Soundarya Balasubramani's Linkedin Analytics

TL;DR: Moved from India to the US for my master's. Joined Salesforce as a PM after graduating. Zero passion. Quit after 2.5 yrs. Got my O-1 extraordinary visa as a solopreneur in 2023. Now, I run a community that helps talented immigrants obtain talent visas (& freedom). I've also published 2 books. Check join.unshackled.club. …. Hi :) I entered the US in 2017 for my master’s at Columbia. After graduating, I joined Salesforce as a PM — thinking it was the dream. Within a year, I knew I wanted to quit corporate life, forever. I found my calling elsewhere: in publishing books & building communities that had real-world impact. So, I self-published my first book — Admitted — during the pandemic in 2020 to help study abroad aspirants. After that, I was hooked. Now, I HAD to quit my job somehow. Except… immigration. “You can’t just quit your job on an H-1B,” someone reminded me. So I spent 2021 researching ways to become a solopreneur. Eventually, I quit Salesforce to work at a small start-up part-time while filing for an O-1 visa. I filed my O-1B in Jan 2022. I got an RFE in Feb. I responded to the RFE in April. Alas, a denial notice came in the mail in May. It was a harrowing experience — but I kept going. When it was clear I couldn’t build a company in the US, I decided to move back to India. On January 2nd, 2023, I landed in India to start afresh. 7 months later: I published my second book “Unshackled.” 8 months later: I launched a community around the book to help immigrants. 9 months later: I got my O-1A extraordinary visa approved within 3 working days. The same visa they denied me for, in 2022. So, what I’m trying to say is… if you’re also an immigrant on a visa wanting to build something of your own, get an extraordinary visa, or do something different, I get it. I really do. And here’s how I can help you: - Join my free weekly newsletter with 11,500+ immigrants: Get top stories, free webinar invites & latest developments. Visit go.readunshackled.com/newsletter. - Join my community with 400+ ambitious immigrants: You get free profile evaluations with lawyers, free calls with past O-1/EB-1 recipients, a database of 100+ awards, a Notion tracker, & mainly a roadmap to reach your visa goal. Visit the join.unshackled.club. - Book a 1-on-1 paid consult with me: This is an expensive affair. I only recommend booking this if you want my direct help on something. Visit topmate.io/soundarya. p.s. I also love writing (published 2 full books, 10 short books, & 150+ articles), partner dancing, climbing, and singing badly in the shower. ✨