Thread by @Neerajasasi

It's a beautiful day to start!@IWS_Network .
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my #story and hope I can do the justice of being part of #IWSVoices
Stay tuned to hear my story!! feel free to pop a question for me!!
#IWS #WomenInSTEM #VoicesIWS #AgriTech #WomeninAg

Hello #Monday!
I would like to re-introduce myself!👩‍🌾 An #agribusiness marketing specialist with experience in leading corporate marketing and internal communication for various #agritech platforms.
💪My journey hasn't been easy but it's worth it."
#VoicesIWS
@IWS_Network

@IWS_Network On the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, I landed on earth🐣; Born to two #progressive thinkers, a Malayalee by heart but brought up in the milk city of India- #Anand.
Who does'nt love #Amul?? Miss it🍫🍧🍨
#VoiceIWS #WomenInStem @IWS_Network

From the early days of growing up, I was taught to be #resilent. A character which my mom👩‍💻 always made it, sure I imbibed in my upbringing
#WomenSupportingWomen #motherlove #VoiceIWS
@IWS_Network

I studied at one of the best 🏫 in town and grateful to some of the best teachers I had met. #English, #Science and #Social science were my favourite subjects. It wouldn't have been possible if there were teachers like Rita mam, Asha mam, Sasi Lekha mam. #VoicesIWS
@IWS_Network

My favourite pastime during those days was running to the library to find 📚. Reading brought me to a new world of #science and #world. Thus the love of reading 🔬🧪🔭 led me to choose science during high school.
🧓👩‍🦰Which book is on your plate today? #VoicesIWS
@IWS_Network

Finally, a day came🎓! I wanted to be #Speechtherapist and help #children with #specialneeds! But destiny and my father had other plans for me👨‍🦰💕
I chose to study #agriculture because of the famous words by the man-'Will keep your heels on the ground'
@IWS_Network #VoicesIWS

I love #Tuesday! Because it just passed moody #monday!
I studied bachelors in #agriculture at Anand agriculture university, #gujarat; I was quite different from my fellow classmates who knew to use secateurs and plowers. #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

Two years passed by and I finally started loving the courses! Being #piscean, choices keep changing👸.
I had decided to do a master's in economics📈 or plant pathology🐛🐜🦋. #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

But then I had an incident which changed my course of life! I had accidentally pippeted a 🧪 during my chemistry exam which affected my esophagus as well as my principles towards #life.
I believed that if I had to do something valuable, then it was #helpingFarmers👩‍🌾👨‍🌾 #VoiceIws

Finally, I chose to do MBA in #agribusiness. It was a new course and very few knew about the scope. As always #different, I was only the one who decided to pursue it among 87 students. Determined to prove that it was my best decision, my journey started! @IWS_Network #VoiceIWS

Happy #Wednesday!😍🎈
After cracking the #ICAR exam for PG studies, I got admission at Aspee Agribusiness Management institute, @NAUOfficial. Those rosy days are unforgettable😍👩🏻‍🌾 #Memories #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

@NAUOfficial @IWS_Network During those days, I realized my inner strengths💪. I started exploring my creative side. I began writing more #poetry and #blogging. I did a lot of #debate competitions and won many prizes. I didn't know then that this was the beginning of my future! #VoiceIWS
@IWS_Network

During my last year at college, I was given the opportunity to work as a freelance translator with @giz_gmbh for two weeks. It changed my direction towards life and my inclination toward #marketing. #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

Soon the mad rush started! Placements began and we were approached by top-notch companies. But I realized the music of the rose period- companies never wanted to take #woman for sales or field marketing roles!#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

To find happiness, focus on what you want! Happy #Thursday😁
I was shortlisted in all of the companies I applied but in end, I would walk out of the door - #dejected
#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

Finally , I decided to bit my teeth in and question the authority! So one of the interviews, I asked the hiring manager, " why do you think woman can't do field marketing or sales?"
A long pause!!! #VoiceIWS #womenpower @IWS_Network

