Her Story
About ITI
Iti Sharma is a multifaceted professional whose career reflects continuous reinvention and growth across healthcare, education, and business. She began as a dentist in India, graduating from government dental schools after completing a mandatory internship, and later worked in government dental settings providing care to underserved patients. After moving to the United States around 2014 following her marriage, Sharma worked at the University of Illinois Chicago in healthcare, earned her CPR license, completed a research publication course, and served as adjunct faculty, mentoring students and honing her ability to communicate complex ideas simply. She is a member of the Rajasthan Dental Association and holds her dental license. Sharma later pivoted to entrepreneurship, launching a gemstones lapidary business and engaging in IT consulting alongside her husband, applying the precision and attention to detail from her dentistry training to ensure quality in gems. She attributes her success to hard work, family support, and a desire to bridge technical expertise with human emotions, while valuing integrity, a growth mindset, and accessibility in all her endeavors. Sharma also volunteers with the Naya Severa NGO in India and makes anonymous donations, and she encourages young women to keep going without fear of pivoting or trying new paths.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with ITI
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to always working hard and reaching there with my family. I want to be known as someone who bridges the world, who can translate between technical expertise and how it impacts human emotions.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just keep going. Never stop, never think too much. If it's going to work out, it's a good thing. If it doesn't, you are already not trying, so there's no harm. Just give it a try. There is nothing to be afraid of, and there are more people to help you out.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge was not being afraid to pivot. Every transition felt risky, like moving here and starting over. The real victory was learning to embrace my nonlinear path instead of seeing it as a weakness. My dentistry background taught me precision which translates to quality in gems.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is important so people trust you and know you are honest and reliable. Growth mindset - never think negatively, be positive. Accessibility - making complex things into simple words, like by teaching students with day-to-day examples.
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