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Anuj is on a mission to spread happiness among businesses, their employees, and customers. < All Interviews Anuj Sehgal Founder and CEO Entrepreneur This time, In our latest interview on VictoryTales, we would like to introduce Mr. Anuj Sehgal, a very unique and admirable personality who is having God’s gift in his life to make millions of millions of people Laugh through his very unique idea to bring Comedy as his main objective to make the world happy. Mr. Anuj Sehgal is the Founder and CEO at “Comedy Munch”. Mr. Anuj with his mission to spread happiness among businesses, their employees, and customers. He is the Founder & CEO of Comedy Much, a company that helps brands in employee & customer engagement, brand communication, community building, and online integration through humour & entertainment. The journey of Mr. Anuj Sehgal as a startup comedian started since 2015 when on one evening he attended his first stand-up comedy show in Delhi. Share this Interview: Know more about Comedy Munch Anuj was inspired by the quality of the content and the kind of crowd-puller which led him to the creation of “Comedy Munch”, an exclusive digital platform for comedy. By then at the age of 37, Mr. Anuj Sehgal had over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, strategy, and operations as Country Manager for European MNC and Sales head for OTT player- NextG TV, and later as the co-founder and director of IT solutions company Inavit Digital. On enquiring from Mr. Anuj Sehgal about himself and his journey as an entrepreneur, he replied that It was one evening in the year 2015 that shaped his new start-up when he attended his first stand-up comedy show in Delhi. Mr Anuj apprised that he was inspired by the quality of the content and the kind of crowd-puller it was in that stand-up comedy show. That got him thinking and led to the creation of “Comedy Munch”, an exclusive digital platform for comedy. Then at the age of 37, Anuj had over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, strategy, and operations as Country Manager for European MNC and Sales head for OTT player- NexG TV, and later as the co-founder and director of IT solutions company Inavit Digital. Mr Anuj further said that when you think of comedy nowadays, in a world full of technologies and endless opportunities, we can imagine some witty humorous people performing stand-up comedy. ROFL is no more just a slang, it has become more relatable owing to the new age comics. And what if on that stage, we see a backbencher comedian from our class performing and making people crack out of laughter or someone we’ve always known for making everyone laugh at correct timings, how overwhelming of an experience would it be! That’s the exact idea of having a platform where people from all walks of life who are like any of us would come together to put their best jokes together and share with people what they’re best at. And as we all know nothing is greater than a morale boost and appreciation from the audience the artists work for; live for! Comedy Munch believes in spreading happiness and with this agenda in mind they organize happiness sessions and gigs across the country which is a one-stop destination for relieving out all the stress accumulated by the discomforts of life. With an online content platform, public shows and corporates, brands integration, adding that dose of laughter boosting to live up to the higher aspirations for brands, corporates, and the public in general. Your introduction and journey so far; Anuj is on a mission to spread happiness among businesses, their employees, and customers. He is the Founder & CEO of Comedy Much, a company that helps brands in employee & customer engagement, brand communication, community building, and online integration through humour & entertainment. The company plans and organizes events and programs for dealer/vendor/corporate meets, brand/product launch, community building, and online audience engagement through a unique integration of comedy and entertainment content. In his 15+ years of experience, Anuj has been part of many successful projects. He launched the First Telco OTT Platform in India at Aplaya Technologies, LIVE Streaming of IPL on Mobile TV Platform, and the successful launch of Timwe – An European MNC Operations in India. He has been instrumental in planning, launching, and managing these and many other projects. He is almost always involved passionately in running a growing Comedy Munch and making businesses a happier place. You would find him meeting with HR/Marketing Heads and CEOs and discussing unique ways for them to make their employees and customers happy and how humour and entertainment can help them in their missions. He loves to travel and decode life through a spiritual process and music. That’s where he gets most of the unique ideas about living a more enriching and fulfilling life. That's what drives Comedy Munch at the core and keeps the company fresh and innovative. Get in touch with Anuj to discuss unique ways on how comedy, humour, and entertainment can help you build a positive and happy brand image, keep your employees and customers happy and more engaged. Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? I always wanted to create value in the ecosystem and give it back to the society, there was always a hunch to do something creative around performing arts and comedy came as a boon and exciting to live like a dream. As Steve Jobs says “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life”. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation? Good Question. I would say not just in but at night, it usually happens. I am always fond of figuring out something niche or new, which may create a proposition for me and the public at large. I usually keep this mode on all the time and it serves as the source of my motivation all the time. The kind of positivity the smiling faces bring around me is so encouraging. Making people laugh while making money seemed like a win-win idea. We all seek peace in the busy city lives after working 9 to 6, five days a week, I thought what if I could make those days better? That’s how I get motivated every morning and plan on spreading happiness amongst the stressful environments of any working space. As we are in the business of creating happiness, it does not feel that getting to work is a task in the morning. What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far? Every business has risks. Our risks are associated with the right skill set that we look for expansion in the future. We already have a core niche team but I see from future expansion perspective, we would need innovative minds, with a flexible thought process. Although, with a clearly defined process, and innovative means to reach out to search resources, we are confident enough that we will mitigate it. Finding the right team/talent/partners is the constant battle and we have achieved some milestones with their support. What comes first for you - money or emotions? I am an emotional person. Business needs to have emotions, not personal, obviously, but business ones like concern for quality deliverables, client satisfaction, targets & roadmaps, you planned & how you will achieve it, etc. Money is obviously the priority but I believe if your value creation process is right for others, the money will automatically come as an outcome of it. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? The meditation, exercise, right food and right people around you is the key to manage the pressure and stress. I have been lucky to be around the right people in the form of family support, an amazing team that helps me to balance the day to day stress and pressure. What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person/start-up? In my journey so far what has helped me immensely is the lean methodology and the relationships with people/team/partners. In your opinion what are the keys to success? There are a few and you can learn it on your way up. As long as you have a growth mindset it is not a problem. Persistence, Discipline, Empathy are some of the keys, and if you love what you are doing, you will gradually succeed. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? I always work on a tag line ‘add value to get value’. Don’t focus primarily on money or investments but keep your focus on creating a sustainable venture & value creation. I believe, rest things will automatically set with time. Don’t start the business to raise money, start to add value, and solve the problem. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

Recycling is not a new or innovative business. My product is unique, not the business. < All Interviews Paras Saluja Founder and Director Entrepreneur VictoryTales with its mission to bring more and more inspiring stories for our readers, this time we are introducing Mr. Paras Saluja Founder & Director of Shayana Ecounified India Pvt. Ltd who is on the single point focus to reduce the dumping of plastics in the environment and save the planet. Mr. Paras Saluja, is an entrepreneur, environmental advocate, an inventor, and presently Founder & Director of SHAYNA ECOUNIFIED INDIA PVT.LTD. With his innovation, Mr. Paras has turned plastic waste into reusable material and created affordable structural materials from plastic waste, and thus creating a better tomorrow for the generations to come. He gave the world community reusable products by turning plastic waste into High-Density Composite polymer (HDCP) tiles and blocks. Previously, Paras remained involved in his pharmaceutical business. Being an enthusiastic traveler, he has been to many Asian and European countries in the past and he has trekked until Advance Base Camp of Mount Everest. His movement from mainstream business to being an environmentalist has inspired several young entrepreneurs to continue to narrate his story as a TEDx speaker. Mr. Paras has pooled various government & private organizations like Municipal Corporations of Gurugram, and Hyderabad L'oreal and TATA Motors to solve the plastic pollution crisis by deploying HDCP tiles in their principal offices. Share this Interview: Know more about SHAYNA ECOUNIFIED INDIA PVT LTD Shayna EcoUnified India Pvt. Ltd established with a single focus to reduce the dumping of plastics in the environment and save the planet. By using eligible plastic waste materials, the Company turns plastics into High-Density Composite polymer (HDCP) tiles and blocks. These final recycled/converted