The Tamil Creator Podcast (Ep.37): Krish O'Mara Vignarajah - Former Policy Director To Michelle Obama + President/CEO Of LIRS

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is a Marshall Scholar, former policy director to Michelle Obama and an immigration advocate serving as President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (@lirsorg).

Podcasts

Nov 15, 2021

Ara Ehamparam

Business Owner

Toronto, Canada

She joins Ara on the latest episode of #TheTamilCreator to discuss growing up in #Baltimore, the lessons learned in losing an election, working with Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) and the lifelong learning benefit of such an opportunity, having a bout with breast cancer, and much more.

"The Tamil Creator" is a podcast started by me (Ara Ehamparam). As someone who is extremely inquisitive by nature, I created the podcast to chat with, spotlight, and learn about brilliance among creators in the Tamil community - and among creators in general from all over the world.

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To get more information, please visit the website at TheTamilCreator.com.

Timestamps

00:19 - Ara introduces this week’s guest, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah
01:44 - Krish speaks on the impact of her parents’ support
05:09 - What it was like growing up in Baltimore
08:04 - Krish’s decision to pursue political science at Yale
10:42 - Will Ivy League Schools maintain their brand recognition?
16:14 - How did Krish become the policy director to former First Lady, Michelle Obama
21:46 - Securing a role as the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
24:31 - Handling the ISIS crisis
27:11 - What surprised Krish about the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, after joining it
29:42 - Losing an election, and the learning lesson it created
33:17 - Breastfeeding on camera as part of her campaign
36:39 - The personal legacy Krish wants to leave behind
38:18 - Advice she would give her 16-year-old self
39:26 - Lifelong learning, podcasts / books Krish values
41:41 - Creator Confessions
48:53 - The Wrap Up