CYBER-CIRCLES
For Indian immigrants who came to the US decades ago the most exciting encounter was – with another Indian! Their numbers were small and the circles of caring friends few. Now, as the community has grown, so have the circles. Here we are attempting to put all these countless circles into the clouds.
Now when a new migrant comes, the loneliness will be a thing of the past – for friends, community and cyber circles are just a mouse click away.
We invite you to use this piece of cyber real estate to let newcomers know about your organization, its benefits and its work.
Email details of your organization to cybercircles@ lassiwithlavina.com
SPOTLIGHT
THE NETWORK OF INDIAN PROFESSIONALS
“The biggest benefit has been meeting other South Asian professionals from all across the country via our various conferences and events. I honestly feel I could go to any city today and know a handful of people, thanks to my involvement with NetIP. To have that kind of network is invaluable in my opinion!” says Aruna Paramasivam, a management consultant in Philadelphia about her involvement with the Network of Indian Professionals, known as NetIP.
The organization has 22 chapters across the US and Canada and, according to its spokesperson, a target reach of 35,000 South Asian professionals. The median age of NetIP members is 27-28 years old, and according to a recent survey done by the group, 50 percent of the members have a graduate or professional degree and 35 percent work for Fortune 500 or Fortune 1000 employers. All the members seem to have an interest in leadership development, networking and entrepreneurial workshops.
Sundip Arora, a sales engineer in Boston, is the current vice president of NetIP. “It teaches you about entrepreneurship – through the management of large teams, defining comprehensive strategies, managing large budgets, making one accountable and last but not the least, developing a healthy respect for one another,” he says.
For those on the fast track, there are lectures, seminars and workshops with experts as well as social events for chilling out and making friends. Pooja Dhawan, who is a wholesaler of young contemporary women’s wear in New Jersey, says: “Interacting with South Asians from so many cities, back grounds, and so many diverse professional fields just serves to enhance my network and knowledge.”
Interestingly almost 50 percent of the members of NetIP were born in North America and another 25 percent, though born in India, grew up in the US. There are common experiences and common goals which seem to forge a community of friends. As Sriram Narasimhan, an account manager with GE in Phoenix, AZ, points out, “The biggest benefit has been a sense of belonging and identity within the South Asian/Indian community, both in Phoenix and nationally.”
As Arora points out, “ NetIP has given me a platform to network with probably the brightest and most dedicated young South Asian Professionals in the country who share passion for leadership and the betterment of the South Asian Diaspora in our adopted country.
For more information: www.netip.org
NetIP North America has a new blog: www.netip.org/blog
Contact: info@netip.org
For marketing or public relations: anita@netip.org
Pooja Dhawan – Public Relations Chair
- Email: pooja@netip.org
