From Self-Doubt to Spotlight: My Journey from Blogging to TEDx Recognition

 Hello Dear Readers,

I write this post today with a heart full of gratitude and a mind overflowing with reflection.

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that my story — the journey I’ve walked, the challenges I’ve embraced, and the purpose I continue to nurture — has been featured by none other than the TEDx team.

Yes, that TEDx — a platform known for celebrating bold thinkers, change-makers, and passionate doers.

Their article, “How Satyasri Akula is Shaping the Future of Digital Innovation with SAP and Data Science”, shines a light on my work, my books, and my ongoing mission to make a difference in the realms of tech, leadership, and digital innovation.

This moment didn’t arrive overnight.
The seeds were quietly sown back in 2016, when I nervously published my very first blog.

Back then, I had far more fears than followers.

I remember second-guessing every sentence:
What if someone laughs at my blog?
What if I don’t sound smart enough?
There are bloggers with lakhs of views — what am I even doing here?

My early posts weren’t perfect. They didn’t go viral. They stumbled. They were rough around the edges.

But they were mine. And they were honest.
I didn’t begin writing to impress — I began writing to express.
To express the pain people live through.
To reflect on stories that don’t make the news but shape our hearts.
To give voice to thoughts that often remain unspoken.

And post by post, I slowly grew.

I grew not just as a blogger but as a person.
I began to understand that storytelling isn’t about structure alone — it’s about soul.
It’s about how a single line from a blog, written at midnight, can light up hope in someone reading it miles away.

In time, friends turned into supporters.
Mistakes turned into lessons.
And with every blog, I found a deeper purpose.

Then came the next leap — becoming an author of two books:
📘 Leadership: The Art of Inspiring Others
📗 Corporate Finance Unveiled: Insights & Applications

These weren’t just books. They were my perspectives — shaped by experience, driven by curiosity, and anchored in truth.
They shifted my writing focus. I stopped writing for likes.
I started writing for impact.

Today, my blogs are not about metrics — they’re about meaning.

If even one reader walks away with a little more strength, a little more clarity, or a little more peace — that, to me, is success.

Because I know how it feels to sit in silence with self-doubt.
To feel invisible. To wonder if what you’re doing matters.
So if you’re in that space now — this post is for you.

“You are not here to impress the world. You are here to express your truth — and that truth will light the way for someone else.”

Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

• Greatness doesn’t begin with confidence. It begins with courage.
• Every misstep is just a rehearsal for something remarkable.
• The energy you send out — when it’s genuine — finds its way back to you.
• Thoughts don’t need flawless grammar to be understood. Feelings are felt. Not proofread.
• Music needs no language to move you. And just like that, your thoughts don’t need perfection to touch someone’s soul.

Even as someone who now reviews academic papers for IEEE, I still hold space in my heart for a simple, heartfelt blog. Because sincerity always speaks louder than polish.

And yes — I often find myself thinking like an author.
One particular line from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost lingers in my mind:
“Why not the other road? Why not the other perspective?”
Sometimes, it’s the road less blogged about that makes all the difference.

So today, I just want to say:

Thank you, TEDx, for believing in my story.
Thank you, blogging, for being the space that let me begin — shaky hands and all.
And thank you, reader — for being part of this journey, post by post, word by word.

I’m opening up the comments below — because I want this to be a space for connection.
If you’re in a season of struggle, lacking clarity or motivation — reach out.
You’re not alone. None of us are. And sometimes, one conversation can change everything.

This isn’t a destination — it’s just a meaningful pause along the journey.

With love and gratitude,
Satyasri Akula

P.S. If this post resonated with you, or if you’re silently walking through something right now, drop a comment or a message. Sometimes, a stranger’s words can become your strength.

Originally published at https://tedxindia.com on June 3, 2025.

Breaking the Silence: The Brutal Truth About the Gender Pay Gap in 2025

 

A Story of Inequality: Meet Priya

Priya is the kind of employee every company dreams of—sharp, dependable, and relentless. A senior Consultant  at a leading tech firm, she’s the first to clock in, the last to leave, and doesn’t blink at working weekends. Her teammates admire her. Clients swear by her. She trains new hires and steers projects to success.

