The art of having audacity.

Let’s be honest: this economy is… not the best.

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These days, a college degree isn’t a golden ticket. Most hiring managers care far more about your real-world initiative than your GPA.

This was a hard pill to swallow as a first-gen academic overachiever. I spent years doing everything “right” — perfect grades, all the pressure of being the kid who had to make it. But the truth? The people who grew the fastest weren’t the smartest.
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They were the ones who strategically put themselves in the room, even when they felt like they didn’t belong there.

They weren’t always qualified. But they were audacious enough to show up anyway.

I used to believe success came to those who waited their turn. Who earned it. Who checked all the boxes first.

I grappled with figuring out which path I wanted to take as a multi-passionate student, and put off reaching out because I thought I needed to be as niched-down as possible first.

But the opportunities that shaped my life didn’t come because I waited. They came because I dared to reach out.

What if I told you I got my first tech role by cold emailing the CEO of a very prominent company... before I had much tech experience?

What if I told you every role I've landed has come from a cold email?

Before I had the “right” background, before I had the Berkeley name, before I had anything to prove except my own hunger.

I simply hit send.

And that small, unglamorous decision changed the entire course of my journey.

I know it’s scary. I know the idea of cold emailing a stranger can feel cringey or pointless or like you're trying too hard.

But here’s the secret: delusion is underrated.

It’s believing in your future self enough to take action today, even if no one else sees it yet. You deeply owe it to yourself.

And no, you won't always get a response. But rejection is redirection. When you send enough cold emails, you will reach the right people eventually.

The problem isn't just that you don't know how to write the email, it's that you hesitate when pressing send.

You don’t need a massive following. You don’t need the perfect resume. You don’t need permission.

You just need the audacity to show up before you’re “ready.”

You know you take your future seriously. That's why you're receiving this newsletter.

Now it's all about hold yourself accountable. So here's your specialized to-do list for living an audacious life:

• Compile a list of people in your industry that you'd like to learn from.

• Draft a winning cold email (you can use the free guide I made to help you brainstorm).

• Send 5 emails this week.

• Take one action that someone who's truly invested in their future would do. Whether that's connecting with someone new, seeking resources, or planning out your schedule for tomorrow.

I know how hard this feels. That’s why I created something I wish I had when I was starting out.

If you'd like help learning how to find and connect with the right opportunities, multiple plug-and-play cold email templates for different use cases, and direct examples of the cold emails that have landed me positions in different industries, I've created a cohesive, 15-page master template as the ultimate resouce.

You can grab it here 👉🏻 Cold Email Master Template​

Already, over 400 people have downloaded my foolproof guide to cold emails, and it hasn’t even been three days! But I wanted to create a more cohesive resource for those who want more in-depth guidance. If you liked my guide, you'll likely find the template much more useful.

In the meantime, I'd still love to provide free guidance for the multi-passionate, ambitious student.

Though my writing is still about my individual growth, I have a lot of educational/career lessons to share as well. Every once in a while, I'll be tailoring these newsletters with lessons I've learnt to give you direction, motivation, and tips as you navigate your own journey.

You’ve got this!

With love,

Rana

P.S. If you have feedback on the free cold email guide or have found it useful, I'd love to hear from you! It helps me improve my resources for you.