'Go back to India': Indian-American founder opens up about 8-year immigrant journey

Published 17 June 2026 · us

Who is Aishwarya Srinivasan? More than eight years after moving to the United States, an Indian entrepreneur has shared a reality check on immigrant life

Who is Aishwarya Srinivasan? More than eight years after moving to the United States, an Indian entrepreneur has shared a reality check on immigrant life, loneliness, resilience and the challenge of building a life from nothing to something in a new country.In an Instagram social media post, the founder looked back on her journey from working in data science and artificial intelligence to becoming an entrepreneur, startup adviser, content creator and AI educator in the US.“It’s been over 8 years since I moved to the United States,” she wrote, before describing how immigration changed both her personal and professional life.According to the entrepreneur, adapting to a new country involved much more than changing addresses. It meant learning to navigate unfamiliar customs, social norms and professional environments while trying to establish a sense of belonging.“Being an immigrant teaches you a lot,” she wrote.“It teaches you how to walk into rooms where nobody knows your story and still believe you belong there.”She said the experience also meant adjusting to a different culture, work environment and social life while gradually building confidence in her abilities.The founder explained that she began her career in US as a data science and AI professional before facing a long and demanding immigration process.“Then came a grueling immigration process that tested my patience, resilience, and belief in myself more times than I can count.”Over time, she put traditional employment to the side and built her own business, working as an entrepreneur while advising startups, teaching AI and creating content.“None of this happened overnight,” she wrote.She credited the US with helping her grow professionally, but she said immigration also came with emotional challenges that are often ignored.“Professionally, the US has taught me to ask for what I’m worth, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and stop shrinking my ambitions to make other people comfortable.”At the same time, she described a loneliness that many immigrants experience after leaving their home country.“But immigration also comes with a very specific kind of loneliness,” she wrote.“You don’t just move countries.”“You rebuild your entire life from scratch.”The entrepreneur said immigrants often have to actively look for housing, employment, visas, healthcare, taxes, friendships and identity issues with little guidance, all while trying to settle into an unfamiliar environment.“You figure out apartments, jobs, visas, friendships, healthcare, taxes, identity, belonging, and a hundred tiny things nobody prepares you for.”She also spoke about the criticism she has faced from strangers over her decision to move abroad.“I’ve had strangers tell me to ‘go back to India and contribute to the economy.’”“I’ve had strangers tell me I ‘left my mother alone.’”Responding to those comments, she argued that a person's relationship with their family and homeland cannot be measured by where they live.“What they don’t understand is this: Geography does not define how much you love your family.