Then, one day, the rug is pulled out from under her.

She accidentally discovers that a junior male colleague—a man she mentored—earns double her salary.

Shocked, she confronts her manager.

He shrugs.

“He negotiated better.”

 

No mention of performance. No data. No justification.

Just a dismissive shrug, built on outdated assumptions and invisible biases.

Priya was underpaid not because she lacked skill—but because she’s a woman.

And Priya’s story is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Gender Pay Gap in 2025: Still Alive and Kicking

Despite all the panel discussions, promises, and progress, the gender pay gap in 2025 remains a stubborn stain on the global workforce.

🟣 Globally, women still earn 20% less than men for equivalent work.

Let that sink in.

🌍 Global Snapshots of Inequality

• South Korea: 31.2% gap – worst among OECD countries

• Israel: 2nd widest gap in the OECD

• United States: Women earn 83.6¢ for every $1 a man makes

• Australia (private sector): 21.1% gap

• France (private sector): 22.2% gap

• Estonia: Largest pay gap in Europe

• Luxembourg: The unicorn – women slightly out-earn men

• 
  

Even in countries hailed as progressive, unequal pay is alive and well—lurking behind office doors and encrypted payroll files.

India’s Stark Reality: Numbers Don’t Lie

In India, the numbers are even more telling—and more troubling.

Women earn 27% less than men for doing the same job.

In the tech industry:

• Women earn just 60% of what men make

• 42% of salaried women hesitate to negotiate—fearing bias

• Only 23% of metro-based women believe they’re paid fairly

Why the gap?

• Cultural norms still pigeonhole women into low-paying roles

• Negotiating women are seen as “aggressive,” not “assertive”

• Fear of being labeled, sidelined, or even fired keeps women silent

In short: Women are told to lean in—then punished when they do.

Why Is This Still Happening?

Let’s bust some myths and face some uncomfortable truths.

❌ “Men Just Negotiate Better”

Not true. Studies show that when women negotiate, they’re penalized. Men are called “ambitious.” Women? “Difficult,” “pushy,” “not a team player.”

👶 The Motherhood Penalty

When women become mothers, their earnings dip. When men become fathers? They often get raises.

It’s a tale of two parents—and two completely different outcomes.

🧑‍⚕️ Occupational Bias

Jobs dominated by women—teaching, nursing, caregiving—are consistently undervalued, even when requiring equal or greater skill.

🤐 Lack of Transparency

Opaque salary structures are a smokescreen. They hide bias, discourage accountability, and keep the status quo firmly in place.

Turning the Tide: What We Can Do

Change doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by choice.

📌 Employers: Step Up

✅ Conduct regular pay audits
✅ Fix gaps—don’t just file them away
✅ Implement transparent salary bands
✅ Promote women into leadership roles

💡 Companies with gender-diverse leadership outperform their peers. This isn’t charity—it’s strategy.

 

📌 Women: Know Your Worth

✅ Track your wins. Quantify them. Own them.
✅ Research industry salaries—arm yourself with facts
✅ Join women’s networks and advocacy groups
✅ Speak up—your silence protects no one

📌 Policymakers: Put Teeth in the Law

✅ Enforce equal pay legislation
✅ Mandate salary transparency—like Iceland
✅ Subsidize childcare—because motherhood shouldn’t mean career death

A Call to Action: No More Excuses

Priya’s story shouldn’t be just another whisper behind closed doors. It should be a wake-up call.

💥 Equal work deserves equal pay. Full stop. No fine print. No exceptions.

This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about economics. Nations that close the gender pay gap see stronger GDP, happier employees, and more resilient economies.

So, what will YOU do?

👔 Employers: Audit your payroll—today
🧑‍💼 Employees: Demand transparency
📢 Readers: Share this. Speak up. Start conversations.

Let’s stop calling Priya’s story “unfortunate” and start calling it unacceptable.

Your Voice Matters

💬 Have you faced pay inequality? Were you told to “just be grateful you have a job”?

It’s time to flip the script. Share your story below.

Let’s turn outrage into action. Let’s stop whispering—and start shouting.

Because in 2025, no woman should have to fight for what she’s already earned.