Talk Time With Author Falguni

Posted by On April 10, 2025 0 Comment
Pinterest0
Google+0

A trailblazer in the tech world, she comes from a humble Gujarati background where determination and education paved her way. An award-winning CIO and one of Dataquest’s IT Mavericks, she has led transformative digital journeys across industries. Now, she brings that same passion to storytelling through Sheroes Amongst Us, amplifying voices of everyday women heroes. With every story, she bridges the worlds of technology and human resilience. Meet my guest for this session of Talk Time Author Falguni Desai.

Welcome to this session of Talk Time, Falguni ji. Request you to introduce yourself to my readers and share about your education, family and journey in the bookish world.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome—it’s a pleasure to be part of this Talk Time session.

I come from a modest Gujarati family, where both my parents worked—my mother was a principal in a Gujarati-medium school, and my father was the first in our family to become a pathologist. While most people around us took up teaching as a profession, my mother ensured that I had access to an English-medium education and the freedom to choose a career path of my own.

The book world, however, came into my life more recently. Sheroes Amongst Us was born out of a need I deeply felt—of showcasing real, relatable stories of women who’ve quietly overcome enormous challenges and redefined what success looks like. I wanted to create something that people—especially women—could turn to for courage, perspective, and hope. Though I’m from a tech background, storytelling felt like a natural extension of my journey—because what’s more powerful than using stories to create connection and change?

What inspired you to write Sheroes Amongst Us, and how did the idea take shape?

Amazon

For most of my career, I believed that hard work, quality, and integrity were enough. I stayed focused on delivering results, often in the background, not realizing how important visibility and storytelling were becoming in the professional world. As I stepped into senior leadership roles, I saw how powerful stories could be—not just in business, but in connecting people and building impact.

When I met Dr. Amit Nagpal, we began discussing this shift, and the idea for Sheroes Amongst Us took shape—not as a project, but as a platform. A platform to share the voices of real women—many of whom have quietly overcome incredible odds, broken stereotypes, and redefined success on their own terms. For me, the book became a way to not only learn from their journeys, but to ensure others could too. It’s about creating space for women’s stories to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Honestly, I wasn’t looking for big titles or people who were already in the spotlight. I was looking for stories that felt real and relatable—women who had faced their share of challenges, but kept going, who had made something of themselves not necessarily with noise, but with quiet consistency, courage, and resilience.

Some of them were suggested by people who saw them as mentors or role models, others I came across through LinkedIn or just through conversations. What mattered to me was that they had done something meaningful with their lives, whether in the corporate world, as entrepreneurs, in tech, or through social impact work. I didn’t want it to be one-dimensional. I wanted a mix—different ages, industries, life experiences—so that anyone reading the book could find someone they connected with.

And above all, I was drawn to women who took ownership of their story, even when it wasn’t easy. That’s what makes these 32 stand out—not just what they’ve achieved, but how they’ve navigated the journey.

The book highlights women from various fields, from leadership to entrepreneurship and social impact. Was there a common thread that tied their journeys together?

Yes, even though all 32 women in the book come from very different backgrounds—corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, tech, education, and social impact—there was a very clear common thread: they didn’t give up, no matter what came their way.

Some faced personal loss, others had to start from scratch, many battled self-doubt, societal expectations, or just the sheer exhaustion of balancing everything. But what stood out was that they kept moving forward, sometimes slowly, sometimes with a lot of uncertainty—but they chose to not stay stuck.

Another theme that quietly emerged was reinvention. Many of them changed directions mid-career, after motherhood, or post a personal setback. That willingness to start again, to say “this isn’t working for me anymore, and I want something different”—that takes a different kind of strength, and it showed up again and again in these stories. And perhaps most importantly, many of them are now helping others—mentoring, creating opportunities, or just being there for someone else who’s figuring it out. That, for me, was powerful.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while curating and compiling these inspiring stories?

One of the biggest challenges was that these were not just surface-level success stories—they were deeply personal journeys, and many of the women had never spoken publicly about certain parts of their lives before. Getting them to open up meant creating a safe space, building trust, and having conversations that were sometimes emotional, sometimes uncomfortable—but always real.

Another challenge was doing justice to their voices. Each woman had her own way of expressing herself, her own rhythm, and her own lens through which she saw her journey. It wasn’t about editing or polishing—it was about retaining the honesty while shaping the narrative in a way that would connect with readers. That took time, patience, and a lot of back-and-forth. But it was also the most fulfilling part—because with every draft, I wasn’t just compiling stories, I was learning from them too.

Was there a particular story that deeply resonated with you on a personal level? Can you share why?

Yes, there were many stories that moved me, but one that really stayed with me was Annada Ranade’s. Her story of getting married at a young age, stepping into responsibilities before she could fully understand them, and then navigating personal loss while still holding everything together—it really hit home.

What resonated most was her grit over a long stretch of time. Not just one setback or one comeback—but decades of holding on, rebuilding, and not giving up. That kind of quiet strength is often overlooked, yet it’s what so many women carry every single day. It made me pause and reflect on my own life—the things I take for granted, the resilience we build without even realizing it. Annada’s story reminded me that even when life throws the hardest challenges your way, you can still find a way forward with grace and purpose.

