The Woman Who Said No to the Checklist with Rajyalakshmi Kola

I think strength is a lot about resilience. It's not about being strong all the time, but it is more about coming back. But throughout my life, I think at every stage of life, there was that one point where you would. I would think that, Oh, no, this is like the end. And then look back two years later and then I'm like, oh, that was not the toughest thing. I've passed through it. And then there's a new hurdle in front of me. First question he asked, which of your partners is your husband? OK, One of them, yeah.

And he was like, I also observed that when people see you every day, they don't get the question that. Welcome back to another episode of Portraits of Strength, the show where everyday people share their extraordinary stories that shape them. I'm your host, Harry the Anecdotist, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. Today's episode features a woman who is literally lighting up the world one solar panel at a time. Rajilakshmi Cola Co, founder of Sunworks Energy, is a force in India's renewable energy sector.

With over 12 years of experience and more than 1400 plus MW of solar capacity delivered. He has helped build a company known for precision, innovation and impact, and IIT Madras and Virginia Tech Alim Rajalakshmi blends world class engineering with quiet, uncompromising strength. He has LED complex solar projects across hospitals, factories, schools and utility scale plants, proving that sustainability and strong leadership can go hand in hand. Beyond the numbers, she's a trained classical dancer and a passionate advocate for physical and mental Wellness, bringing balance, resilience and grace into everything she does.

In this conversation, we explore her journey building in a male dominated industry, finding grounding practices, practices that keep her centered, and leading with clarity and purpose. I'm truly honored to have Rajalakshmi with us today. Welcome to Portraits of Strength.

Hi Hari, thanks for having me here. Looking forward for this conversation. Awesome. Thank you so much for joining us. So can you take us back to the beginning where you were, you know, where the what the early experiences or influences were in your, you know, childhood that shaped you to who you are today?

That's a very huge subject to dump on, I know. But yeah, lately over the whole self reflection which keeps happening in my life, I think I was in general a very curious kid and wanted to try everything. OK. And I did have the environment tool, which let me do everything. So there was a little struggle here and there. But as a kid also, I was very strong saying I want to do this. Like, I want to learn dance or I want to play tennis. And it was more like me trying to tell my parents that this is what I want.

And they would be like, OK, if you're so confident, let's do it. OK. So are there any particular influences you know, when you were growing up, whether as a school kid or during your college time, where you looked up to them as your role model? So for me, my, I think for me and everybody in my family, my grandmother is a big inspiration. So I get my name from her so and she was working till the last day of her life which when she was almost 80 at that point. That's impressive. Yeah. So back in the 40s and 50s, she was a doctor and then she took a lot of leadership roles also.

And she did social service. She was working for the Red Cross, and then she was nominated as MLC. So she was working every day and she was trying new things, breaking barriers at that point. So she's an inspiration for everybody in our family. OK, so she's that's where you did you grow up with her like this is your moms mom or your dads mom. My dads mom and OK, we grew up in the I mean, I grew up with my grandparents, so in the same house. Yeah, so, and also because we had the same name, there's a lot of this also around.

It, I'm sure, yeah. So it's like you had a strong role model where you had like you saw a woman working and kind of like managing the household and kind of like you had it very early on in your age. Yeah. OK, that's, that's awesome. So I know you know, like because the podcast is called Portraits of Strength and in my opinion, you know, strength is a, is a huge range. It can vary in different definitions or not. So what's your definition of strength and how did it manifest in your own life and journey?

I think strength is a lot about resilience. It's not about being strong all the time, but it is more about coming back. OK. Yeah. And where do you think you've seen it? Or where where do you think you had to show a lot of strength in your own life and journey? Maybe there's a anecdote that you can maybe share? Particularly, I don't think I can get, but throughout my life, I think at every stage of life there was that one point where you would, I would think that Oh no, this is like the end. And then look back two years later.

