The 10 Most Influential Business Women to Looking For 2022 by Business Connect

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

Editor’s Note Visionary women leaders steering the way to a better future… ‘Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence’’- a quote tossed by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, on the newage leadership. The quote spoke the most for our latest edition. We have brought to you one of our most-sought after issues that asserts the influence of ‘effeminate’ leadership. The 10 Most Influential Business Women to Look For 2022- has it all! And most importantly, this issue so subtly justifies a saying- growth and comfort are impossible to exist together. This issue is a collective of some inspiring success stories of a few influential business women who defied all the biases and misconceptions lingering across the business world, concerning their leadership abilities. Getting out of their comfort zones, they have walked the path of exponential growth steadily. Our global readership will witness how the leading ladies featured in this exclusive issue have outshone their male counterparts, establishing their prominence in the respective industry. With great fervour and joy in the air, we have multiple reasons to rejoice. One is- our ceaseless quest to improve the magazine standards led us to make some major changes in this new edition to make justice to the new year’s vehemence. We have tried our level best to contribute heavily to the excitement of new beginnings where our efforts will make a huge difference in the lives of our readers. And all the specially formulated stories in this exemplary issue will prove this most effectively. Moreover, the cover page has been embellished by a fascinating profile of a renowned interior designer -Shaunali Nanda- Founder of Sloane Luxury Interiors. What made us highlight her at the forefront is her vibrant personality and inspiring business ideology in everlasting and elegant designs, making her stand out from the crowd. She has a great fervour for interiors that are in perfect harmony and balance accompanied with high quality and style that refers to the classic references of eternal Interior Designs. The whole story is filled with some unique perspectives and insights that are as exclusive as this publication. Hence, read out her complete triumph tale to get to know more about her vision, mission and more. At last, I take off with a sense of gratitude for all the admiration and cognizance showered upon us by our global audience. We will be back with an exhilarating read soon, till then, keep us in the ‘know’ how we are doing via your precious feedback and be extra cautious for your physical as well as mental health for comprehensive growth in any pursuit.

Kajal Dobhal Kajal@businessconnectindia.in

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Business Head ASHISH KUMAR

Creative Director ASHUTOSH OJHA

Creative Team Chandan Sharma | Rajat Pathak Sakshi Negi | Tarun Sharma | Sapna Soni Legal Affairs Mukesh Kumar Human Resources Nivedita Basu Digital Marketing Manager Neha Gururani | Anurag Tiwari

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Shaunali Nanda Director

Page No. 10

Sloane Luxury Interiors A Rousing Businesswoman Leading The Interior Designing Realm www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

CONTENTS

Success Story

Lifestyle

Dive Into The Most Inspiring Success Story of Haldiram

How to deal with office politics

CDM-CONTENT DESIGN MARKET LLP

Of Indian Origin

The CDM Group, a Content Consultation and Content Writing & Marketing Firm Led by Sujata Upadhyay

NATASHA C ACHARYA Born To Inspire And To Empower

Divine Space

Growth

A Rousing Entrepreneur Leading A World-Class Digital Venture

How To Set Up Franchises Business In India

Health

Mouthshut

The Stress Solution: Best Mental Health Chatbot Apps

Zaitun Khan- An Inspiration that Paves the Path for Women Entrepreneurs.

WebXpress

Education

An Innovation Leader And Relation Building Specialist

Higher Education Being Pushed Towards A Hybrid Model Of Teaching & Learning

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Today

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SHAUNALI NANDA A ROUSING BUSINESSWOMAN LEADING THE INTERIOR DESIGNING REALM Gulshan Parveen | Business Connect

