Episode 09: From Food Stamps to Forbes: What Sangita Datta Taught Me About Leading With Heart
From Food Stamps to Forbes: What Sangita Datta Taught Me About Leading With Heart
By Sherry Sutton | Heart of the Hustle Show
Every now and then, I have a conversation that reminds me exactly why I created Heart of the Hustle. This episode with Sangita Datta was one of those moments.
Sangita is a financial powerhouse—recognized as one of Forbes Top 250 Financial Professionals in the U.S. She’s built an incredible business. She’s a leader in her community. And now, she’s running for Frisco City Council Place 4.
But what struck me most wasn’t the accolades.
It was the story behind them.
Because Sangita didn’t start with connections or wealth.
She started with grit, purpose, and $352 a month in food stamps. And somehow—through focus, resilience, and heart—she built a life rooted in service and success.
This is the kind of story we need more of in leadership. So let’s talk about what Sangita’s journey can teach us all.
Leadership Doesn’t Always Start With a Title
One of the first things Sangita said during our interview was this:
“I’ve been doing the work without the title for years. Now I want to make an impact on a larger scale.”
And let me tell you—that hit me.
Because how many of us are already leading, without ever being acknowledged as leaders?
We often think leadership starts with a formal title. A job promotion. A campaign announcement. A seat at the table that someone else invites us to.
But the truth is?
Leadership doesn’t begin with the title—it begins with the decision.
It’s the decision to show up when no one’s watching.
It’s the late-night email you send to help a friend navigate a tough financial situation.
It’s the student you mentor on a Saturday afternoon.
It’s advocating for change in your neighborhood, even when your name isn’t on the sign.
That’s what Sangita’s been doing for years.
Before she ever considered public office, she was mentoring youth across Frisco. She was walking into high schools, career centers, and small businesses to help people see what’s possible. She was offering guidance on financial planning, helping families make better decisions, and connecting people with resources they didn’t even know they qualified for.
She didn’t wait for a title. She took initiative.
And that’s something I want more women to hear—loud and clear.
Because we’ve been conditioned to believe we have to wait.
To wait for permission.
To wait until we’re “ready.”
To wait until someone taps us on the shoulder and says, “Now it’s your turn.”
But the truth is, most of the time, that tap never comes.
You have to step forward anyway.
Sangita’s leadership wasn’t built overnight. It was built in small, intentional acts of service—long before she ever decided to run for City Council. That’s what makes her different. That’s why people trust her. Because they’ve already seen her lead.
This isn’t performative leadership. It’s practiced leadership.
And that’s the kind that lasts.
It’s the kind that doesn’t need a press release to prove its value.
It proves itself—in community rooms, one-on-one conversations, and late-night texts that say, “I’m here for you. How can I help?”
That’s what Sangita brings to the table.
And honestly, it’s what we need more of—everywhere. In business. In politics. In life.
Leadership doesn’t always start with a title.
But it does start with you.
From $352 a Month to the Forbes Top 250
Sangita’s financial journey wasn’t just difficult—it was downright daunting.
When she moved to the U.S., like so many immigrants, she arrived full of hope. Determined. Ready to build a better life. She believed she’d find her footing quickly—that with hard work, everything would eventually fall into place.
But then, life delivered a curveball.
Her husband became seriously ill, and the foundation she thought she was building crumbled almost overnight. In a matter of weeks, she found herself in full-blown survival mode—working two jobs, studying late into the night, raising her sons, and trying to stretch $352 a month in food stamps to cover everything they needed.
That number—$352—became symbolic. Not just of the hardship she faced, but of the resilience she called on to rise through it.
When I asked her how she got through that season, she didn’t flinch.
She didn’t spiral into the trauma of it or sugarcoat how hard it was.
She simply said:
“I never stopped believing in the power of education.”
That line has stayed with me ever since.
Because it would have been so easy for her to give up.
To let exhaustion win.
To stop dreaming about a better future and settle for just getting by.
But instead?
Sangita clocked out of Macy’s at midnight, went home, and cracked open her textbooks.
She studied financial strategies by the light of a desk lamp while her kids slept.
She traded rest for progress—knowing that somewhere ahead, things would get better.
And eventually, they did.
Years later, Sangita didn’t just pass her exams or find a stable job.
She became one of the Forbes Top 250 Financial Professionals in America.
That kind of rise?
It doesn’t happen by accident.
It doesn’t happen because someone hands you a shortcut.
It happens when your why is louder than your what ifs.
It happens when you choose faith over fear—over and over again.
When you decide that your current situation isn’t your final destination.
When you refuse to let hard times harden your heart or shrink your vision.
What inspires me most about this part of Sangita’s story isn’t just her hustle.
It’s that she never lost sight of why she was doing it.
She wasn’t chasing titles or income goals.
She was chasing impact.
She wanted to help families like hers—families who didn’t always have the roadmap, who fell through the cracks, who needed a guide they could trust.
And now?
That’s exactly who she’s become.
A guide.
A leader.
A woman who used her pain as fuel, and turned her lived experience into purpose-driven work.
When I hear “Forbes Top 250,” I don’t think about awards.
I think about those late nights. The grocery bills. The grit.
Because that’s the part of the story that matters.
That’s the part people relate to.
That’s the part people need to hear.
That’s the part that says: “If she can do it, so can I.”
And I truly believe—after sitting with Sangita, hearing her story, and seeing how she shows up—that she’s just getting started.
Why She's Running for Frisco City Council
There’s a line Sangita said in the episode that I’ve thought about every day since:
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about service.”
That’s how she approaches everything. Whether it’s supporting small businesses, creating opportunities for young people, or tackling real issues like congestion and budget transparency, Sangita leads with community in mind.
She’s not running for office because she wants attention.
She’s running because she’s already been doing the work—and she knows that with the right platform, she can do more of it.
And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of leadership every city needs.
Real Leaders Can Cry (And Should)
This moment gave me chills.
Sangita shared a story about how someone once told her:
“A leader doesn’t cry.”
And for a while, she carried shame around that. She tried to show up strong. Unshakable. Emotionless.
But then she realized:
Tears aren’t weakness. They’re truth. They’re connection.
“Real strength includes vulnerability,” she said.
“Being approachable and human is what makes me a better leader.”
Yes. YES.
This is the kind of message we need to normalize—especially for women, especially in leadership. You don’t have to harden yourself to be effective. You just have to care.
Gratitude as a Way of Life
One of my favorite moments in the episode was when Sangita talked about her family’s Thanksgiving tradition.
Instead of hosting big dinners or shopping Black Friday sales, they spend the holiday feeding first responders and nonprofits.
They call it their “Celebration of Gratitude.” And it’s exactly that—a reminder that giving back isn’t seasonal. It’s a lifestyle.
This kind of grounded, consistent service is why Sangita has earned so much respect across Frisco. And it’s why I wanted to highlight her story—not just as a political candidate, but as a person who leads from the inside out.
How Her Sons Reflect Her Legacy
Sangita also opened up about raising two incredible sons—each with a heart for service in his own way. One raised money for the Red Cross at age seven by selling 3,000 origami flowers. The other uses his art and poetry to give back to local causes.
That kind of generational impact doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when kids are raised to believe in community, compassion, and contribution.
I couldn’t help but think—what a legacy she’s already built.
The Heart of Her Hustle
Sangita’s story is one of the most powerful we’ve told on the show.
Not because it’s perfect. But because it’s real.
It’s full of late nights, long days, heartbreak, hustle, and hope. And through it all, she stayed true to who she is: a woman who serves first, leads with empathy, and believes in building a stronger, more connected community.
And that? That’s the kind of hustle I’ll always show up for.
Want to Share Your Story Like Sangita Did?
Sitting across from Sangita in the Heart of the Hustle Studio reminded me why I built this space in the first place:
✅ To amplify real voices
✅ To turn powerful journeys into meaningful content
✅ And to make it easy for founders, leaders, and creatives to finally show up online with strategy and heart
If you want to turn your story into:
Reels that connect
A blog that ranks
Captions that actually say something
And a month’s worth of done-for-you content…
🎤 Come sit down with me.
I’ll help you walk out with your story as your strategy.
📩 Apply now to be a guest → Heart Of The Hustle Show
Let’s create something that moves people.
— Sherry
