politics but also business, education, and the arts.

[caption id="attachment_49593" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam with Barack Obama[/caption]

Matters of the heart - Norton Manor

Frank Islam hosts several charitable events at his residence, 'Norton Manor' which the Global Indian has built with love as a tribute to his adopted country. Drawing inspiration from The Elms of Newport, Rhode Island and many other iconic sites, his mansion's façade boasts grandeur. Inside, the foyer features a domed ceiling reminiscent of the Capitol Rotunda or Statuary Hall, while the hand-painted murals depict Maryland landscapes. Norton Manor’s library has an exact replica of the iconic presidential desk at the Oval office, which has even garnered appreciation from both Biden and Obama who have been for fundraisers at the house.

Situated on a sprawling 10-acre estate in Potomac, one of the richest suburbs of Washington, 'Norton Manor' has several man-made water streams, fountains, and gardens inspired by historical landmarks such as Hampton Court Palace in England and the Rose Garden at the White House. Additionally, the property includes a reflecting pool in the front. Talking about the pool Frank Islam had remarked, "I got the idea from the Presidential Palace in India. The Taj Mahal also has a beautiful reflecting pool. It is indeed very nice in the evening; you can see the reflection of the house in the pool.”

[caption id="attachment_49596" align="aligncenter" width="756"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam's mansion, Norton Manor[/caption]

Love for words – writing, speaking, and broadcasting

Frank is both a prolific writer and influential thinker. He is also the author of books: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013) and Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010). He has been actively sharing his knowledge and expertise through blogs at The Medium, and has contributed to The Huffington Post for a decade. He has also been associated as columnist for publications like Foreign Policy, The International Business Times, and Economic Times, among others. Additionally, the man with a gift of gab has hosted TV shows like the Washington Current Review on FOX 5 News and Washington Calling on South Asia Monitor (SAM).

In 2018, he founded the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship to tackle the growing deficit in civic engagement both in the United States and globally. Redefining citizenship in light of contemporary challenges and opportunities, the institute operates a website and releases a monthly newsletter.

Frank also has a YouTube channel where he hosts talks with leaders of different fields and also shares his speeches given at various business, education, and non-profit events.

[caption id="attachment_49597" align="aligncenter" width="755"] Indian Philanthropist | Frank Islam | Global Indian Frank Islam at the inauguration ceremony of the Frank & Debbie Islam Management Complex[/caption]

Giving Back

Deeply committed to serving his homeland, with the belief that education is the key to eradicating poverty in India, particularly among Muslim minorities, Frank has established a school in Azamgarh in memory of his mother.

Through the Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation, he supports the education of numerous students from Azamgarh at AMU and facilitates job opportunities for AMU students in the United States. His financial contributions to AMU have led to the establishment of the Frank & Debbie Islam Management Complex at the university.

It is my fondest hope, and my deepest desire, to help those who are so voiceless. The conditions that they live in – especially in Azamgarh and Aligarh – break my heart. I want them to have hope, aspirations and dreams.

Frank shared in an interview

For his dedication to philanthropy in education and student support, Frank Islam received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Aligarh Muslim University in 2016, joining esteemed recipients like A.R. Rahman (2009), Dilip Kumar (2002), and the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2008).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvqK2LRBxDY

Significant accomplishments and associations

A conference room at the United States Institute of Peace is named after Frank Islam and his wife, Debbie Driesman
In September, 2013, the then U.S. President Barack Obama had appointed him to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
He has received several awards in his illustrious career - The Indus Entrepreneurs (Tie) Legends Award, Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for International Service, Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame Award, Interfaith Leadership Award, Global Leadership Award, Philanthropist of the Year Award, and the UP Ratna Award (by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, UP, India)
Frank Islam serves on the boards of non-profit organizations like TiE-DC and Strathmore Center for the Arts in Maryland, chairs the StateDemocracy Foundation, and supports the Center for American Progress, a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization in the U.S.

Follow Frank Islam on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and his Website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s success comes from empathy

(June 18, 2022) Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, the American multinational company is well known for leading with empathy. Ironically, it was lack of empathy that had nearly cost him the chance to join the organisation 30 years back. After a full day of interviews with various engineering leaders who tested his intellectual capabilities, Nadella had met the last interviewer of the selection process. Instead of giving him an engineering problem, coding scenario or grilling about his education and experiences the interviewer had asked him; what would he do if he sees a crying baby lying on a street. “I’ll call 911,” was Nadella’s reply. The interviewer was certainly not satisfied and pointed out that Nadella needs to build empathy, as the first thing that would be required in such a scenario is to pick up the baby. “Somehow, I got the job but Richard’s (interviewer’s) words have remained with me to this day. Little did I know then that I would soon learn empathy in a deeply personal way,” writes Nadella in his memoir Hit Refresh. The bestseller has a warm foreword by Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft. Global Indian turns it spotlight on the inspirational success story

" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian turns it spotlight on the inspirational success story of the Indian-origin CEO who lives in Bellevue, Washington.

[caption id="attachment_25810" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella[/caption]

Writing about empathy in his memoir, Nadella remarks

“This unique quality will become even more valuable in a world where the torrent of technology will disrupt the status quo like never before.”

Joining Microsoft at the age of 25 after a short stint at Sun Microsystems, Satya Nadella climbed up the ladder to become the third CEO of the organisation in 2014. To work for a company filled with people who believe they were on a mission to change the world, was his reason to join the organisation in 1992. He never regretted his decision in the last three decades!

Making the best of what life had in store

Satya Nadella had been a good student but not an extraordinary one. “I was not academically that great. I didn’t go to the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IITs),” he mentions while informing in his memoir that he flunked its entrance exam. So, he went on to study at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) instead. The young Nadella wanted to study computer science, but was not able to get into the stream. So, he instead took up electrical engineering with the hunch that it would help him get closer to computers and software. Fortuitously his hunch was right!

[caption id="attachment_25812" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Microsoft past and current CEOs: Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Steve Ballmer on Nadella’s first day as CEO[/caption]

Today, the man who was conferred Padma Bhushan in 2022, is an inspiration to millions. His journey is a strong testament that if one makes the best of what has come one’s way, keep the passion alive for achievements, never let die the dream; then reaching where one intends to be is not impossible.

Leading with purpose

Reminiscing about his organization’s larger purpose Nadella writes:

“Microsoft has always been at its best when it commits personal passion to a broader purpose. Windows Office, Xbox, Surface, our servers and Microsoft Cloud – all of these products have become digital platforms upon which individuals and organizations can build their own dreams.”

Nadella has aligned himself well with his organization’s outlook putting the alchemy of purpose, innovation and empathy at the centre of all that he pursues – from the products that his team launches, the new markets that they enter to the employees, customers and partners they work with.

Childhood passions – cricket and computers

Nadella was born in Hyderabad in a Telugu family. His mother, Prabhavati Yugandhar, was a Sanskrit professor. As a kid, Satya was mesmerised by the charms of cricketers who hailed from the city, and wanted to be a professional cricketer. His father, Bukkapuram Nadella Yugandhar, an IAS officer, however was not keen on Satya playing cricket instead of focussing on his studies. Incidentally, Satya too, struggled to hone his skills in the game beyond a certain level.

So, the junior Nadella started working on a passion that came second on list after cricket – computers. Little did he know that his second-best choice would make him number one in life! Interestingly, the top CEO who is still obsessed with cricket attributes many of his leadership qualities to lessons that he learned as a cricket player.

[caption id="attachment_25815" align="aligncenter" width="761"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Satya Nadella enjoying the game of cricket[/caption]

A 15-year-old Nadella discovered that computer software is one of the most malleable resources after his father gifted him a Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer kit from Bangkok. The youngster realised that he can achieve multiple things with just a few lines of code.

