Today we’d like to introduce you to Shraddha Shrestha.
Hi Shraddha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story echoes from the hills of Dolakha, a village in Nepal where I was born and raised. I spent my childhood there with my siblings surrounded by simplicity and the values my parents instilled in me. My father and mother both carried a dream to see their daughters go to school and have opportunities they themselves were not given. It was that dream that brought our family to the capital city, Kathmandu, where I received my education and where the foundation of my journey was built.
Later, when I came to the United States, I carried both my parents’ sacrifices and my own aspirations with me. As the first in my entire generation to pursue a graduate degree, I see education not just as a personal milestone, but as the fulfillment of my parents’ wish and a responsibility I hold with pride.
Since 2017, I’ve been active as the only Nepali radio jockey in Dallas, amplifying South Asian voices and interviewing community leaders, public officials, and changemakers. That work gave me a platform to share stories that often go unheard, and it earned me recognition, including the Outstanding RJ Award.
Beyond media, I co-founded a nonprofit that raised over $70,000 for community initiatives and served as Secretary of the Nepalese American Chamber of Commerce for four years, helping raise over $100,000 to empower women and minority business owners. I also represented Nepalese-American voices globally as a delegate, speaker, and ambassador with Youth for Human Rights International and the United Nations Youth Assembly from 2019–2024.
Today, alongside serving as Managing Director of Yeti Insurance and working as a licensed Realtor, I am pursuing my Master of Public Administration at the University of Texas at Arlington with a focus on nonprofit and leadership management. I am also preparing to publish my first poetry book, which reflects my journey and my belief in storytelling as a tool for healing and empowerment.
At the heart of my journey is a simple mission: to lead with integrity, create opportunities for others, and remind people that even from a small village in the hills of Nepal, dreams can grow and reach the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Over the past 10 years in the United States, I’ve faced the real challenges of being an immigrant woman building a career and a life from scratch. In entrepreneurship, I had to establish credibility, secure clients, and navigate business systems without the networks many others take for granted. In nonprofit leadership, I’ve managed limited resources, long hours, and high expectations while raising funds and creating programs that make an impact. Even in day-to-day life, adapting to a new culture and overcoming subtle biases tested my patience and perseverance.
I’ve conquered many of these challenges, and I know there are more ahead, but I’m not afraid. Each obstacle has taught me resilience, strengthened my leadership, and fueled my commitment to create opportunities for others. These experiences also inspired me to pursue my Master of Public Administration, so I can continue turning challenges into stepping stones and make a bigger, lasting impact in my community and beyond.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work has always been a balance between entrepreneurship and community service. I began with a Bachelor’s in Business Management, which gave me the foundation to build my career as the Managing Director of Yeti Insurance Agency and as a licensed Realtor. In these roles, I help families and businesses secure their futures, whether through insurance or homeownership. Entrepreneurship has been central to my journey—it’s where I learned the value of leadership, responsibility, and resilience.
At the same time, I’ve always felt a deep calling toward nonprofit and advocacy work. I co-founded a nonprofit that raised over $70,000 to support community initiatives, and I served as the Secretary of the Nepalese American Chamber of Commerce for four years, helping raise over $100,000 to empower women and minority-owned businesses through mentorship, networking, and resources.
My nonprofit leadership also extended to the global stage. From 2019 to 2024, I represented Nepalese-American voices as a delegate, speaker, and ambassador with Youth for Human Rights International and the Youth Assembly at the United Nations. Through those roles, I trained and mentored youth leaders while engaging in conversations about equality, human rights, and sustainable development.
All of these experiences shaped my decision to pursue my Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in nonprofit and leadership management at the University of Texas at Arlington. For me, the MPA is not just about advancing my education it’s about equipping myself with the tools to strengthen organizations, expand my impact, and continue building bridges between business, leadership, and social change.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
: I grew up in a small village called Dolakha in Nepal, surrounded by hills and a close-knit community. My parents, both hardworking and deeply committed to education, dreamed of giving their daughters opportunities they never had. It was their belief in the power of learning that brought our family to Kathmandu, where I went to school and began shaping the foundation of who I am today.
Growing up, I learned the values of perseverance, responsibility, and service from watching my parents navigate challenges with grace and determination. Even as a child, I was drawn to helping others and taking initiative, whether in small community projects or supporting family responsibilities. Those early experiences sparked my passion for leadership and for creating opportunities for people around me.
Looking back, my childhood taught me that dreams are built from dedication and courage. It also planted the seeds for the work I do today in entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and community advocacy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shraddhashrestha_
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shraddhashresthains
