Meet Neha Rathi | on navigating her 20s & spirit of amateurism

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

Hi Neha, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work-life balance is a highly subjective concept that depends on a person’s values, goals, and circumstances. For some, this might involve prioritizing career advancement, while others may prioritize their family, personal well-being, or the pursuit of new hobbies. That being said, it’s important to recognize that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept, and it’s essential to normalize the idea that it varies for everyone.

As someone who is still in the early stages of their career, I am continually learning the importance of setting boundaries, professional development, and laying a foundation for future success. I have a strong interest in exploring different career paths and the various ways people reach the roles they’re currently pursuing. I thoroughly enjoy networking, both in person and on LinkedIn, as well as listening to podcasts (my favorites include ‘Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal,’ ‘The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett,’ and talks by Jay Shetty). I genuinely believe that learning from others’ has significantly altered my perspective on life and balance.

In my view, balance encompasses anything that brings happiness, aligns with one’s priorities, and adds value at different stages of life. It involves finding time for continuous learning beyond the 9-to-5, exploring new hobbies (I’ve recently taken up running and hiking), traveling (I’ve visited four different states this year, learning a great deal about their people, places, and cultures), nurturing close relationships with friends and family, and, most importantly, finding time for self-care (such as journaling, meditation, reading, or even your getting nails done).

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.
You’ve all probably heard the saying, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”, and I couldn’t agree more with this and the importance of having a growth mindset to constantly learn and evolve! I’ve always been a creative kid, you name an activity or a sport and I’ve probably won at it in school (yes, I’ll toot my own horn here because if I don’t then who else would). Overtime, the artistic side took a back seat and I came into the 9-to-5 world as an economics & statistics major out of college. At the same time, I started dabbling into TikTok (some of you might know my friends & I as the “jalebi girls” for creating the viral dance trend to Jalebi Baby by Tesher in 2020).

By 2021, the creator economy was valued at approx. $104 billion and it has continued to grow ever since. In 2023, not just creators, but brands have also taken it to social media to build their presence and share their message. As someone who is super fascinated by the creator economy, I’ve enjoyed my time working at PR Agency’s in Influencer Marketing and now building the Growth Marketing vertical at a Fin-Tech start-up in the Bay Area. Balancing being a creator on 4-5 different social media platforms, while working a 9-to-5 comes with it’s challenges but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

To anyone that’s reading this – post that video & share that blog! There is no such thing as, “I’m too old for this”. You’re going to turn XYZ age anyway, might as well turn XYZ years old with one YouTube video (and who knows… a few subscribers too).

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For anyone that follows me on Instagram – I love posting about newest restaurants, cafes, and things to do in the city (shameless plug: @neharathiii) if you don’t already.

Top 3 experiences/things to do: Nightlife at Cal Academy, Farmers Market @ Ferry Building, any of SFBucket List/Hidden SF Experiences
Top 3 viewpoints: Lands End, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Bridge
Top 3 rooftop bars: Kaiyo, Cityscape & Rise Over Run
Top 10 restaurants: Shizen, Burma Love, Bottega, Dumpling Time, Sweet Maple, Rooh, Beit Rima, Beretta, Pink Onion, Thai Spice

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
3 podcasts that’ll change the way you think about life (personal & professional growth): – Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal (productivity tips, life lessons, and self-improvement)
– The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett (learning from and about different entrepreneurs and their journey’s)
– On Purpose with Jay Shetty (importance of having a purpose/goal/intention behind YOU and your existence)

3 books to read (in your 20s or whenever you read this blog):
– The Defining Decade (how to make the most of your 20s – career, relationships, personal growth, and action oriented)
– Atomic Habits (one of the first self-help books that I read – it’s about the impact of building small habits that lead to a way grander impact in life)
– The Mountain is You (talks about self-awareness, self-sabotage, transformation and mindset-shift – the greatest obstable one often faces is oneself)

This goes without saying but shoutout to my family (my little brother, Aditya, my mom & my dad) and friends for always being by my side (through the good & bad times)!! I have immense love, respect and admiration for YOU ALL.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neharathii/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neha416/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/neharathiii

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/neharathiii/

Image Credits
Image Credits Yellow dress/White dress): @shotbyishie Black outfit/Denim+White/Cap Outfit: @anyadhallphotography