By 1980s, Nadella was already good at writing BASIC code. After completing his B Tech, he headed to United States in 1988 to pursue his master's degree in computer science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. This journey that he made from New Delhi to Chicago on his 21st birthday paved his way to becoming the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies.

A family man

The IT administrator of his family, Nadella has always been particular that technology for entertainment should be limited. As a father of three he has always been negotiating on how many movies, what kind of video games and the likes with his children.

[caption id="attachment_25816" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Satya Nadella with his wife, Anu and son, late Zain Nadella[/caption]

His life changed forever with the birth of his first born, Zain who passed away in February 2022. Zain was born weighing just three pounds, was visually impaired, and had limited communication capabilities. He had been suffering from severe cerebral palsy. This has had a profound influence on lives of both Satya and his wife, Anu. Since his birth, the couple have been leading, thinking and relating to people – all with empathy.

“Ideas excite me. Empathy grounds and centres me" - Satya Nadella

The father who never expected to grapple with such harsh turn of fate, cherishes every moment of his fatherhood nevertheless. The couple who are also childhood friends has been successful in keeping their private life, pretty private.

Life’s lessons transferred to good business decisions

The man who never conducts business as usual, makes use of life’s experiences as raw material for transformation. Many features of Microsoft products have been designed keeping in mind the ease of use by the differently abled for example the company’s new app, Seeing AI, helps people with visual impairment. "They can hold up their phone and it'll 'see' people — interpret their emotions, interpret a menu, cook with a recipe, go grocery shopping, read labels or help them walk into a conference room with confidence " remarked Satya Nadella in one of his interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kexuG-YcQFA

Do you know?

Satya Nadella’s full name is Satya Narayana Nadella
At six, he lost his sister, who was just five-and-half months old
Satya Nadella studied in Hyderabad Public School (HPS). His father wanted him to do his 11th and 12th from an international school in Bangkok. However, Nadella did not budge because he loved HPS too much.
Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, Ajay Singh Banga, CEO of Master Card, Kunal Bahl of Snapdeal are all alumni of HPS, Nadella’s school - a fact that he cherishes.
Years after passing out of Manipal Institute of Technology, Nadella rented a house in Sunnyvale, California with eight of his classmates from the institute, who happened to be there at the same time working in California. Together they recreated their dorm experience from college.
He gave up his Green Card (permanent residency) and went back to H1B (temporary professional worker status), in the initial days of his marriage because his newly-wedded wife’s visa was rejected. Those days visa waitlist for spouses of permanent residents used to be five or more years, while the H1B enabled spouses to stay in US while their husbands or wives were working there.

Follow Satya Nadella on LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 mins

The immigrant triumph: How Neera Tanden became one of the US’ top policy makers

(August 22, 2024) In 1999, the Columbine High School massacre became the deadliest school shooting in the US history at the time. A young Indian-American, Neera Tanden, fresh out of Yale Law School and an aide to President Bill Clinton helped the then-First Lady Hillary draft a policy on school safety. Hillary was impressed, and it marked the blossoming of a close association that would carry on through the decades. It was also a milestone in Tanden's rise to the topmost ranks of the American political landscape. She currently serves as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council of the United States, and works with Cabinet members and White House officials within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Earlier, the Global Indian had served as the Domestic Policy Adviser to US President Joe Biden, working closely with him to craft and implement domestic policy and is the first Asian-American to lead any of the three major White House policy councils. With a decades-long career with think tanks, much of it spent in firm alignment with the Democratic Party and the Clintons in particular, Tanden was named among Elle's 10 most powerful women in DC in 2014

Party and the Clintons in particular, Tanden was named among Elle's 10 most powerful women in DC in 2014 and to Politico's 50 in 2016.

