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‘Nobody hands you independence, you take it’: Mumbai CEO on leaving US career for India

While the Mumbai-based founder acknowledged that running a business in India comes with its own set of struggles, she emphasised that the journey is worth it.

Updated on: Aug 15, 2026, 13:05:55 IST
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A corporate leader recently detailed her transition from a prospective executive role in the United States to leading a business in India while sharing an Independence Day message. Having journeyed from small-town roots to an elite international education, she decided that long-term fulfilment meant building solutions domestically rather than pursuing a comfortable life abroad. Despite encountering daily operational complexities, she asserted that taking ownership of growth in India is uniquely rewarding.

The Mumbai-based founder and CEO, Ahana Gautam. (X/@GautamAhana)
The Mumbai-based founder and CEO, Ahana Gautam. (X/@GautamAhana)

“Today, the eve of Independence Day, I’m in my office in India - not the corner office in the US I was on track for. Nobody hands you independence. You take it. I took mine the day I decided Bharatpur-to-Boston wasn’t the finish line - building back home was,” Mumbai-based founder and CEO Ahana Gautam wrote on X.

Also Read: Bengaluru CEO left helmet unlocked everywhere for 5 years. What his experiment revealed

She continued, “It’s messy some days. Dispatch delays, hiring misses, numbers that don’t add up. But every hard day here is one I chose over an easy one somewhere else.”

What did social media say?

An individual commented, “I am very happy that you are an independent woman. I wish that every daughter of our country becomes an independent woman.” Another expressed, “Fantastic, lesson on courage, conviction and determination. More power to you.”

Also Read: ‘Started earning at 13’: Pune CEO celebrates personal trainer buying his first house at 30

A third expressed, “Well, quite inspiring but not many have the courage to quit the US dreams and head back to the country which gave them everything… Congrats, you were able to create & build something you'd wanted… May your post inspire many who haven't considered it.” A fourth wrote, “It's incredibly tempting to take the comfortable salary in another timezone. But those messy days building back home are the ones that actually count.”

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

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