Cover Story

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onatella Versace has quoted, “A businesswoman needs a successful mix of design and practicality.” Women have been an inseparable part of the business world as there is no industry left in which they have not exhibited their talent and passion. Gone are the days when females were considered fit for only domestic purposes! Because women of the present times are showcasing their unmatched skills and potential by building marvelous business ventures in different niches. Business Connect has been a witness in the exemplary journeys of these top-notch female leaders in the modern business realm. We have an unmatched history of bringing exceptional tales of inspiring and tremendous businesswomen to our portfolio. And here again, we are back with another tale of growth and success in the world of interior designing-Sloane Luxury Interiors. Our editorial team had a joyful interacting session with the founder and director of the company, Shaunali Nanda. She shared some unknown and interesting facts about her business journey and some valuable nuggets of the business arena as well. Her inspiring and exceptional entrepreneurial journey made us feature her in our exclusive edition-Most Influential Business Woman. We truly hope and desire that this fascinating read will surely inspire the upcoming women entrepreneur out there and will add some value to the lives of our global readership. Shaunali is an outstanding business leader and a sweet-hearted person who has an immense level of passion and enthusiasm for art and design. Throughout the conversation with our team, she revealed that she is extremely inspired by the Mughal art, culture, and ethnicity of design. Having an inborn talent passion towards art and design, Shaunali has completed her graduation from one of the top colleges of DU, SRCC. She told us that she started her beautiful journey by working at Frazer and Haws. After gaining significant experience there, she shifted at Christie’s with David Warren where she gained first-hand experience and expertise in marketing and packaging. Shaunali was always inspired and influenced by her mother’s business ethics and style. When she shifted from New York to India, she decided against expanding her mother’s business venture with a vision to improve the experience of clients. When our curious team asked the founder about her major obstacles during the initial days, she enlightened us by saying, “Globally, I was engaged with and observing the development program. It was doing luxurious show houses rich in immense taste and style. Initially, being a female business leader, I had to overcome the challenge of trust that was the biggest hurdle for me at that time. It’s complex to establish your business on the international level, but your robust willpower and hard work will make it easy for you. Being a businesswoman, people weren’t trusting me as they questioned my capability-but once you perform your best in that first project of yours, everything will go smooth for you.”

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Shaunali Nanda Director

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INSIGHTS ON FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

For an inspiring leader, the definition of success is more than just creating revenue. It’s about creating a positive impact in the work culture and community at large through continuous collaboration and inspiration. Being a charismatic personality enriched with confidence, determination & strong convictions- Shaunali has become a well-reckoned face in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shounali states that women’s participation in the entrepreneurial space is shockingly abysmal because entrepreneurship is the toughest job one will ever do. But, with the current scenario, when more & more women are leaping out of their comfort zones, we are noticing more indulgence of the female populace in the SMEs as founders or C-suit executives. Indian women over generations have beat the odds and figured out a beautiful way to make businesses flourish. She adds that although everything is going seamlessly, we as a society can do even better for them. There is a significant need of providing more financial freedom, training tools, self-confidence, and most importantly, mental health support to females in this generation. Because this whole journey is tough and the propensity to hang up one’s boots at every stage is very high. There is a need to make sure that the majority of women enter the entrepreneurial world. And this is the passion Shaunali wishes to pursue because she believes a healthy and happy woman is the core propeller of a healthy society.

SLOANE LUXURY INTERIORS

Sloane Luxury Interiors is a leading venture in the arena of interior designing, which is relentlessly working towards designing and decorating spaces. The company offers designs that are tremendously elegant, traditional, classic, and modern at the same time. By working with numerous traditional classic and conservative firms, the founder learned and experienced top-notch designing tastes that inspired her immensely. Since she works in the domain of visuals, she got various opportunities of collaborating with distinct artists, manufacturers, and architects and gained as much knowledge as she could. Interaction with media in events o a daily basis also added a great level of perfectionism in her as an artist and nurtured her taste and style. The Sloane team offers complete interior designing services to its clientele with their exclusive four-story manufacturing unit. The team manufactures furniture and other sources worldwide with an excellent blend of fine architects and logistic teams. Shaunali is fond of using classic styles of furniture, fabrics, and lighting. The company works in classic, modern, and contemporary styles by giving interiors that connect one room to another like family. 13

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WORKING STYLE AND EXCELLENT EXPERTISE

