Meet Minaal Rita | Sr. Digital Marketing Specialist | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Minaal Rita and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Minaal, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I don’t think it’s ever a clean, logical decision, especially when you’re building a life far away from home. For me, as someone who moved to another country and has been away from home for years, the question isn’t just about a job or an opportunity… It’s about identity, survival, and belief.

There have been moments where everything on paper said “stop” losing stability, losing access, feeling like you’re starting over again. But I’ve learned that sometimes discomfort is not a sign to give up. It’s a sign that you’re growing into a version of yourself that didn’t exist before.

As an immigrant, you don’t always have the luxury of quitting easily. You learn to sit with uncertainty. You learn to rebuild. And more importantly, you learn to ask yourself: Is this still aligned with who I’m becoming?

If the answer is yes, even if it’s hard, even if it’s unclear – I keep going.

But if something starts taking away your sense of self, your curiosity, or your ability to move forward, then it’s not “giving up” it’s choosing a different path.

I think the real shift for me has been this: it’s not about persistence at all costs. It’s about intentional persistence.

And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do, especially when you’re far from home, is to trust that you can start again and still find your way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think of my work as storytelling, in the traditional sense, and also in conversations. In fleeting moments, in the stories strangers are willing to share if you just pause long enough to listen.

Somewhere along my journey in New York, I started talking to people on the streets, which was completely unplanned. Different ages, different backgrounds, different lives. What began as curiosity turned into something much deeper. I realized that people want to be seen, heard, and understood, and sometimes all it takes is one genuine question.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just tell stories, I uncover them. I step into people’s worlds, even if just for a few minutes, and create a space where they can be vulnerable, reflective, and real. And in doing that, I’ve been able to connect not just with individuals, but between people, creating a quiet thread of shared humanity.

As an immigrant, being away from home for so long shaped this deeply. When you’re building a life from scratch, you become more observant, more open, more willing to reach out. New York, in all its chaos, became my canvas. Every street, every conversation, every unexpected interaction became part of my work.

It hasn’t been easy. There’s vulnerability in approaching strangers, in putting yourself out there, in documenting and sharing these moments. There’s also the challenge of constantly starting over personally and professionally. But I’ve learned that discomfort often leads to the most meaningful connections.

What I’m most proud of is the ability to make people feel something to remind them that even in a fast-moving world, there’s beauty in slowing down and truly seeing each other.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about my work, it’s this: Connection doesn’t require perfection, status, or even time. It just requires presence.

And sometimes, the most powerful stories you’ll ever hear… are from someone you almost walked past.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting, I wouldn’t just give them a checklist of places; I would give them a feeling. New York, to me, is less about “seeing” and more about experiencing.

Day 1: Let the city introduce itself
We’d start slow by walking through SoHo, getting lost in the West Village, and stopping for coffee wherever feels right. No rush. No plan. Just letting the city unfold. End the day in DUMBO for sunset and then head to Williamsburg for a rooftop dinner because the skyline at night never gets old.

Day 2: The art of wandering
We’d spend the morning at the Met, not to see everything, but to feel inspired. Then walk through Chelsea galleries and the High Line. Lunch would be spontaneous. Dinner somewhere cozy, maybe Italian in the Village.

Day 3: Food + culture dive
Chinatown for dumplings, Little Italy for dessert. Then, thrift stores and vintage spots in the Lower East Side.
At night, we’d find a speakeasy, one of those places you enter through a random door, and suddenly you’re in another era.

Day 4: Brooklyn energy
A slower day picnic in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Flea if it’s open, and then wandering through Bushwick to see street art.
This is the day we’d talk, reflect, and just be.

Day 5: The “talk to strangers” day
This is my favorite part. I’d take them to Washington Square Park or Central Park and just… start conversations.
New York has this magic if you’re open, people open up. Different ages, different lives, all intersecting for a moment.
This is where the real stories happen.

Day 6: Nightlife + contrast
We’d start with a jazz bar something intimate and soulful, then contrast it with a rooftop or a fun downtown spot.
End the night with a classic NYC slice at 2am.

Day 7: A quiet goodbye
We’d slow it all down again. Maybe a sunrise walk, coffee at a small neighborhood café, and just reflecting on the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I love this question, because it’s easy to talk about individual success but the truth is, none of us get here alone.

For me, my biggest shoutout is to my family, especially being away from home for so long. Their belief in me has been constant, even when everything else felt uncertain. When you move countries, you carry a lot more than just ambition; you carry their sacrifices, their trust, and their hopes. That’s something that quietly fuels everything I do.

I’d also shout out the people who took a chance on me professionally, managers, mentors, and teams who didn’t just see my resume, but saw my potential, especially in moments where I was still figuring things out, or navigating a completely new environment. Those moments of belief can really change the trajectory of someone’s career.

And honestly, I want to recognize the “in-between” people too; the peers, collaborators, even brief connections who’ve shared advice, opened doors, or simply made me feel like I belonged in rooms that initially felt unfamiliar.

Because, as an immigrant, a big part of the journey is building your own ecosystem from scratch. And every person who makes that process a little less isolating… deserves credit in your story.

So if I had to sum it up, it’s my family for grounding me, and my community, past and present, for helping me grow into the spaces I’m in today.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaalrita/