What do Mumbai, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Milwaukee have in common? They are all places that Soniyaa has lived in her life. She’s traveled across the globe but when her husband relocated to West Michigan, she found herself wondering, “What, and where, is Grand Rapids, Michigan?” She knew of Detroit, Michigan, because of family ties but had no idea of the rich metropolitan area found in the western region.

About two years after her husband had relocated and started a position at Meijer, Soniyaa made the jump and transitioned to West Michigan to join him. Stepping into the unknown, the winters came as a shock, but the fall and summertime quickly became her favorite thing about living in the region. She and her husband love outdoor activities and especially enjoy camping and hiking the many trails.

Shortly after relocating, she attended Hello Connections, a Hello West Michigan event where job seekers have the opportunity to network face-to-face with West Michigan employers. Soniyaa enjoyed the small group setting and made several meaningful connections with employers. “The recruiters were open, and the professionalism was excellent,” said Soniyaa. During her job search, Soniyaa knew it was important to find a role that directly aligned with her interests and skills. She was intentional about ensuring that the mission behind the organization was a cause that she supported.

Soniyaa became acclimated to her new community by joining several different organizations including India Link and West Michigan Hindu Temple. After joining these groups, she attended various cultural events and developed many new friendships. Joining these community organizations helped make connections with other residents while growing her professional network.

Soniyaa landed a job at Amway working in global brand management within the nutrition department. This role aligns with her personal interests as she considers herself to be quite the “foodie” and grew up in an environment with a strong emphasis on nutrition and healthy eating. This job further connected her to her passion for living a health-focused lifestyle. In her role, she focuses on product development and analyzing market trends. Along with loving the role, she’s met amazing people who have quickly turned into her extended family.

Now, three years after relocating, she has fallen in love with the access to the lakeshore and beaches. She and her husband spend the weekends trying out local restaurants and attending events in West Michigan. Recently, they purchased a house and made their home in West Michigan.

If you’re looking to make friends and get involved in community organizations like Soniyaa, check out the finding friends page on our site.

Disclosure – Any reference to a person, organization, product, or activity in Hello West Michigan’s blog posts does not constitute or imply endorsement. These blog posts are used to share first-hand experiences of what it’s like to live, work, and play in West Michigan – not promote a specific person, organization, product, or activity. Hello West Michigan does not receive compensation or other benefits for blog post mentions.