Explaining her working style to our team, Shaunali states, “I am very intuitive and agile. I can put rooms together with the furnishing, colors, lighting, and accessories quickly and harmoniously but I do adhere to subtlety, comfort, and warmth above all sophistication. I love the restrained elegance of Neo-Classic homes. I still like the colonial style without the carving with a focus on wood, planning, and layout. I also love a term called “Hollywood glamour” where the interiors were modern and luxurious at the same time with a strong focus on art and lighting. Of course, social media is great-but I always refer to history and great designers who I have admired for their sobriety and sense of complete balance like Billy Baldwin, Lorenzo Mongiardino, later Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, and Alexa Hampton. I also loved the films of Cecil Beaton, a set designer, and photographer who designed the Ascot scene in My Fair Lady, I loved the work of Vincent Minnelli. I love the sense of style of the homes on Park Avenue and Palm Beach that have so much character and warmth. Moreover, I love the great Hollywood old films and draw so much inspiration from them with their beautifully decorated homes-and sets, costume, and lyrics, like the last scene of Daddy Long Legs, the wedding gift room in high society, the beautiful English manor in the Grass is greener, Art Deco London in Indiscreet. I look at everything while I am driving silently whether here or abroad. I look at the building I like and then it is period and who the Architects were. Looking at these buildings teaches me proportion which is so important in this business niche. I always look at restaurants, hotels, and shop environments and how they make me feel, I listen to people when they talk as they have more knowledge than me and listen to the clues that they are giving. I like to see important interior design projects like the Lowell hotel in New York and sit and observe. I always go back to the work of tastemakers that have lived through different times as they always have the answers. I meet every vendor who comes to show me something that they are doing, it’s very important to know what people are making. Above all, I try and make everyone feel good and improve myself as a person every day, which gives you the most clarity. When this trait finds it in design-you are made.

PARTING WORDS

I work the best alone! Make your client believe in you. Money is not everything but your work is. Work honestly, own up to a mistake, and rectify it. Always give a client what they love. I think I had many challenges that were sudden but long-lasting, I made many sacrifices and had to walk away from many things that I loved and had to learn to adjust to many situations and people suddenly, lots of these moments were alone. I had to wake up the next day carry on, and the best way to do this was to love what you do and do it well. I got so engrossed in my work and had such great and nice people to work for Juliette Simpson and Mark Coats, whom I truly miss working for, who taught me so much. I saw so much and met so many people. God gave me this to heal and today, I have taken all this experience that I have put into Sloane Luxury Interiors to let me do what I love. I just want to give a straight message to the readers be patient! Money is not everything, look at the big picture not the small, look ahead not what’s near you. Less is more, when you look at an interior start looking in, don’t be afraid, design what you like, it is not permanent, you will learn more and grow more, it will get better, be yourself, design should be your identity, take elements from your roots, elements where you are living. Appreciate Indian weaving as much as Japanese pottery, find beauty in everything, promote your work rather than yourselves, make a room beautiful so they can make owners feel beautiful.

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siliconindia

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 3 | Issue 5 December 2020 INDIA

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August 2019

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

Success Story

DIVE INTO THE MOST

INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY OF HALDIRAM This is one of the most inspiring stories for the youths and the upcoming generation. Everything is possible with dedication and effort will take you towards success whatever obstacles come to life, you have to be focused on the goal and do every possible work to make it possible and finally achieve an objective like Haldiram’s. The founder hails from a small village Bikaner where he used to sell Bhujia in his father’s shop in 1918, but now Haldiram’s has become one of the famous International brands with annual revenue of Rs 7,130 crores, selling its products globally. Needless to say, today it has become a multibillion-dollar company. Its story inspires us to always look for the positive side of every incident to reach the pinnacle of success. Whatever, happens in life happens for good.

Keeping that in mind, let’s

DIVE INTO THE most inspiring story of Haldiram

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THE INITIAL PHASE OF HALDIRAM

The founder of this company Ganga Bhishen Agarwal was initially called by the name Haldiram Ji and at the beginning, he used to work in his father’s shop and sold namkeen bhujia as instructed by his father and aunts. Haldiram’s marriage was done at an early age but on the behest of his wife, he had to leave the house because of some household quarrels in 1946, Haldiram started his first shop and started selling Bikaneri Bhujia, but this time he brought some changes to its flavours and to make it tasty to eat he added little moth flour in its making and also made it thinner to make it little more crunchy to eat and as just by his idea the namkeen was loved by so many new customers and his sales increased by day by day. He kept on experimenting with the taste of bhujia and by its success Haldiram when goes to attend the marriage in Kolkata there he gets an idea of opening a shop and by this initiative, his first step towards the branching of his Bikaner Bhujia business is started and bypassing of time his business started to spread in parts of Nagpur and some of the capitals and by this success, there is no looking back took place in his life as his business started to grow more and more and he gets enough profit from it by attracting so many customers towards their shop and by here the success of Haldiram started.

