Richa Joshi is the passionate founder behind Dual Nation and Unmuting You, two initiatives born from her lived experiences as a woman of color and migrant in Australia. Dual Nation celebrates multiculturalism through meaningful products that empower individuals to embrace their heritage while embracing a broader cultural identity. Unmuting You is her platform to support women, especially women of color, in finding their voice, reclaiming their narratives, and stepping confidently into their power. Through these ventures, she creates spaces for meaningful dialogue, self-expression, and cross-cultural understanding.
Why do you think it’s so important for children of migrants to stay connected to their cultural roots, and what are some tips that you can share with migrant parents?
Staying connected to cultural roots provides children with a sense of belonging and identity that grounds them as they navigate life in a multicultural society. It offers a deep well of resilience and pride, helping them embrace their uniqueness while forging connections with the broader community.
For migrant parents, embracing storytelling, cooking traditional foods together, celebrating cultural festivals, and teaching their native language are beautiful ways to keep cultural connections alive. Most importantly, creating open conversations about heritage helps children feel proud of where they come from while shaping their identity in a new environment.
What does ‘identity’ mean to you as a migrant woman who has created a successful life in a foreign country but still has her roots deeply connected to India?
Identity, for me, is a tapestry woven with the threads of my Indian heritage, my lived experiences in North America, and Europe PLUS my experiences in Australia.
It isn’t about choosing one culture over the other but embracing both with pride. My roots give me strength and perspective, while my journey as a migrant has shaped my resilience and adaptability.
Dual Nation was born out of this duality, this intersectionality : celebrating the richness of holding space for multiple cultures and allowing identity to be fluid, authentic, and unapologetically multifaceted.
Women, regardless of cultural heritage, are often more reserved when it comes to speaking our truth. When we speak up, we’re seen as intimidating, when we don’t speak up enough, we are seen as ‘soft’ or ‘weak’. What are your perspectives on these misconceptions and how can we start to shift that narrative?
These misconceptions stem from deeply ingrained biases around gender and culture. As women of colour, we often navigate even more complex layers of expectation. To shift this narrative, we need to embrace the power of storytelling, amplify diverse voices, and challenge these biases through open conversations.
We should celebrate assertiveness as a strength, not a threat, and redefine leadership to include empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity. Unmuting You exists to create spaces where women can share their truths without fear, reclaiming their narratives on their own terms.
What are your top 3 pieces of advice for women who have ‘lost their voice’ and are looking to reclaiming that power?
- Start Small: Begin by acknowledging your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Write them down, speak them out loud, and slowly start sharing them in safe spaces.
- Find Your Community: Seek out other women who uplift and empower you. Being part of a supportive community is a reminder that you are not alone and that your voice matters.
- Embrace Imperfection: Perfection isn’t the goal — authenticity is. Your voice holds power because of its uniqueness, not despite it. Take that first step, even if it feels uncomfortable, and let your story unfold naturally.
Follow Richa – Dual Nation and Umuting You