And then I'm like, oh, that was not the toughest thing. I've passed through it. And then there's a new hurdle in front of Maine, right? Right, so. That happened a lot and sometimes when I look back, I'm like, that wasn't the end at all. That's like the easiest thing. OK, so it's kind of more like you think it's the like you're in a tunnel, but there's no light coming through, but you're at the end of the tunnel and it's like, OK, it wasn't that bad. Yes. And sometimes I've had the other kind of experience also where I'm just navigating through it and after I'm out of it, then I look back and I was like, oh, I did struggle a lot so the last few months and then.

OK, Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. So you and I, we both come from the South Asian Telugu household where we know that there's kind of like a checklist of things that are, you know, typically given to us. Like, OK, by this age you finish your education, then the next thing is you finish either masters or whatnot. But by certain age, you have, you get married, you have kids. How is it that you know, And in a Telugu household specifically, it's like it's very rare to hear of a woman who's single. It's almost unheard of.

So how has navigating that cultural space, I guess, how did you navigate it? And I'm sure you're still navigating it. So how does that keep coming up? I think the biggest thing is my parents, because they don't push and if there is the cultural impact, it's more on them and it gets filtered out before it comes to me. So even within the extended family, if someone's saying something, it's usually filtered out by them or my parents take care of it and make sure I don't get the brunt of it. OK. And again, because my grandmother and how my family is alloted to education.

So that push was there at a young age and even my grandmother used to say that you finish your masters 1st and then we can think of this. OK. Though she did have that mind that you have to get married at a certain age and all that there OK, but education also was a very important thing for us. OK so so if I look at my cousins also, not everyone was married. I don't think anyone was married before 25%. OK, that's awesome that you have the familial support there because often times we see that some people, some women don't even have that right.

So yeah, so that that's awesome to hear What has helped you hold on to your voice and self worth especially. Like, I understand that your parents are filtering out most of it, but that doesn't mean nothing ever gets to you, right? Yeah. Yeah, so how do you hold on to your voice and self worth when traditional expectations don't match up with the life you chose for yourself? Yeah, I think for a long time I used to actually debate with people. OK. And try to explain that, see, I want to do this or I want to do that.

And and then there was a phase where I would just joke around with people. If someone's like Inca, be like, yeah, yeah, I think you should get to something about it. You really need to help my parents. They're not up to it. So OK, turn it into a joke. Yeah, turn it into a joke that also goes. And I think it's just about how you take it. And I also observed that when people see you every day, they don't get to question that much. Interesting. OK. Yeah, as well. OK. And if you look at the frequency of how often you get asked, like if I'm going to look at it in the last one year, maybe I got asked twice.

So I don't want to harp over it and lose my. Over it, true. Yeah, yeah. Makes sense. Yeah. Like, you choose what you want to think about and what you don't want to think about kind of a thing. You know, typically when people come to the US or move, go to another country to do their masters, they usually tend to get a job or start their life there. What made you decide to go back to India and start a company there? So that is like a long answer now. Sure. I don't think I planned for it. OK. But when I graduated, which was around 2910, they were not really good job opportunities in the US and some of my friends were shifting.

Feels like my own classmates went either to software finance or something on that line, whereas I really enjoyed what I studied in my masters and I didn't wanted to work in. Yeah, so I did try and maybe as a 20 year old or 23 year old, I gave my best. Now I look back with the saner mind, I'm like, maybe I could have tried harder, but at that state of mind, yes, I did the best I could. Yeah. And, and at one point I thought I should not get wrapped up around, OK, I should get a job in the US because I studied in the US.

So I stayed there as long as I had money. And when I ran out of money, I came home. As simple as that as. Simple as that. OK. Yeah, and when I was moving back home, I just didn't want to regret that hurry. I didn't work there or something. I stayed. So I just travelled the last few months and made sure I saw enough of US that if I never came back to the US again in my life also, I'm fine. I'm happy. That's nice. So with that mindset, I came home, I started working and I just took looked at the first 3-4 offers I got, whichever seemed better, I just hopped onto it.

And again, because I liked what I did in my masters. It's a very selfish thing that if I looked at a thermal project or a roadway project, I would be working as one aspect of it or applying only one aspect of it in that job. But if I was working in a solar power plant, because the projects are smaller size, I could use like 8090% of what I learnt in one project. So it was much more interesting for me to use all the learnings. And the market was also quite niche like it is new. Pretty new in India.

