Influential Women Podcast releases new Chef Aarthi Sampath episode

The Influential Women Podcast has released a new episode featuring Chef Aarthi Sampath, the founder of New York restaurant Drāvida. The conversation focuses on resilience, self-belief and the decision to build a South Asian dining concept without outside investors.

Why it matters: - Chef Aarthi Sampath's story centers on a high-profile example of entrepreneurship built on self-belief, persistence and personal vision. - The episode puts Drāvida in front of an audience interested in founders, creatives and business leaders. - The discussion also highlights how South Asian cuisine can be presented through regional flavors, global influences and intentional hospitality.

What happened: - The Influential Women Podcast, hosted by Jodie O'Brien, announced a new episode featuring Chef Aarthi Sampath. - The episode is titled "Building the Dream Before Anyone Else Believes It." - Sampath is the founder of Drāvida, a New York restaurant. - Sampath appears in the episode as a chef, entrepreneur and television personality.

The details: - Sampath was born and raised in Mumbai. - She built her culinary career through years of training in world-class kitchens before moving to the United States. - Her credits include winning Chopped, defeating Bobby Flay on Beat Bobby Flay, appearing on Guy's Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions, and serving as a judge on MasterChef Tamil. - The episode focuses on the years of perseverance behind Drāvida and on trusting her own vision when others questioned the idea. - Sampath says, "You really just have to believe in yourself." - She discusses navigating a male-dominated industry, overcoming rejection and stopping the search for validation from others. - Sampath says years of writing down goals, staying committed and showing up through setbacks helped her build the restaurant she had imagined. - She says, "Just keep showing up." - The conversation also covers the loneliness of entrepreneurship and the confidence that comes from trusting instincts and learning from setbacks. - Sampath says she chose to build Drāvida without outside investors so she could stay true to her vision of celebrating the South Asian diaspora through food and storytelling. - She says, "Write down what you want out of your life." - Listeners can watch and listen to the episode on Spotify and subscribe to the Influential Women Podcast there. - Listen on Spotify is referenced in the release as the place to find the podcast.

Between the lines: - The episode frames restaurant-building as a long-term discipline, not a single breakthrough moment. - Sampath's decision to avoid outside investors suggests a tradeoff: more control over the concept, but more pressure on the founder to carry the business. - The release positions Drāvida as both a restaurant and a storytelling vehicle for the South Asian diaspora.

What's next: - Influential Women says new conversations with founders, executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders are released regularly on Spotify. - The podcast will continue to use founder stories to explore leadership, challenges and career-defining moments. - The release says the episode should resonate with entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders and anyone pursuing a difficult goal.