Niya Khatri

From Kathmandu to Silicon Valley— How Niya Got Involved in Tech & Started Her Newest Venture, SixFeetCloser

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Today, I’m sitting down with Niyanta (Niya) Khatri

In one of life's many serendipitous moments, I asked a room full of entrepreneurs if they had any suggestions for rock star individuals that would be a great fit for the Visionary Life Podcast.

Moments later an email popped into my inbox from someone I had never met that read “you should connect with Niya”.

With next to no context as to why I should talk to Niya, I jumped on a quick Zoom call with her and realized that her story was one I wanted to share.

She grew up in Kathmandu Nepal, found her way to Silicon Valley to work in Tech, and most recently landed in Toronto to continue her work with a company called LogiTech.

On top of that, she is the cofounder of a new digital connectivity platform for womxn that connects them with other womxn from around the world for mentorship and support.

Above all though, Niya is someone who is driven to succeed despite any challenges that get in her way. As an international minority, a person of colour, a woman in tech and millennial she is relentless about ensuring that none of these things will hold her back along her journey, or in the journeys of anyone who follows in her same footsteps.

She knows that as she is able to push through the ranks, she’ll then be able to turn back and lend a hand to others who need her allyship and support.

I’m deeply inspired and humbled by this awesome conversation, so without further ado let’s get into it with Niya Khatri.

👇 Click the image below to tune in to this weeks episode 🎙️

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Want to take a peek at my “Prep Notes” for the show? 👇

These are totally unedited, and give you an idea of what I do to get ready for the interview.

You grew up in Kathmandu, found your way to Silicon Valley, and most recently landed in Toronto during the global pandemic which has probably been a bit of unique “welcome” to the city.

Can you give us a brief chronological overview of the different chapters that you’ve completed in your life, thus far - and then we will circle back on various pages, to go a little deeper.

Rapid Fire:

• How would you describe yourself in just 3 words?

• Best book you’ve read in the past year?

• What’s your favourite way to wind down after a long workweek?

• Best place you’ve ever travelled?

College - Tech Startup called Ogugu

While at Colorado College, you helped to launch Ogugu, a startup that provides a smartphone-based platform to help small businesses in Africa improve inventory management. 

• Tell us about the platform that you launched to impact businesses in Africa

• Where did the idea come from, for this business?

• What are some of the biggest lessons learned from starting this company?

Your Career Path

• You moved to San Fran to work in tech, what was that whole experience life?

• Being a young woman in tech, did you ever feel any version of Imposter Syndrome?

• What were some of the challenges you faced in being a woman, in male dominated world
  

SixFeetCloser

Sixfeetcloser is a digital connectivity platform for womxn to connect with other womxn from around the world through experiences and stories . It serves as an allyship platform so members can form connections who serve as mentors and advocates.

Outside of your corporate work, you are very passionate in supporting and guiding young women to succeed in their professional workspaces, particularly because you've had many women leaders do the same for you.

Is this what led you to launching SFC?

• How did the idea for SFC come to be?

• What were some of the first steps that you took, to bring this new project to life? Did you have help?

• What have been some of the early successes that SFC has celebrated?

• Any unanticipated challenges that you’ve encountered, or hiccups that have almost derailed you?

• What’s the big vision of SFC? Where are you going?

Personal Questions:

• You’ve accomplished more today than most people will in their entire lifetime-- where does this motivation come from? What drives you?

• With all of the moving you’ve done, you’re obviously quite adaptable and open to change. Tell us your secrets for finding happiness, no matter where in the world you are residing!?

• You also have a passion for Photography, how do you find time for your passions when you have so much else going on? Any organization or calendaring tips?

• You’re passionate about the power of investing in ourselves, particularly as women. 

  • Can you share more about why this is important to you? 

  • What are some life-changing investing or money lessons you’ve learned, that have helped you to grow your personal income

  • What’s your involvement with real estate investing?

• How DO you make the Best Chai Latte?

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Now, let’s recap 3 visionary takeaways from this episode…

Three things I want to double tap on…

A few things I want to circle back from my conversation with Niya.

1. Sometimes, starting a company is as simple as creating a shared Google Doc and distributing it to see who is interested.
   
   Niya’s newest venture, Six Feet Closer, started with one document and solution to the challenge that so many women were facing with the rise of the global pandemic. Not saying it was easy, but sometimes it can be simple. Gather the people, and the rest will fall into place.
   

2. Allyship in the workplace is what is going to advance the culture of inclusion, especially in male dominated industries like Niyas industry of tech.
   
   As ally’s it is our job to see ways that you can amplify voices, challenge dated policies, and stand up for equality-- the world will be a better place because of the collective voice.
   

3. Curiosity is your best friend!
   
   Ask questions, be interested & express a genuine curiosity in others in order to foster relationships, to get in the room with people you admire & to advance in your profession. 

Thanks Niya!

Watch our Interview on YouTube!

Connect with Niya & Learn about SixFeetCloser

• Niyas Website: https://www.niyantakhatri.com/

• Niya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niyakhatri/ 

• Davis Scholar Recipient Profile: https://www.davisuwcscholars.org/stories/node/20349

• https://www.coloradocollege.edu/newsevents/newsroom/entrepreneurial-team-accepted-to-clinton-global-initiative.html#.YFYUPa9KiUk

• SixFeetCloser Website: https://www.sixfeetcloser.co/

• SixFeetCloser Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/sixfeetcloser/?hl=en

People & things that were also mentioned in this show…

• ADP

• Logitech

• Colorado College

• Being a woman of colour

• Thinking fast & slow book

• Clinton initiative

• Obama foundation

• BumbleBFF

• Her special Chai Tea Recipe: boil black tea leaves in water, add 2% milk, add black pepper, cardamom, ginger, sugar

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