Photography by Danny Fulgencio
Rosvinder Kaur moved to the U.S. from India at the age of 26 after a career in advertising and Bollywood. She’s a managing partner at Jester & Genius, a brand story company. In addition, she’s on the SMU Cox School of Business Associate Board and on the board at Bryan’s House. She has 20-year- old twin boys and a seventh-grade boy, all of whom went to St. Mark’s School of Texas. When she first moved to the U.S. and lived in Tucson, Arizona, she found she was pregnant with the twins and delayed her applications to business schools. “I had a good talk with myself and said, ‘Snap out of it.’ I got into mommy mode, and I stopped my applications midway.” Kaur moved to Dallas when the twins were 2 and eventually attended SMU’s Cox School of Business. After working at PepsiCo Frito-Lay in brand marketing, she joined Jester & Genius. She teaches at SMU as a guest faculty and was invited earlier to teach as a guest faculty at Harvard.

On Advice

Advice she would give to her younger self:

“I wouldn’t give her any advice because she was bumbling her way through in a way that has made me who I am. I feel I’m more Texan than my Texas friends because I’ve been here 20 years. I would say, “Just keep on going. You’ll find your way.””

On Relaxation

What she does for fun:

“We are big travelers. We are the kind of family who will book a one-way ticket with the three kids without knowing where we’re going. I love to cook. I garden once in a while and do yoga.”

On Giving Back

How she’d give back to the community:

“My business partner and I take on a nonprofit in the city who we work for pro bono. Over the last four years, we’ve given more than a quarter of a million dollars in consulting fees to nonprofits. I’m passionate about mental health for young adults. I have three boys, and they’re all St. Mark’s kids. I have friends whose kids are in Greenhill and Hockaday. There is a lot of stress and anxiety.”

On Challenges

Most challenging thing she’s overcome:

“Taking a break from my career twice. When I came from India, I was in national TV and launched a big music album in Bollywood. When I came here and got suddenly pregnant, I stopped my business school applications. By the time I went to SMU, it was a two-year break. I took a break again when my third son was born. My chief marketing officer came to me and said, “Why are you doing that?” My parents said, “Oh my gosh, what is wrong with you? We’ll come and help you.” I am a big believer in listening to your gut. Now, I run a very successful company. I just wrote a proposal for a client in the millions. I have no regrets.”

On Motherhood

On being a working mom:

“If you’re committed and you feel good about your own decision, it works out. I have friends who are stay-at-home moms and friends who are high-flying, C-level executives who did not stay home, but their kids are great. They’re all honoring what they feel they need to do.”

On Accomplishments

Most proud of:

“My family. I did go through deep phases of, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know what life is about.” But I had the ability to come out of that and raise three amazing boys who are well rounded and grounded. Emotionally, I had to find myself within me. I have a wonderful husband. He’s my biggest cheerleader, and it’s been a partnership. I’m anchored in love and family.”

On Technology

Her favorite apps and work tools:

“We’re doing a lot of Zoom meetings. We’re doing a lot of Microsoft Teams. I love my phone and computer, but I’m still a believer in writing down my to-dos and goals in a notebook.”

On Productivity

Work-life tip:

“When I go to bed, I always have a notebook and a pen or pencil right next to my bed because of all the things I need to do.”

On Legacy

How she’d like to be remembered:

“As a person who charted her own course and honored herself as she navigated life, and who made the world a better place, hopefully in whatever small way. I told a colleague, “These kids are the product that I’ve launched in life. If I screw that up, and if I leave the earth burdened by that, then no matter what product I launch in my work, it just wouldn’t be the right thing by me.” That has guided my decisions.”