HALDIRAM SHOP’S EXPANSION

For any business to spread in the market and stick its root in the market its expansion is very necessary to build the business so after Haldiram business expands in Nagpur and Delhi, the business also expands in many more cities of India as well as foreign countries. The Haldiram company has mainly appeared in three areas Kolkata, Delhi, Nagpur in comparison to the other two the Delhi business growth rate is highest. In 1993, the company exportation of products spreads to more than 50 countries including the US. And in 2003, the multicrore company get the certification of the most trusted brand industry and the company started to work in all four directions of the country mostly acquire the entire northern region but little weak in the

southern region which is not come in that success mark even after doing so many attempts in comparison to other three regions in this process of success their family support and helps is always there they are to lead and key people of the company who works a lot to bring the best in the quality of every product. In 2017, this company got a tag of countries largest snack company and left many domestic and international companies behind and comes as India’s largest snacks company.

HALDIRAM REVENUE

The revenue of the Haldiram business is INR 7,130 crore in a year and is more than the total revenue of both McDonald’s and Domino’s. The Haldirams product quality and taste itself lead the business towards growth because no advertisement and promotions are done for publicity of the product. • Type - Private • Founder - Ganga Bhishen Agarwal • Headquarters Nagpur, Maharashtra, India • Industry - Food • Revenue – INR 7,130 crore (US$950 million) (2019) • Founded - 1941

HALDIRAM PRODUCTS

and the company also started its outlet restaurants in Kolkata, Noida, Delhi, Nagpur, and Pune. It is called Haldirams, an Indian snacks, sweets and restaurant company. Owing to the taste and variety in food products, the customers buy its product due to which the company is benefitted a lot. Many more products are yet to come in future also as the company keeps on practising and always ready to bring some new variety with a little twist in its flavour.

OBSTACLES COME IN THE PATH OF THE SUCCESS OF THE HALDIRAM COMPANY

Every success has its ups and downs and success cant be achieved in one day it takes many sleepless nights and it also takes time and effort the way of success is never be smooth just like that this company also have to go through many challenges like in the year 2015 when ban in Maggie occurs at that time many products of Haldiram is also banned by regulatory of food authority that brings lost in the profit of the company and 2015, FDA of India after several tests gave the Haldiram company a clean chit and after that company take an initiative to tie-up with companies and it also provided food facilities to the passengers in partnership with Indian railway and by that the company success rate again comes in places.

Haldiram’s business firstly started with Bhujia Namkeen but later on by seeing the tremendous success of the company it started to include many more products like Haldiram sweets (Rashgula, Basin Laddu, Gulab Jamun) snacks (Aalo Bhujia, Khata Mitha, Namkeen, Peanuts), Papadum, Cookies, Pickles, Chips, Dry Fruits,

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CDM-CONTENT DESIGN MARKET LLP

The CDM Group, a Content Consultation and Content Writing & Marketing Firm Led by Sujata Upadhyay Puja Bhardwaj | Business Connect

Through my years of curating content, all I can say with absolute certainty is that if one understands who the target audience is, and how the content is supposed to influence the target audience, then the inspiration factor is simply the artistic expression through which it is conveyed. Sounds simple enough, but it does take a long time to master and the key is to not take the artist out of the content writer!

SUJATA UPADHYAY Founder, CDM-Content Design Market LLP

I don’t say content is the king, I say content is the base for a long-lasting, impactful marketing strategy. It has the power to build credibility for your brand, attract, engage and create a loyal customer base for you.

igh-quality content has become the heart and soul of digital marketing today. But this fact was understood three years ago, by far-sighted visionary and marketing enthusiast, Sujata Upadhyay who has endeavored to create a Curated, Coherent, and Compelling content solution, The CDM Group. An enthusiastic entrepreneur and content marketing specialist, Sujata Upadhyay holds extensive experience in working in different positions in different companies, over 17 years. As a marketing expert and a content specialist, she has deep experience in writing on Technology, Startups Growth Story, SMEs, Retail, eCommerce, Education, Healthcare, and Marketing. Consequently, the CDM Group has been helping clients create compelling content via various content strategies that result in better brand positioning and engaging prospects, which ultimately carves a path for the readers to reach the brand. THE PRIME MOTIVATION BEHIND THE CDM’S INCEPTION The motivation has always been to produce better content. Sujata has worked in marketing and the lead generation space for over 13 years. Dealing with global clients and industries, she intrinsically understood how strong and persuasive content affects lead generation and more importantly, learned to apply those changes to the content itself. Over time, she has gained expertise in how exactly one should quantify content into its composite components from the perspective of marketing. This process can be gradually applied to other business verticals as well. Present-day, CDM is at the forefront of content consultation and has developed expertise on a wide variety of content. In fact, CDM’s mastery over various types of content also syncs very well with the boom in startups as they require assistance in all their facets