materials are weather-resistant, chip-resistant, acid-proof, durable and offer better structural stability at a lower cost as compared to other conventional. The final product is composite, affordable, and contributes to the societal benefit. The company strives to deploy cost-effective architectural tiles further restructuring the recycling base of India and taking it towards a new and much-required evolution. On inquiring from where did the idea to start something like Shayna EcoUnified came from and requesting him to tell us about his background and his journey as an entrepreneur, Mr. Paras Saluja apprised that; I joined my family business after completing my educational journey from Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, and Bachelor of Business Administration from I.T.S college in Ghaziabad. I shifted my focus after 15 years and took my first steps towards my life-long issue of reducing, reusing waste that’s present all around us, all the time. As I grew, I became an avid traveler and during one of my trips, I was in Vietnam where I saw that they were very aware and sensitive about the waste they produced and how they managed to dispose of it. That is when it struck me that India is a big and populated country with a huge problem of waste being produced daily but not disposed of properly. I think that was the time when I decided to do something for my country and also wanted to contribute to the ongoing government of India’s “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan''. When the idea to make a difference in the way we (humanity) were operating about our plastic waste struck me, I did not want to lose even a single minute of my time not doing what I could for it to become a reality and change what can be changed. Then I researched more regarding what I wanted to work on and contacted CSIR-NPL and together we came up with this technology that was later transferred to us. On inquiring from him about what was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? Mr. Paras Saluja replied that; I belong to a business family so doing business was not something new for me. However, starting something new of my own in a sector I have no idea about was something that I didn’t foresee. When the idea struck me then I just followed my dream to do something for the environment which is sustainable and long-lasting and also helps all strata of society and can in turn do something for our country. On inquiring from Mr. Paras Saluja, why he has chosen to become an entrepreneur over a job? He apprised that; I belong to a business family and my upbringing was always done accordingly. I never really thought about a corporate career. Growing up I always wanted to do something of my own and to learn the ropes I chose to become the part of the existing business. During this time, between other qualities, I realized about my leadership skills, decision-making ability, and most importantly the ability to recognize an opportunity when it presents itself. After more than a decade of learning and growing it, when the idea to make a difference in the way we (humanity) were operating about our plastic waste struck me, I did not want to lose even 1 minute of my time not doing what I could for it to become a reality and change what can be changed. When the opportunity presented itself then I wanted to make a product that is eco-friendly, something which did not wear and tear and could be used by us but since it came from waste, it shouldn’t touch our skin directly. Shayna’s products help clients with easy, economical, and speedy construction. Hence came out with the concept of tiles initially and later other products were introduced as well, which helps the society in using green technology to build smarter and greener ways of living. Can you please share with us your source of motivation for becoming an Entrepreneur? My belief in myself and my dream motivates me to keep going on. The passion and drive to finally be able to do something for our environment keeps us going and reaching out to people. Also, the support of our clients and environmental enthusiasts provides the much-needed boost that inspires us to strive for more. On inquiring how do you generate new ideas? Mr. Paras Saluja told that; The ideas just flow when one has a need. I live and follow the habits of sustainable living in my everyday life and I happen to notice a lot of things around me, some of them bother me, that’s the moment when I am on a constant lookout for inspiration which can help me and my curious brain to eradicate the issue I encounter and this habit gives birth to new ideas which I try and build into new products. On inquiring about the Uniqueness of his company Shayna EcoUnified, Mr. Paras apprised that ; Recycling is not a new or innovative business. My product is unique, not the business. What makes us different from other recycling companies is that we aim at unifying and bringing new solutions to cater to almost all the problems of pollution and help provide clean, healthy living conditions for all people, economies, and areas whether urban or rural. How did you come up with the name of your company? Shayna means Shine and Ecounified is the vision we have as we want to unify and bring a one-stop-shop solution for all things related to recycling, pollution, and the environment. We want to make a sustainable and eco-friendly living into an everyday reality for all. We want to generate more ideas and concepts and unify the needs of the environment and just make this reality shine bright. On inquiring, How many hours a day do you work on average? Mr. Paras explains that; I work as and when and what the need of the business is. Being a start-up currently, my work hours are anywhere between 10-12 hours a day. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? Patience, perseverance, commitment to the end goal, and always see and keep the big picture in mind. Obstacles come for everyone whether big or small, young, or seasoned entrepreneurs. What makes one sustain in the business is one’s patience, persistence, and the knack for looking for different possibilities from all sources known and unknown and waiting for the right time till things don’t work out. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

Ms. Khanduja is a young and budding entrepreneur at the age of 21. A graduate from Jesus and Mary College, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country < All Interviews Nishtha Khanduja Founder Women Entrepreneur VictoryTales with its objective to bring more inspiring stories around the world, this time introducing Ms. Nishtha Khanduja, founder of Moodhouse, Who is on a mission to help the people suffering from depression- accept, fight and defeat it. The idea is to have a digital platform where people affected by depression can share their conflicted state of mind stemming more often than not from an emotional shutdown resulting from an individual's inability to meet expectations of either oneself or those around him. Ms. Nishtha has endured the condition herself and fought through the battle with her conviction, strength and will. Instead of denying the cause and symptoms altogether, she confronted her demons, sought out help when she knew she was suffering and came out of it with a renewed sense of hope and energy. She quickly realized that she wanted to help as many people as she can going through the same malady She collaborated with professionals working in the field and set out a means of offline and online communication to reach out to and counsel those in need of help. Through the means of her social media accounts, she seeked to raise awareness against the taboos of "Mental issues" Ms. Khanduja is a young and budding entrepreneur at the age of 21. A graduate from Jesus and Mary College, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, she is a fierce soul with a compassionate heart set on eradicating orthodox conventions around mental health and getting help in reach of any and everyone who is in despair and need of it. With no prior knowledge or experience about establishing a startup, driven solely by fire to aid, assist and heal, she took the plunge anyway. Share this Interview: Know more about Moodhouse Moodhouse came into existence in the March of the year 2020 intended to help understand and aid people going through any mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or symptoms of bipolar disorder. The startup has a simple motto of helping those who are unable to find any guidance due to familial, societal, or mentary constraints through their network of counselors, psychologists, and preachers. We at Moodhouse, through our social media platforms, also try and bring to the fore inspiring stories such that people out there can identify with and relate to the struggles, desperation, helplessness, and hopelessness that such conditions instill in the sufferer. The emphasis is on getting across the message that though life may seem bleak, frail, and troublesome; it is well within ourselves to overcome all that appears irredeemable. Where did the idea to start something like this come from? Please also talk to us through your background and your journey as an entrepreneur. At the age of 20, I slipped into depression, where I felt like living through each and every day demanded as great an effort as is required of a wounded animal in a jungle to just survive. It was a struggle I had not known of before, in my entire life. I felt like a loser and lost hope altogether. I attempted to commit suicide n number of times to just get rid of the pain or numbness, whatever that was. What made matters worse and graver were that I had no one to go to, to talk with, to vent out. I don't think anyone really understood what it was like. It was only when I came out of that dark phase that I realized, that there are two main issues that needed to be addressed here. We created a community where we provided people struggling with such issues with free or subsidized professional counseling. We also aimed to bring about a change in the social mindset around mental health through the means of our online and offline channels of communication. Sometimes all we need is a companion, a shoulder to lean on, another soul to bear ours too without the fear of being judged. That's what we are trying to be at Moodhouse. I personally want people to know that "it's okay to not be okay all the time" Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? I didn't choose either over another. I chose them both. I am a Marketing Executive at Mahindra Holidays, Gurugram branch, as well as a Co-founder of Moodhouse What’s your source of motivation? Weird as it may sound, having lived through the anguish and pain myself, I know what the feeling of helplessness is like. I know what it feels like to not have any safe harbor whatsoever. I wouldn't wish it on my worst. It's that struggle that drives me to help as many as I can. How many hours a day do you work on average? Although handling a full-time job and a start-up requiring a constant invested emotional presence, is anything but an easy task, I have come to the inference that I am actually quite enjoying it. Every day when I conclude my day I realize how grateful and satisfied I am having lived that day to my full ability. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? As you love your child unconditionally so much that you are able to turn a blind eye to any negative feeling, stress or even financial constraints for that matter that accompanies having a child. It is quite similar to that! Marketing is my passion and Moodhouse is my baby. There's no way any challenge that comes my way because of having the two in my life will make me feel stressed. Just like holding a child in your arms gives you nothing but a joy of the purest nature, exactly in the same manner, spending my time pursuing my passion and love only makes me incandescently happy. Challenges/obstacles faced in the journey so far? There are many obstacles and challenges that come along the way. You know we live in a society wherein we openly talk about our Physical wellbeing but fail to address the issues related to Mental Health. So, breaking the stigma and stereotype attached to it has been an uphill battle. What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs? The only piece of advice I have is - if you want to do something, just take the leap of faith and do it. If you have the desire and passion to do it, everything else you can learn. Any learnings? Life is worth fighting for!! Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

Mr. Sailesh started at the age of 16 years as he was fond of machines/vehicles and spent his time studying them and repairing faulty components in vehicles. < All Interviews Sailesh Nair Director & COO Entrepreneur We as Victorytales, In our latest interview, spoke to yet another passionate entrepreneur Mr. Sailesh Nair. To understand more about his interesting journey as an entrepreneur so far we would like to apprise that the quest to become an entrepreneur in Mr. Sailesh started at the age of 16 years as he was fond of machines/vehicles and spent his time studying them and repairing faulty components in vehicles. Mr. Sailesh, is Director & COO at “Esclare Group”, and he is a mechanical engineer from the University of Pune tried his hands in diversified fields including the Mechanical industry, IT, and then Advertising before entering the water industry which clicked in his mind. Somewhere between all these jobs, the thought came up of entering the water industry and establishing this venture “Esclare” . Share this Interview: Know more about Esclare Group Mr. Sailesh Nair apprised that the name "Esclare'' is derived from two Spanish words: “Es” which translates to "This is” & “Clare” which means “Bright or Clear”. Esclare is working to bring the changes required in the major problems being faced in today's time, firstly by managing the waste being generated by an ever-growing population, secondly, working on the way to fight the water crisis and thirdly, how one can improve the health of millions of suffering individuals worldwide. Mr. Sailesh and his team mainly focus on finding new ways to curb pollution, recycle water effectively, manage waste, and find alternatives to the growing demands of fossil fuels. Apart from its focus on the environment, Esclare also promotes proven medical technologies and devices which provide many benefits to the suffering patients. On inquiring from where did the idea to start something like “Esclare” come from and requesting him to tell us about his background and his journey as an entrepreneur, Mr. Sailesh Nair apprised that ; Back in 2012 when there were numerous reports doing rounds in the media houses about water shortage and contamination of water in various parts of our country. “Why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?” – The first thought that struck the mind. The next couple of years involved intensive sector study and market research to reason out the same. There were a few problems identified and the next step was to try to find a solution to these problems. That was how “Esclare” was born. My first stint as an entrepreneur was when I was 16 years old. I was fond of machines/ vehicles and spent a decent amount of time trying to study them and sometimes even try to repair faulty components in vehicles. Started providing 2 wheeler aesthetic modification services at the respective customer’s home. That was followed by a few other short-lived ventures like selling items on eBay to a clothing business. After all the humble attempts, I completed my engineering in Mechanical from the University of Pune and started working in diversified fields which included the mechanical industry followed by IT and then Advertising. Also, somewhere between all these jobs, the thought of entering the water industry popped up in my mind. However, this time, a venture with better zeal and purpose was born. On enquiring from him about the choosing entrepreneurship over the job, Mr. Sailesh Nair narrated that; There are pros and cons to both. When you weigh them against each other, you get a clearer picture of which side you’d want to choose. In my case, I never felt like I was addressing some serious problems or solving real issues. That was the initial drive that was needed. How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in? Mr. Sailesh Nair explains that; As of now, we are currently in the Water, Waste, and Medical Industry. All these verticals are extremely competitive and the only edge a company has is with the quality of products or services they sell. Thus, anyone with a product or service capable of making life easier can find himself/ herself a suitable place in these verticals or any vertical for that matter. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation? To be honestly speaking, my source of motivation is my knowledge of my invention and I think I am at the beginning of my entrepreneurship. but I feel whenever I will be in a bad situation, there will be sleepless nights. But at the first light of the next morning whatever happens will be tackled with the motto that "life has to smoothly move forward". So I always believe that there are not only 1(one),2(two), 3(three) chances but Infinity i.e nth chances are lined up for me and whatever I have to do will be an outcome of my deeds and I have to face those problems with courage and my knowledge On inquiring about what gets him out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s his source of motivation ?, Mr. Sailesh Nair mentioned that ; The will to create a niche in this competitive market, the want of facing some new challenges, and the need for creating a change. A change for good, a change for sustenance, and a chance for a better future for our environment and people. Tell us about the uniqueness of your startup, please; “Esclare” has been at the forefront to promote indigenous technologies that originate in India. Since inception, we have been working on promoting and commercializing unique technologies and solutions which are tried, tested, and complying with various quality standards. We have been associating with various research institutes and indigenous companies which focus on “Make in India”. We have successfully started setting up plants for water recovery and waste management in the country. On inquiring about his opinion about “the keys to success”, he explains that ; Perseverance , Skill , Passion , and Discipline . These are the major factors that determine how and when a person will “ get lucky ” and start walking the path of success. Mr. Sailesh explains, on inquiring about What advice would he give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? One of the most important factors to be kept in mind is that the path is not an easy one. There are numerous ups and downs and these ups and downs will be there throughout. It is your passion and determination that will help you stay afloat and keep moving ahead. Important learning received during this COVID pandemic was that no matter how profitable you are, there may be times when sales would go down to zero. It is important to be prepared to face such challenges and bounce back with a renewed strategy. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

She is inclined to have an eco-friendly sustainable product line. She also believes that Art has to be functional to be part of life and stay in everyday life to make it beautiful. < All Interviews Archana Deshpande Founder Women Entrepreneur VictoryTales with its objective to bring more inspiring stories around the world, this time introduces Archana Deshpande, Founder at PotteryDen. Ms. Archana Deshpande, fascinated by pottery and well-presented tablescapes. The idea of startup PotteryDen was born through her real urge of creating the bridge between traditional and trendy tableware. She is inclined to have an eco-friendly sustainable product line. She also believes that Art has to be functional to be part of life and stay in everyday life to make it beautiful. Ms. Archana wanted products that can be used from morning tea to special occasions to sit down at the dining table. Ms. Archana followed her heart's voice to work for her startup PotteryDen with traditional ways to make Pottery with earth, water, and fire. Share this Interview: Know more about PotteryDen PotteryDen designs and makes traditional Pottery which is the most widespread decorative hand-painted & textured collection Pottery piece. PotteryDen works with its motive to make the best quality earthen Pottery for its customers with their traditional art with Earth, Water, and Fire. Pottery is a very Interesting and fundamental traditional Art. It is earth, it is water, and with fire, It takes on the form of Life. PotteryDen designs & makes hand-painted & hand textured exclusive collection pieces, which bridges the gap between tradition & style. With a contemporary touch, PotteryDen's range is widely appreciated for adding beauty & aesthetic appeal to any space