Reema Mehta is a strategist at The Mix Global in New York, where she draws on a cross-cultural library of experiences from living in five countries to decode culture and consumer behavior. Outside of work, she can usually be found learning a new language—or two—or channeling her creativity into craft projects.
Pronouns: she/her
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Picnicking in the summer! Lying on the grass with the sun shining, a book in hand, and a few treats to snack on. There’s something about the blue skies and brightly colored flowers that just makes me so happy.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
I remember drawing a picture of Princess Jasmine and feeling proud of how accurately I had captured her and how perfectly the colors had turned out. A few days later, I couldn’t find the drawing. When I asked my mother about it, I learned that she had thrown it away, assuming it was just another one of my random drawings. I remember being upset about it for a long time. I guess it was an early lesson in the subjectivity of creativity.
What is your biggest regret?
I believe that everything that happens in life is, to some extent, a consequence of the choices we make. So rather than thinking in terms of regret, I tend to wonder what might have happened if I had made a different choice. I often imagine what my life would look like today had I stayed in France after completing my master’s degree there, instead of moving back to India (and then ultimately moving to the US).
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Do we ever really get over heartbreak, or do we simply learn to live with it? Heartbreak can come from many places—the end of a relationship, losing someone we love, or the deep disappointment of something not turning out the way we hoped.
I don’t think I ever leave it entirely behind. I let time pass until the pain becomes less consuming. Slowly, I find new reasons to keep going, make room for joy again, and learn to carry the heartbreak without letting it define me.
What makes you cry?
A lot of things. A loved one being upset, an emotional scene in a book or movie I’m deeply invested in, the slightest physical discomfort, or simply something not going my way. I cry easily and often—but I like to think it just means I feel things fully.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
I’ve always been bad about celebrating my accomplishments. I can put an enormous amount of effort into achieving something, but when I finally do, I rarely feel the rush of joy I expect. I feel satisfied, of course, but never quite overjoyed. More often than not, the moment feels strangely anticlimactic. I still haven’t figured out why—or how to become better at pausing long enough to appreciate what I’ve achieved.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
I don’t believe in an afterlife. To me, life has a finite ending, and I find it difficult to imagine any form of continued existence beyond it.
What do you hate most about yourself?
I tend to have very high expectations of the people I care about most. I often expect them to show up for me in the same ways I would for them, and when they don’t, it can lead to disappointment. I’m still learning how to care deeply without attaching so many expectations to it.
What do you love most about yourself?
I love my ability to commit wholeheartedly to the things that matter to me. Whether it’s my work, my relationships, or a personal goal, once I set my heart on something, I’m willing to put in the work and give it my all.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
My mom’s mini idlis (savory rice and lentil steamed cakes) and poha (a savory snack made with flattened rice). It’s always the first meal I have when I go back home, often packed for me to eat on the drive home from the airport.
