Breaking Barriers and Finding Success with Ruma Mazumdar

Episode 25 Description

Ruma Mazumdar is a real estate attorney and entrepreneur supporting home buyers and sellers as they enter into an exciting new chapter of their lives. As a South Asian-American, she made the decision to leave her six-figure corporate law firm job to begin her own practice, Key Esquire, and now works largely with the South Asian immigrant community. Breaking away from traditional values and finding success, she hopes to inspire other women and younger generations to pursue their dreams. Hear all this and more on today’s empowering episode of the We Rise Podcast. Learn more about Ruma and her work with Key Esquire on Instagram and Facebook!

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Episode 25 Show Notes

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Key takeaways

Breaking away from the corporate wheel

Ruma is the daughter of trailblazing Indian immigrants who were inspired to pursue the American Dream. Married and pregnant at 23 years old, Ruma’s mother faced a difficult decision, and ultimately sent Ruma to India to be raised by her grandparents before eventually returning to the United States.

Ruma’s upbringing instilled in her the South Asian values of strong discipline, hard work, and success. After completing an undergrad program at NYU and working as a paralegal at an internationally recognized top law firm in Washington DC, Ruma moved back to New York City to attend the Cardozo School of Law. She reached her dream of working at a big law firm, becoming one of the few minorities holding an associate title with a six-figure salary.

The pandemic created a sense of opening and awareness for Ruma, as she began to notice the profound impact of this time on working mothers, many of whom relied on childcare and school to be able to work. Though not a mother herself, she noticed very few provisions were being provided to them during this devastating and trying time. Ruma eventually reached a breaking point where her law firm salary was equating to working upwards of 80 hours a week. It was exciting that she had reached her goal and was successful, but at what cost and for what purpose? She made the decision to leave her associate role in summer of 2021 and endeavored to start her own practice.

Ruma’s drive and motivation are sparked from her powerful mission of wanting to bring transparency to real estate transactions through education and technology. She is working largely with female minority clients, especially in the South Asian community, and living out a bigger, more meaningful vision than being “just another cog in the corporate wheel.”

Standing on your own path

Throughout the US, there are thriving pockets and cities of Indian and South American immigrants often referred to as “Little India.” Living in community with each other has allowed these communities to flourish as they maintain the traditional values of their culture and pass them on to younger generations.

Often challenging traditions, Ruma brings a barrier breaking mentality into her work with Indian immigrants. Ruma invites the women into conversations and encourages them to be a part of significant life decision-making processes with their husbands. There has long been a belief within Ruma’s broader upbringing that although women should be educated, it is more important for them to be married and focus on the house and children, while leaving the finances and employment to the husband.

Ruma recalls a time when her family began pushing her on the topic of marriage. Holding tight to her beliefs, she was comfortable and confident enough to wait until she was already self-sufficient and successful before exploring a deeper level of commitmentwith a partner when she was ready.

Ruma’s personal story of breaking barriers and the work she is doing in her practice are beautiful ways of giving women a sense of belonging and helping communities transform and evolve in an accepting and informed way.

Inside Ruma’s work

Ruma’s work is rooted in a specialized niche of real estate law, supporting folks that are either selling or purchasing a home. After an offer is accepted, she works with her client until the transaction is complete, making sure they are protected, guiding them with taxes, title reports, consultations and working through the nitty gritty legalities of purchasing a home. 

The process is supportive, as her methodologies are designed to bring clients clarity, support, and education, helping them stay informed and aware of what is not always in their initial view.

Her favorite clients are the first time homebuyers and single moms. There’s nothing more joy-inducing for her than joining them at the closing table and seeing their excitement as they enter this new chapter of their lives. 

The beauty of creating her own destiny is that Ruma now has the freedom to design and create her business exactly the way she envisioned it, without following a specific playbook or having to work unsustainable hours.

You don’t have to have a fancy business plan or have every little detail figured out. Ruma certainly didn’t! The American Dream has changed and it’s more about doing what you love than doing what you think you’re supposed to be doing. Take the leap and have fun with it.

notable quotes from RUMA MAZUMDAR

“The pandemic really slowed down progress for women, women in the workforce, especially. So with all that in mind, I was just like, I really want to think about how I want to spend my time, who I want to spend it with, and where I want to be in 5, 10 years. I don’t want to be just another cog in the corporate wheel.”

“If you’re just crazy and hungry to learn, you can do it. I think that’s really what’s driven me to have some early success, and really pushed me and supported me in making this decision.”

“You take it day by day, hour by hour if you need to. And you figure it out as you go… There’s no playbook for doing it. The cool thing about being a business owner is it gets to be however you want to build it… You call the shots, and you decide how you want to run your business.”

“The American Dream has really changed, and I think that’s really exciting. I feel like it’s more of what you want to be doing and what makes you happy versus what other people think you should be doing.”

“Your existence, being a woman, being a minority woman, being a highly educated minority woman is major. And that existence alone is affecting change, and it’s not a hindrance.”

“If you’re thinking about starting a business, just go and do it. All it takes is baby steps. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You will figure it out as you go.”