hence referred to as Lifestyle Designer Pottery! We believe art needs to be trendy & functional to be alive, not only to be seen but also to be felt. PotteryDen is a Pune, Maharashtra, India company and caters to all domestic and international locations. On inquiring from where did the idea to start something like “PotteryDen” came from and requesting her to tell us about her background and her journey as an entrepreneur, Ms.Archana Deshpande apprised that; The journey to start something like PotteryDen began when I was in the United States for a considerably long period and when I returned back to India in the year 2016, as I wanted to take a break from my monotonous work of the Mortgage Banking field and start something of my own. I was always fascinated by pottery and basically, I am always fascinated by well-presented tablescapes. PotteryDen was born through my real urge of creating the bridge between traditional and trendy tableware and most importantly inclined to have an eco-friendly sustainable product line. I believe that Art has to be functional to be part of life and stay in everyday life to make it beautiful. I wanted products that can be used from morning tea to special occasions to sit down at the dining table. On inquiring from Ms. Archana Deshpande, why has she chosen to become an entrepreneur over a job? she apprised that; I made the decision of entrepreneurship when I had a good substantial amount of experience with the passage of time and it was a big plus on my side in making this bold decision. I always wished and wanted to work from home so it will help us as a family to sell a bit easier in India. I believe that entrepreneurship gives you that flexibility to work according to your wish and a set routine line. As an Entrepreneur you get to do so many things from scratch and seeing your venture grow is a totally out of the world joy to experience. On asking about her source of motivation, Ms Archana expressed that; My source of motivation is my client’s appreciation because from day one they have appreciated PoeryDen’s products so much, so it makes us do beer every day. Our clients understood and valued the intention behind the PotterDen collection product line and the importance of pure clay, hand-painted, and hand-textured pieces. Every day our clients motivate us so much to make beer designs, textures, and functional pottery pieces. How many hours a day do you work on average to bring such beautiful clay utensils? I do work around 8-10 hours a day but my working hours are normally flexible so I could manage my other priorities as well. When you are an Entrepreneur you can not define hours or days in your works, it becomes part of your daily life and when you enjoy what you do, nothing like it. On enquiring from Ms. Archan about the uniqueness of her startup, she replied that; Pottery is a very interesting and fundamental art. It is earth, it is water and with fire, it takes on a form of life. PotteryDen designs and makes hand-painted and hand textured exclusive collection pieces, which bridges the gap between tradition and style. With a contemporary touch, Potteryden’srange is widely appreciated for adding beauty and aesthetic appeal to any space. Hence CONFIDENTIAL referred to as Lifestyle Designer Pottery! We believe art needs to be trendy and functional to be alive, not only to be seen but also to be used and felt. On enquiring about how she handles the pressure and manages stress? Ms. Archana apprised that; I try to be organized as much as possible to minimize the pressure or stress. I think advance preparation helps me to get things done on me as planned. But yes there are deadlines to match, client's orders to complete on me and get ready for different events of promotion, etc. My family support plays a big role to get me grounded. Delegation of work helps to relieve you from pressure and sometimes gives you a different approach to look at the situation. How do you generate new ideas? For generating ideas, I do make myself PotteryDen’s first client and also we do take feedback or polls from clients' likings or what categories they are looking for. Normally all the Designs are solely mine so that is my own feelings, and our designs are very much close to nature, seasons, tradition, modern and vibrant as well. On enquiring about how did she came up with the name for her company, she replied that; We were looking for a name that will clearly say what we do and PotteryDen seems to do it very efficiently. What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs? Entrepreneurship is a big self-driven responsibility. It is like you have to live your vision through every day in small bits and pieces. The best way is to enjoy the experience of creating an entity and see it grow. The most important is to love this journey and not think too much about the destination. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

After a tryst with life as a Computer Science Teacher in Modern Barakhamba school, Meera finally acted upon her lifelong calling and founded Sai Swayam Society. < All Interviews Meera Chetan Bhatia Founder and CEO Women Entrepreneur This time VictoryTales with the objective to bring the inspiring stories around the world came across Mrs. Meera C. Bhatia, Founder & CEO of Sai Swayam Society, a Delhi based PAN India NGO focusing on Empowerment of Deaf-Mute individuals through Education, Skill Training & Job Placement. Mrs. Meera is one of three siblings born to Speech and Hearing Impaired parents. She worked as a teacher of Computer Science in Modern School, Barakhamba Road, and founded a socially impactful NGO called Sai Swayam Society. Her father, Mr. Suraj Prakash Kanchanbaras was the Treasurer for All India Federation for Deaf (AIFD) and the President for Silent Sports Promotion Society for the deaf. He was the captain of the deaf cricket team of India under All India Sports Council for Deaf. He was formerly General Secretary, All India Sports Council of the Deaf from 1984 to 1992. Her Mother, Late Mrs. Mohini Kanchanbaras was the Executive Member and also the Cutting & Tailoring Instructor at Delhi Association of Deaf (DAD) and was a trainer at All India Federation for Deaf. She worked as a battick & bookbinding trainer and manufacturer at Delhi Foundation for Deaf Women (DFDW). Consequently, she received the National Award as the Role Model Employee PwD in 1997. Drawing inspirations from her parents, Meera started working as an Indian Sign Language Interpreter at the age of 16 years and worked for various organizations like the Delhi Association of Deaf, Delhi Foundation for Deaf Women, All India Federation of Deaf, National Association of Deaf and All India Sports Council of Deaf. In 1994 she began working as a News Anchor in Sign Language for the Hearing Impaired at DD News (National Network) and played an instrumental role in policy advocacy which led to the weekly bulletin being converted into a daily news show which now runs successfully till date and she continues to be the senior newsreader there. In 2007, she interpreted all the travel instructions for the hearing impaired travelers for Air India Airlines which is played in all international flights till date. Spearheading the fight for news accessibility for the deaf; since 2014, she has been interpreting all nationally significant telecasts such as Republic Day Parade, Independence Day, Teachers Day, Oath Taking Ceremony, and other such events. After a tryst with life as a Computer Science Teacher in Modern Barakhamba school, Meera finally acted upon her lifelong calling and founded Sai Swayam Society for the Speech and Hearing Impaired in 2006 at the age of 36 years. In 2010, Meera received the Helen Keller award by NCPED as the Best Placement Officer for PwDs. She was honored with the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Best Placement Officer) by the President of India in 2014. For her experience and contribution to the field of Indian Sign Language (ISL) in India, she was awarded the Jazbaa Award for Excellence in ISL by the Minister of Minority Affairs in 2016. Being raised by deaf parents and growing up as a voice for their community, Meera has a lifetime of learnings and experience of the issues and solutions for them. An experience of 36 years as an interpreter and activist, along with a professional experience of 14 years as the founder of an organization dedicated to empowering the community is what she brings to any forum for People with Disabilities. Recognizing this, she has been actively involved in policy advocacy and formulation with the Department of People with Disabilities (MSJE) - • Committee Member, Empanelmentas Skill Training Partner (PwDs) under the National Action Plan (DEPwD, MSJE) • Committee Member, Task Force for the Early Intervention and Parent Sensitization for Deaf individuals • Selection Committee Member, National Awards for PwDs 2016 • Committee Member, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre For the certification of SODA and CODA, Meera wishes to revolutionize the world for the deaf and mute through efforts of school empowerment, skill training, employment opportunities, awareness generation, ISL workshops, policy advocacy, and policy formulation. Attempting to use all her experience, knowledge, and passion she hopes to create an inclusive and better world for Persons with Disabilities. Share this Interview: Know more about Sai Swayam Society Sai Swayam Society for the Speech & Hearing Impaired (SHI) is a Non-Government Organization focusing on Empowerment of the community through Education, Skill Training & Livelihood Generation. SSS focuses on "Signs- Skills- Strength” to transform lives. With an inclusive team of Deaf and Hearing Staff Members, we practice Inclusion & Accessibility right from the start, ensuring that Deaf individuals are key stakeholders in our organization. With 9 extended centers and a hostel facility in Delhi, SSS reaches out to Deaf individuals across India. SSS is an empaneled skill training partner with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE). It is also a PMKVY skill training center. Over 12,000 Deaf individuals have been placed across India in about 170 corporate companies. SSS conducts remedial classes for school students from deaf government schools. Also, year-long education & fee support is provided to drop out students who get enrolled in NIOS. They have reached out to over 1000 Deaf students. Since Sign Language is the medium of communication for the SHI, SSS conducts Indian Sign Language Workshops for hearing individuals to generate awareness. Special focus on Police, Lawyers & Doctors. 