"I owe my presence here to the love and support of my family and to the grit and resilience of my mother." Back in 2021, Tanden described her immigrant story, soon after she became President Biden’s controversial nominee to lead the all-important OMB (Office of Management and Budget). Her story is one of immigrant triumph, of shrugging off stereotypes and finding potential through struggling alone in a foreign land - the legacy that was handed down to Tanden. Today, the Indian-American is one of the US' best known political consultants, who has served as senior advisor and staff secretary to President Joe Biden since 2021. Tanden has also worked on a number of Democratic campaigns over the last two decades, including that of Bill Clinton in 1992 and Barack Obama in 2008.

[caption id="attachment_38422" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Neera Tanden[/caption]

The immigrant struggle

Tanden was born in Bedford, Massachusetts, to Indian parents who had immigrated to the US. Her parents divorced when she was five and as she explained, her mother was "faced with a harsh choice - to stay in the US and learn to survive as a single mother in a foreign country, or return to India, where she would have social support but have to raise her children under the stigma of divorce. She chose the former. "She had faith in this country and made the decision - I believe the courageous decision - to stay," Tanden said.

Life was tough in those days. Tanden recalled relying "on food stamps to eat, and Section 8 vouchers to pay the rent." In school, she was the "only kid in the cafeteria line who used ten-cent vouchers from the Free Lunch Program. I remember using food stamps at the grocery store," she said. A couple of years later, her mother found a job as a travel agent, and the family's circumstances improved, and was able to put Tanden and her brother, Raj, through school. It still meant she would have to work her way through university, which she did. Along the way, she also learned to appreciate her mother's struggles, saying, "My Indian parents always instilled in me a sense that I could go as far as hard work would take me. Since I realised at a very early stage that I did not belong to a family with many connections, I have worked hard to attain the success I have had."

After graduating from Bedford High School in 1988, Tanden went to study at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1988. There, she met the man she would marry, an artist named Benjamin Edwards. She had already found her Progressive leanings and met Edwards when they both joined Michal Dukakis' (unsuccessful) Presidential bid in 1988. From there, she went to Yale Law School, where she served as submissions editor for the Yale Law & Policy Review and graduated in 1996 with a Juris Doctor.

Bonding with the Clintons

[caption id="attachment_38423" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Neera Tanden with Hillary Clinton[/caption]

Tanden joined former President Bill Clinton’s campaign staff in 1992 gaining such a stronghold with the first family, that Hillary Clinton even threw her a wedding shower in the Yellow Oval Room. In 1999, when Hillary Clinton began exploring the possibility of running for the US Senate, Tanden moved with her to New York, becoming a senior staffer in Hillary's Senate office. By the time she became policy director of Hillary’s 20008 campaign, she had long since become one of Washington DC’s most powerful women, an outspoken Progressive voice and a “Clinton loyalist.”

When Barack Obama defeated Clinton in the Democratic primaries in 2008, Tanden did a surprising pivot, joining Obama’s presidential campaign after his victory. Recalling her move to Obama's campaign, she said, "Almost immediately after David Axelrod reached out to me, I reached out to Hillary. And this was literally just days after her concession speech, Hillary said to me, 'I'm going to do everything I can to get Senator Obama elected and I want you to do everything you can."

Tanden was made part of the Obama administration and appointed as a domestic policy director. During his first administration, she worked as senior advisor to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the Health and Human Services department. She was also deeply involved in what was arguably one of the administration's biggest schemes, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In 2010, she also joined the Center for American Progress, where she succeeded another longtime Hillary aide, John Podesta, as the organisation's President and CEO one year later.

Although Clinton and Obama reconciled without too much ill will, Tanden would find herself in a similar dilemma once more in 2016, when Clinton, to whose staff she had returned, stood against Bernie Sanders. At this time, she was heading the liberal thinktank, the Centre for American Progress, and according to GQ, Tanden was "on social media, taking swipes at everyone from Bernie Bros to Shailene Woodley." Political Twitter was on fire that year, in the run-up to the elections and the subsequent victory of Donald Trump. There were a lot of “go back to India” jibes from Trump supporters, although she would admit that the Bernie supporters were much harsher. "It's easier to fight your intellectual and ideological opponents than people you consider intellectual and ideological friends," she remarked. But she participated wholeheartedly in the vitriol - on one occasion, she told Senator Mitch McConnell that he was 'Lord Voldemort'.