Yeah, many players. So that is how I slowly went into solar and we again when I was between jobs, one of my old client had offered us that. If not, if when you're starting a new company, the next project I'll give you. Wow, nice. Why not give it a try of just 30? If it fails, we can always get a job so. Yeah. Yeah. So that's how. That's how you take a risk, right? Yeah. That's awesome. So I worked in solar cells like as in I was in the research area where when I was pursuing PhD, solar cells were my topic of research at that point of time, which is another lifetime.

So I do know that building a building and managing and you know, scaling A thriving solar energy companies are deeply male nominated industry. And considering the fact that you're actually working in India, which is highly patriarchal in nature even to this day, whether it's business or other related industries, how do you navigate rooms where you possibly are the only woman at the table?

For that, I don't think it's just about solar. I think somewhere from +2 that started true. Like when you're preparing for IIT itself. Like in school we had a class which had equal number of girls and boys. You go to +2 where we are preparing for IIT, you're less than 10%. Then again, you have the same thing. The ratio is always in my master, we were two girls in a class of 13. The ratio is that bad? Yes. So the path I choose, I chose at a young age itself was like that. So I got used. To it but.

I think more than adversity I got, I saw more respect for that. OK, that is good to hear. Yeah. So and very recently I had one, not very recently, I think three years back I had this call with one potential client and he called the first question he asked which of your partners is your husband? OK. And it's one of them, Yeah. And he was like, you are a partner in a company by your own. That is his next question. That you're not somebody's wife, that you became a. So the assumption was that you got you are a founder only because you would have been somebody's is is the owner.

Wow. Yeah, OK. Or or my dad or husband summons. So that is the assumption and it went on and on. So that conversation for half an hour, I got so riled up, but I was trying. To make sure. Patient and all that. And I hung the call. I called both my partners and I'm like, this is so ridiculous. We can't do this. Yeah, I don't want to work with. And then one simple question one of my partner asked, when was the last time you had such a call? And I thought it was at least two years before or something like that.

OK. So it's not that common, but we tend. But you do come across, yeah, we do come across and we tend to focus on that a lot more. But I've also seen the other extreme like my very first project of as a site manager, OK, so I was the only site manager in Gurgaon and team is all men, obviously. So I had some, I received so much respect from this client saying the female site managers coming at site at 2:00 AM and working. So I got they would get me everything. My permits were easier that way, OK.

And they made sure that the project went smoothly. So I saw the other side and they would always get asked for my opinion. So I've seen that and this and also. OK. Yeah, OK. So there are some subtleties like if I'm going with even my project manager and I go to a meeting, sometimes the client tend to look at the guy and answer. Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. But I have a team who says Madam Will. Answer. She's the head. That's good. Yeah, yeah. So there's that respect that I have for my team, which is there.

So they both listen that happen. And when you look back, I think there's more of people respecting that. There's a woman who's doing all this and people who doubt the ability. OK, Yeah, I've, I've actually seen that when I came to India also like small things where we go for registration or you know, anything like that. I go with my dad. I'm the one asking the questions, but the answers, they tend to turn towards my dad to answer those questions. And yeah, it's kind of like it can get me riled up.

But as you said, we pick our battles right. Yeah, so. And some we just tend to ignore, I guess. Possibly because you have lived there for longer and you know which ones to ignore and which ones not to, I guess also, right? OK, that makes sense. Along that journey of, you know, building and scaling your company, what have been your biggest leadership lessons and maybe what's your proudest professional milestone

leadership? Lessons is handling people.

People handling people is very, very difficult and they don't teach that anywhere in school. So the match engineering, even the finance part is very easy, but handling people is very difficult and trying to set a cultural boundaries. And when we were 20 people it was still easier, but now we are 100 people, it's much tougher. So taking a tough call and saying no, we'll stick by this otherwise. 20 people, I think we were more flexible and we would let someone do this and that and now we can't monitor at that level.

