Dev Mitra, an Indian-origin entrepreneur and partner at a Canadian consultancy firm, recently shared the challenges he faced as an international student in a candid discussion on a podcast with Vinamre Kasanaa. In the conversation, Mitra revealed how he left a lucrative corporate job in India, paying ₹14 LPA, to pursue further studies abroad, only to take up a job as a waiter to support himself financially.
Reflecting on his life as a student, Mitra detailed the difficulties of managing education loans and balancing studies with work in a foreign country. Having lived in Canada for six years, he also touched upon topics such as safety concerns and racism faced by Indians in the country.
In a snippet from the podcast shared by Kasanaa on social media, titled “The sad reality of being a student studying abroad!”, Mitra recounted his decision to leave his well-established career in India to seek better opportunities overseas. However, the transition came with its own set of challenges. His story struck a chord with many viewers, eliciting mixed reactions. While some admired his resilience, others criticized his decision, arguing that moving abroad inherently involves such compromises.
Mitra’s professional journey is equally notable. According to his LinkedIn profile, he studied at Bishop Cotton School and Ahlcon Public School before completing his LLB from the University of Calcutta and a master’s in law from UNSW, Australia. He began his career as a legal associate at CPA Global and later held key positions at companies like Huron Consulting Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and ByteX. In 2021, he founded Matrix Venture Studio, a boutique consultancy firm.
Despite the hurdles, Mitra’s story highlights the sacrifices many international students make and offers a glimpse into the grit required to succeed in a foreign land.
