About UPPMA VIRDI
Uppma Virdi (she/her) is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur with a background in business, law, community development and the arts.
As a first generation Indian Australian migrant, Uppma grew up in three different worlds. The world her parents and community expected, the Australian world that did not understand her culture and her own world that always told her to challenge what was expected of her. She followed the route of a South Asian migrant and became a commercial lawyer, like most POC, she struggled but found her feet a start-up lawyer advising on Australia’s fastest growing tech companies on commercial, IP and employment matters.
However, with a twist of fate, her side hustle turned into a full blown business causing her to leave her legal career. Today Uppma is a highly awarded entrepreneur who started the renowned Chai Walli company from seed to scale, whilst ensuring integrity of supply chain and values. Her commitment to preserving the Indian culture through chai and sharing her grandfather's Ayurvedic blends with the world won her Forbes 30 under 30, the Indian Australian Business Community Awards Business Woman of the Year and The Project Channel 10's Woman to Watch. She was also awarded as a Woman of Honour at Sydney's Inner West Council, who commissioned a mural of her in Newtown (pictured on the home page) and was invited as a Guest of Honour of the Australian High Commission in India to launch International Women’s Day in India.
Uppma is a well sought out public speaker who is engaged for her raw and candid nature on the stage which leaves people feeling inspired and shaken. She speaks on topics such as her journey going from corporate law to running a chai business, authentic story telling, mindfulness, culture, diversity and inclusion. She always speaks from a place of truth and has an infinite and collaborative mindset of knowledge sharing and steers clear of gatekeeping.
Creativity is not limited to the “creative types”, we are all creative and being microcosms we have a lot to explore within ourselves. Uppma has a deep love for writing and grew up reading South Asian poetry. She is a published writer who freelances for The Age and writes on topics such as cultural awareness, diversity and sustainability. Uppma uses her innate sense of words and poetry to make sense of the world, most recently she worked with Sydney Opera House to create a poem that tackled why BIPOC were left out of the #metoo conversation. She also publishes most of the educational articles at Chai Walli.
Uppma is also a sensory artist who needs to work with her hands and innate sense of flavour which have been passed down generations in her family. As a student and teacher of Ayurveda, she believes that flavour and culture have a deep ability to ground and move us in unexplainable ways. She rarely helped her mum cook in the kitchen, as her mum gate-kept the spice box, but she definitely learnt through osmosis the art of spices and flavour balancing. Recently she was selected to perform a solo dance and spoken word performance called Decolonising Spices, where she emulated five different spices in the form of movement and word.
Today, Uppma is kept busy with managing her company and team at Chai Walli and works closely with organisations who use Chai Walli's products or those wanting to commission a custom masala chai blend for their workplace. She has worked closely with Deakin University to create a custom Deakin blend which brought in elements of the diaspora that Deakin represents; a blend of East and West. Flavours from Australia’s native indigenous plants as well as traditional South Asian spices were chosen for this blend.
She has worked on boards and would be open to joining another board if it aligns with her values. Uppma and her husband are in the process of launching a NFP organisation which aims to provide support to adult survivors of child sexual assault and provide awareness around these issues in the aim to reduce their instances.
She is a leader in the South Asian diaspora and passionate about reclaiming culture and being empowered to take care of your health and wellbeing. As a trauma survivor and someone who lives with endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis and meniere's disease, Uppma 10000% understands the complex layers involved in what it means to be a WOC navigating this world. If you identify as BIPOC and want to connect with Uppma, please book in a complimentary BIPOC chat here.
Outside of work, Uppma lives a wholesome, spiritual and sustainable life in the Dandenong Ranges with her family. She is active and enjoys playing soccer, hiking, camping, ocean swimming and learning about other cultures.
Want to speak with her or engage Uppma? Visit the CONTACT page to send an email or book a meeting with her.