About this episode
In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Pallavi Pande about building a supportive community as a South Asian immigrant mom and entrepreneur in Portland, Oregon. The discussion shines a light on the realities of starting over in a new place, the importance of vulnerability, and how taking the first small step toward connection can lead to lasting impact.Pallavi Pande is a BIPOC mompreneur and the founder of DTOCS, a brand offering classy, compostable single-use tableware for events. Through her firm, DTOCS Consulting, she helps other brands grow on Amazon. She also leads a 2,000+ member South Asian moms group in Oregon. A Tory Burch Foundation Fellow and an honoree on Inc.’s list of fastest-growing companies, Pallavi serves on the board of Naturally Seattle. When she’s not building businesses or mentoring founders, you’ll likely find her dancing Zumba or sipping wine—always championing People, Planet, and Parties.Main Topics Covered:Overcoming the isolation of relocating and reinventing yourself in a new city as an immigrant.Postpartum depression and the power of vulnerability in reaching out for help.Building community for South Asian women through "Portland Brown Mommies" to address culture-specific needs.The evolution of an online community into deep, multigenerational in-person friendships and support.Using feedback and responsiveness to keep community events relevant, safe, and engaging.Transitioning from social connection to business mentorship: supporting South Asian women entrepreneurs.Mindset, habit change, and resilience in overcoming rejection—personally and professionally.How community supported Pallavi’s entrepreneurial journey with DTOCS compostable tableware.Quote from the Episode:"So I went with the vision I had, which was, there's nobody for me. How can I change that narrative? How can I be there for somebody else who's like me, who's trying to move, who has million of questions..." — Pallavi PandeTimestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & quick intros; Pallavi shares her Portland home [00:00:38] Navigating life in rainy Portland and fitting in daily movement [00:01:18] Pallavi’s three focuses: moving, overcoming rejection, building community [00:01:43] Pallavi’s migration: marrying young, moving from India to Ohio, then Oregon [00:04:12]
