After having the plug pulled on her wedding by her fiancée at the age of 22, Esha Oberoi was at her lowest point.
Experiencing depression, she says she then rebounded into another toxic relationship, which compounded her feeling of hopelessness.
But after throwing herself into her job as a carer, the India-born Australian has gone on to become the chief executive of multi-million dollar home and aged care provider Afea.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Oberoi said by devoting herself to others, she discovered a ‘sense of purpose’ which helped her overcome mental health problems.
Sydney-based businesswoman Esha Oberoi (pictured), 34, experienced depression before founding a multi-million dollar company Afea
Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Oberoi (pictured) said by devoting herself to others, she discovered a ‘sense of purpose’
‘I healed myself overtime, as my perspective changed and my focus changed from myself to serving other people,’ Ms Oberoi said.
‘I believe it is underrated in our society – we don’t realise enough that if we open ourselves to helping others, we can heal from our own struggles.’
Ms Oberoi migrated to Australia with her family when she was just seven-years-old, going on to experience bullying at school and into her early adult years, she said.
She then suffered the ultimate rejection by having her upcoming wedding cancelled by her would-be husband, sending her into a spiral of dark thoughts.
‘I felt a deep-seated sense of rejection and feelings of unworthiness,’ she said.
‘I healed myself overtime, as my perspective changed and my focus changed from myself to serving other people,’ Ms Oberoi (pictured with her staff) said
Ms Oberoi previously worked multiple jobs, but said her role as a carer – which she ‘fell’ into – was the only occupation which stuck
‘I don’t think I knew what was going on with me. It is not something you can articulate when you are in so much darkness and have feelings of hopelessness.
‘I was just trapped in a world of anxiety, isolation, self-hatred and fear.’
Ms Oberoi worked multiple jobs during this time, but said her role as a carer – which she ‘fell’ into – was the only occupation which stuck.
She believes this was because of her ability to relate to feelings of isolation and vulnerability.
Ms Oberoi went on to turn her passion for helping others into her own business, Afea, at the age of 24.
Afea now provides services, such as meal preparation and transport assistance, to more than 500 families a week, achieving a $10 million annual turnover
Ms Oberoi is now married to her ‘best friend’ and Afea chief financial officer Gaurav (left)
The Sydney-based company now provides services such as meal preparation and transport assistance to more than 500 families a week and turns over $10 million a year.
Ms Oberoi credits her work at Afea for restoring her confidence and turning her life around.
‘My work has helped me immensely … as I started to see the impact of our work at Afea, it allowed me to regain my self-confidence, love for myself and self-respect,’ she said.
‘I was able to form healthier relationships, and as a result am very lucky to be married to an unconditionally loving, caring and supportive man.’
Ms Oberoi is now married to her ‘best friend’ and Afea chief financial officer Gaurav.
The pair share a five-year-old son and one-year-old daughter together at their home on Sydney’s upper north shore.