“Tips for South Asian Women Entering Social Media & Marketing Careers”

Because breaking into the industry doesn’t mean breaking your identity.

Whether you’re fresh out of uni or pivoting careers with a chai in one hand and Canva open in another, this is your sign that there’s room for you in the world of social media and marketing.

You don’t have to bleach your accent, shrink your culture, or become the “girlboss” version of someone else.

You just have to start — as you are.

✨ 1. Your Culture Is Your Superpower — Not a Limitation

From storytelling skills rooted in family traditions to color palettes inspired by wedding season, your Desi background gives you a unique lens that most marketers wish they had.

Instead of erasing it, lead with it:

Use bilingual captions
Infuse cultural references and humor into content
Build strategies rooted in community, not just conversion

💡 Example: Marketing halal skincare? Don’t water it down. Educate, empower, and build loyalty by speaking directly to Muslim audiences.

🛠 2. Learn the Tools — But Don’t Let Them Intimidate You

SEO. Meta ads. KPIs. Algorithms.
We know — it sounds techy and terrifying. But guess what?

You don’t need a fancy degree to learn this. You just need:

YouTube, Google, and patience
A few solid marketing newsletters (like Girls That Invest, Marketing Brew, or Boss Beti)
Practice. Your personal IG account? Test ground.

💡 Pro tip: Start by learning how to write a solid caption, then work your way up to strategy and scheduling tools like Notion, Later, or Metricool.

💬 3. Imposter Syndrome? Yeah, We All Have It.

Especially when:

You’re the only South Asian woman in the Zoom room
Your family doesn’t “get” your career
You’re charging for content creation when everyone expects free labor

But remember: You belong here.
Your perspective matters. You’re not “behind” — you’re building.

Let your uniqueness become your edge. Show up with grit and grace.

📈 4. Follow Women Who Reflect Your Vision

You don’t need to only follow Western influencers with neutral beige feeds and generic advice. Find brown women who are building brands, running agencies, and making waves.

A few to start with:

@urbandesiii – A South Asian woman-led agency redefining strategy with cultural clarity
@masoomminawala – High fashion meets Desi pride
@niharika_nm – Comedy, chaos, and realness
@sharandhaliwal_ – Queer South Asian storytelling that hits deep

These women prove there are so many ways to show up — professionally and authentically.

💌 5. Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Feed

Yes, your IG grid is cute. But when it comes to jobs, clients, or collaborations — receipts matter.

Start small:

Create fake campaigns for brands you love
Screenshot your analytics
Write 1–2 blog posts with SEO built in
Build a simple Notion or Canva-based portfolio

💡 Pro tip: Use your culture or interests (beauty, faith, food, fashion) to niche your content. It’s easier to stand out when your story has soul.

🌺 Final Chai Thought

Marketing isn’t just ads and aesthetics — it’s storytelling. It’s strategy. It’s saying something that matters.

As a South Asian woman, you already carry the richness of multiple identities, languages, and traditions. That’s not just beautiful — that’s brilliant marketing insight.

So whether you’re creating Reels, pitching a brand, or launching your freelance career — show up like your story deserves to be heard.

Because it does.