Today we’d like to introduce you to Rehana Paul.
Rehana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Overachiever Magazine in October 2018 to give a voice to all Asian women. Growing up Indian-American, I always felt excluded from traditionally “Asian” spaces. Overachiever is a place for Asian women of all backgrounds, nationalities, and walks of life to gather and share stories. Being sixteen and homeschooled, I had no previous management experience! I knew how to write, but that was about it. I believe that a large part of running a business is common sense, however. I may not have gone to Harvard Business School (yet!), but I could make decisions well enough to get to a point where people were interested in the magazine to the point where they wanted to work here. I slowly built up my staff over the months, and now, more than a year later, Overachiever is a fully-functioning magazine! I’ve learned on the job and always kept an open mind. Good ideas come from the strangest places.
Has it been a smooth road?
Unsurprisingly, starting a magazine for Asian women on my own as a teenager wasn’t all sunshine and daisies. For one, I had to deal with a lot of racist, misogynistic, and ignorant comments. Many Asian men and non-Asian women were upset with the audience of the magazine. It’s interesting to see how quickly unity becomes an issue as soon as Asian women have a niche for themselves! Some of the people I worked with earlier took advantage of my lack of experience. I learned to trust my instincts, and not let the noise bother me. You need a very, very thick skin to start a business, be an activist, and, generally, be a young Asian woman.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I believe the thing that makes Overachiever so unique is also our greatest strength- our diversity. We are inclusive of all Asian women from the Middle East to the Pacific Islands. We aren’t just for Asian-American women, but for Asian women all around the world. We are trans-inclusive, LGBTQ+ inclusive- if you identify as an Asian woman, Overachiever Magazine is here for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.overachievermagazine.com
- Email: overachievermagazine@gmail.com
- Instagram: @overachievermagazine
- Twitter: @overachieverm
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