From Rs 14 LPA job in India to becoming a waiter in Canada, what is he doing now? He shares realities of immigrant life

Dev Mitra, the Indian-origin founder of a Canada-based consultancy firm, recently shared his journey of perseverance and ambition during a podcast with Vinamre Kasanaa. He recounted leaving a lucrative Rs 14 LPA corporate job in India to pursue higher studies abroad, where he worked as a waiter to support himself. Having lived in Canada for the past six years, Mitra reflected on his experiences as an international student, managing financial burdens like loans while balancing work and academics.

In the podcast, Dev Mitra described that it was “hard to accept”. The host, Vinamre Kasanaa, responds by saying that there’s pain and reality of being an immigrant in a new country who has to survive. Dev immediately adds that there is a category where students are saddled with pressure. He explains that they have a loan, which they may have acquired by mortgaging, and it is the only piece of land the family might own. The student is then left with no choice but to put in extra hard work to study and earn money to pay off the loans.

Internet reacts

Reactions poured in from people resonating with the challenges of life abroad. Many highlighted the shared struggles of thousands across countries like the UK, Canada, the USA, and Australia. Some noted the financial opportunities in service jobs, emphasising how tipping culture often allows waiters and bartenders to earn significantly more than average wages in places like Canada. Others reflected on cultural differences, pointing out that outside Asia, professions are not ranked by societal status, and hard work in any field is respected. A few expressed the importance of shedding preconceived notions about job hierarchies, stressing the value and dignity of all forms of work.


In another video, Dev Mitra shares insights on managing living expenses in Canada and the income required for different lifestyles. He highlights that earning $1,000 is insufficient to sustain oneself comfortably, while $4,000 is a practical benchmark for living outside Toronto’s core Downtown area. For those earning $10,000, he describes it as being on the higher end, allowing for a luxurious lifestyle, including options like living in a penthouse. The video shared on Instagram, sheds light on the true costs of maintaining a lifestyle in Canada through the lens of Mitra’s experience as an Indian-origin entrepreneur.

Who is Dev Mitra and what is he doing now?

According to the LinkedIn bio of Dev Mitra, he is a founder and Managing Partner of Matrix Venture Studio, a boutique consulting firm helping immigrant startup owners, entrepreneurs, and expanding businesses, in Toronto Ontario. While in India, he worked for three years at Hewlett Packard Enterprise as a Region Counsel. Speaking of his educational background, he has studied at Bishop Cotton School and Ahlcon Public School. He then completed his LLB from the University of Calcutta and a master’s in law from UNSW, Australia.