đź“– 8-minute read
To say that Vaishnavi “Vaish” Hatrote ’22 has been a hustler all through her life could very much be an understatement. By day, Vaish is a Chemical Engineering graduate student at UB who started a women-owned social enterprise back in her hometown in Belagavi, India. By night, Vaish is an international yoga champion turned certified yoga trainer. Vaish is a walking example of Jill of all trades, and her life is as impressive as they are inspiring.  Not only is she a driven, dedicated, talented female leader, but Vaish is also a genuine, caring, and compassionate individual who has demonstrated a high level of grit along the way. In 2021, Vaish was awarded the Ascend Leadership Foundation Scholarship, sponsored by Synchrony Financial, in recognition of her scholastic excellence and contribution to the community.
“You discover yourself only when you put yourself into many shoes.”
Growing up in a house with no TV in the 90s, Vaish’s parent has always encouraged her to engage in different types of activities in her leisure time. Not only is she an avid reader herself, but Vaish also enjoys doodling, dancing, and swimming, just to name a few. Little did she know that a doodle can go a long way. Vaish realized that doodling and sketching were the activities that spark her interest in design and innovation. That was where everything began—this is where her passion for chemical engineering, her commitment to launch a start-up, and her success in earning a patent began.
Vaish has been accustomed to exploring new things and new ideas since a young age. The incredible exposure of hers has nurtured a creative mind of hers. As a true designer, she is also a born problem-solver, where she often approaches problem-solving with brand-new perspectives. She credited her ability to see with fresh eyes to her on-campus and community engagements. Her involvements in different student organizations, combined with her working and volunteering experience, have set her up for success and broadened her horizon at the same time. “Nobody knows what exactly they want to do,” and the best way to explore an interest is through immersion and constant problem-solving through a new lens.
Let’s talk networking.
One piece of advice that Vaish would give to other international students is to start before they are ready. Students should not worry about what the result will be. Instead, they should embrace the process and what they can take away from it. “Just go out there and try as many things,” and you do not have to know how things would end. The same applies to her approach to networking—making professional friends.
As a young entrepreneur and start-up co-founder, Vaish had to be comfortable networking with strangers in professional settings to solicit feedback and build connections with potential business partners and investors. However, as much as she can connect professionally, the introvert inside of her still thinks that she is bad at it in her personal life. As she reflects on her experience, engaging in the community by taking up leadership roles helped her address her fear of networking.
Vaish strongly believes that public speaking is the foundation of one-on-one networking. Speaking to a huge crowd helped Vaish practice how to talk to people at first. She then learned to connect with others personally when she became more at ease speaking in front of a group. When presenters read the audience’s body language to understand whether they are engaging with the content, the same skill could apply in one-on-one networking settings. One should actively listen to understand their state of mind and learn their perspectives. For those who think that networking is not for them, Vaish recommends just start doing so. “It is always good to have some butterflies in your stomach when you started,” because that means your experience of networking could only get better from there. As clichĂ© as it sounds, practice makes better, after all.
You have a tribe by your side. And a way of expression.
There is no doubt that Vaish’s handwork and dedication contributed to her success. However, she accredited her strong support system—her family and friends—to her achievements to date. Having someone to count on has been one of the many motivators of Vaish. Michael Schur, a world-known producer who co-created Parks and Recreation, once said “you can’t achieve anything entirely by yourself. There’s a support system that is a basic requirement of human existence.” While society values independent work, one often overlooks what teamwork could look like—aside from being responsible for part of the work, an active team player could simply share positive attitudes and encouragement. Further, realizing when to ask for help from family and friends has been extremely helpful in striving for a healthy balance in her busy life.
As an international yoga champion and certified yoga trainer, Vaish is not just another typical yoga enthusiast. Vaish sees yoga not only as a sport and hobby but also as a self-care practice. Aside from listening to her crew for advice, Vaish also listens to her own body through yoga and meditation. While she recognized that students often only know that rest is needed when they experience burnout, Vaish recommends students take time to recognize symptoms of burnout before it hits. “There were so many times in life I don’t know what to do next,” Vaish mentioned. However, her persistence and grit have pushed her through many of these obstacles at times. Learning about her limit, knowing when to delegate tasks to trustworthy partners, and understanding the real meaning of work-life balance have been helpful as she continues to figure out how to manage multiple responsibilities at times.
Vaish emphasized the importance of always having a calm and peaceful mind regardless of what life throws at her. Further, finding a way of expression can often help with stress relief. To Vaish, dancing is her natural form of self-expression. At times of desperation, she seeks positivity through dance; when her mind is filled with positive energy, that is when she knows she can ace what is to come—whether that be a job interview, another class project, or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Each person has a way of expression. A form of expression–whether that be dancing, doodling, swimming, or yoga–helps an individual to thrive and live their life to their maximum potential. It not only helps to boost one’s emotional wellbeing, but it also contributes to the work-life balance that adults often strive to achieve as they grow older.
Do the next right thing without looking too far ahead.
International students like Vaish have so much courage, persistence, and grit to travel across the world, far away from their family and loved ones, just for better education and opportunities. A lot is often at stake for this group of students—especially when major exploration, life design, and career development often intertwine with visa and immigration regulations and complications in some way or another. Some may argue that international students must be forward-thinkers—to have a plan for everything ahead of them. While Vaish believes that being forward-thinking is one of the many traits for success as an international student, it is also critical to be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. International students should not only be ready for what is to come, but they should also appreciate what is around them. The opportunity right around the corner could very much be the best thing that could ever happen in their lives. Having the courage to seize the right opportunity at the moment seems to be a skill that many are still trying to grapple with.
According to Urban Dictionary, to hustle is “to have the courage, confidence, self-belief, and self-determination to go out there and work it out until you find the opportunities you want in life.” Vaish has been hustling almost her entire life to challenge the status quo, discover her true calling, and design her own life just as she wants it. On days when you are lost, and when hope starts to fade away, recall Vaish’s story and know that you must embrace your courage and dedication and do just the next right thing. Don’t let the next best possible thing slip through your fingers when they are right at your reach.
p.s. On a lighter note—listen to The Next Right Thing by Kristen Bell, a song from Frozen II that reminds you to always take one small step at a time and hope for the best.
Vicky Lee served as the Global Career Consultant at the University at Buffalo’s Career Design Center. A former international student born and raised in Hong Kong, Vicky graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development & Family Studies from Michigan State University and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Adult Education at SUNY Buffalo State College. Before joining the Career Design Center at UB, Vicky was an International Student Advisor and Student Engagement Coordinator at Michigan State University’s Office for International Students and Scholars.
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