Meenu Gupta
Mrs Asia USA
California, USA
California, USA
An exclusive interview of Mrs. Asia USA Meenu Gupta by Gurbeer Singh Chawla
I AM A HUGE BELIEVER THAT “CONFIDENCE IS SELF TAUGHT” IF YOU ARE PERSISTENT AND WORK HARD
My biggest challenge was time management and being able to manage my job, kids, family and pageant practice.
You are highly educated and having number of educational degrees, our readers would like to know about your educational achievements?
Growing up with scarce resources, my parents worked hard to teach me diligence, dedication, and charity which inspired me to excel in school, garner scholarships through my MBA in the U.S., and serve others. I have been a scholar throughout my educational journey. Right from elementary to highschool, I have been a gold medalist in my class and a scholarship winner in college. I have done two masters including an MBA in finance from Seattle University, Washington and that too sponsored by my company and my master’s degree in India was paid fully by ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) scholarship.You are an IT Professional in Microsoft.
Growing up with scarce resources, my parents worked hard to teach me diligence, dedication, and charity which inspired me to excel in school, garner scholarships through my MBA in the U.S., and serve others. I have been a scholar throughout my educational journey. Right from elementary to highschool, I have been a gold medalist in my class and a scholarship winner in college. I have done two masters including an MBA in finance from Seattle University, Washington and that too sponsored by my company and my master’s degree in India was paid fully by ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) scholarship.You are an IT Professional in Microsoft.
Pls tell us your success story after initial education to be a part of Microsoft?
I am a huge believer that “Confidence is self taught” if you are persistent and work hard. Fake it until you make it! I personally love 3 step further thinking and the best collaborative attitude possible at work. I started my career as a business analyst who would write codes to assess company’s revenue and costs. I would practice for hours in front of the mirror until I felt confident. With my attitude to help others and drive to learn, I started getting promoted every other year and from a business analyst to now, i am a leader at Microsoft who leads a billion dollar Xbox business with a large team. Today, when I hire someone for my team, I also look for the right attitude, willingness to learn and 3 step further thinking.
I am a huge believer that “Confidence is self taught” if you are persistent and work hard. Fake it until you make it! I personally love 3 step further thinking and the best collaborative attitude possible at work. I started my career as a business analyst who would write codes to assess company’s revenue and costs. I would practice for hours in front of the mirror until I felt confident. With my attitude to help others and drive to learn, I started getting promoted every other year and from a business analyst to now, i am a leader at Microsoft who leads a billion dollar Xbox business with a large team. Today, when I hire someone for my team, I also look for the right attitude, willingness to learn and 3 step further thinking.
What is the important struggle period in your life?
It was my childhood, especially until I went to college. My father earned $100 to $200 per month as an accountant in a small sugar factory in a super small town in Uttranchal and we would live in a one bedroom government quarter. My kitchen used to be my study area as I would wake up at 4AM in the morning and study until everyone wakes up. I didn’t have fancy clothes, my own room, luxury to go on vacation or fancy english medium schools to study but what I had back then was passion, diligence and persistence to do better and make my family proud and change the status quo. I didn’t feel pretty back then so I chose to excel in education to draw attention and differentiate myself from others. Today I realized that confidence is mightier than make up so wear confidence if you want to feel pretty.
It was my childhood, especially until I went to college. My father earned $100 to $200 per month as an accountant in a small sugar factory in a super small town in Uttranchal and we would live in a one bedroom government quarter. My kitchen used to be my study area as I would wake up at 4AM in the morning and study until everyone wakes up. I didn’t have fancy clothes, my own room, luxury to go on vacation or fancy english medium schools to study but what I had back then was passion, diligence and persistence to do better and make my family proud and change the status quo. I didn’t feel pretty back then so I chose to excel in education to draw attention and differentiate myself from others. Today I realized that confidence is mightier than make up so wear confidence if you want to feel pretty.
What were the challenges and experience for winning the prestigious international title of Mrs Asia USA?
This entire journey was full of challenges and learning experiences for me. Since I live in Seattle, Washington and the pageant was in California, the biggest challenge was to travel, make time from work, family to learn the skills and also build allyship since it was a whole new venture in a whole new place. Being a geek at Microsoft, I always had a deeper desire to be a fashionista but I just didn’t know how. Day one, as I walked into this humongous room of 60 delegates, I was telling myself, what’s my chance to win and the next thought was that what do I have to lose and that’s when I decided that I will move forward. I would wake up at 5AM, work out for an hour and start my work at 7Am and finish at 4PM. Then I am on my 6 inches heels to practice my walk via online coaching, for hours. Right after that, I am in my kitchen, cooking and chatting with my family and right before we go to bed, me and hubby making monthly plans. I would travel to california almost every other weekend for my pageant coaching and grooming sessions and rest of the time I am either working, hunting for designers for my gowns and national costumes.My biggest challenge was time management and being able to manage my job, kids, family and pageant practice. I don’t recall sleeping more than 6 hours for 3 months as I was prepping for the pageant. I also remember that 10 days into the pageant, my national cosyume’s backdrop got stuck in shipment and I had to find my designer and rebuild it here in the US. It was all worth it as I reflect back now.
