In this episode of My Migrant Soul, host Imran Abul Kashem sits down with Anna Rante, Founder and CEO of Right and Keystone Group, to unpack a story that began with rejection and ended in reinvention. Anna migrated to Australia at the age of 18 and she faced the same wall many migrants hit: qualifications and ambition weren't enough without "Australian experience." Rather than wait for someone to open a door, she built her own. She started a small accounting firm at 21 with nothing but a desire to help people who lacked access to professional financial guidance. Anna traces her journey from childhood, watching her single mother run a transport and construction business in the Philippines, through the isolation and self-doubt of her early years in Australia, to founding what is now a multi-division franchise network spanning taxation, migration, mortgage broking, and real estate. She opens up about the implicit bias she faced as a young Asian woman who "looked like a high school student," the mindset shifts that helped her build trust with clients, and why she believes in building community and legacy rather than just business. The conversation also covers her current ventures, including an AI-powered tax management app and her role in a UBS accelerator program for female founders, before closing with her vision for the next decade. KEY TAKEAWAYS How to turn rejection into momentum instead of letting it define you, by treating every "no" as information rather than a verdict. Why your biggest barrier is often internal, and how naming and challenging your own implicit bias can unlock opportunities that external circumstances alone won't. How to build trust quickly, especially when people doubt you on sight, by leading with consistent delivery and genuine vulnerability instead of trying to look the part. Why building a community around your work, not just a customer base, creates loyalty and impact that a transactional business model can't match. How to stop waiting for the "right time" to start something, and why treating failure as fast, cheap feedback gets you further than waiting for a perfect plan. Why rest and self-care function as fuel for sustained ambition, not a distraction from it, and how to stop treating them as guilt-inducing indulgences. How to think about legacy versus wealth when making big decisions, using a simple gut-check question for moments when you're at a crossroads. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:08 Anna's childhood in the Philippines and her mother's influence 03:17 Arriving in Australia: starting over from nothing 05:57 Building her first accounting firm at 21 09:30 Becoming a migration agent and building an internship program 11:25 Overcoming bias as a young female migrant entrepreneur 15:02 Building a purpose-driven franchise for underrepresented entrepreneurs 18:48 Mindset, motivation, and staying resilient 21:10 Innovation, creativity, and launching Tax 360 24:34 Advice for dreamers: authenticity and leadership 27:58 Legacy over wealth 30:50 Work-life balance, self-love, and a pivotal shift during COVID 34:30 Current projects and her vision for the next 10 years 41:26 Closing thoughts: always believe in yourself GUEST INFORMATION Anna Rante Founder and CEO, Right and Keystone Group Accounting, Migration, and Franchise Services Connect with Anna: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-rante/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rktaxationexperts Website: https://www.rktaxationexperts.com.au/ Every migrant has a story—of dreams, struggles, and triumphs. My Migrant Soul brings you powerful, real-life conversations with migrants from diverse backgrounds who have navigated the challenges of starting over in a new land. Hosted by Imran Abul Kashem, this podcast sheds light on personal migration journeys, cultural transitions, and the resilience that fuels success. HOST INFORMATION Imran Abul Kashem Founder, My Migrant Soul Serial Entrepreneur, Former Journalist and Personal Branding Expert Connect with Imran: Website: https://westendpodcast.au/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mymigrantsoul-aus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imran_abul_kashem_melbourne/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imranabulkashem/ Subscribe for more real stories of migration, identity, and human experience. Got a story to tell? Start your podcast with Westend Podcast: https://www.westendpodcast.com.au migrant entrepreneur, Anna Rante, Right and Keystone Group, Australian experience, female founder, franchise network, purpose-driven business, underrepresented entrepreneurs, accounting firm, migration agent, mortgage broking, mindset shift, implicit bias, authenticity in leadership, build a legacy, Harvard Business School, UBS female founder accelerator, Tax 360, AI tax management app, work-life balance, self-love, resilience, immigrant success story, My Migrant Soul podcast, Imran Abul Kashem
