What does success look like when you stop counting it?

In this episode, I sit down with Tejaswini, VP of Financial Services at InComm Payments and co-owner of Zest Kitchen and Porch here in Utah. She's a tech and operations leader with 20+ years in fintech. A restaurateur. A wife and mom. And someone who told herself at 5 years old, "I'm born to do great things."

We talk about growing up as the eldest daughter in a middle-class Indian family, moving to a new city every three years, and the quiet lessons her father taught her without ever saying them out loud. She shares how a health scare last year changed the way she leads, why she believes consistency beats motivation every time, and what finally gave her permission to pause.

Fun fact: the morning we recorded this, she worked a server shift at her own restaurant because no one showed up. Then she sat down and gave me this conversation. That's the whole episode in one moment.

What we cover:

• Growing up across India and learning early that everybody is different, but at the end of it, all of us are the same

• Her father's unspoken lesson: talent means nothing without hard work

• Learning about stocks, bonds, and mutual funds at 18, and why women need to be in those conversations

• How her definition of success went from grades, titles, and promotions to slow mornings and Tuesday evening walks

• Why she calls herself a follower disguised as a leader

• Opening two restaurants while climbing the corporate ladder, and the humility that came with it

• The health scare that taught her to trust her people and let go of control

• "It's lonely at the top" and why nobody tells you the truth once you get there

• Her advice for anyone afraid to take a risk: know your why, calculate it, and ask yourself how badly you want it

Timestamps:

00:00 – Cold open 01:24 – Meet Tejaswini 02:41 – Childhood in India and being the silent, ambitious eldest daughter 05:00 – A new city every three years 09:02 – Her father, her biggest influence 12:07 – Learning finances at 18 14:19 – How her definition of success evolved 20:21 – Early signs of leadership 24:55 – Why open restaurants during a corporate career? 30:02 – The health scare that changed her leadership 33:13 – Every decision is a calculated risk 35:12 – Why high achievers struggle to pause 38:18 – Consistency over motivation 41:36 – Advice for anyone afraid to take the leap 46:27 – Rapid fire round 49:10 – Closing thoughts

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Today's sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Sri Krishna Jewellers. Over 50 years of craftsmanship, now serving the Dallas community from Frisco, Texas. If you have someone special worth celebrating, check out their collection at srikrishna.com or call 430-231-1111.