Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Serena Varghese. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Serena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?
Just as small positive changes turn to monumental progress, it’s often the almost insignificant moments in life that make the largest impact over time. At seventeen, I packed my bags, left my family, friends, and a rather luxurious American suburban lifestyle, to live in a less than 100 square-foot dorm room. With a single window with the view of a brick wall and very limited internet access, I began my journey to becoming a physician in a small rural town, 9,637.54 miles away from home.
“Serena, meet me in my office.”
These were not quite the words that a first-year medical student wanted to hear immediately after a Krebs Cycle presentation by the head of the Department of Biochemistry.
As I scurried to follow her, my mind began to race. “Oh no, did I mix up the enzymes? Should I have tweaked my accent so she could understand me? Did she spot the dark red nail polish I forgot to remove on my left hand?” (Nail polish was not allowed).
I shuffled my knees into the gap between the squeaky chair and her wooden desk, careful not to get my white coat caught on the arm rest.
“You know, if you have any doubts about how a girl in this country should carry themselves, you can ask your classmates.” I stared blankly at her, wondering what she meant.
“You need to walk with your head lowered, not like this!” she reprimanded with a hyperextended back, chin in the air, and eyes wide. As I watched her, my heart sank…and my shoulders followed. After fourteen rigorous years training in performing arts as well as years in Junior Varsity high school choir and a nationally placed color guard team, I had spent most of my life perfecting my posture.
From that moment onwards, with a strong desire to not disappoint my professors, I attempted daily to “be like the others”. If they were anxiously pacing back and forth before an exam reciting formulas, I practiced the same. If they were shy and timid when asked a question, I thought being outspoken must be a bad thing. I continued to mold myself into what I thought would be the path to success, only to find myself second guessing my abilities and losing confidence over time.
Eventually, I realized that to be successful, not only in medicine but in all that you do, not being like everybody else was necessary. To spend the extra ten minutes to hear a patient’s story after everyone leaves. To speak up about a clinical finding during rounds that would drastically change a diagnosis. To learning new skills to broaden cognitive capacity. Although it took time, once I accepted that being distinctively different was a beneficial attribute, it wasn’t long before that very quality led me to people, places, and experiences I never thought were possible. In fact, being unlike others had been what led me to a foreign country at the age of 17 to study medicine in the first place! Years later, it would eventually be what steered me toward developing a business to give me perspective on a whole new aspect of health – food as medicine.
The lesson? Being “different” can be scary. Being “unique” can be empowering. The difference between the two is simply confidence.
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.
I’m a recipe developer and food content creator!
I work with brands, specifically those that prioritize locally grown, sustainable, organic, high-quality ingredients, to create aesthetically appealing visuals to promote their products. Disease prevention is strongly rooted in the use of minimally processed, natural foods.
There is also a strong correlation between a brand and the access consumers have to it. In years past, advertising via television, magazines and radio was standard. Today, the consumer receives messages directly through social media. The average person spends approximately two hours and 23 minutes on their phone, accessing entertainment, news and advertisements. Social media marketing is more extensive than merely liking a post or sharing images. It is the science of understanding the customer and creating relatable brand content. By partnering with influencers, businesses have access to a segment of prospects who need and want to buy their brands and products. There is a fine line between effective organic marketing and pushing products too hard. Content creators are the link that save businesses time and money by promoting brands effectively and specific to their target demographic.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
When I started my business, the term “online influencer” was vague especially in the realm of food. There were certainly cookbook authors who shared their photographs and recipes online to drive followers directly to their website, but food influencers were not quite as large of a category as it is today. I have always enjoyed photography and appreciate it when food is served in a visually pleasing manner. Taking photographs of food was really my initial interest. I began to post the photographs as a creative outlet- my version of art. It was just the start of the pandemic and soon, my photographs caught the attention of friends, family and eventually strangers.
As I began to share my photographs, I was drawn to tell stories of my experiences through my first year of motherhood and the page grew day by day. As these experiences coincided with a worldwide “lockdown” and staying at home all day for months on end with an infant began to take it’s toll on my health, I soon found interest in creating healthier versions of my favorite foods. This was a challenge that I began to enjoy. As the demands of each day continued to increase, there was an added challenge of making these meals within limited time.
Over the next 2 years, as I developed a greater grasp of food styling and photography I narrowed my niche further to healthier recipes. Healthy didn’t just mean low calorie, however. I found that to me, health meant using fresh, whole, minimally processed ingredients that were nourishing regardless of the calories. They were foods I knew were going to make me feel good and give me the energy I needed each day.
Instagram then evolved, and recipe videos known as “Reels” began trending. Something about videos kept people engaged, whether they tried the recipes or not. To my advantage, businesses found my page through my Reels as well. I eventually had the privilege of working with numerous brands that also prioritized high-quality ingredients and it was through them that I was introduced to the different possible mechanisms to provide such ingredients that start way before the grocery store. From greenhouses with a small carbon footprint, to avoidance of pesticides and chemicals for produce, to prioritizing hen-welfare for eggs, brands were making well-thought out efforts to make the world a better place through food. I was excited and proud to be a part of that!
If you are starting to grow your social presence, my one piece of advice is to pinpoint what makes you unique and use it to your advantage. On a platform with six billion others, you may think that it is difficult to do so; but people can sense authenticity. You will find that people are drawn toward you and you will enjoy the process along the way.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Absolutely! To name a few of my favorites, there are Dr. Ali Abdaal, Dr. Faye Bate and Dr. Izzy Sealy. Collectively, these three doctors are also YouTubers, podcasters, entrepreneurs, and authors. Their enlightening perspectives have been inspirational and have given me a much wider outlook on embracing creative potential, despite being in a rather physically and mentally-demanding career. Their educational videos particularly on owning businesses, successful time management and enjoyable productivity have shaped my thinking regarding social media and medicine, creating multiple forms of income, as well as assuming various roles each day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thegreatspoonfeed.com
- Instagram: thegreatspoonfeed
