07: You’re Good Enough To Do This Work with Karthika Gupta

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I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with my dear friend and a talented photographer Karthika Gupta.

Karthika is a lifestyle, culture and travel photographer originally from Bombay India, now based in Chicago. Karthika is also the founder of Culturally Ours, a platform and podcast exploring food, art, travel, and culture from around the world through retreats, narrative stories, and conversations. Karthika left a corporate MBA career to become a photographer and her story is one of bravery and determination to go all in once the decision was made.

In this episode, Karthika reminds us how important it is to find a community and support when we're starting on a new creative path and why building up self-worth, believing you're good enough, and calling yourself a photographer, even when you don't yet believe, it is one of the best things you can do for your career.

“I slowly started feeling more confident, learning my craft, and understanding that I do have a creative eye and I do see things a little differently. And I realized that my work doesn't have to please everybody under the sun. So I started calling myself a photographer and a podcaster and that made all the difference... So it's like, being more comfortable in your skill and your skin to confidently say who you are and what you do.”

Want to know how you can start publishing your travel stories? Download my step-by-step guide to publishing your stories and start sending your ideas out into the world!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • [04:02] How Bombay is the “City of Dreams,” with brilliant energy and community

  • [05:21] The value of strong support systems when growing up

  • [10:52] The typical paths for womxn in India

  • [12:24] Karthika’s educational journey in the United States

  • [17:01] How being an immigrant influenced Karthika’s career decisions

  • [23:23] On having bravery to quit a corporate career

  • [24:55] How a series of serendipitous moments sparked Karthika’s journey into becoming a photographer and entrepreneur

  • [26:33] The challenges of building a business as a womxn

  • [28:41] The importance of finding a community to lean on when starting a business

  • [33:10] How Karthika began getting clients before she was ready

  • [35:58] Karthika shares her journey towards self-worth

  • [40:56] We chat about Culturally Ours, and why Karthika felt it was important to create a space for building connection across cultures

  • [44:19] Karthika reflects on words of advice she would offer her younger self

  • [49:10] Karthika’s closing thoughts on building resilience

Featured on the show:

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