Meet Seema Garg of S&S Digital Media USA/Indians

Today we’d like to introduce you to Seema Garg.

Seema, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Hi, my name is Seema, in Hindi its means border or the Limit but I am just opposite to my name I am known for that no boundary or limit can stop Seema. Seem is limitless. My people loves me for my always ready to help attitude. Am born in a very small village in India, When I was in 4th grade, shifted to Capitol of India, New Delhi. I studied science, medical and nonmedical both till 12th grade.

Then did my graduation with Mathematics and Economics from Delhi University. After that I did B.Ed. I am certified in bachelor of Education. Since my childhood, I am an intelligent, matured, funny but confident girl. I come from a well knitted small joint family. My family always believed in giving free/own space to everyone with little rules and regulations very little strictness.

My family was the first family whose daughter my younger sister, went to study in a different state and stayed in hostel/Dorm as being a girl; it was a social taboo thing at that time. I worked very hard to achieve my goals and to follow my passion. As taking care of younger sibling, sharing household chorus with family and managing study was not that easy but I was determined. At a very young age, I joined my first job with a leading newspaper in Delhi. After that, I joined IT Finance where I met my husband and got married. We have three wonderful kids. My Older daughter is a presidential scholar in college.

Two other kids are still in school. Me and my husband are the trendsetters for our families as we are the one who got married in different casts like we chose each other instead of parents finding match for us. As it was the trend in 1997:). Now it’s changing. My husband works in IT with a multinational company. We both are very passionate about our work and try to give 100 %. We left India almost 16 years back. For few years we stayed in Switzerland then shifted to USA the country of my dream the country of opportunities. I am saying it as I always wanted to work with media and wanted to do something for my community and this country gave me that opportunity.

Since my teen, I am supporting a homeless/orphanage but only by visiting or donating food or clothes or sometimes money. I am still a lifetime member of one NGO and supporting one other too by donating money. I live in Johns Creek area of North of Atlanta. I am known for my optimistic nature, helping, energetic, enthusiastic and funny behavior. My husband calls me a bubbly wife and for kids, I am a weird, funny mom:). I have a lot of friends from around the world and I love them. In Switzerland first I learned Swiss french then I volunteered to teach English to my Swiss friends. I started volunteering in school as soon as I landed in America and I was Vice-President, School Support (PTSA) till my daughter was in school. Now I miss that high school more than my daughter 🙂 . My daughter calls me Beyonce, the self-made lady, entrepreneur.

I am highly and very actively involved with Indian and Non-Indian community here in Atlanta.
– Languages I know English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Punjabi and I think still remember some Swiss-French 🙂
– Volunteering in school with my kids
– Former Girls scout troop leader
– Represented India in big and small community events including Atlanta International night market.
– Founder of the oldest, biggest and most active Indian Facebook group – Indians in Atlanta-a group by Seema garg which has 26.5k members.

Founder of S&S Digital Media USA. I did ramp walk for international fashion designer Rohit Verma. Organize events plus help, volunteer and promote events and businesses. I was very attached to my grandma and she was blind I used to take her to different places. At that time I thought of doing something for blind people. So want t start a Nonprofit for blind people. In my village, people still do not have taps for running drinking water, I feel so bad hearing about them. There is one handpump among 10-15 families and they have to go out to get water. Since most of the young generation they left villages and settled in cities it’s the old-aged or very poor people who are there to look after their farms etc. Sometimes when it rains or very hot or cold weather, or sickness when they didn’t feel like to go out to get fresh water, they just manage and keep drinking old water which is main reason of sickness and poor health.

