Neeti Khaitan

Disclaimer: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and readability. Filler words were removed, sentence structure was improved, and paragraphs were added while preserving the original meaning and conversational tone. Henry Harrison: Today we’re very lucky—and I feel very lucky—to welcome Neeti Khaitan, my good friend, entrepreneur, and business leader. Neeti, welcome to Entrepreneurs, Business, and Finance. Neeti Khaitan: Henry, how are you? Thanks for having me. Henry Harrison: I’m fantastic. Let’s start with something people may notice: you have an American—but slightly British—pronunciation. You weren’t born here. You grew up in India. I know because you told me, and I know because I met your family. They’re warm, supportive, and successful. You came to America from India by yourself—before anyone else in your family did. What was it like growing up in India, and why did you come to America, stay in America, and build your life here? Neeti Khaitan: Absolutely. I had a fabulous childhood in India. As you know, I acquired polio when I was very young, and I grew up with that disability in India. My family was so loving that it wasn’t really a “problem” until we started traveling. When I came to America, I realized it was easier for me to get around. When it came time to choose universities after high school, coming to the U.S. was a no-brainer. My uncles and my dad encouraged me to take that step. I applied to 23 universities and got admitted to 22. I decided to come here. I always joke that I chose the right country because I get front-row parking everywhere, and the president of the country makes special arrangements for me. I get to go in front of every line. But seriously, America has meant freedom. It’s meant spreading my wings. If I want to go somewhere, I don’t have to worry about how I’ll get around in my wheelchair. This country makes arrangements for that, and I’m grateful to the people who planned for it and value that. I remember coming from India to America and going to Disneyland in L.A. I was with friends, and we were standing in line. A security guard came over and said, “You don’t have to stand in this line. Come with me.” He took me to the exit and said I could enter from there in my wheelchair. I asked why, and he said, “You shouldn’t have to have a different experience than anyone else.” Then he asked, “Where are your friends?” I said, “They’re in line.” He said, “No, they can come with you.” That stayed with me. America, to me, is limitless. Henry Harrison: You’re always confident and successful, but also humble. One philosophy I’ve heard you share is “make lemonade out of lemons.” It’s easy to say, but different to live it. You don’t act like a victim. You don’t carry yourself that way. Neeti Khaitan: I hope not—and I don’t feel like one. “Make lemonade out of lemons” is a cliché, but it’s true. The things that could hold me back can also become assets. I remember being in university and needing to present my senior thesis to a board. The night before, I thought: I know my subject, but how do I walk into a room full of men and present myself? I was 4'11", I had an accent, I was dark-skinned, I was a woman, I was from another country, and I had a disability. A professor helped me see those were my “lemons.” It was up to me to make lemonade. Walk into the room, smile, say, “Hi, this is Neeti,” and present. A lot of this is mindset. If you see limitations in your own mind, you allow others to see them too. I sometimes forget I’m the one who needs help. If I see someone struggling, my instinct is to get up and help them—then I remember I can’t always do that physically. But the mindset stays the same. So I try to ask: how do I make what seems like a barrier work for me instead of against me? Henry Harrison: You’ve also done motivational speaking. You believe in contributing—being a catalyst for others. You’ve been through genuinely difficult periods, including being in the hospital when you were young. Do you want to touch briefly on that part of your story? Neeti Khaitan: Sure. My parents, especially my mom, made it easier for me by never letting me believe I had a disability. She didn’t let me pull back because something was hard physically. She made me mentally strong, so the physical limitations didn’t define my life. It was mind over body. I got polio when I was two because of an expired vaccination. I was paralyzed head to toe, on a ventilator, and my chances of surviving were slim. My parents said, “We’re going to keep her.” Over time, things worked out—and here I am. But I won’t pretend it’s easy. Every day, certain things people take for granted—getting out of bed, standing to brush your teeth—can be tasks. My mom always told me, “Figure it out.” If you accept that you’ll figure it out, it becomes easier. I always have Plan B, C, and D. When you and I travel, we have to figure out access into events, auditoriums—whatever it is. We work it out. As for purpose: people spend so much time trying to define it. For me, if I can make a difference for one person—one day at a time—that’s enough. If someone is having a bad day and hearing my story helps, or I can be there for them, that matters. Help isn’t always about money or charity. It’s also about adding value, being present, and helping someone grow. If I can do that, it’s a privilege. Henry Harrison: After you graduated, you decided to stay in America. Walk through your first job, what you learned, and how that became a big part of your career. Neeti Khaitan: I went to Pepperdine University in Malibu. After graduating, I had to decide: stay in the U.S. or go back to India. I love America, and practically, it’s easier for me to live here. I found a job at a call center company in Riverside, California—mid-to-low management. They were willing to sponsor me, so I took it. I learned how work happens operationally—not just top-down. I went to my uncles and asked them to look into the call center industry. They supported me. They invested and bought a company in Texas, which brought me from California to Texas. We bought a call center company, and I became CEO. We grew it quickly. Then we acquired another company. My cousin was the chair, and under his leadership we scaled dramatically—66,000 people across 29 countries in about eight years. We had a good exit. After that, I started Accelerate Consulting Inc. I’m using the “lemonade” I made—using certifications and positioning to partner with other companies and do subcontracting work, staffing, and payrolling. I love using what could have worked against me as a business advantage. Henry Harrison: You’ve been involved in the Dallas community for a long time. We met in Entrepreneurs’ Organization. We did Texas Ballet Theater. You’re involved with organizations like the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce and others. You have your hands in a lot of places. Neeti Khaitan: I believe if we’re part of society, we need to give back. People think philanthropy means money, but time and effort matter too. Education, women’s development, food, shelter, children—those are close to my heart. If I can add value in an organization, I try to. Right now I’m on the executive board of the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce. It aligns with a lot of what matters to me: being a catalyst, connecting people, giving back to both communities—India, where I’m from, and the U.S., where I live. I was also invited to the board of Salvation Army. Food, shelter, help—those speak to me. And help doesn’t have to mean pity. It can mean growth and taking something to the next level. Henry Harrison: Your family is largely based in India, though they travel. You’ve built your life here. You’ve said you plan on staying. Neeti Khaitan: I do. I don’t plan on doing something that would get me kicked out. I’ve lived here longer than I lived in India now. This is home. Henry Harrison: You have a full life here—friends, community, long-term relationships. If we don’t see each other for a month or two, it feels like we talked yesterday. Anything you’d like to wrap up with? Neeti Khaitan: Yes. If there’s one thing viewers take from this, remember: you’re living your best right now. We worry about the future and replay the past, but the present is the future we imagined before. In the future, you’ll look back at this time. So enjoy now. This too shall pass—good and bad. Keep smiling. It changes everything. Positivity attracts positivity. Be happy and be well. Henry Harrison: I don’t know if you coined this, but the first time I remember hearing it was from you: these are your “good old days” of the future. Neeti Khaitan: Exactly. In recent times, with the loss of my mom and other changes, I found myself thinking about the past. Then I realized: in the future, I’ll be thinking about this time right now—so I should enjoy it now. Henry Harrison: Fantastic. We were very lucky to have you on the show. Thank you, Neeti. I’ll talk to you soon. Neeti Khaitan: Thank you, Henry.