The hiring manager didn't have an answer, so he challenged me that if I could survive in the field for 3 months, he would offer the management role😑. I agreed! Even though we shook our hands, I never got the offer!😌 #WomenInAgritech #Womeninag #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

After a long wait, I got an offer as marketing coordinator with a fertilizer company. I was again challenged by the 🤼 if I could travel 365 days in the field. For 6 months, I travelled across Gujarat and meeting the distributors as well as a sales rep. #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

But something in me wasn't happy! I slowly realized my motto of #helpfarmers wasn't in this job I was doing. Thus I left it to join a startup company @agrostar_in in #PUNE
#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network @TusharB1977 @sharmishtha276 @saneeth007

@agrostar_in @IWS_Network @TusharB1977 @sharmishtha276 @saneeth007 The word #Startup was quite new in those days! If I consider myself successful today, it is because of having mentors like @VrutiMehta @TusharB1977 @ShardulSheth @SitanshuSheth. I feel fortunate that I could create a small impact in #Farmers' lives #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

@agrostar_in @IWS_Network @TusharB1977 @sharmishtha276 @saneeth007 @VrutiMehta @ShardulSheth @SitanshuSheth After 3 Years of working at @agrostar_in, I decided to step up in my personal life. I moved to Bangalore, a fast-paced city and IT-Hub. It was one of the hard decisions for me to leave a job I loved. 😒#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

I had joined another startup in the #PrecisionAg space. #PrecisionAgriculture was quite new and farmers didn't understand the concept. I liked the idea but was never convinced thus I moved on to join @Bayer4Crops_IN as #ContentManager
#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

It was an exciting journey with #Bayer. I was working for a mobile platform for farmers called #FarmRise. It understood the value of #content and providing the correct #agronomy advisory👩‍🌾🌱
#VoiceIws @IWS_Network

I am fortunate that my journey @Bayer4Crops helped me to get a job in #Canada! I am happy that I could create #impact for 3 years with them and had one of the best teams💗#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

In November 2020, I finally landed in #Canada🍁leaving my parents, my sister and brother @shankynov04_dev ..and of course, my 2-year-old nephew was the most difficult part for me!
I landed at peak of winter and was in love with ❄⛄ #CanadaWinter #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

Within a month of landing, I started applying for jobs in #agtech space, I would end up in the last round but then would get the same reply - You don't have experience of Canadian agriculture👩‍🌾! #dejected
#VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

Finally, I was fortunate to meet @Anjanagrajan who guided me and introduced me to @IWS_Network 🤗. I realized that I wasn't alone and didn't need to jump off the bridge! Working as Facebook coordinator with #IWS gave me the confidence to face my Ag Interviews. 🙏 #VoiceIWS

I am happy I could have friends and mentors like @NicoleOrsiBario @PoojashriMishra @Nat_Batista_TO @AnaPdeFaria1 as part of #IWS 🤗💖 #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

After 5 months of hitting the stones in the pool, I finally got the job! I am thankful to @Kenna_CXM for giving me the opportunity and valuing my experience. I am at a happy place now!!🤗💖 #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

During the whole journey, there was a man who always believed in me and never judged my decisions or my stubbornness towards my passion! @madhav_2901 💖🤗 #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

I am also thankful for my guide, Ruchira Shukla whose teachings are always valuable at every step of the way. I am also thankful to my family in this journey who are my backbone! 💗🤗@IWS_Network #VoiceIWS

My journey has been like Shakespeare's seven stages of life. Every day is a new #challenge but if you don't face those challenges, how is a life worthwhile? #Blessed #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

✨For new #immigrants like me, remember to embrace change, accept failures but never forget your #passion and the reason why you landed here! Just wave your hand, you will find one of us in this journey with you🤗 #VoiceIWS @IWS_Network

I hope you all enjoyed my journey! Thank you @IWS_Network for giving me this opportunity to share my #voice in the Voices without Frontier program💗👩‍🌾Let's hope to create more #impactful stories together!
#VoiceIWS #WomenInStem #WomenInAg