We recently connected with Sumana Goswami and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sumana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
There is always some one less privileged than you. There is always someone who has less than you. I always want to help those who need a little push a little guidance and a little light to shine bright. I truly believe if all of us come together we can make a difference. You don’t have to give everything , give something; and make a difference in one person’s life. It’s the most satisfying guilty pleasure of all . Why guilty because actually you are being selfishly happy because you are feeling good. Helping other supporting others is a selfish motive for me. I wish happiness, wellness, and health for the whole world. If the world is happy you will have to be isn’t it ?!
Sumana , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
1. I’m a professional model and a professional interpreter. I started modeling when Sabyasachi Mukherjee, a famous Bollywood fashion designer was looking for a fresh face to showcase his online couture in Atlanta. I was chosen as one of the models and my journey began from there. To date I have been part of many fashion weeks ; Indian and American. I have been featured in many magazines including the American Lifestyle Magazine. My journey as an interpreter began when I was a student. I started with medical interpreting, then educational and now I do political , legal and business interpreting. I interpret for federal and state court. I interpret for global conferences and so and so forth.
2. I’m unique because I don’t follow others I follow me. As a fashion model my idea is to portray fashion that carries attitude, elegance and authenticity. Fashion which stands out is style, and style which remains intact is attitude. With right attitude you build the right fashion that creates a lasting impression.
As an interpreter, I bridge the language gap between two people who wants to communicate but can’t due to language barriers. Language unites and language can separate as well, I try to assimilate people or groups who don’t speak each other language but need each other.
3. My biggest achievement is my willingness to work towards my goal. I write my goals and my wants on a diary every year and revisit them end of the year to make sure what I achieved and what I received.
More often than not, boxes get checked, also things that are not in the list gets added.
For example; I never thought of becoming a pageant coach for a beauty pageant, It was neither my goal nor my want. However when opportunity came I was a bit hesitant at first, I did not know how to coach. At the end I was feeling fulfilled when participants came and said ; ” we learned so much from you” “Thank you for being so patient with us”
Similarly in pandemic I became a radio host for an online Indian Radio Station based in Tenessee. I have always interacted with people through my outfits, my body language , my presence ; how to interact with just your voice?! I must say it wasn’t easy; very tough yet extremely fulfilling!! I learned so much. I learned about the common fumbles, how your voice and pitch works, how you say everything distinctly yet not scream. From voice modulation to script writing it was a wholesome experience. And I’m enjoying it thoroughly.
4. My work has quality and dedication. Brand Sumana Goswami is reliable serious sincere and worthy of it.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes! Goal is to be the best and come on VOGUE magazine one day. Dreams are meant to be crazy isn’t it?! If they are not crazy enough why call them dreams. I want to be featured on Vogue and will do everything that is required to make that wish a reality.
I want to become the best interpreter of this country. I want to polish my craft, become better at it, learn new language interpreting skills.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that women have a shelf life. That in the fashion ; you should only be of certain age to survive. I believed it for a long time. In fact I would become way more grateful for receiving modeling assignments as I was not in my twenties and thought people are doing a favor on me. I did not consider myself deserving instead I was thinking people are just being nice. I had to slowly unlearn it, although I’m still extremely grateful and grounded and thankful for all the opportunities that come to me. However I do not think I’m not deserving anymore instead I think, I deserve it and worthy of it. If you do not value you and your achievements, another human being will not value you either.
Another lesson I learnt is that you do not have to prove a point. There were scenarios at work where as an interpreter I always struggled to prove myself to be as good as the native English speaker. I always had to make a point that although I’m not an American, my English is as good as the native English speakers of the United States.. I tried to unlearn it and gradually started believing in my own command over the language. The goal is to convey the message accurately and not about proving how good my English was. As I stopped judging myself , I started learning more, and my interpreting skills improved along with my command over the language. I still have many flaws but I accept them and try to work on them and do not cringe about it. I get more job satisfaction now as I do not always become critical of myself, allow myself errors, learn from them and come out better and evolved.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @realsums
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sumana.goswami.96
Image Credits
Photography Careese Robinson Late Vinod Devlia Gregory Phillips
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