We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pooja Shah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pooja below.

Pooja, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of my most meaningful projects to date has been my editorial photo and video project, “STAINED, The Indian Art of Bandhani: A Love Letter to Women.” You can find it here: https://tembotones.com/blog/stained

It is a celebration of the history and heritage of Bandhani, a centuries-old tie-and-dye method practiced in India, that also challenges our perceptions of tradition and bounding women to certain standards and molds. The video narration reveals the truth of female strength; power and honor is reclaimed as we drape Bandhani in unconventional ways, laying the groundwork for an essential shift in perspective.

This project was conceptualized, written, photographed, directed and produced by an inspiring, diverse group of creators. After pitching the concept to a model and a producer based in NYC, they encouraged me to grow the team and fly down to execute the project. It was my first larger-scale project in NYC and I was delighted to find a team that was so supportive and believed in the message.

This project is especially close to my heart because it encouraged me to reflect on my own experience as a South Asian woman and where I can find common ground within the South Asian diaspora. I am proud that my work with TEMBO TONES explores themes of culture and heritage, and dives into the intricacies of tradition and generational legacy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a Kenyan-Indian-American woman, my cultural identity shapes how I see the world. This perspective challenges me to think about what it means to belong, and how to share stories that feel honest and grounded in efforts to resonate with communities around the world. It is my mission to create art that celebrates culture and documents the many hues of humanity.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in 2017, I pursued a career in consumer public relations and personal branding. I began to lead key accounts within the nation’s largest marketing agencies and landed a role at a start-up that challenged me to build a communications department from the ground-up. Here, I learned the importance of effective branding that cuts through the noise of saturated markets and shines light to authentic and vulnerable storytelling. However, I yearned for a brand that told stories that were unseen in mainstream media: diasporic history, global culture, depicting AAPI, black and brown people in modes of joy and happiness, and slow-living. In early 2020, I embarked on a journey to create this space for myself; TEMBO TONES, LLC was born. Today, my creative studio offers photography and visual brand design, serving BIPOC entrepreneurs with intention-driven experiences to build their brands and businesses. We are based in Chicago and available worldwide.

I envisioned the name, TEMBO TONES, to be the intersection of intention and creativity. The Tembo–Swahili for elephant–is a creature grounded in strength, spirit, dignity, and power that unapologetically takes up space. A tone is an experience of colors, hues, voices, and characters that evokes unique sentiments in each of us. The name reminds me of my mission to show up big and bold everyday in life.

The last two years as a small business owner has taught me to value my ethos on human connection above all else. I believe in seeking to honor, understand and energize each other and our multidimensional cultures. In doing so, we allow our self-expressions to feel the most celebrated and thus, welcome an open mind to creativity and a deep willingness to take our missions and goals to the next level.

Tell me about your own creative vision or inquire to book a free creative connection call here: https://tembotones.com/contact

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the perfectionist myth that a project must be as good as done to share with outside audiences. Being both a creative and an entrepreneur will teach you the harsh lesson that some times (many times) things do not go according to plan and more importantly, some times people will not resonate the end result, regardless of how much time and energy you have dedicated. In this day and age, the process is just as important and impactful and the result.

With the advance of social media and real-time sharing, it is easier to let your communities and audiences into your world and allow them aboard the the journey of creation. While it may give them a crystal-clear view of your potential struggles or failures, it also builds authentic connection and loyalty that encourages brand affinity.

While my relationship with social media ebbs and flows, I recognize the vast opportunity that exists for creatives to play, share and find freedom with their art, while building a community of support and shared visions from across the globe.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tembotones.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tembotones
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/tembo-tones-llc
• Other: Google: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tembo+Tones,+LLC/@20.2907286,-40.8094006,3z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc77ee0f2ed090ae0!8m2!3d20.2907286!4d-40.8094006