I’ve been brewing over this newsletter for a little too long - so I’m so excited to finally launch the first edition. And let me start by thanking you for sipping the Tech Tea with me and joining this community.

The thing I love about the Tea in Tech community is how curious we are.

We all see the headlines, we understand the tech, but we want to know more than that. Why and how are these decisions being made? What does it mean for me? What the real Tech Tea?

That’s where I come in. Consider me your Silicon Valley whisperer. 

I spent my career in big tech, leading global Partnerships teams at Instagram and Snap. At those jobs, I learned a lot about how tech truly operates from the inside and cultivated relationships in and around the tech world for over a decade. 

But there’s more to it. I realized that I just have a pulse on things, maybe because of where I’m from and how I grew up.

I was born and raised in the heart of Silicon Valley; in a household where microchips were framed on walls (can’t make that up). Hanging around in coffee shops where Steve Jobs was a regular. At an elementary school where Sergey Brin came to present his little project out of Stanford. 

As much as I hated all of the tech stuff growing up (“I’m way too chic for this 😤!”), at some point you realize it’s just there, in you. Waiting to be acknowledged and nurtured.

When I left Snapchat, one of my goals was to align deeper with my purpose. And when I think of where and when I’m my most authentic, true self…it’s sitting right here in a coffee shop in Palo Alto, surrounded by founders and investors buzzing about the next big thing, and feeling energized and inspired to write and create my next piece for you. 

Every Tuesday morning you can expect up top your freshest brews - what’s being talked about here in Silicon Valley, and my takes on it all. Past the hype; no filter. 

So let’s get you started with what’s on the menu today. Keep scrolling to learn more about me (“The Tea on Me” column) and what’s coming up for me this quarter.  I’ll always end on a fun note with my “Final Sip” section at the end.

For more Tech Tea between pours, follow me on Linkedin and Instagram.

-M 

Boy oh boy, have we had a couple months!! Speaking gigs, collabs, conferences, events, your favorite Tech Tea Spiller has been very busy. Here’s a couple of my favorite moments from the last quarter.

2025 pushed me harder than expected. It was a hard year, but a good one. Good hard. 

I started the year feeling stuck; pushing forward in my advisory and speaking business but unsure of where it was all going. 

I started the Tea in Tech in May, from a pretty dark place to be honest. 

I had been through a lot over the past couple years. Everything from layoffs (I had to lay off my entire global team at Snapchat) to multiple hospital stays for my dad, a car crash, a breakup, embarking on entrepreneurship, and finally, getting robbed. Yes, my home in Venice Beach, CA got fully robbed. It was a carefully coordinated attack and they took everything I had. 

Every single thing that I had counted on - from the emotional to the material - had been taken from me over the course of 2 years. 

And the girl who always had a plan, always knew what was next…suddenly, was stuck. The operating manual I knew my whole life didn’t work for the new OS. 

That’s where I was at when I started the Tea in Tech: “I’ve lost everything and so why the hell not.” 

And that’s an interesting place to start from, isn’t it? Because in a way, the loss actually allowed me the space to create.

It forced me to reckon with who I really was deep down, without the artifices I had been leaning on for so long. The fancy job; the big paycheck; the material items; the people who were not meant to stay.

So the loss ended up unburdening me of my hesitation, my self-doubt; because truly, I felt like I had nothing left to lose.

And I think I can finally say I’m thankful for it. Because it forced me to rebuild, authentically. With a more robust foundation this time: aligned values; the correct people; a greater purpose; the explicit intention of service. 

It’s been quite the odyssey, and in no way am I writing from the other side, safe and sound. I still feel like I’m in the thick of the storm TBH.

But this time, I feel like I have a sturdy ship and the right sails to make it through.

I’m working on a lot right now. Delivering this newsletter weekly, growing my content and audience, brand partnerships, exploring a show (!!). And always in search of the Tech Tea.

If you have events, interviewees, or sponsors for me - send them my way. If you know people in the show / podcast space - please also send them my way.

I’m planning to do a couple meetups / events this quarter in the Bay. You’ll be the first to know.

And as always, if you have any requests, suggestions, questions — hit reply.

Your in Tech Tea,

Meghana

The 2016 trend has been making its rounds on socials and I couldn’t resist. So just in case you’re interested in my villain origin story 😉 here’s me living my best life in business school a decade ago. And yes I’m wearing the OG Snap Spectacles here!