So trying to be set ground rules is difficult and we are trying to stick to one principle. So the last one here, I think that was one big thing that we were like this is going to be our culture. We have to do it if people have to stick to it, otherwise it's going to be difficult. So that is the this thing. And same way firing people was so difficult initially, Yeah. And for first few years we didn't have attrition also. So people who came just stayed. So when we didn't like someone, we would just be like, OK, give them another chance, another chance, another chance.

And I remember one first person we fired, we decided six months before that we wanted him gone. And we was wow, softies. We just couldn't fire him. And every week we'll be like, OK, why don't you do it this week and then you do it this week. And when it finally happened, I think one day my partner was also very frustrated about something and that guy did something like just leave, came to that point, OK, OK. But now we know how to do it. OK, Give them a proper plan. Let's say that you have not reached these goals, so you have to do this and we give you a time period, otherwise this is gone.

So we've learned how to handle people and create processes. That help you, OK, OK. And what's your proudest professional milestone to date? Proudest professional milestone? I don't know, I can call it proudest, but there was one particular project that a friend of mine had come and said I think you should with this is my company, they're coming up with the solar project. Give me your profile and I will put across. My directors are also getting their contacts in. We'll see who's the best player, but I'll try to push you guys as much as possible.

And there were four people who got profiles for the this thing and turned out all forwarders. Oh wow, that's amazing. Yeah, so. Each of the Board of directors through their references had asked for solar company and all four of them came up with only our company. Wow, that's amazing. Yeah, that is a proud you. You should take it as a proud moment. Why you even doubting it? We felt a little small that way when we are where was the very good thing. And then finally when we found out, OK, who are the competitors?

It turned out everyone. We just got our profession. I hadn't sent it through my contact. My partner sent it through their respective contact. My sales manager had went. OK, that's nice. Yeah, awesome. I would, I actually thought you would mention, you know, I think couple of years ago you won an award, right as the female. Is it, is it the best female director in the industry or so I would have thought you would mention that, but this is amazing. I I think awards are little. There are too many awards these days to give it that much matter really.

OK. I did not know that. So you have to also someone has to nominate for the award. It is not like they have a committee that goes and finds people or something like that, right? So if there are no, no nominations and there is too many awards, we ourselves don't nominate anywhere. Awards are not so much Mir. OK, that that actually shows that you are a very humble person. But even yeah, the store, the prior proudest moment, I think you should take it as a proud moment and not doubt it. So you don't come across as the person who has any imposter syndrome or moments of doubt.

Is that an accurate statement? I think moments of doubt will be there, but I think for me more, it comes more from am I doing enough? OK where it comes? And I don't know how much it will come into the imposter syndrome. But a lot of times I feel like I'm wasting a lot of time not being as productive. And I think lately I'm getting a feeling that productivity that we've put as a society is kind of overrated. And this is coming more like when I look back two months, then I'm like, OK, I've done this much maybe as time I'm not sitting from like 5:50 and constantly doing something.

But yeah, that is something I do struggle with, that I'm not contributing so much maybe, but so like. On harder days, how do you tackle that moments of doubt? Is there? I think I. Process that you have that. Yeah, I think I talk a lot with my partners about it, saying that I don't think I'm doing much, so maybe I should do something and plan out a day and all that and change my routine a bit. I do try to change my routine here and. There, OK, OK, OK. Yeah, to try to use some mindfulness here there.

Whenever I feel I'm little anxious and I'm not in the moment, then I'll try to do something else in my routine so that. I OK. Feel like I'm doing more. OK, you're a type A personality looks like.

I don't. Know OK, OK, so you are a you've completed your birth Natyam correct? Or are you still learning? I am always learning. I can see that, but like, were you learning since you were a kid or are you learning now? I guess that's that's more my. I learnt as a kid and I think until the JE prep and all that had come OK, So after that there was a gap of almost 25 years and during COVID I started again, OK, so this time it's like starting a fresh clean slate all the way. All the way from the beginning, from scratch.

From the beginning with Adu and like 6 year old kids and me in one class and. Nice. Yeah, I can. I can. I can see that. So Purvi is actually getting ready for her Arangat from next year. Oh, thanks. So I can see all the, like, I know the names and all that. Not that I am a dancer or anything, but yeah. But you're a Bertana team dancer. You have seen you do belly dancing and you actually you own a CrossFit or you started a CrossFit gym in in your house or I guess somewhere close by. That's like a rare and a powerful combination, right?

