The Brown Girl Blueprint
Lately, life has felt a little overwhelming - like I’m just about holding it together. Some days it’s home-cooked meals, other days it’s hospital food. I forget to reply to messages, fall asleep on the sofa mid-chapter, and question everything from my career to whether I’ve made my family or myself proud. As women, especially minority women, there’s this constant pressure to achieve, to exceed, to prove our worth. So I’ve been searching for who I am beyond the job title - from my roots to my soul. I’m Dr. Tulsi Patel, a British-born G...
From the NHS to NYU: How Dr Anjelli Wignakumar Matched into General Surgery in America
What does it actually take to pack up your life, leave the NHS, and rebuild your medical career from scratch in the United States?
In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Anjelli Wignakumar, a British doctor who successfully matched into general surgery at NYU. We dive deep into her journey from completing her foundation training in London to navigating the intense USMLE exams, securing a research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, and ultimately conquering the US Match process.
What You’ll Discover:
- Mastering the US...
The UK’s First Sikh Female Pro Boxer: How to Rewrite the Rules with Charan Dhesi
I love conversations like this because they remind me what real commitment actually looks like.
In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Charan Dhesi, the first Sikh female professional boxer in the UK, and honestly, her story stayed with me long after we finished recording. From starting out as a shy kid in Hull to becoming a national champion and now stepping into the professional boxing world, Charan shares what it really takes to pursue a dream in a space where you don’t often see people who look like you.
W...
From Beyoncé to Buckingham Palace: How Jasmine Dotiwala Built Impact Beyond the Spotlight (Part 2 - The Legacy)
I’ve been really looking forward to sharing this second part of my conversation with Jasmine Dotiwala, especially as we mark International Women’s Day.
In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, we go beyond the headlines and accolades to talk about what success actually looks like behind the scenes. From receiving an OBE to juggling life, work, and caring for loved ones, this is an honest, emotional, and deeply human conversation that I know will resonate with so many of you.
What You’ll Discover
- The Reality Behind Recognition: Jasmine shares...
From Beyoncé to Buckingham Palace: How Jasmine Dotiwala Built Impact Beyond the Spotlight (Part 1 - The Journey)
I was genuinely excited for this conversation. Jasmine Dotiwala has spent more than 25 years at the heart of music, media and culture, interviewing some of the biggest names in the world and helping shape the stories we see on screen.
In this first part of our conversation on The Brown Girl Blueprint, Jasmine joins me to reflect on her journey from growing up in West London navigating identity and belonging, to building a remarkable career across MTV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Netflix. We talk about how she carved out space in an industry that didn’t always re...
How to Find Your Voice in a Male-Dominated Industry with Krishna Mistry
In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Krishna Mistry, an award-winning Technical Programme Manager recognised as one of The Manufacturer’s Top 100 and recipient of the Asian Women of Achievement Award.
With an impressive career in automotive engineering, including roles at Bentley Motors and McLaren Automotive, Krishna has led high-performance projects from concept through to launch — all while carving her path as an Asian woman in a male-dominated industry.
We dive into what it really takes to find your voice, build confidence, and create financial and professional freedom in spaces that...
Limitless: How Surgeon Priya Achar Built a Life Without 'Can’t'
Sitting down with Priya for this conversation felt like being back in her office again, laughing too loudly and talking about everything from ward rounds to life choices.
In this episode, I wanted to understand how she actually did it: moving from India to the UK, retraining from scratch, building a complex surgical career and raising two children with very little family nearby. What came through most was her calm belief that hard work, respect and the right partner can carry you through seasons that are anything but easy.
What We Explore
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How to Stop Playing It Safe: Even After 20 Years in One Job with Ela Teague
I’m always inspired by women who pivot boldly to follow their passion and Ela Teague’s journey from classroom to kitchen is exactly that.
In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Ela, founder of Cook Eat Joy, about her Gujarati roots blended with East African influences, the joy of reconnecting with heritage through food, and how she built a business teaching home-style Indian cooking after 20 years as a teacher.
What We Explore
- Heritage & Identity: Born in London with Gujarati grandparents and East African parents - how Swah...
How to Challenge Your Thinking Without Compromising Your Values with Barrister Eleena Misra
I’ve been so excited to share this conversation - Eleena Misra is exactly the kind of trailblazer who inspired me to start The Brown Girl Blueprint.
In this episode, I sit down with Eleena, a powerhouse barrister and King's Counsel who's shattered ceilings in the legal world. We talk about everything from navigating cultural identity as an Asian woman in law, to the breakthroughs that got her where she is today, and the honest realities of balancing a high-stakes career with family life.
It's a chat full of wisdom, laughs, and that unfiltered inspiration I...
Trailer
Lately, life has felt a little overwhelming - like I’m just about holding it together. Some days it’s home-cooked meals, other days it’s hospital food. I forget to reply to messages, fall asleep on the sofa mid-chapter, and question everything from my career to whether I’ve made my family or myself proud.
As women, especially minority women, there’s this constant pressure to achieve, to exceed, to prove our worth. So I’ve been searching for who I am beyond the job title - from my roots to my soul.
I’m Dr. Tulsi Pa...
