Meenakshi Tejwani’s journey is one of relentless grit, transformation, and belief. From a young girl working in a car showroom in India to becoming a thriving entrepreneur in Dubai, her path is anything but ordinary. Today, she stands as the founder and managing director of Alpha Mortgage, pulling in a monthly salary of Dh48,000 — a world apart from the Dh1,500 she once earned as a supermarket cashier.
Starting From Scratch: The Early Hustle
Born and raised in Ajmer, a city in Rajasthan, India, Meenakshi always had an urge to work and be financially independent. At just 17, while pursuing her graduation, she worked at a car showroom in India, earning 3,000 rupees a month. She had bigger dreams — dreams that went beyond her hometown.
Convincing her parents wasn’t easy, but eventually, she made her way to Dubai in 2012, seeking better opportunities and a new beginning. Her brother was already living there, which gave her the initial support she needed.
The Humble Beginning in Dubai
Her first job in Dubai was at Choithrams supermarket as a cashier, earning Dh1,200 monthly. It was a far cry from luxury or comfort, but it gave her a foothold in the city. Within time, her dedication paid off. She was promoted to a customer service supervisor role, a position she held for nearly two and a half years.
Each experience, whether small or significant, added value to her journey. Meenakshi soon stepped into the world of banking, landing a job at RAKBank selling business loans. Her salary doubled to Dh4,000 and eventually, she rose to the position of virtual relationship manager.
Later, she joined Mashreq Bank, where she continued to grow, earning Dh11,500 monthly as a relationship manager. By this point, she had already built years of experience in understanding client needs, handling finances, and cultivating long-term business relationships.
A Leap of Faith into Entrepreneurship
In 2021, life took another meaningful turn. Meenakshi had just given birth and wanted to spend more time with her child. At the same time, she saw a clear gap in the mortgage advisory space in the UAE. Customers — especially those overseas — weren’t receiving sound advice on property financing.
Seizing the opportunity, she and her husband, who already ran a financial consultancy business, launched Alpha Mortgage, a boutique mortgage advisory firm in Dubai. With ready clients and her banking experience, the business gained traction quickly. Today, she pays herself a monthly salary of Dh48,000, which includes various allowances.
Money Management and Smart Saving Habits
What sets Meenakshi apart is not just her earnings, but her attitude toward money. Throughout her career, she remained a disciplined saver. Her savings allowed her to invest in her business without depending on loans or external funding.
Between her and her husband’s income, they’ve created a balanced financial ecosystem — one income is used for investments while the other handles daily expenses. Meenakshi ensures she saves a chunk of her income after covering essentials, and channels it into real estate and gold.
Growing Wealth Through Smart Investments
Meenakshi prefers tangible, physical assets. Her portfolio includes properties in both India and Dubai. She’s purchased an off-plan townhouse in Dubailand valued at Dh1.5 million and a two-bedroom apartment near Sheikh Zayed Road, worth Dh3 million. She’s now actively looking for a home where her family can live.
In India, she and her husband own commercial properties in Jaipur, both ready-to-move-in and off-plan. Every six months, she buys gold coins — a practice she believes in for liquidity and long-term wealth preservation.
Recently, she has also ventured into learning stock trading, proving her constant hunger to grow financially and diversify her knowledge.
Debt, Credit, and Conscious Spending
While she does have a mortgage and a car loan, Meenakshi manages her liabilities well. The mortgage is covered by rental income, which keeps her monthly expenses in check. She rarely relies on credit cards, preferring to spend only what is readily available. Her aim is to increase income, not liabilities.
For her discretionary purchases, she leans on passive income. Her advisory services to small businesses bring in extra revenue that supports her lifestyle without touching the core income streams.
No Silver Spoon, Just Pure Hard Work
There was no inheritance or financial safety net in Meenakshi’s story. Her father drove a taxi, and the family lived with modest means. Everything she owns today is a result of her hard work, financial planning, and vision.
From a young age, she was taught the importance of passive income — a lesson she has carried forward with pride. She believes in building assets that can support her even when she chooses to stop working one day.
Spending Wisely and Enjoying Life
Meenakshi’s monthly expenses include nursery fees, travel, and family insurance. Despite her high earnings, she lives a grounded lifestyle. She does indulge occasionally in luxury items, but only after making sure her savings and investments are intact.
She’s created an emergency fund that can sustain her family for at least six months. Part of it is in liquid cash, while the rest includes easily-sellable gold. This financial cushion brings peace of mind and allows her to take calculated risks.
Confidence in Uncertainty
One of Meenakshi’s most admirable qualities is her confidence in starting over. Thanks to her strong background in sales and business, she knows that even if everything were to collapse, she could rebuild from scratch.
She’s not afraid of failure because she’s equipped herself with skills that are always in demand. Her faith in her ability to bounce back is what makes her unstoppable.
Vision for the Future
Her short-term goal is to expand her property portfolio and enhance her understanding of trading. Long-term, she’s committed to building passive income streams that can support her lifestyle with minimal active involvement.
She dreams of reaching a point where she works by choice, not out of necessity. That, to her, is true financial freedom. She’s already on her way — with a team she trusts, a growing business, and financial strategies that work.
A Message to Dreamers
Meenakshi’s story isn’t just about earning more — it’s about transforming your life through clarity, planning, and persistence. She didn’t have a fancy degree, a rich background, or shortcuts. But what she did have was vision, consistency, and the courage to act when the time was right.
For every person sitting in a modest job wondering if better is possible — Meenakshi is proof that it is. You just need to believe, build, and take bold steps.
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