Like so like how do these different? Movement. Practices, you know, help you express that multifaceted or different parts of yourself. So dance was always there in my life in different forms. Initially it was Bharatnatyam, then I went to college, we learnt like contemporary and hip hop and somewhere in college only I wanted to learn belly dance. But there were not really anyone teaching in India back then. So when I went to US, did couple of workshops here and there. Right, so. That is the whole dance journey and even after I got back to India, I did a lot of again, contemporary hip hop kind of things and strength training as I think helps as a dancer.

So that was always at the back of my mind that I have to be regular strength training for dance so it can make me a better dancer. So dance is the. Yeah, dance was the rule and but I tried all lots of different types of strength training and I really fell in love with CrossFit. OK. So then when I started going CrossFit and I wanted to do it right, then I worked with a couple of CrossFit boxes and then did a certification and then we started doing it ourselves again. COVID is the push, right? Yeah.

So that and that's become a routine now. And even as a kid, I was a very restless person. So you know the one of those kids in the class where teachers make you run before the class because they won't sit so. Expedite all the energy. Yes. Well, then now when I finish my CrossFit in the morning, that's like I'm calm now I can concentrate on the day, OK, That's it's a routine like how you brush your teeth before breakfast. My workout is done and coming to belly dance again, a lot of forms and dance that I like.

Every time you see a dance like I want to learn this, I want to learn that, yeah. And for belly dance I we did have an opportunity in Hyderabad only to learn like the proper Oriental, Egyptian Oriental belly dance from the basics. Nice. OK, so I jumped up and took that opportunity. So did the basics here and then rest for online and then did some workshops and it mostly I've done with Pyle's Academy. She's based out of Bombay so she has her online classes also. She used to come initially before COVID and then OK.

So with her I finished all the advanced levels also. Oh, nice. And you perform now regularly, right? Yeah. So we have like. A small troupe in Hyderabad. We do perform once in a while. Nice. That's that's awesome. I mean, there are so. Like when you. People that I come across who actually continue to, you know, give time and priority to those hobbies that make them happy are rare and few in between. So that's really heartwarming to see you continue do that. So yeah, it's amazing. Has dance or movement been healing for you in any way?

Is that why you you are attracted to it? Or have you ever reflected as to why you love dance and movement so much? I, I, it definitely makes me happy. Like if I have not danced for two weeks and then I go for the dance class or a perform thing, I can definitely see like my mood is better and like how why didn't I dance for two weeks, right? But I don't think it started at some point in life because I've always been dancing. OK, so. My mom gives this example of when I was 2 1/2 or something and we were at a restaurant, heard a song.

And she? She's very this thing about it also, and then she's like, can I dance? Do you remember this particular song also? Huh. Yeah, yeah. So apparently I said can I dance for this song And went to the speaker and started dancing on my own. Oh wow, that's that's cute. Yeah, and I think first school dances also, the first one I did was when I was 3 1/2 and OK, from then till now, every year I've performed.

So small stage, big stage, some sangeet. It's become a part of you. I know you. I mean you, you were amazing when you actually accepted to come dance for my sister's wedding Sangeet also. So that was like, amazing. People just have to ask and then I'm ready to dance. Oh, that's nice. That's nice. Yeah. OK. So what like so you said, you mentioned earlier, like what COVID inspired you to start the CrossFit gym so that you could work out without needing to go anywhere or how did that come about? Yeah, so I was working part time in another Prospect gym before COVID.

So I used to work from morning from 6:00 to 12:00 and then come to office and work the remaining time at office just because I wanted to learn more. And it made me happy, nothing more. OK, OK. So in COVID the bunch of us who were working out together used to do online sessions and when the restrictions had reduced we everyone got whatever equipment we had at to my friend's house who had like a big terrace and we just put everything and started working out together. Nice. So that's how it kind of got started.

