But being an engineer on her way to the top wasn't enough: Uppal had more ambitious goals. "I went to business school very much knowing that I wanted my own company." So Uppal enrolled in Harvard business school. At Harvard, she chaired the annual entrepreneurial conference and developed the interactive DVD idea that formed the basis of her first entrepreneurial adventure: The Filmigame. Just a year out of B-school, Uppal launched Unamedia with business partner Sunaina Anand. Unamedia specializes in the interactive DVD technology that won her awards at Harvard. And their first product, Filmigame, is being distributed throughout the US, UK and the Middle East.

What's it like being a young desi entrepreneur? Nirali talked to Uppal to find out.

Describe a typical workweek.
My life is honestly completely insane. People used to tell me this all the time: If you start your own company, you lose any idea of a life outside of work. Our company is very global. We have a team in India, manufacturing in China, a team in the UK, web site development in the Philippines. My day is 24 hours, because someone or other is always awake. I get up by eight, I'm on my computer or on the phone until seven, grab something to eat, and it starts up again, that way I can touch base with India. I go to sleep between three and four a.m. It really is nonstop.

What's it like being a woman in business?
I've always been in male-dominated fields. In undergrad I was doing math, and then engineering, and I was the only woman. At Eaton, when I was doing manufacturing, I was the only [female] engineer on the plant floor. Early on, I've been very much comfortable being a woman. If anything, it's been an advantage. There are times when it's easier to get stuff done as a woman. There are always going to be guys who don't listen to you, but you learn not to let those things bother you. The people who matter will listen to you.

[But] in India it was tough. Working in India as a woman is difficult. Actually, I took my brother with me—I made him wear a suit, and he pretended to be my partner, just to combat any issues. Maybe it wouldn't have been an issue, but I did [take my brother], and it was fine.

Has being desi impacted your career in any way?
I think if your work speaks for yourself, these other issues become secondary. I've always been hard-working and aggressive. I grew up in Minnesota, and I never realized, "Oh, I'm different or I'm from another country." I never noticed the whole concept.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to become entrepreneurs?
One, to go for it. This [was] the perfect time in my life to try it. That's a big part—trying something on your own, but at the right time in your life. This is such a lifestyle route since you can't turn it off. But you have to be sure you're ready to give the commitment it needs. [Secondly,] finding the right team supersedes any advice I could give. The world is full of a bazillion good ideas. The people you bring on is where your success lies. [It's like] dating a guy, you can have an amazing relationship, but if you're not in the same place, it doesn't work. You need to want it the same amount, work on it the same amount.

What's the worst thing about being an entrepreneur?
You think of just the challenges of starting your own business: delays in production, things not happening at the right time. Every day there are little things that frustrate you, but [you need to keep] perspective.

What's the best thing about being an entrepreneur?
The absolute best part is that you make such an incredible difference immediately. If I change the color of the box, that's what people are going to see on the store shelves. I can't see any other area where you can have an immediate impression on every component of the product. To see an idea you have come to reality, that's incredible fulfillment.

What further projects are you working on?
Right now we're in the second edition of The Filmigame. Our goal is to come out with a version every three months or so, and different types: the Sharukh edition, the Amitabh edition, the classic edition. As far as the technology goes, we're looking at a TV serial game, a cricket game, we've been approached for a football DVD-type game. There's a ton of applications for this technology from an entertainment and education standpoint.