Growing up in Gujarat, India, I had a notebook full of business ideas.
Some were probably terrible.
Others, I was convinced, were going to change the world.
I would write them down and bring them to my mom, who would listen patiently as I explained my latest big plan. She never made me feel like an idea was too ambitious or that I was too young to pursue it. Her attitude was simple: If you want to do something, figure out how to make it happen.
My dad is a businessman, too. In fact, he's still running his business today and has absolutely no intention of retiring anytime soon.
Ironically, he never wanted me to follow in his footsteps.
But growing up around his business, listening to his experiences, and watching him navigate challenges taught me lessons I wouldn't fully appreciate until years later.
Today, as I reflect on Diwali, I find myself thinking about how much of who I am, and how I lead Stadium, goes back to those early experiences.
Growing up where everyone is an entrepreneur
Gujarat has a strong entrepreneurial culture. Growing up, it felt like everyone around me was running a business, starting something, or figuring out their next opportunity.
Business was part of everyday conversation. You learned to spot opportunities, solve problems, negotiate, and make things work.
One of the most valuable lessons I absorbed was the ability to do more with less.
I remember watching people reuse a simple plastic bag until they'd gotten every possible use out of it. Things weren't discarded just because something newer or more convenient was available. People found ways to make what they already had go further.
That resourcefulness stayed with me.
When I look at Stadium today, I see that same mentality. We haven't raised enormous amounts of capital, yet we've managed to build and grow a business by being thoughtful about how we use our resources.
Every dollar matters. Every decision matters. Every opportunity to be more creative with what we have matters.
I've come to appreciate that resourcefulness is one of the most valuable skills an entrepreneur can develop. It forces you to think harder, get creative, and find possibilities where others might see limitations.
Finding my voice in a new country
Moving to the United States came with its own learning curve.
There's a funny thing about arriving in a new country. You can speak the language, be well educated, and feel perfectly confident in your abilities, yet find yourself completely confused by an everyday conversation.
I remember ordering a sandwich and being asked if I wanted a pickle.
In India, a pickle means something very different. I couldn't imagine why anyone would want that kind of pickle with a sandwich.
But I said yes. And that was how I discovered the American pickle.
There were countless moments like that. Ordering coffee and struggling to understand a question. Hearing unfamiliar expressions. Occasionally needing someone standing behind me to help translate what should have been a simple interaction.
At first, those differences made me more conscious of how I spoke and whether I was being understood.
Over time, I learned something important: The value of what you have to say matters far more than having a familiar accent or knowing every cultural reference.
I began focusing my energy on the substance of my ideas and the contribution I could make.
That shift helped me find my confidence.
It also helped shape my belief that people should be judged by the ideas they bring, their willingness to learn, and the impact they make.
The leadership lesson my mother taught me
Of all the things my parents taught me, one lesson from my mom has stayed especially close.
Take people's ideas seriously, even when they haven't yet proven themselves.
When I was young, I had no business experience, no credentials, and certainly no track record. But my mom listened anyway.
She encouraged my curiosity and helped me think bigger.
Today, I try to bring that same mindset to Stadium.
I don't believe good ideas belong exclusively to the most senior person in the room, the person with the most impressive résumé, or the person who's been doing something the longest.
Someone with little experience might see a possibility that the rest of us have overlooked.
My responsibility as a leader is to listen, encourage, challenge, and help people develop those ideas.
My dad taught me something equally important, although often through the challenges he experienced in business.
He taught me the importance of protecting what you're building and taking ownership of your decisions.
There will always be people offering opinions about what you should do.
Some advice will be excellent.
Some won't.
Listen to everyone. Learn from everyone. But ultimately, you have to make the decisions you believe are right and be willing to take responsibility for the outcome.
Those two lessons work together in the way I try to lead: Stay open to everyone, but take ownership of your own future.
What Diwali means to me today
When I think about Diwali growing up in India, I think about the days leading up to it just as much as the celebration itself.
We cleaned the house, decorated, put up lights, and prepared to welcome family and friends.
There was excitement in the preparation. Everyone participated. And then came the visits.
We would spend time with relatives, reconnect with family, and visit elders whom we might not otherwise get to see very often.
I especially loved those moments with older family members.
There was so much to learn from people who had lived through experiences you hadn't yet encountered. You listened to their stories, received their blessings, and came away with a little more perspective.
That's probably the part I miss most about celebrating Diwali in India.
As I've gotten older, I've realized how much those traditions shaped my understanding of community.
Diwali was a time to reconnect, express gratitude, learn from one another, and look ahead with optimism.
The tradition of cleaning and preparing our homes also feels symbolic to me now. There's something meaningful about making space, reflecting on what you've experienced, and preparing yourself for what's ahead.
It's something I think we can all benefit from doing more often, in our personal lives and in our work.
A message to anyone with a big idea
If I could offer one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, whether they're from India or anywhere else in the world, it would be this:
Dream big. Give yourself a chance. And don't underestimate what you're capable of.
Growing up in India teaches you a certain kind of persistence. Competition can be intense. Opportunities require hard work. You learn to be resourceful, think on your feet, and keep pushing even when the path isn't straightforward.
Those experiences can become incredible advantages later in life.
And if you're starting over in a new country, learning a new culture, or wondering whether you belong in a particular room, remember that the experiences that make your perspective different can also make it valuable.
I still think about that kid with the notebook full of business ideas.
He didn't know where those ideas would lead. But he had people who believed in him, a community that taught him to be resourceful, and the curiosity to keep imagining what might be possible.
So much of what I carry into Stadium today began there.
This Diwali, I'm especially grateful for the people, experiences, and traditions that shaped me. I'm grateful for the lessons I've inherited, the people I continue to learn from, and the opportunity to pass some of those lessons forward.
And I hope that wherever you are, this season gives you a moment to appreciate the people who helped you become who you are, reflect on how far you've come, and feel excited about everything still ahead.
Happy Diwali.
Shaunak