Yeah. And 5 1/2 years now and we're sticking to it and do the programming and then around 8 of us, we meet every day in the morning, finish our workout, have coffee and then go for that day. Nice, that is awesome. And has that helped you like your fitness regiment or the fitness world? How has that influenced your professional world? It has definitely influenced me a lot in the point of like I used to know the procrastination or not been doing enough and all that. I think focus wise that helped a lot.

OK. And. Discipline also. Discipline also, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So before that there was this one or one year and when I was working too much of the stress, the work stress got to me. So I was very anxious about anything. Even meeting people was very tough for me. Getting out of bed sometimes also was tough, like I would wake up at 9, reach office at 10, kind of fade through the day. And I think that when my parents also pushed that you should workout. OK, they saw the difference clearly. Yeah, because again, I said I was this restless kid, right?

So you should workout and. OK. That kind of changed the whole thing. So are there any rituals or things that you do that help you ground yourself? Let's say you're anxious in the middle of the day at work. Also, are there little things that you do or whatever that you or your go to ritual that helps you ground yourself?

I do a lot of coloring lately. This also started in the last 4-5 years only. So. If I'm too anxious then I sit down and do some coloring so I have books everywhere at my Home Office every. OK. If too anxious, that helps. A walk may help sometimes. OK. And any rituals that you stick to no matter where you are in the world. The workout only as much as possible, so even if I'm traveling I try to get up and do some stretching at least in the morning before we go for the day. OK. Yeah, because the days I get up late, I feel like the day is something off once in a while.

Yeah, yeah. When do you wake up? I wake up at 5:45, OK. Not too early, but still not too decent enough that you get things done. Actually I am the same. I mean, the days that I work out in the morning and I'm done before I start my work is like, OK, this day is going to go amazing. Yeah, well, and our workout is like the community kind of thing, right? So if holiday season or something, people are travelling and the gym is closed, I wake up at 7:00 and I feel that the day is lost. OK. I'm so lost that whole day I feel I'm stuck in traffic or whatever.

Yeah, OK. How do you balance, you know, the demanding career that's like your entrepreneurship and an active, you know, extracurricular, for lack of a better word, extracurricular activities feel like you're dancing, You're I mean, your gym or workout has is part of your daily thing, but how do you manage or balance all of that? I think sticking to a routine makes the most of it, like just timing and yeah and if that breaks I get very anxious again. But nowadays I'm learning to handle that. Also saying you can't control things.

Yeah. Yeah, mostly stick to routine scheduling, yeah. Oh my God you and I can be OK. This. I am like a scheduling nut my friends. I have everything color-coded on my Google Calendar, so everything is on Google Calendar, and if something is not, there's heavy chances that it will be. It will slip through the cracks. Now I do remember things, but yeah if I have to meet I do put it on a calendar. Not so color-coded and all, but I put it on the calendar so I don't forget. I think that's the difference between a single woman and a single mom.

I have to track, keep track of, you know, Purvi schedules, my schedules and everything. So if it's not on the calendar, it's gone. Yeah, my partners also, if we have some meeting and we're like even coffee dates, my best friend, we just put it on the calendar. It's like, let's put it there. Yeah, yeah. OK, and we're all like that. Another friend of mine, he's also a fitness trainer. So the other day we were thinking we didn't meet in almost let's meet. I immediately sent him a calendar invite coffee, so and so time.

And he said yes on that immediately. And he was so happy when I sent that he noticed. Oh no, I have another meeting at that time. Let's push it half an hour. Yeah. And his wife was like, you have friends like this? Yes, yes, this was best. I know we have to. We have to find processes that help make your life simpler, right? Yeah, and we have to be intentional about meeting friends, especially when you're busy with everything else. So yeah, no, I I can totally relate to that. So if you could share one message with, you know, the younger generation specifically, you know, South Asian women who might be feeling, you know, that being caught between the cultural expectations versus following their own dreams, what would your advice to them be?

I don't know if it'll work for everybody also, but my thing is just to find a way to do it. OK, so one thing I've realized is explaining it to people. Initially I used to do that a lot. It works with my parents, but it doesn't work with everybody else. So with my parents, I have a very logical discussion and then we're like, I want to do this. And then there's pros and cons and all that. So that works with my dad very well, but it doesn't work with the rest of the world. True, right? So people don't really listen.