How did you balance capturing the emotional depth of each woman’s journey while keeping the narrative engaging for readers?

It was definitely a fine balance. These women were sharing such personal, raw parts of their lives—not just their achievements, but the breakdowns, the doubts, and the tough choices. I felt a lot of responsibility to tell their stories honestly, but also in a way that people could connect with, without feeling overwhelmed.

What helped was thinking of it like a conversation—not an article or a formal profile. I’d ask myself, “If someone was sitting with her over a cup of coffee, what would they take away from this story?” That made it easier to keep it real and emotional, while also letting the strength, the turning points, and the hope shine through. I didn’t want the stories to be just inspirational—I wanted them to feel relatable, like you could see yourself in them. That was the goal.

The book is positioned as a source of mentorship and guidance. What do you hope readers—especially young women—take away from these stories?

What I really want young women to take away from these stories is that there’s no one right way to live your life or build your career. These women didn’t have perfect journeys—some had setbacks, some had to start over, and many felt lost at different points. But they kept going, and they figured it out in their own time and way. That’s the message I hope comes through: you don’t need to have it all sorted—you just need to start.

And just as importantly—you don’t have to do everything, and you don’t have to do it all at once. I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect at work, at home, with friends, with family… and it gets exhausting. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from listening to these women, it’s that you just have to do your best—and that’s enough. Let go of the guilt. It’s okay if not everything gets done, and it’s okay to take time for yourself too. You’re allowed to grow at your own pace.

She said, “I always wanted to write a book, but I never thought my life would be something worth reading about. Yet, here I am, featured in ‘Sheroes Amongst Us,’ an anthology that has not only given me a voice but also shown me that my story matters.”

That really struck me—because it’s exactly why this book exists. So many women don’t realize the power in their own journeys until they see it reflected back at them. For Sarita, and for many others, it wasn’t just about telling a story—it was about reclaiming it. And that, for me, is what made her response so unforgettable.

How do you think Sheroes Amongst Us contributes to the ongoing conversations about gender equality and women’s empowerment?

Sheroes Amongst Us adds to the conversation on gender equality by showing that real empowerment comes from real stories. These aren’t celebrities or people with huge platforms—these are women who’ve faced challenges, picked themselves up, and made something meaningful out of their journeys. And that’s what makes the book powerful.

It’s not just about celebrating success—it’s about showing what goes on behind it. The doubts, the pressure, the juggling, the moments where they almost gave up. And yet, they kept going. I feel like when we hear stories like these, it helps us believe that we’re not alone, and if they could do it, maybe we can too. That’s the kind of honest inspiration we need more of in conversations around equality and women’s growth.

 As authors, how have these stories influenced your own perspectives on leadership and resilience?

These stories have definitely changed the way I look at leadership and resilience. Earlier, I used to associate leadership with positions, decision-making, or driving big outcomes—but after listening to these women, I’ve come to see that true leadership is often quiet. It’s in the way they’ve handled personal setbacks, started over when no one believed in them, or simply kept going even when no one was watching.

Resilience, too, isn’t always dramatic. It’s in the day-to-day choices—to show up, to stay committed, to not give up when it gets tough. What struck me most was how many of these women didn’t even think they were doing anything special. And yet, their stories have so much power. It reminded me that you don’t need to have it all figured out or be at the top to lead or to inspire. You just need to be real, keep going, and stay true to yourself. That’s the biggest learning I’m carrying with me.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to document real-life success stories?

The first thing I’d say is — listen with empathy, not with an agenda. When you’re documenting real-life stories, especially of success, you’re not just collecting facts or timelines. You’re stepping into someone’s personal space, and that requires trust. People open up when they feel heard, not judged.

Second, don’t try to make the story “perfect.” Real stories have pauses, stumbles, and unfinished threads — and that’s what makes them powerful. Your job as a writer is to honour the voice of the person, not to fix it or polish it too much.

And finally, stay patient. Sometimes people share something deeply emotional and then go silent, or they take time to open up fully. Let the story unfold at its own pace. If you stay honest and respectful, the story will find its way through.

Do you have any plans for a follow-up book or a similar project that continues this journey of storytelling and empowerment?

Yes, the thought of doing a follow-up or something similar has definitely crossed my mind. But at this point, I really want to pause and understand the impact this book is having on people. Are the stories resonating? Are they helping someone feel seen or inspired? That matters to me more than just jumping into the next thing.

If the response continues to be meaningful, and we see that these stories are truly making a difference, then yes—I’d love to take that forward, whether it’s through another book, a digital format, or even a different kind of platform for storytelling. But for now, I’m focused on listening, reflecting, and letting this book have its moment.

Describe Falguni Desai- In one line.

I make sense of the world through patterns, empathy, and stories—which helps me listen better, solve more meaningfully, and stay grounded in what truly matters.

 

TOPICS