593: Hitha Palepu: We’re Speaking - The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris

Hitha Palepu is a woman of multitudes, which is what I loved most about her the first time she came on the show. She is a feminist, a lifelong politics enthusiast, a daughter of immigrants, and a mother raising feminist sons. These multitudes spill into her multi-hyphenated career as an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and speaker.

Hitha’s passion for the news and politics is captured in #5SmartReads, a Webby-honored social series that shares 5 must-read articles every day to keep her community informed without being overwhelmed. I follow Hitha’s #5SmartReads on Instagram as one of my primary sources for diverse, culturally significant, and reliable news resources. Hitha's also has a highly visible longtime blog, Hitha On The Go, which established her as an authority on lifestyle topics and gave way to her book, How To Pack, and collaborations with leading brands such as Headspace, Google, and Northwestern Mutual.

In her “day job”, Hitha is the CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, where she oversees financing, partnerships, and strategy for the company. She is also an investor in innovative companies primarily founded by women and focused on women. She is a sought-after speaker on politics & the news, investing, entrepreneurship, work-life juggle, and motherhood.

Listen in to hear Hitha share:

• The challenges of of balancing an amazing year of professional opportunities while struggling with showing up as a mom, wife, friend, daughter
• Why she decided to write an entire book, We’re Speaking, about Kamala Harris
• Why she wrote We’re Speaking as a play book on how to own your story, be a leader and tell your truth to the world
• The most surprising thing she learned about Kamala - that had absolutely nothing to do with her political journey
• The importance of Kamala’s own mother’s advice about being underestimated: “Don’t let anyone tell you who you are - YOU tell them who you are.”
• The significance of showing up with your own unique sense of style in spite of other people’s opinions - in order to feel powerful and exude confidence
• The truth about being at the top of her career - and owning that it’s not what she thought it would be
• Her advice for moms who want to start to use their voice more often and/or more loudly but don’t know where to start

Links mentioned:

• Join my free business training in November
• Get the book: We’re Speaking by Hitha Palepu
• Hitha on Instagram
• Hitha on Twitter

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