Meet Aneri Desai | Career Coach for Immigrants

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aneri Desai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aneri, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I immigrated to the United States to attend business school with hopes and dreams but soon landed in toxic arranged marriage. One day I finally found the courage to walk out but I had nowhere to go. I felt emotionally and financially dependent on others. That day I promised myself that I would find my voice, build my identity and do everything in my power to create opportunities for other immigrant women to be financially independent. My job search journey was challenging. I received over 270 rejections before I landed my first corporate job.

After 8 years working with Fortune 500 companies in leadership roles, I decided to follow my dream of empowering immigrant women.

Immigrant/expat women are smart and courageous but some of us may not know how to toot our own horn, take ownership of our career and stand out in a competitive job market in a foreign land. I help job seekers feel confident in navigating their job search successfully. Through my work, I am empowering immigrant women to return to work after 5-10 years of career break, double their salaries, buy their dream homes, pay off their student loans, retire their parents and/or build generational wealth. When one woman lands her dream job, it elevates many lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a career coach for immigrant women living in North America. I offer personalized 1:1 coaching to international students and immigrant women looking for their first job, first promotion of trying to return to the workforce after a career break. I provide step by step guidance on gaining career clarity, crafting a powerful resume and professional brand, building a professional network, cracking job interviews and negotiating salary. In the last 3 years, my mentees have landed over $25 Million in job offers in North America. What started as a side hustle has converted in to nearly 7-figure business in a short span. The journey to get here was not easy and involved 50-60 hours of weekly work and late night shifts. I was overwhelmed and considered getting a job. I overcame these challenges by working with right mentors who strategically guided me on people, processes, product and pricing. I streamlined my business operations and hired my first full-time team member. The biggest lesson I learned along the way is investing in my growth by working with mentors. It expedited my growth.

My brand story: I immigrated to the United States to attend business school with hopes and dreams but soon landed in toxic arranged marriage. One day I finally found the courage to walk out but I had nowhere to go. I felt emotionally and financially dependent on others. That day I promised myself that I would find my voice, build my identity and do everything in my power to create opportunities for other immigrant women to be financially independent. My job search journey was challenging. I received over 270 rejections before I landed my first corporate job.

After 8 years working with Fortune 500 companies in leadership roles, I decided to follow my dream of empowering immigrant women.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploration

Morning: Start your day with brunch at Mama’s on Washington Square in North Beach.
Afternoon: Walk off your brunch by strolling through the iconic neighborhoods of North Beach, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Don’t forget to snap some pictures at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point.
Evening: Head to the Mission District for dinner at Tacolicious followed by drinks at El Techo for rooftop views and margaritas.

Day 2: Golden Gate Park and Museums

Morning: Grab breakfast at Tartine Bakery in the Mission.
Daytime: Spend the day exploring Golden Gate Park. Visit the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, and the Japanese Tea Garden.
Evening: Have dinner at Nopa and then catch a show at The Fillmore or a performance at the San Francisco Symphony.

Day 3: Sausalito and Marin Headlands

Morning: Take a ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito and enjoy breakfast at Le Garage overlooking the bay.
Daytime: Rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge into the Marin Headlands. Explore the trails and enjoy breathtaking views of the city skyline.
Evening: Return to Sausalito for dinner at Scoma’s and watch the sunset over the bay.

Day 4: Wine Country Excursion

Morning: Take a guided tour to Napa Valley or Sonoma for a day of wine tasting.
Daytime: Visit a few wineries and enjoy tastings paired with local cheeses and charcuterie.
Evening: Return to San Francisco and have a late dinner at Zuni Café in Hayes Valley.

Day 5: Exploring the Embarcadero

Morning: Have breakfast at Ferry Building Marketplace and explore the artisanal food vendors.
Daytime: Visit the Exploratorium for interactive exhibits and hands-on science activities.
Afternoon: Take a ferry to Alcatraz Island and tour the infamous prison.
Evening: Have dinner at Waterbar or Epic Steak for seafood with views of the Bay Bridge.

Day 6: Hiking and Beach Day

Morning: Grab breakfast at Devil’s Teeth Bakery in the Outer Sunset.
Daytime: Head to Lands End for a hike along the coastal trails with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Afternoon: Relax at Ocean Beach and soak up some sun.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at Cliff House overlooking the ocean.

Day 7: Farewell Day

Morning: Have a leisurely brunch at Plow in Potrero Hill.
Daytime: Spend your last day shopping in Union Square or exploring the shops and galleries in the Mission District.
Evening: End your trip with a farewell dinner at Gary Danko in Russian Hill, indulging in exquisite French-inspired cuisine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My spouse deserves a shoutout and recognition in my story. In 2021, I made courageous decision to leave my high paying full-time job to follow my calling to help immigrant women become financially independent. I hesitantly shared this with my spouse and also told me that I might or might not make any money in initial months of starting my business. My spouse told me, ” If you are passionate about this then go for it. I have got your back.” He is a business owner and equally passionate about making a difference in the community through his work. As my business started scaling, he offered to be a stay at home dad to take care of our little one. I want to wholeheartedly recognize my spouse’s support and encouragement in my success.

Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey. I got an opportunity to work with great mentors and coaches along the way who helped me start, streamline, and scale my business and the journey wouldn’t be the same without their guidance. My mentor and my spouse played a key role in my decision of leaving my 8-5 job and dedicate full-time to my business.

Last but not least, my incredible team and my 300+ amazing clients who took a leap of faith to work with me and allowed me to be a small part of their story.

Website: https://www.aneridesai.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aneridesaipatel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneridesai2/