18,000 people have been taught so far. Certification Workshops in affiliation with the Rehabilitation Council of India are also conducted. Can you please tell us the kind of work you do as a “Social Worker”? I am the Founder – CEO of an NGO called SSS i.e Sai Swayam Society that focuses on the empowerment of Deaf individuals through education, skill training, and livelihood generation. The organization is a platform for providing basic education in all subjects. It also teaches deaf-mute kids how to communicate in the Indian Sign Language. It provides Skill Training in Retail and Hospitality and helps facilitate their placements with various companies across the country. By ensuring their mainstreaming into an inclusive society an opportunity for sustainable livelihood is offered. The organization also works as a center and safety net for counseling and assistance for the Deaf community in distress, in occupational or personal matters. On enquiring why did she choose to become a Social worker over a job? Mrs. Meera said that; It was a conscious choice to become a social worker over mainstream work. I transitioned from being a teacher of Computer Science in Modern School, Barakhamba Road to founding a socially impactful NGO. Being a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), I found my calling in Sai Swayam Society because of the realization that apart from immense satisfaction of serving this community, I could use my unique experiences to bridge the gap that keeps the Speech and Hearing Impaired (SHI) community from equal opportunities, support, and treatment. I was uniquely placed to understand both sides and bridge the difference between their conditions. I have since, worked towards their upliftment, without looking back. On enquiring about her key driving force to become a Social Worker? Ms Meera apprised that; My key driving force has been the struggles of my parents as Deaf individuals in a newly independent India and drawing knowledge, learnings and inspiration from there. I wish to continue to play my role in working for a more inclusive and equal society for the upcoming generations of the Deaf. Being a daughter to SHI parents, my association with the Deaf dates back to my childhood. Due to their support and push, I have been a Sign Language interpreter since the age of 16. Their pride at seeing me positively impact their community is priceless. Moreover, the satisfaction that follows from being a teacher and a mentor to a student is an unparalleled and deeply liberating experience and I am a teacher at heart. What’s your source of motivation? My source of motivation comes from seeing Deaf individuals pursuing meaningful careers and in leading independent lives, empowered by education. Having seen my parents struggle and persevere all their lives, knowing that I play a small role in changing things for the better for the Deaf community keeps me going each day. On enquiring How many hours a day do you work on average? She explains that; This job is an around the clock job and requires me to be available towards the youngsters who are staying at my residential facility as well as on calls for day scholars. While the formal timings are that of 9 hours but this work is my passion which requires an active engagement with young minds, I consider it a 24/7 duty. How do you balance your work and personal life? My family is very cooperative and invested in my work. I get support, encouragement, and a variety of new ideas from their inputs. Balancing a healthy work – balance requires good time management, regular assessment of changing priorities and requirements along with flexibility. During exams and recruitment drives, I barely have time for home because the focus is on ensuring the best for all students while on days when family needs me, I tweak my office working hours or work from home. However, now with covid19 work patterns have drastically changed and ramped up. On enquiring how she handles the pressure and manages stress? She explains that; When you are following your inner calling and inherent passion, pressure and stress are tools which help you reshape your goals and grow into a stronger person. Of course, a competent and driven team plays an important role especially during tough days. Most importantly, reminding myself that all challenges are for a larger purpose of positively impacting someone’s life helps you stay positive and be committed to finding solutions and delivering. On asking how she generates new ideas? she apprised that; Inspiration comes to you only when you seek it actively, in your environment, within your team, from your target audience, etc. Here, my Deaf friends, staff members and students play an important role. Their problem sharing, suggestions and feedback are valuable. However, new ideas can also be the product of the adage, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. This aptly describes the time when the world was hit by a pandemic and we had found ourselves in a position where all our physical activities were suspended. We had no other choice but to come up with a solution to keep the education initiatives running. We resumed our training classes on online apps and conducted Staff meetings more frequently than ever to understand the issues that we were facing and come up with solutions to resolve them. Tell us about the most difficult case you have worked on. In all candidness, it is important to let this out that genuinely, everything is difficult before it comes around to becoming easy. It is only in the beginning when we come across a supposedly insurmountable task that we feel uneasy because we do not know what combination of intellect, effort and resources it would take to accomplish it. However, once that is done, in hindsight everything seems achievable. A decade ago when I reached out to companies to hire Deaf workers, it seemed like a futuristic, if not impossible idea by most. Many discouraged me and advised me to stick to conventional job roles and opportunities for them. However, after years of efforts, today it is more likely that one walks into a mall or restaurant and ends up encountering a Deaf salesperson, cashier or crew member. Recently, when the pandemic hit us and the lockdown was announced, we found ourselves in an unprecedented situation. We were clueless on how to contribute positively despite the gloomy, unforseen times. However, with zeal and determination we began online skill training classes conducted in sign language for Deaf students across the country. Challenges of technology transition, network connectivity and financial burden were tackled head on. Students stuck in villages and cities were undergoing mental health deterioration and we started online counselling as well. With each passing day we made this make- shift arrangement more and more professional with every improvement. Recently, 3 months of training got completed and this difficult phase of the pandemic became synonymous with training and job placement for our students. We celebrated with a virtual graduation ceremony with the realisation that nothing is difficult if you set your mind and heart on the right path. What kinds of problems do you like to handle? Can you give us an example of how you handle them? I don’t believe that we get to choose the challenges that fall in our way. If that was the case, we wouldn’t ask for challenging times at all probably. So, I don’t detect or resist any kind of challenge. However, I do choose the intention behind solving problems which are to empower lives and bring about a change. I am working in the social development sector and I am committed to resolving the problems and issues faced by the SHI community. This may range from personal, professional, and familial issues to hearing their criticism of my initiatives for feedback and constantly coming up with new ideas to promote their sustainable livelihood and uplift their status in society. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

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I feel most of the time playing and spending time with friends ease my pressures. < All Interviews Prabhu Velusamy Founder and CEO Entrepreneur We as Victorytales believe that life without motivation is like we are sitting in a dark room with lots of fear inside. This time we met with a self-motivated person named Mr. Prabhu Velusamy, who has the most admirable qualities and grew as not to withdraw his decisions, and accepted all the challenges which came his way. He is self-motivated, an inventor, who works with self-introspection, Mr. Prabhu Velusamy, Founder & CEO of “Greenstan Technologies”. At one time Mr. Prabhu Velusamy’s dream of becoming inventor faded, when he was not selected in the final round for getting funding to support his invention by some people who were selected through political ways. That was the only time when he decided to take a decision by motivating himself to fulfil all his needs and dreams by starting his own company “Greenstan Technologies”. Share this Interview: Know more about Greenstan Technologies Greenstan Technologies is an Electrical Engineering Firm based in Renewable Energy and was established in 2019. With an emphasis on leadership and collaboration, its talented team of engineers works hard to deliver high-quality solutions. Greenstan Technologies promotes innovative ideas that enhance the future, through a variety of engineering services, it uses the latest technologies to improve the way our communities run. The talented team of Greenstan Technologies serves its clients across various sectors with its practical engineering services. On inquiring from where did the idea to start something like Greenstan Technologies came from and requested him to tell us about his background and his journey as an entrepreneur, Mr. Prabhu Velusamy apprised that; My journey to entrepreneurship began after I graduated from college. At that time I was a young Inventor, aiming to bring my invention to the people. My life as an inventor has never been easier. This is because there is not enough awareness about patents and inventions in our country. At the same time, my family was expecting income from me. I was defeated in the final round by some people who had been selected political ways to get fund opportunities in many places. As my dream of becoming an inventor faded away, after a few months I asked myself a bold question. Why did I not start my own