Shaheena Attarwala's inspiring journey from Mumbai slum to high-paying Microsoft job

Shaheena Attarwala spent her early years in Mumbai’s Darga Galli slum near Bandra railway station. Often she had to sleep on the streets due to the harsh living conditions. She also faced gender bias and sexual harassment, but she refused to be a victim. Despite these challenges, her curiosity fuelled her desire to create a different life for herself.

In 2015, she made a bold decision to move out of the slum and build her own path. Although she was living in a slum, she was brilliant in her studies and completed her SSC, HSC from Mumbai University. She later went on to pursue her B.Com.

During her graduation days, she explored design and management alongside her studies. After passing her graduation with flying colours, she went on to pursue a Diploma in visual communication and design from NIIT.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow.

Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

- Lao Tzu pic.twitter.com/NYYktoROBI

— Shaheena A شاہینہ शाहीना (@RuthlessUx) March 23, 2022

With her hard work and sheer determination, she received multiple job offers from reputable companies. However, she chose Microsoft and made the country proud. She is among the few students from India who have got a respectable job in Microsoft.

Today, she holds the position of Product Design Manager at Microsoft.

Sharing her story on X (formerly known as Twitter), Shaheena wrote, “In 2021 my family moved to an apartment where we can see the sky from home, good sunlight & ventilation. Surrounded by birds & Greenery. From my father being a hawker & sleeping on roads to having a life, we could barely dream of. Luck, Hardwork & picking battles that matter."