The Biden administration

In 2020, Joe Biden, who described Tanden as being "smart as hell," nominated the feisty Indian-American to lead the Office of Management and Budget. It was a controversial nomination, opposed by widely by Republicans. "Yeah, I think they're (Republicans) going to pick a couple of people just to fight (with) no matter what," President Biden told the New York Times in 2021. Although she received the President's staunch support, Tanden requested that her nomination be withdrawn after opposition from Democrat Senator Joe Manchin, who said he would not vote in her favour. One year later, she was appointed as a senior advisor to the president and a few months down the line, in October 2021, was named White House Staff Secretary.

Neera Tanden, with her humble beginnings as the daughter of immigrant parents, has scaled the heights of American political landscape, embodying the resilience and ambition of the Indian diaspora. Her relentless climb up the ranks, from a policy aide to the Domestic Policy Adviser, illustrates the potential that exists within every immigrant's story. Her journey speaks to the resilience of the Indian diaspora in the United States, and her accomplishments solidify her position as a stalwart in the American political arena.

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Six Indians in new list of Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women

(January 7, 2022) As India enjoys the status of being amongst the best-performing large economies across the globe, the finance minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman has an instrumental role to play in this fillip. In the wake of the upcoming budget, all eyes are set on her to give India a further boost. During her busiest time of the year, she has been in news for being listed in Forbes’ world’s 100 most powerful women. This is the fourth consecutive year that the finance minister of India is part of the coveted list. Sitharaman is just one Indian face amongst the other Indian stalwarts that are part of the latest list - Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Roshni Nadar, Falguni Nayar, Soma Mondal, and Madhabi Puri. Apart from the six Indian citizens, Indian- American vice president of America, Kamala Harris enjoys one of the top slots in the list. Global Indian turns the spotlight on these movers and shakers. They were selected on four main metrics – wealth, media, spheres of influence and impact. ‘For political leaders, we weighed gross domestic products and populations; for corporate leaders, revenues and employee counts; and media mentions and reach of all,” stated Forbes,

s the spotlight on these movers and shakers. They were selected on four main metrics – wealth, media, spheres of influence and impact. ‘For political leaders, we weighed gross domestic products and populations; for corporate leaders, revenues and employee counts; and media mentions and reach of all,” stated Forbes, at the time the list was released, in December 2022.

Nirmala Sitharaman

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Government of India

The Indian economist and politician is serving in the minister of finance and corporate affairs since 2019. Born in Madurai, Sitharaman previously served as the Defence Minister of India, becoming the country’s second female defence minister and the second female finance minister after Indira Gandhi. Sitharaman is the first full-time female minister to hold each of the two coveted portfolios.

[caption id="attachment_33593" align="aligncenter" width="787"] Indian leaders | Women | Global Indian Nirmala Sitharaman[/caption]

She is set to present the union budget on February 1 2023 for the fifth consecutive year. India boasts of reaching the $3.8 trillion economy mark under her able leadership. “Between 2020 and today, we seem to have come out to a situation where the challenges continue, newer challenges are also building up but India is seen as an island of a certain level of calm," the finance minister said at a Global Investors' Meet.

Roshni Nadar

Chairperson of HCL Technologies

The Indian billionaire businesswoman and the chairperson of HCL Technologies is the first female entrepreneur to lead a listed IT company in India. She also works as the CEO of HCL Corporation, the holding company of all HCL Group entities. The entrepreneur was raised in Delhi by her parents, Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL, and Kiran Nadar.