company? I can make my invention myself and sell it and my income also will improve. It's only solution fulfills all my needs and dreams. Getting me into that position was not easy. It was new to me to plan and act accordingly in advance for each day to come. Whatever you do in advance, some days will be better than anticipated, but many days will end badly. My experience during the invention helped me recover from this. Because during my invention I experienced a lot of failures and dead-end results. Every day I will meet new people and new characters. Failure teaches me how to overcome that problem. On inquiring from Mr. Prabhu Velusamy, why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? He explains that; I am of the opinion, I am not born to live like a machine by revolving around a fixed sphere, then studying, earning, and living a family life. But I wanted to live one step above the normal person. and If I do so then no one can destroy or damage my reputation. I always wanted to be an icon. Ultimately by opening a venture titled Greenstan Technologies, I made my dream come true and helped my clients to provide them quality service under one umbrella of Greenstan Technologies. How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in? I don't know how others choose their suitable industries. Some prefer market-specific business, and some prefer according to the capital as well as profit return of the industry. But I chose this field which is related to my invention and feeling satisfied while doing what I know well. It will give job satisfaction whether we earn more money or not. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation? To be honestly speaking, my source of motivation is my knowledge of my invention and I think I am at the beginning of my entrepreneurship. but I feel whenever I will be in a bad situation, there will be sleepless nights. But at the first light of the next morning whatever happens will be tackled with the motto that "life has to smoothly move forward". So I always believe that there are not only 1(one),2(two), 3(three) chances but Infinity i.e nth chances are lined up for me and whatever I have to do will be an outcome of my deeds and I have to face those problems with courage and my knowledge Tell us about the uniqueness of your startup, please; My start-up is unique because it is based on full inventions and future technologies. Because people always want innovation and new things. They like to upgrade. so Greenstan Technologies is a perfect match for inventions and technologies. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? I handle the pressure and manage stress in my own way. I feel most of the time playing and spending time with friends ease my pressures. Because whenever we are with our friends we completely forget all the problems. What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person/start-up? Uniqueness of my start-up. In business, the uniqueness of the work is a key factor. Whatever you create, sell, and do, people are always eager to know what novelty you are using. In your opinion what are the keys to success? What field we choose is the key factor. We should Choose the field which gives us satisfaction. To achieve the objective for a successful business we should work out the Strategy and do hard work. We have to make goals and targets and apply strategies to achieve those goals and targets. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? I want to advise everyone who wants to be an entrepreneur that they should go with your dreams, be bold, and never lose your confidence. Don’t forget to learn new things. There will be always a second chance, grab that chance, and become a successful man. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

We don’t publish articles arbitrarily. We follow a strict set of rules and guidelines. Every article has to provide value and tangible insights and so it’s thoroughly reviewed by one of our editors or external reviewers before it gets published. Not every article survives the process. We’d like to draw your attention to something that might not be obvious to most and that has been the foundation of VictoryTales – An Online Inspirational Portal for over years. Every article published on VictoryTales (https://victorytales.com) has to fulfill certain criteria: quality of content is important to us, and our job is to advocate for and protect the interests of our readers and the design community. Hence every article is reviewed and has to receive at least “three” positive reviews to get published. Legal Publishing Policy Last Updated on: Sunday, 18 February 2024 We don’t publish articles arbitrarily. We follow a strict set of rules and guidelines. Every article has to provide value and tangible insights and so it’s thoroughly reviewed by one of our editors or external reviewers before it gets published. Not every article survives the process. We’d like to draw your attention to something that might not be obvious to most and that has been the foundation of VictoryTales – An Online Inspirational Portal for over years. Every article published on VictoryTales (https://victorytales.com ) has to fulfill certain criteria: quality of content is important to us, and our job is to advocate for and protect the interests of our readers and the design community. Hence every article is reviewed and has to receive at least “three” positive reviews to get published. Hidden advertisements VictoryTales is a professional and independent online publication. Neither our advertisers nor our partners are influencing our content or editing process. Exceptions are labeled as “Sponsored Articles”, which are written and edited in cooperation with our sponsors. These articles still go through our editorial review process, including technical reviews, before they get published. With sponsored articles, we obviously act in the best interest of our readers and protect their interests and trust from subjective, biased, or skewed statements. Sponsored articles are mostly hands-on tutorials dedicated to specific applications and technologies, but will never be product reviews or press releases. Content Quality control system We have a thorough quality control system in place and we make sure that the article respects the rights of authors, designers, photographers, and developers. The rules listed below are crucial for all articles published here on VictoryTales. We work very hard to follow all of these rules as best we can; they explicitly guide our editing, writing, and communication. Publishing Policy & Rights We don’t publish press releases or any other public relations (PR) content. We don’t have any hidden advertisements. All advertisements are marked as such, including Sponsored Articles. We don’t participate in any kind of affiliate marketing. We don’t influence the opinions of our writers or contributors and do not prompt them to tailor their work to fit our personal interests, objectives, or opinions. No donated products as prizes On VictoryTales, we never use donated products as prizes for our contests and giveaways. We don’t participate in any kind of partner-linking system. Links in our articles are not for sale. We never place links as favors to business partners or any third parties (except the "About Us"-page). We respect the rights of authors, designers, photographers, and developers. We would never publish links to illegal sources that reproduce the work of others. Updating Contents To make changes/update contents in their respective published article kindly email us at interview@victorytales.com . Clients can make changes/update contents in their respective published article within 7 working days from the time it's been published live on World Wide Web Network free of cost. If client wish to change/update content post 7 working days, sum of $4.31 (320 INR) will be charged. After making the payments, clients can make changes/update contents of their respective published articles within 72 hours from the time successful payment. You may contact us. Questions about our Publishing Policy should be sent to us at: info@victorytales.com

I believe that Customer Relationship and its satisfaction are among one of our main focus as a strategy and it is worth nothing... < All Interviews Shouvik Sarkar Founder and CEO Entrepreneur As part of our pursuit to identify young entrepreneur and share some of the compelling stories from the startup, we introduce Mr Shouvik Sarkar who is founder & CEO of the SARK Technologies. The services extended to various domains, platforms and technologies. Share this Interview: Know more about SARK Technologies The company provides services on the basis of requirements of various set of industries. The products of SARK Technologies were designed to provide the clients to enter a new digital era in which manual computation is of least use and software takes up the jobs.The company provides services on the basis of requirements of various set of industries. The products of SARK Technologies were designed to provide the clients to enter a new digital era in which manual computation is of least use and software takes up the jobs. Where did the idea to start something like this come from? Please also talk us through your background and your journey as an entrepreneur; I had been in the software field since my graduation back in 2011. From that time I always thought to provide something to the world in the field of software and other technologies. That made me think to start a company from that time. This idea had just started with this firm just stepping into the field of delivering, understanding business but there's a lot of ways to go. I worked in Wipro which gave a brief idea to me about corporate. So as a start-up and a big dream we still have a lot of ways to go. As an entrepreneur in spite of capabilities, there are a lot of challenges most important if which is to make the others understand your capabilities. Just started around 6 months this is the biggest challenge but the best way to deal with it is to build a portfolio. And that's what we are mostly looking into now. Let's see the better part of the business comes how quick. Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? On enquiring about the selection to become entrepreneurship over the job, Mr. Sarkar expressed that the freedom of delivering and expression of our ideas to the emerging world and not to stick to only other's ideas, he has chosen to add his contribution as well. How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in? Being a Software expert It's always interesting and amazing. In my eyes, the Software companies and its working are always at the highest esteemed job and the one I have i.e TheSarkTechnologies is soothing to my taste which I like the most. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation? Like a young entrepreneur, it too gets me out of bed in the morning to begin my day with to work for my company which I like the most and obvious, To earn money to invest later in more advanced technological researches. What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far? The uncertainty about the future, Generating financial resources, Regulation and compliance, competencies and recruiting the right talent for enhancing my technological products and especially to satisfy different types of customers are the biggest challenges/Obstacles besides making others understand your capabilities Tell us about the uniqueness of your startup; It's based on delivery. Our main goal is not to earn money but to provide the world with something new and amazing which we always look to stick throughout. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? Well sometimes getting off work releases a lot of stress. That's what I implement. Besides this also try to maintain a calm demeanor no matter what happens in my life and try to stay focused on what needs to be accomplished besides stay positive to achieve the desired goal. What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person/startup? Though Strategy is a set of lofty ideas, ungrounded in reality however I believe that Customer Relationship and its satisfaction are among one of our main focus as a strategy and it is worth noting, that had been a lot beneficial in our journey so far. In your opinion what are the keys to success? In my opinion, the keys to success mean a Clear cut goal which I need to know exactly to built my company with confidence and faith in myself. Besides this, I feel Motivation, Dedication and the freedom to get started can always lead to Success. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? Just be focused, bad times can come, so stick to your goals and if required use an alternative plan to overcome difficult situations but always learn from your successes and failures. Bad times can come but continue efforts, dedication, and experience you gain can help get pass by them. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

**It's like an adrenaline in your blood… once there, always there.** < All Interviews Taron Mohan Founder Entrepreneur We as VictoryTales, with our extensive & strenuous efforts in the search for bringing more and more meaningful and inspiring stories from around the world, this time introducing Mr.Taron Mohan, Founder of NextGen, a graduate from the IIT Delhi. Mr. Taron from day one of his career wanted to become an entrepreneur with his strong beliefs in 5 C's. His first 'C' is committed to his project, his team, and the product. Second 'C' is Clarity on his thoughts, objectives, and development. Third 'C' is Collaboration as one can never work alone, build a strong partnership ecosystem. Fourth 'C' is Cash which maintains cash flows as one cannot keep borrowing continuously, and Fifth 'C' is the Conviction that one should have in it. Share this Interview: Know more about NextGen Telesolutions Nextgen Telesolutions brings disruptive creativity and technology innovation to customers, bridging gaps in existing services and targeting the masses to reach the last mile. Including both legs of transactions i.e customer and merchant / agent, the company helps you bridge the digital gap on financial inclusion/digital payments/transit and more. The main products of the company are Secure Banking on Feature Phones, TapNPay on Any Mobile Phone, NFC Readers - Transit and Retail,Merchant POS / mPOS Solutions, Mobile Couponing, Mobile VAS Solutions - SDP and Components, Mobile VAS Solutions. Besides this Nextgen Telesolutions has a "Smarter Smart City" solution, Digital Toll Management Systems,Automatic Fare Collection Systems (AFCS), and Parking Management Systems Where did the idea to start something like this come from? Please also talk us through your background and your journey as an entrepreneur; Having been an entrepreneur from day one of my career, straight after my graduation at the IITD, I want to become an entrepreneur and set up my manufacturing facility. The family help was there, but was asked to be totally independent on my own – a different vertical and 100% on my own. Raising finances, putting together the project and then building my own customer base and product line. The core focus from day one has been : Innovation : be different Maintain the tech edge over competition : always set the benchmarks for the products you make Continue and keep ahead of competition Build on IP and technology : you will remain ahead of competition Build a team of thinkers : you will grow And I always believe in the 5 “C’s” in my entrepreneurial career : Commitment : be committed to your project, your team and the product Clarity : on your thoughts, objective and development Collaboration : you can never work alone, build a string partnership ecosystem Cash : maintain your cash flows, you cannot keep borrowing continuously Conviction : have it in what you and your decisions With the above, my 35+ years of being an entrepreneur have been very exciting, challenging and rewarding in multiple ways : The first manufacturing facility : was the country’s first precision low volume sheet metal fabrication facility and it grew to be the largest facility in India over time. The second venture : a CAD/CAM facility and the first for sheet metal processing, taking drawings direct from a digital drawing to the machine tool path generation – the first in India and again had the major market share in India The third venture : built the base for mobile VAS in India – with the first offerings on mobile VAS and premium billing, we graduated to providing full solutions to telcos / device OEM’s and network providers The current venture : secure banking solutions, and the first in the country for sure, and globally a pioneer in these services. If you see the history, all 4 ventures have been totally different and have learnt the technology, identified a vacuum and a gap in the needs and then fulfilled it with a strong business model supported company. Never been funded, always boot strapped and built a team together here. Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? To keep the mind alive, ticking and living on challenges. It's largely due to the fact that my father also was an entrepreneur and built a highly successful business for himself (again on technology and IP), and he was always my guiding factor on my career. Being an entrepreneur is a challenge and a bug, once you get it, experience the highs and the lows, you cannot get back to a job, where life is secure and comfortable. In a job, you will have challenges and you will overcome them and achieve a lot, but then the satisfaction is in the salary / promotion and recognition. As an entrepreneur, the highs also include : Providing jobs and livelihood to your employees Defining your own roadmap and path in life Being an all-rounder in life – technology, finance, branding, production, team building and more. And achieving a lot more than money / promotions. Life is a lot more than this. Of course, you do have your lows and some of these can be at the edge of life, when everything seems to fall apart and tomorrow seems difficult to cross, but then remember the 5 “C’s”… these are what get you over this and continue the fight. It's like an adrenaline in your blood… once there, always there. What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? The challenge in life has been the driving force… as detailed already, it’s the “high” of achievement – can be anything : A product developed A bugging problem solved A contract closed for which the team has been fighting a lot and working hard on Giving your employees a great working environment Giving your family a well earned and a well deserved holiday Celebrating with your family a personal event And this is what drives me still to keep at work and building new products, addressing new verticals and adding to the technology in the team. What’s your source of motivation? To achieve more and give to everyone what I have : Knowledge : it’s the best gift for anyone, be it your team at work or the family. I keep reading and learning all the time. Product : to give to our customers a new solution / solving an existing bug or a problem or then just simplifying an existing product / process or enhancing quality of output. To think for tomorrow : what next How many hours a day do you work on average? A day is never enough… even 24 hours is sometimes not enough. Of course, you have to balance life between work, family and friends, but then you also need to bring in the fun and physical exercise also there. Life has never been less than a 12 hour day, sometimes even the weekend at work. but then it's always worth it. What is the uniqueness of your startup? It's always different on : The business model : string on the whole concept of generating revenues, and making it a self sustaining model to grow The technology : always building on technology and involving patents, and maintain an edge over competition Innovative : keep thinking on the next development, improvement on current solutions and making life simpler. We have a “mantra” in our whole product design and development : KISS : Keep It Simple for the Stupid If you keep this core line in your thought process, you will always have the innovative edge in your products. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? Taking a break – music / physical burn out exercises or just taking a few hours off work. it helps you break away from the stress and pressure of work. Sometimes, it's simple cooking and can be at midnight also. I cook a lot and never from the book – again, it's straight from the mind, impromptu and experimentation. The dish can turn our either way, edible and enjoyed by all or then also destined for the trash can. But then, this is the same as being an “entrepreneur” here I enjoy sports – and again different activities from the general crowd : Scuba diving The Triathlon Swimming And these are all stress busters. How do you generate new ideas? It's based on the principle of “high spirits” – the days are spent working with customers, the team on development and regular mundane stuff. It’s the evenings which are relaxing or then early morning where the brain goes into overdrive and analyses an opportunity, thinking and then putting together a possible solution. Generating a new idea is quite simple – it’s quite like the PDCA chart, but implemented differently for planning / designing / curating and acting. And then doing the homework properly on the environment, competition, customer needs and finally then evolving it to a final product outcome. You need to be a thinker, keen observer and a constant reader – ideas just don’t come up “out of the blue” Another of my basics here is: The solution has to be a global product, not area specific There needs to be a core business / revenue model to it It has to have a technology edge to it How did you come up with the name for your company?? My basic outline here : The name must convey to the customers / employees what you do It must be catchy – sometimes a “shady” name is better than a straight name. the recall value here is higher It must be simple to pronounce and ideally not more than 2-3 syllables. And then build a logo / brand for the company. What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs? Go ahead, jump into it, but with clarity on what you want to do. Just jumping into Entrepreneurship for the same of giving company to your friends or following the leader is not going to work out. Be prepared for a long haul on getting there, but then don’t plan for short cuts. They will give you a straight “cut-out” in life. Read, think and plan properly. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read

She wanted to start her own venture because she felt she is not that good to fit for office work because of her shy nature. < All Interviews Sanjana Guha Founder Women Entrepreneur At VictoryTales, we always make efforts to bring some of the meaningful and powerful stories from around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. This week, we invited Sanjana Guha for an exclusive interview to know more about her inspiring journey and the way forward. Ms. Sanjana started working as a freelance content writer to secure her pocket money while she was pursuing her post-graduation. It was her mother who inspired her and also her elder sister who supported her a lot. She wanted to start her own venture because she felt she is not that good to fit for office work because of her shy nature. Due to this, she takes time to mingle with people and also fear from office politics. Sanjana’s startup i.e “littletry.com”, basically provides the best content writing services to various firms and organizations. LittleTry provides you with the best content for business and could promote the brand among the larger audience at an affordable price. Apart from this “LittleTry” also has a separate blog page for children. This page is not monetized and has been created purely for the children so that they can showcase their talents. One more thing wanted to apprise our viewers that Sanjana used to provide tuitions to little kids and she found that the children are really very talented however, there isn’t much to tell the world about these talented children. She made up her mind to do something for children and she made a page called “Little Step” where they will not only write, sing, dance but also can do things they are good at. She further apprised that “Little Step” is entirely by the children and for the children. Share this Interview: Know more about Littletry.com On inquiring from Ms. Sanjana Guha, Where did the idea to start something like this come from? Please also talk us through your background and your journey as a womenpreneur; she replied; I never thought to be an entrepreneur or something like that. In a middle-class family, it is quite rare to have such dreams, but I have always wanted to be a writer. My mother and my elder sister, they can beautifully pen down stories and poems. However, due to marriage, due to their everyday office, due to the responsibilities shouldered upon them, they can never go through that path although they had all the potential. I used to write for the student supplement of the newspaper daily, The Statesman. I used to write for “Voice,” it was the name of the student’s supplement. Later on, I started working as a freelance content writer when I was pursuing my post-grads, to earn my pocket money. It was my mother who inspired me and also my elder sister who supported me a lot. After completing my post-grads I started working in a firm as an academic writer, however, due to some problem with the management I had to quit my job and I took up full-time freelancing. While doing freelancing I came across many people, especially students and homemakers, who are looking for opportunities that would help them earn a certain amount and at the same time do the work they are doing. For students their studies and projects, for homemakers, it was managing household chores and the kids. They thought this is a great opportunity for them to learn something, and at the same time earn a certain amount. I also wanted to start this venture, because when I was working as a freelancer I gave many interviews because my father had always wanted me to do a 9-5 job and have a secure life. Hence, I worked in an online web newspaper too, and I understood that an office job is something that I am not fit for. I wanted to have something of my own. However, without the support of my family, especially, my mother, I wouldn’t have been able to start it. Of course, my elder sister and my father helped me a lot in this regard. On inquiring about, Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job? Ms. Sanjana apprised that; I still don’t know that. Maybe because when I had a lady senior I had to leave my job proving the age-old cliché that “lady bosses are bad.” Maybe I wanted to start something of my own so I at least turn out as a good example to many other people, especially to my juniors. Maybe I want to be a leader rather than a boss. Maybe because I am not that good fit for office work, because I am very shy, I take time to mingle with people, I fear office politics. I don’t know how I ended up as an entrepreneur but the truth is I am one now. How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in? I guess post-COVID-19 the importance of digital marketing will increase as they are more budget-friendly than traditional marketing, but their reach to the audience is quite wide. Moreover, in the current situation, people will hire more freelancers who can do their work remotely without coming in contact with any office goers. Hence, I guess the industry will grow in near future, and at the same time, it will evolve a lot with time as well, because today, as we all know, “Content is the King.” What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation? Deadline! Well, LOL, but I fear deadlines a lot. However, I guess, the thought that only a few can achieve their dreams and most can’t because they don’t have that support from the family. Is something that motivates me a lot. I have seen many people’s dreams ruining not just because they haven’t worked hard or something but because they didn’t have the support that will give you the strength to move on. I am one of the very few, who have the support, and I will make the most use of it. On inquiring from Ms. Sanjana about the challenges/obstacles she faced in her journey so far, She explains that; The most important challenge that I had faced and still facing is the delay of payment or not receiving the payment at all. This industry has frauds, like many other industries, and one has to be very careful regarding payments here. Oftentimes, things work on the basis of trust but whom to trust and who actually should be suspected is a very difficult thing to determine. On inquiring about the uniqueness of her startup Little Try, Ms. Sanjana Guha explained that; Well, my startup basically provides content writing services to various firms and organizations. However, apart from this Little Try also has a separate blog page for children. This page is not monetized and has been created purely for the children so that they can showcase their talents. I used to provide tuitions to little kids and I found they are really very talented. However, there aren't many online platforms for them, where they will not only write, sing, dance, and do things they are good at. So, I opened up a page called, “Little Step,” and this is entirely by the children and for the children. My page is still not monetized but if I can ever monetize it, I will make this bigger and create a space where children can spread their wings of imagination, without any fear and hiccups. On inquiring from Ms. Sanjana Guha that How she handles the pressure and manages stress, She frankly replied that; I feel when stress persists, I cry. Tears help me to release my stress. What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person/startup? I guess for me the eagerness to learn new things has been my greatest strength and strategy. It has helped me to improve and grow. There is one more thing that has helped my startup grow and that’s my relationship with my writers. I have never stopped them from moving out and opt for a better opportunity and many people who may have lost hope to do something in the creative field gained courage when they started working for Little Try and then with that experience they also applied to various other big organizations and firms and started working there. I never stopped them from moving out and it has helped me to grow as later on, they provided me with not just good writers but with good clients as well. I guess, all my writers, who have worked with Little Try since its inception, are my strength. I owe them a lot. Being good and kind to the writers is the strategy that has helped me a lot to grow. In your opinion what are the keys to success? Sanjana expressed that each person is different. So, are their doors to success and the subsequent keys. My key to success has always been my passion for writing and loads of stubbornness. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur? Sanjana advises someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur that “Be sure of the fact that nothing will back you out from your dreams”. Meghna Joshi Founder & CEO Sai Poorna Patnaik Founder Shankar Sahai Co-Founder and Director Bhavini Khakhkhar Founder Dr. Ruchika R. Jha Doctor & Public Healthcare Consultant Anand Mani Tripathi Founder and CEO You may also like to read