Hello Rachel. Thank you for participating in this Q&A session. We would like to start by exploring your origin story. Please give us an overview of your background and career milestones?
Rachel: I was born in India. My mother died two days after giving birth, then I was adopted by a wonderful family. I am an Indian Jewish American Woman. I have had many careers in my life and learned from all of them. I have many career dreams and I am working on all of them. I am an Author, a public speaker and a social media influencer. My goal is to leave a footprint of positivity in this world.
Why did you transition from a career as a Photographer to an Author?
Rachel: I took time off to go back to University and to finish my degree. It was extremely important for me to do that. I minored in Psychology and Gender studies. The idea of becoming an author came from a very close friend of mine.. she felt that I had a story inside of me.
What key challenges have you faced in life/career and how did you navigate them?
Rachel: I have faced many challenges in my life.. and I wish them on no one. I had battled a disease called Endometriosis for over 20 years. I have dealt with racism a huge part of my life. I use my voice to end racism in this world. I have PTSD and I use my voice for mental health. I navigate all my challenges by having a positive outlook in life. It is a conscious choice that I make everyday.
What originally attracted you to the Influencer Industry and why?
Rachel: I learned to use my voice in a positive way. I realized that I wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. I want to take this world forward.
How did you build a following of 255k on LinkedIn?
Rachel: I did it with a lot of help and I am grateful for the ones that have supported me on my journey. I have incredible mentors and I love them dearly. I love my network! Now, I am trying to pay it forward to others! We can light the candles in others! We just have to choose to do that!
How would you describe the content you create on LinkedIn?
Rachel: I use my writing and I produce a show on Linkedin. The show is to highlight people in my network. The goal with the show is to motivate and inspire my network. I introduce them to experts in their fields and they share their knowledge!
What process do you go through to ensure that the content you post is ethically considerate?
Rachel: I am a team of one and I am deeply conscious of every word that I put into this world.
We would like to talk about your role as an Author. Firstly, what is the origin story behind your author name V. Lakshmi?
Rachel: V.Lakshmi was my birth name, I wanted to honour my Indian roots. I wanted to honour my biological parents.
Your first book is titled - “Finding Your Way When Life Changes Your Plans: A Memoir of Adoption, Loss of Motherhood and Remembering Home”. Please tell us what this book is about and who is your target audience?
Rachel: The book is my true story. The book is for everyone. Their are many topics that many people will relate too.
Are you currently working on another book and what is it about?
Rachel: I am working on another book. It is a continuation of the second book. I dive deeper and share more many things that occurred after writing the first book. It is my life's story... continued.
Before concluding this interview, what advice do you have for entrepreneurs and business leaders, on how to create engaging content on LinkedIn?
Rachel: It is extremely important to create content. You have to market your business in this environment. You need to stand out in a flooded market.
People need to create original content! They need to ask themselves: Are their post boring? Will people want to engage with them? Would they want to read their own posts? Are they providing value to their audience? They should be able to answer all these questions above.
Thank you Rachel for participating in this Q&A session, and we wish you all the best. Rachel: You are most welcome! Thank you so much for having me! I wish you continued success!