This entire journey was full of challenges and learning experiences for me. Since I live in Seattle, Washington and the pageant was in California, the biggest challenge was to travel, make time from work, family to learn the skills and also build allyship since it was a whole new venture in a whole new place. Being a geek at Microsoft, I always had a deeper desire to be a fashionista but I just didn’t know how. Day one, as I walked into this humongous room of 60 delegates, I was telling myself, what’s my chance to win and the next thought was that what do I have to lose and that’s when I decided that I will move forward. I would wake up at 5AM, work out for an hour and start my work at 7Am and finish at 4PM. Then I am on my 6 inches heels to practice my walk via online coaching, for hours. Right after that, I am in my kitchen, cooking and chatting with my family and right before we go to bed, me and hubby making monthly plans. I would travel to california almost every other weekend for my pageant coaching and grooming sessions and rest of the time I am either working, hunting for designers for my gowns and national costumes.My biggest challenge was time management and being able to manage my job, kids, family and pageant practice. I don’t recall sleeping more than 6 hours for 3 months as I was prepping for the pageant. I also remember that 10 days into the pageant, my national cosyume’s backdrop got stuck in shipment and I had to find my designer and rebuild it here in the US. It was all worth it as I reflect back now.
What are your priorities for your social work in India as Mrs Asia USA?
So far working very closely with ASHA foundation in India for child education. Working on an event for them for fundraising. Also working with Maiti Nepal in Nepal for women trafficking, TRIFC in Nepal and supporting the physically challenged people. I provide a platform to these organizations to help them with 360 degree support to amplify their reach to the needy people. I plan to visit India and Nepal this year to meet these organizations and my entire field team who work tirelessly with the marginalized people.
So far working very closely with ASHA foundation in India for child education. Working on an event for them for fundraising. Also working with Maiti Nepal in Nepal for women trafficking, TRIFC in Nepal and supporting the physically challenged people. I provide a platform to these organizations to help them with 360 degree support to amplify their reach to the needy people. I plan to visit India and Nepal this year to meet these organizations and my entire field team who work tirelessly with the marginalized people.
How do you manage your professional work and family responsibilities?
It does take discipline, consistency, time management, passion and huge support from my family to really make it work. Its 8.46PM right now, my husband has taken both my kids to their gymnastics class and I am here in my office room, writing my answers to your questionnaire after finishing my work, cooking food and having dinner with my family.
It does take discipline, consistency, time management, passion and huge support from my family to really make it work. Its 8.46PM right now, my husband has taken both my kids to their gymnastics class and I am here in my office room, writing my answers to your questionnaire after finishing my work, cooking food and having dinner with my family.
What is your message to upcoming beauty talents from India who want to make a career in this field ?
I would say, if you have the real passion and fire in you, just jump on it. You have nothing to lose but so much to gain and that experience is priceless. Even if you don’t win the crown, you make so many amazing connections that you end up getting amazing projects. Trust me, the moment you start your journey with beautiful intentions, the universe also conspires for you!
I would say, if you have the real passion and fire in you, just jump on it. You have nothing to lose but so much to gain and that experience is priceless. Even if you don’t win the crown, you make so many amazing connections that you end up getting amazing projects. Trust me, the moment you start your journey with beautiful intentions, the universe also conspires for you!
Who inspired you most in your life?
My father. He used to say “Beta agar hamari tarah life bitani hai, to kuchh mat karo, par agar, kahin pahunchna hai to, apni strength pahchano aur aage bado”. I used to be very dark skin girl and didn’t feel pretty back then with such low self confidence. My dad taught me whatever you do, do it in a way that no one has ever thought of doing it. Do it the best way. Excel in education and make that your strength so people recognize you for your strength.What lessons Corona has given to the world for health awareness.
My father. He used to say “Beta agar hamari tarah life bitani hai, to kuchh mat karo, par agar, kahin pahunchna hai to, apni strength pahchano aur aage bado”. I used to be very dark skin girl and didn’t feel pretty back then with such low self confidence. My dad taught me whatever you do, do it in a way that no one has ever thought of doing it. Do it the best way. Excel in education and make that your strength so people recognize you for your strength.What lessons Corona has given to the world for health awareness.
What is the importance of mental health in the present healthcare scenario?
Flexibility in life is extremely important. If there was no corona, I wouldn’t be able to go to the pageant at all. COVID gave me flexibility so I could invest time and energy for my pageant. So embrace the change, don’t complain and see how can you leverage that change in to your benefitMeenu ji, you are always energetic and fit.
Flexibility in life is extremely important. If there was no corona, I wouldn’t be able to go to the pageant at all. COVID gave me flexibility so I could invest time and energy for my pageant. So embrace the change, don’t complain and see how can you leverage that change in to your benefitMeenu ji, you are always energetic and fit.
what is the reason behind it?
I usually don’t have dedicated time to work out but I try to do exercise almost every day. Sometimes, when I cook, I do squats or jumping jacks. or simply run with my kids in the park. But I try to create a routine and stick with that no matter what.
I usually don’t have dedicated time to work out but I try to do exercise almost every day. Sometimes, when I cook, I do squats or jumping jacks. or simply run with my kids in the park. But I try to create a routine and stick with that no matter what.
What are your targets in life?
Immediate next step is to help others via my charity projects specially in 3rd world countries. Other than that, I value my family time a ton so outside of work and my social projects, family is the priority.
Immediate next step is to help others via my charity projects specially in 3rd world countries. Other than that, I value my family time a ton so outside of work and my social projects, family is the priority.