[caption id="attachment_33598" align="aligncenter" width="792"] Indian leaders | Indian Women | Global Indian Roshni Nadar[/caption]

Roshni worked in several organisations before joining HCL Group and was associated as a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, prior to becoming the CEO of HCL Corporation. The organisation is scaling new peaks under Roshni’s leadership and is one of the top fifteen global technology companies with a revenue of more than $10 billion. "If you're able to have an entrepreneurial spirit, and more than that, to have an entrepreneurial gut to be able to take risks - with people or with your ideas - I think it shapes you in a very different manner," Roshni said, speaking at a FICCI event.

Madhabi Puri Buch

Chairperson of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

The first woman and non-IAS officer to lead SEBI, chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch has been leading the securities regulatory body since 2017. Madhabi is also the first person from the private sector to be appointed to this position. The SEBI chairperson has been credited with corporatization of the organization to improve efficiency, and other such rapid changes conducive to the growth of the system. “While technology is being used as a tool by fraudsters, we can use the same technology to evade fraud,” she said at an event organised by Indian Audit and Accounts Department.

[caption id="attachment_33599" align="aligncenter" width="832"] Indian leaders | Indian Women | Global Indian Madhabi Puri Buch[/caption]

The Mumbaikar pursued her college education from Delhi, which she followed up with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Starting her career in 1989 with ICICI Bank she has lent her expertise across various profiles in different companies.

Soma Mondal

Chairperson of Steel Authority of India (SAIL)Born and brought up in Bhubhneshwar, Soma Mondal is the first woman to be functional director of SAIL. She also enjoys the distinction of being the first female chairperson of the organisation. After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering from NIT Rourkela, Soma’s 35-year-long career began as a trainee with NALCO. In 2017, she joined SAIL as its director (commercial operations) and rose to Chairperson three years later, in 2020.

[caption id="attachment_33600" align="aligncenter" width="802"] Indian leaders | Indian Women | Global Indian Soma Mondal[/caption]

Mondal has been instrumental in increasing SAIL’s revenue by 50 percent, bringing it to over ₹ one lakh crore after becoming chairperson. Today, she’s a popular and well-respected part of the aluminium industry. “The mantra is to work hard in a focused manner and instead of looking for leadership from the top at all times, create a leader within each of you in every activity of yours,” she said, during an interaction with young executives at the Rourkela Steel Plant.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Executive chairperson and founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited

Born in Bangalore to Gujarati parents, Kiran Mazumdar is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur and a now-familiar face in the Forbes list of 100 Most Powerful Women. She has always worked with the vision of affordable innovation and has made it a driving philosophy to expand Biocon's reach. Motivated by the urge to provide affordable drugs to less-affluent countries, the entrepreneur has tried to develop cost-effective techniques and low-cost alternatives through her Bangalore based organisation.

[caption id="attachment_33601" align="aligncenter" width="729"] Indian leaders | Indian Women | Global Indian Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw[/caption]

One of India’s richest self-made women, Kiran has successfully forayed into the lucrative markets of the west, and runs Asia's largest insulin factory in Malaysia. "You have to work like your life depends on it. You cannot say, let me give it a shot," was her advice to women during an award ceremony.

Falguni Nayar

Founder and CEO, Nykaa

The Indian billionaire businesswoman founded the beauty and lifestyle retail company formally known as FSN E-Commerce Ventures, an acronym of her own name. The Mumbaikar was raised in a Gujarati household and after graduating from IIM-Ahmedabad, worked with Kotak Mahindra for 19 years. Using the $2 million she had earned over the years, she made an investment in her own company. In November 2021, it was listed at a $13 billion valuation soon after going public.

[caption id="attachment_33602" align="aligncenter" width="766"] Indian leaders | Indian Women | Global Indian Falguni Nayar[/caption]

Falguni is the wealthiest female Indian billionaire, with a net worth of more than $6.5 billion – it puts her in the list of India’s top 20 richest people. Reflecting the ethos of the woman at its helm, Nykaa is a celebration of the feminine. “Curiosity will always give you an edge because learning is integral to growth. Whether it's a road less travelled or not, take the path you want to take,” she advised youngsters during her convocation address at Bennett University.

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