A Leap of Faith: The Immigrant’s Dream

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'In Main Frame - the glorious moment when Shri Narendra Modi, the Indian PM shared a stage with Mr. Anthony Albanese, PM of Australia along with 60,000 South Asians capturing the moment in Sydney May 2023'.

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Moving to a new country is never just a geographical shift—it’s an emotional, cultural, and professional reset. For South Asians immigrating to Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, or other Western nations, this move often means leaving behind lucrative careers, strong social networks, and deeply rooted cultural ties to embrace a future of uncertainty but also boundless opportunity.

For many, the decision is driven by the dream of a better work-life balance, career growth, world-class education for children, and a safer, more progressive environment for their families. Yet, the road to settling in a new country is filled with challenges—especially for immigrants in their 40s, who find themselves starting fresh while ensuring stability for their families.

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My Story: Starting Over in Australia

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I speak from personal experience. Moving to Australia with my wife and two kids post-COVID was one of the biggest decisions of my life. While Australia was my wife’s home country, I had spent my career deeply entrenched in the South Asian sports, entertainment, and media industry. Leaving behind a well-established career and network wasn’t easy, but we knew we were making the move for a better quality of life, more family time, and long-term opportunities.

The journey was not without its hurdles—finding the right schools, extracurricular activities, adjusting to a new work culture, and re-establishing my career took time. But with patience, adaptability, and a partnership approach with my wife, we built a new life. Today, she is a Consulting Content Head for Australian Event Companies, while I have built The Chaos Drop, a Desi Pop Culture magazine now loved and read by thousands globally, alongside my continued consulting work in Dubai, India, and Australia.

If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that immigrants bring with them resilience, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial spirit that can lead to incredible success in their new home.

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The Challenges & Triumphs of Immigrating in Your 40s

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For those moving abroad later in life, the challenges are unique:

• Starting Over in Your Career – Many South Asians leave behind high-paying jobs and senior positions to enter a new job market where they might have to start at a different level or switch industries.
• Finding Community & Cultural Belonging – While new environments offer diversity, building a new support system from scratch can feel overwhelming.
• Raising Kids in a New Education System – Understanding the schooling structure, extracurriculars, and balancing cultural identity becomes a priority.
• Navigating Immigration & Legal Frameworks – Adjusting to visa rules, taxation, home ownership laws, and work permits requires a learning curve.

Yet, South Asians thrive in every part of the world they migrate to. With perseverance and a strong sense of identity, many immigrants go on to build businesses, lead corporations, and enrich their new home country with their expertise and culture.

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What we did; How to Settle In & Build Your Life as a New South Asian Immigrant

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1. Become a Part of the South Asian Community

• My wife pushed me to become a Dad Coach at my 6 year olds Soccer club, from Carlton Rovers FC to helping Oately FC, playing with San Souci and now our youngest son plays the Pro Junior Development League U9s in the First Division at Canterbury Bankstown FC. I have made some of my best relationships with Dads across communities, Terry Hassan who is a commercial real estate agent in NSW, another Lead Dad coach and father of two amazing children is one of our closest family friends in our new home country.
• You have to attend Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan & Nepali festivals like Diwali, Eid, Holi, Baisakhi, Onam, and Navratri celebrations held across major cities.
• Join local South Asian organizations, business networks, and cultural groups to connect with people who have walked the same path.
• Participate in community sports like cricket, kabaddi, or South Asian dance groups to meet like-minded individuals.
• Make friends with other communities and your children will give you a headstart before you know it.

2. Respect & Adapt to the Laws & Culture of Your New Home

• Every country has its rules on taxation, workplace ethics, driving laws, and social etiquette—learning them early helps in smoother integration.
• Be open to diverse perspectives, work environments, and lifestyle changes, while still keeping your cultural roots alive.

3. Build a Career or Start a Business in Your New Country

• If continuing in your original field is difficult, consider upskilling, taking certification courses, or exploring new industries.
• Many South Asian immigrants become entrepreneurs, launching successful startups, restaurants, and tech businesses catering to both local and diaspora audiences.
• Leverage your South Asian network worldwide—your experience and connections from home can still help you succeed in a new market.

4. Keep the Bigger Picture in Mind: Why You Moved in the First Place

• Many South Asians move abroad for better career growth, financial security, and improved family time.
• Despite challenges, remind yourself that this move was about progress, stability, and new possibilities.
• It’s normal to miss home, but remember—you’re now part of a global South Asian diaspora that is reshaping industries, businesses, and cultural spaces worldwide.

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South Asians are Shaping the World

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While every immigrant carries their love for their homeland in their heart, South Asians today are at the forefront of building global empires, running successful startups, and leading Fortune 500 companies.

Names like Bipen Sharma, Sundar Pichai, Leena Nair, Indra Nooyi, and our favourite Kiwi of the moment Rachin Ravindra (the rising New Zealand cricket star of Indian origin) prove that South Asians are no longer just adapting to new countries—they are leading them into the future.

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A Global Identity, A Stronger Future - Your journey is worth it.

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To all new immigrants, whether you’ve just arrived in Sydney, Auckland, Toronto, Dubai, or London—know this: your journey is worth it. The process of building a new home, a new career, and a new support system takes time, but it’s a journey filled with opportunity, growth, and resilience.

Yes, you will always carry memories of home, but today, home is not just where you were born—it’s where you build your future. And for every South Asian immigrant making a new country their own, the world is watching—and taking notice.

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Here’s to your new beginnings, new friendships, new work, to the road ahead, and to the incredible journey of being a global South Asian.

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