In a recent podcast episode with host Vinamre Kasanaa, Dev Mitra, Indian-origin founder of a Canada-based consulting firm, spoke about his difficult journey from student life to entrepreneurship. Mitra, who is currently a partner in a business management consultancy, shared his views on his experiences as an international student and the sacrifices he made to pursue his studies abroad.
Mitra, who quit a lucrative corporate job earning Rs14 LPA, took up a role as a waiter to support himself during his studies. “The sad reality of being a student abroad! » Kasanaa noted while sharing a clip of their conversation. The two discussed Mitra’s transition to life in Canada, where he has lived for six years, touching on topics such as safety and the challenges of racism facing the Indian community.
In the podcast, Mitra explained the financial pressures of managing student loans while balancing work and school. He highlighted the difficult decisions he made in pursuit of his goals, reflecting on the resilience needed to follow his path.
The podcast received mixed reactions from viewers, with some expressing admiration for Mitra’s determination, while others criticized his complaints about his job as a waiter, suggesting he was aware of the challenges before moving.
One user commented: “This happened but will never be seen again. No matter what your profession is, all jobs deserve to be respected. People like you are the main reason why a job is above the rest. ‘other. All work deserves respect. So if you put your ego aside and say I worked hard and learned the hard way, all jobs deserve respect!’
Taking exception to the entrepreneur’s reaction, another user commented: “You’re not the only one mate, there are thousands with the same stories all over the UK, Canada, US -United and Australia.”
Mitra’s educational journey began at Bishop Cotton School and Ahlcon Public School, followed by an LLB from the University of Calcutta and a Masters in Law from UNSW, Australia. He began his career as a legal associate at CPA Global and held various positions at Huron Consulting Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and ByteX before founding Matrix Venture Studio, a boutique consulting firm, in 2021.