They already have a preconceived thing in their mind. So whatever you say, they'll only hear what they want to listen. True. So just. Find a path of least resistance and go ahead. No need of looking for a validation at that point. OK. That is a lot of things I just do. I don't even tell people that this is what I'm planning or this is what I should do.

OK, that is, yeah, that's, that's really a good way to look at it for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of time women or yeah, we tend to women in general tend to look for validation or acceptance before they continue to do it. Yes. But as they say, asking for forgiveness is better than permission. Yeah, mostly that. OK, OK, let's switch over. This is the last part of the interview. It's like a rapid fire. Questions. What's your favorite book? Favorite. Book. Are you not much of A reader? But I'm sure you've read some and you're something must have stuck with you, right?

Yeah, I'm presently reading Anxious People. It's good, OK. I like the way the narration is OK. OK, OK, favorite song. Since you're a dancer, you should You must have a favorite song. Now I'll have to ask you language also that. Doesn't matter, maybe if you want to give me one in Telugu, one in Hindi, that's fine as well. One in English also. We'll take it. So in Telugu, it's Kanulani Rupave. OK. And English is Billie Jean. Billie Jean? Which one? The the Michael Jackson Billie Jean. OK, awesome.

Awesome favorite quote quotation.

I don't think I have one. OK, favorite movie.

Favorite movie? Again, very difficult. I think I like Kill Bill because we were discussing that yesterday. I could do that. OK, OK. I mean, do you actually watch movies or do you prefer not to? I used to watch a lot, like everything that released, but lately I haven't seen anything that struck. I think the last one was yeah Rocky or Rani. That was good, but lately not watching so much. OK, Fair enough. Fair enough. Yeah, I forgot then I yeah, all time favorite movie would be Swarna Kamla. Yes, amazing.

Yes, I love that movie as well. What's your greatest fear? Greatest fear I know. Drowning maybe? You know how to swim, right? Yeah, yeah. But you still have a fear of drowning. OK, OK. The most courageous thing that you've ever done till date.

Now I'm blanking. Take your time. It's OK, we can we can edit out the question. Like silences. You can take all your time you want. Yeah, I think, yeah, some of my solo trips out of the blue, like just because I needed a mental break. Have you done that in the country, in India or have you gone? Abroad, I've done both. You've done both. Any difference that you see? It depends. In India also some places are very tourist friendly. Not every places. OK. OK. Maybe what's your favorite travel location so far?

So far anywhere in the Himalayas is good. I feel OK. It's very refreshing. I've done multiple like tricks and all and very refreshing. Andaman's been beautiful and always go back. Have you done my favorite place to travel? OK, you've been there already. Yeah. OK. And have you done the the base camp Himalayas? No plans on doing that? No, maybe not right now, but maybe in the future. I would prefer to go to a lesser traveled place, even if it's not like very popular, very tough. OK, OK. Because if I'm going there to relax, I don't want to navigate through.

All the tourist crowds. Yeah. OK, OK, fair enough. What's your philosophy of life?

Sleep. Happy. Wake up excited. OK, OK. Thank you so much for joining us for this conversation with Rajalakshmi Kola. Our story is a reminder that strength doesn't always look loud or dramatic. Sometimes it shows up in quiet choices we make for ourselves, the paths we carve even when they're unfamiliar, and the courage it takes to stand firmly in who we are, especially when the world expects something different. If Rajalakshmi's journey resonated with you, her resilience, her boldness, her ability to hold her identity, career, dance and fitness with such grace, I hope you carry a piece of her story with you today and every other day.

Thank you so much. This is what Portraits of Strength is all about. Everyday people living extraordinary lives. Thank you so much and see you in our next episode. A quick shout out to today's sponsor, Sri Krishna Jewellers. With over 50 years of craftsmanship, they are now serving the Dallas community from Frisco, TX. If you have someone special worth celebrating, check out their collection at srikrishna.com or call them at 430-231-1111.

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