So I want to raise funds by opening a nonprofit and help them by providing more handpumps or water pipeline to their houses. Third In many villages like mine people do not have personal toilets, they still have to go far away in farms or jungle. I want to work towards it. Someone suggested to adopt the village, very soon I am going to do that. Being in USA, it’s my duty to work for people out here too so our talks are on to open to raise funds and put in Food donation, cloth donation, donation for education. We in India calls it Tri-daanam (Three donations). I have my team ready and very soon we are going to start working on it. Need blessings with little dollers attached to it from all of you 🙂

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Obstacles? Challenges?? What?? I am full of confidence and believes in:
– “Koun kahta hai ki aasman main suraakh nahi ho sakta, ek patthar to tabiyat se uhhalo yaaro”(Hindi)
it means Give your best and leave the rest on God.
– Jeetna ya haarna mera maksad nahi, zid ye hai ki ye surat badalni chachiye”(Hindi)
it means I am not here to win or lose, I am here to bring the change – be the change.”

Obstacles doesn’t scare me, always ready to face the challenges.

Without challenge, life will be boring. There is no fun or the satisfaction to achieve something if no challenge. Being a woman and in media and a community worker, everyday it is challenging which I feel everyday. And there are people who wanted to put multiple obstacles to demotivate me personally or professionally, politically But I always take them as challenge and try to avoid and put my positive energy in my fruitful work. I did get threatened for the kind of work I am doing but again here I am!! Fit and fine !!!there are SOME people who loves me. A healthy competition keeps me running but there is no place for hatred in my dictionary.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about S&S Digital Media USA/Indians in Atlanta – what should we know?
As I said, since childhood I was very impressed with the newsreaders and reporters. So started y career with a leading newspaper in India, but since its MONEY that matters, I switched to IT Finance. But it was not something I wanted to do, so last year I gave up my full-time job and started my own company S&S Digital Media, USA. I promote businesses and events in additions to keeping everyone informed about latest news and happenings in and around Atlanta including India. My Facebook group play big role in my business as it has 26500 members and we do discussions, sale purchase, community events, etc. I developed a new concept of interviewing the business people talking about their business, making videos and then sharing it on different platforms. I do LIVE too. I have interviewed a lot of Bollywood celebrities and American politicians including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger when he was running for election, John Bradberry – Johns Creek City Council Post 3, plus many more.

So how it all started, I was moving from another state to Atlanta and was looking for a good school and neighborhood to live closer to workplace. So I put on Orkut (2010) but didn’t get any help. So settled somewhere. But again after two years when I was looking a good high school for my daughter and wanted to buy a house. Again same confusion where? why? So I started FB group, till now I was not very active on FB. I added my friends and started group, through which I found Northview High school and we shifted to johns creek and we are happy.

After coming here, I realized people know me the ask me in stores or restaurants “Are you Seema garg” and I was surprised how then I felt wow they are so happy and I am someone who is helping someone. After that, I took it seriously and now I am a FB addict 🙂 but if only one person get helped or thanks me, it makes my day. During IRMA we ladies from the group cooked and delivered food to different shelters and temples where Florida evacuees were staying. We do Gofundme fundraising for different causes. This group comes a long way helping teens, college students, housewives, businesses, events. Making friend circles. What not!!! Its a lifeline for some of us 🙂 it gave me a recognition not only in Atlanta but also in USA and India and around the world. Its a lot of work to approve members, approve posts, keep an eye on comments/recommendations. Posting events and businesses. I start my morning by playing a Hindi bhajan-Song about God on my group than other posts 🙂 . Group members found it very useful not only for information but also to keep the community together and informed. Almost half of my time goes to manage data and approve posts and approving membership.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Patience /helping attitude
Positive thinking
Determination
Ignore negative people
Confidence with a smile 🙂
Down to earth – We all have one God and we all have a final ultimate destination.

I love to listen to songs.
I am a chatterbox.
I am known for my wittiness and one-liners 🙂

Contact Info:

• Address: 440, Victorian Lane
• Phone: 3148987873
• Email: seemagarg7@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemakatiyargag/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Indiansatlanta/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SKatiyargarg
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/seema.katiyargarg

Image Credit:
Nehal photography, Shree photos

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.