Born in India and educated at Penn State University, Anmolika Singh is a data scientist at Stanley Black & Decker and the vice president of professional development at Society of Women Engineers Dallas. She’s also in the process of starting a local chapter of AI Tinkerers, a global community of engineers, developers, and researchers who work with generative AI.
She doesn’t say that she was destined for the Lone Star State, but as a recent graduate in 2021, the area had a couple things going for it.
“Some of my best friends from school had moved here for their jobs, and my younger sister joined Texas A&M, so I knew that I would be visiting a lot.”
Still in her college town, she wanted to move to a city that had tech hubs and tech companies, a place with professional organizations, not just student groups, someplace that provides social support and enables career growth.
“It just made sense to be here because I already had connections with people, and my job was work-from-home. I was sick of being in my college town.”
DFW checked all the boxes.
Finding her niche
Singh settled in Plano, where she can get a taste of home with a Texan twist.
“There is a lot of authentic Indian food in the area — a lot of restaurants that have franchises in Dallas but nowhere else.”
She says it’s fun to eat at those when friends are visiting.
“And the Texas portions are noticeable.”
Yes, everything is bigger here.
Her other favorites include RA Sushi, Velvet Taco, and Marufuku ramen. “And I don’t think I’ve found a bad Thai spot.”
Another benefit of living in Dallas-Fort Worth is DFW International Airport, which makes it easy to get here and get away (check out the destinations you can say yes to in North Texas from commercial and private airports).
“DFW Airport is a charm,” said Singh, who visits domestic and international locations during work and personal travel.
She’s thinking about joining a club sports team and enjoys taking advantage of the open space around her apartment complex to walk in the fresh air. She also likes DFW’s open retail and dining areas, like Central Market and downtown Grapevine.
And while Bollywood may be known for its moves, Texas has also put its stamp on dancing.
“I have gone to a Honkytonk dance, and that was my first time trying anything like that, but it was a great experience with respectful people. I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said, smiling.
Say Yes to ‘launching your life’ in Dallas
Of course people in all stages of life choose to relocate to the region, but for young people in particular, she says this is a great place to launch your life.
“The tech community is growing, and a lot of it is already here. People are comparing the DFW area, and Texas as a whole, to Silicon Valley because there’s so much room for growth here. So if you are a person early in tech, you don’t necessarily have the means to move to Silicon Valley, to California or something. This is the place to be.”
And who knows, you might decide to stay. What she’s discovered about Dallas is that it’s not “either/or;” it’s “yes, and.”
“You get a mix of both the career stuff and the fun stuff, of going out, eating, partying — that’s here as well.”
Ready to see how Dallas-Fort Worth is right for you? Check out our Newcomer & Relocation Guide.
