Community is the foundation on which success is built. A strong support network opens opportunities and helps us overcome even the most challenging adversity.

On this episode, I’m joined by Mamta Patel Nagaraja, Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to explore her unconventional journey from a small town in Texas to a prominent role at NASA.

About Indianness:
Indianness is a vibrant community for Indian Diaspora changemakers. We aim to foster engagement, collaboration, and mentorship through our platform. Our mission is to capture the inspirational stories of our community while creating opportunities for all our members through

Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction
00:16 The value of making decisions based on available information.
06:06 Overcoming academic and social challenges in school.
12:21 The drive for academic excellence and early leadership roles.
27:33 Critical decisions and sacrifices made in pursuit of becoming an astronaut.
30:25) The importance of following rules and the impact of small decisions.
33:28 Dealing with rejection and finding new dreams after setbacks.
41:08 Visualization and storytelling as techniques for dreaming new dreams.
50:59 The importance of empathy, listening, and making thoughtful decisions.
57:16 The impact of 9/11 on personal safety and awareness.

Resources Mentioned:
Mamta Patel Nagaraja –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamtapatelnagaraja/
NASA | LinkedIn –
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nasa/
NASA | Website –
https://www.nasa.gov
Mamta Patel Nagaraja –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamta_Patel_Nagaraja

About your host
Sanjay Puri is a recognized authority on US-India relations. He serves as the Chairman of the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a national, bipartisan political action committee representing Indian-Americans. He is also the founder of the Alliance for US India Business (AUSIB), an organization dedicated to strengthening economic ties between the US and India. He is also a successful technology entrepreneur, mentor and investor.

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