Basic Info
Age: 32
Birthday: 18th August
Star sign: Leo
Nationality: British Indian
Chronotype: Wolf
Personality type: ESTP
Nickname: Dee
Relationship status: In a relationship
My Philosophy
I’m a huge believer in integrity – that we must always do the things we say we will do.
Personal Achievements
Music Recording Studio – 200+ clients nationwide
Tutoring Company – 120k+ annualized revenue Y2
Online education marketplace. Raised £75k
Freelanced whilst travelling the world 24 months
TedX Speaker on Social Media
19 million views Quora
250k+ Youtube views
28k+ students Udemy 100+ reviews
20+ courses Skillshare w/250+ followers
15k LinkedIn connections
Trained British Soldier
20x Marathon runner
3x Ultramarathon Runner (50-125km)
2x Full Iron Man – South Africa& Holland
1x Fight Won via TKO Muay Thai in Rio, Brazil
Lived homelessly for one week
50+ Countries Backpacking
9 Countries Lived In – Amsterdam, Malaga, Malta, Lisbon, Turin, Rio, Lausanne, London, Tbilisi
30+ dives across the world – PADI Rescue Diver
1200+ Km Hitchhiking from London-Tallinn, Estonia in 3.5 days
50+ Tattoos
150 songs with 18k+ views YouTube,
Performed w/Mobo award-winning Rachel Kerr & Nate James
Warm up act for music group Roll Deep
Random Facts About Me
Pets: a white cat named Jenny
Piercings: 3
Tattoos: 53
Hobbies: rapping, running & getting tattoos
Biggest fear: not reaching my potential
Biggest achievement: completing 1st Ironman
Fondest memory: my gap year
My Favourites
Favourite food: Jerk chicken
Favourite drink: Diet Coke Zero
Favourite book: 10X rule Grant Cardone
Favourite colour: Black
Favourite song: Work ft Drake
MY JOURNEY SO FAR
I founded my agency, Pearl Lemon in Oct 2016 – but that’s not where my journey began.
EARLY DAYS
Growing up was interesting! My folks migrated from India in the 60s in search of a better life. But not before they got married at 11 and 13. But that’s another story!
School was school I guess. I was considered ‘gifted’ by my tutor, Mrs. Proud – she told my mum at age 14 that I should take my exams early. But my mum was more interested in my inability to wash my dishes than anything else 🙂
Despite attending one of the statistically worst schools in the country, (Evelyns) things turned out ok as I managed to get through it all, get some ok grades and come out alive.
Skipping forward a few years, it came as no surprise that I went on to study English Literature at Warwick University.
(This was my rap group, Darkside Soldiers – we were 18 at the time. I’m the one in the middle with my keys around my neck haha!)
(Enjoying the sunshine ? )
TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD
Before heading off to university, my cousin, Shiva, inspired me to take a gap year – although, as I grew up in a traditional Indian family, my parents weren’t exactly thrilled with this idea.
Despite my parent’s reservations, I worked out a savings plan in order to self-fund my gap year – this resulted in me working 14-hour shifts 3 days a week, whilst working full-time at Natwest bank, and working the weekends at the Odeon cinema.
After 6 months, I’d saved £6000, which I used to start my backpacking adventure.
I set out in the March of 2004 and ventured through India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the States.? The trip turned out to be one of self-discovery, tattoos, partying, dating, getting mugged, getting beaten up, getting arrested, meeting new people and much much more.
BECOMING A MARATHON RUNNER
From a young age, I felt as though I was born to run.
I’m tall, and thin, with long legs and light bones – which is also referred to as a Nilotic body frame as I discovered. Sounds very attractive right! haha
I started running at the age of 14, with my childhood friend, Tom. We’d frequently do 5 kilometer runs together although at the time he used to always beat me.
My dedication to sport and endurance was something that would truly begin some 9 years later when I decided to run my first marathon in Chicago of all places haha! Some 15 marathons later I then went on to do a 27-hour ultramarathon in Madeira and then on to a 15-hour Ironman in South Africa.
(Me after the Copenhagen marathon ?? )
(Me working from a local Costa coffee!☕ )
THE MAKINGS OF PEARL LEMON
After Uni, I went on to work at MEC – 1 of the world’s leading marketing agencies. I was fortunate enough to be 1 of only 6 hires out of 500+ graduates!
I then went on to work at Deloitte as a tax consultant, but decided to leave during the height of the recession to pursue my own business ventures, and dedicate more time to producing music.
150 rap songs later, having left my 2 studios and ‘movement’ that was known as ‘Deep Impakt Recordings’ behind.
I launched my first funded startup ‘Meet My Tutor’ in (an online marketplace connecting students to tutors) in 2010 with £75k, followed by ‘The CV Guy’ in October 2014 and ultimately Pearl Lemon in 2016.
THE PRESENT DAY
Today I run Pearl Lemon from home, local coffee shops and pretty much anywhere in the world (providing there’s an internet connection).
Pearl Lemon is made up of an amazing team of SEO experts, social people and writers – together, we GROW our client’s businesses and have fun whilst doing so.
I now live with my partner, Daniela in the heart of London, and when I’m not working, I’m typically training or watching an action or horror movie lol.
(Daniela and I ?)