Transplants - Conversations With Women Thriving Abroad #9 From arranged marriage to financial independence | Aneri Desai | India → USA
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Nov 4, 2025 Aneri Desai, a career coach and advocate for immigrant women, reshaped her life after leaving a toxic arranged marriage. She discusses her eye-opening journey from India to the U.S., overcoming 300 job rejections to secure a position in a Fortune 500 company. Aneri shares how her experiences fueled her passion for empowering other immigrant women towards financial independence. She offers insights on the importance of self-worth, support systems, and redefining success beyond traditional expectations.
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Modern Arranged Marriages Are Intentional
- Arranged marriage today often functions like a matchmaking introduction with intention for marriage, not blind unions.
- Parties usually meet multiple times and decide, making modern arranged marriages closer to intentional dating.
A Hasty Match Driven By Fear
- Aneri accepted an arranged match quickly because her mother, who funded her education, feared for her future after a cancer diagnosis.
- The marriage revealed deep value misalignments and she later walked out to save her life.
Airport Night That Changed Everything
- Aneri slept a night at Chicago airport after leaving a toxic marriage with no phone, money, or plans.
- A stranger lent her change and friends later paid for her ticket and tuition so she could restart her life.