Samriddhi Chakraborty

On inquiring from Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty about the idea to start something like this and her journey as a Womanpreneur, she apprised that;

My latent interest in becoming an entrepreneur came to light while completing my master’s at Kingston University, London (United Kingdom). It was a part of our curriculum to have to make startups and compete for inter-university. So our startup went on to win a lot of accolades and we received a lot of funding. Once I got back to India, taking pay off from my startup there, I went back to working and consulting for advertising agencies and startups, but deep in my heart I would yearn to be my own boss and after working for 9 years - I decided to go ahead with my own firm.

On requesting her, Why did she choose entrepreneurship over a job?

The ability to be your own boss and take ground-breaking decisions with regard to campaigns and strategies. Also, employ and train people with disabilities and build an inclusive team.

How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in?

Advertising has always been my passion and the idea to not change your field while forming a firm, but to continue following your passion motivated me to start my own firm. My industry is competitive, with so many agencies mushrooming across India on a regular basis - I have found my niche. A collaborative model where I work with different agencies as a team to offer the client what is best for him. Thus, as a collaborator, I have managed to have another office in Singapore that handles the data mining side of it. This gives my agency a wider edge than my supposed competitors.

What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?

The urge to make it bigger and better and the dream to establish a group of companies in the next 5 years under The Calibrate banner. Right now, I have a digital wing in Kolkata and a data mining wing in Singapore.

On inquiring from Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty about the challenges/obstacles she faced in her journey so far, She explains that;

Brands have the perception that since the agency is new and has low clientele/low brand equity - they can make them work at a dearth-cheap pricing. So I have had to say no to a lot of brands asking for services at a dearth cheap rate. This has been the biggest obstacle that I have faced as an entrepreneur.

On inquiring about the uniqueness of her startup Glow Entertainment, Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty explained that;

My firm is all about inclusion and collaboration. I work with people with disabilities as well as normal people. And I have a lot of agencies up my sleeve with whom there is a collaborative model in place. So this offers a wider scope for my startup to operate.

When stress persists, it can take a toll on your health and well-being. On inquiring from Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty that How she handles the pressure and manages stress, She explains us that;

Stress is an integral part of the initial days for any startup - especially when you are bootstrapping it. For me - I manifest my stress into energy to get the venture up and rolling. I don’t let downfalls and setbacks affect me. Rather I stand up and face what’s coming with conviction and positivity.

On inquiring about what is one strategy that she believes has helped her grow as a person/startup? Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty said that;

As a person I have always believed in a personal relationship than a mere professional relationship. So in the last 9 years of working as an account strategist - I have harbored innumerable relationships with clients who have become friends and have helped me immensely through the course of my career and now my startup business.

In your opinion what are the keys to success?

You cannot always pick pointers that can be solidified as keys to success as it is quite variable. For me keys to success would include a happy team working in silos for the greater good, a common goal to make The Calibrate a success. A plethora of happy customer testimonials and pull factors while acquiring newer retainers from existing clients to name a few.

On asking her about the advice she would like to give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur, Ms. Samriddhi Chakraborty says that;

As it is said that constant Focus is the key to success and does not lose hope when things are not working out. One should Look for loopholes before the hiccups come into play and salvage the situation before it takes a drastic turn.