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of content. In fact, they work with the Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration - CIBA Mumbai, and SpringUp Capital, 2 tech incubation centers to assist their start-ups with content consultation services. DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS & RECURRING PROBLEMS RESOLVED BY CDM GROUP The differentiating factor of CDM, which also gains them an edge in content consultation, is simply their ‘Right Fit’ Approach. At CDM, this is accomplished through thorough research, inspired writing, and perspectivism. This is basically what sets CDM apart from all the competition. The recurring challenges in content that CDM manages to resolve for their clients are: • Managing content from the perspective of the ROI • Creation of content that gives allowance for growth • Perspectivism DEVELOPING WITH R&D R&D is one of the major aspects of the business operations at CDM. Our research is the reason the team at CDM is a cut above the competition. It is only through extensive R&D that CDM is able to step in the shoes of the clients and understand exactly what they wish to convey and how. In fact, CDM’s emphasis on research ensures that the team writes and curates content for organizations as well as individuals. CDM takes pride in creating content on behalf of their clients and not as themselves, and that’s only possible through extensive, exhaustive, and comprehensive R&D. THE INSPIRING FACTOR The inspiration factor for CDM varies in accordance with who is the individual or individuals who are reading the content that they are curating. Sujata says, “there is a difference between writing a novel and writing for a brand to promote them. The latter needs to create content that attracts the reader, engages them and convinces them to take an action. A clear action-oriented objective for the desired results” THE INDUSTRIAL SWINGS & TECHNOLOGICAL INCLUSION AT CDM Sujata unequivocally states, “There is an amazing shift from unknown to informed to opinionated to unknown

again. This time the volatility has created opportunities for content consumption. The CDM team is striving hard to reap the benefits of developing a conscious competence.”

not even have to downsize their business, rather “We multiplied on all fronts - new joinees, more and more clients, new cities where we expanded - so fair in all aspects”.

Being a digital age firm, CDM Group employs multiple technologies to assist in its functioning as an organization. However, this skill is more human than anything. Being able to weave the right, domain-specific words to create the impact that a brand wants on its target audience cannot be automated using technology. It has to have knowledge mixed with writing experience and exposure that is enhanced by leveraging on technology.

In fact, the company grew very well and made profits through all of it. The way CDM looks at it is that if the pandemic could not stop or slow them down, in the post-pandemic environment the sky is indeed the limit! Besides, content is now in everything, and given their survivability and ability to thrive even in the most challenging of times, the team at CDM does justice to the statement, “Driving business performance, even in the toughest times!”

CDM team is still an artistic endeavor that is simply bound together by technology. So the technology only assists in the running of their business, for the rest, they rely on the art within, and this is truly a revolution in the business of content creation.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR In mid 2020, CDM was a 6-people team and now a 17-people team. The growing team size speaks for itself. Being listed in the Top 10 Startups in Pune, 2021 to work for is another big milestone that the CDM Group has achieved in an enviably short span of time.

THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CDM’S CONTINUOUS PROGRESS Our team is the key driving force behind the seamless progress we have made. Right from freshers like Bhagyada and Tanya who have turned out to be great writers and responsible individuals, to writers like Afshan who has grown in the organization and is now indispensable in managing the content team. Then there is Kapil, who heads the social media and SEO team, Vijaya the designer who grew with us. One common factor is that they all have in them is the urge to learn and be accountable. Further, Sujata apprised, “We pride ourselves on our excellent retention rates. None of our team have quit because we believe the primary resource which makes our company stand out is the team. Considering that we treat content like art, our entire team is carefully chosen for their dedication, creativity, and professionalism.” DRIVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE TOUGHEST TIME! “To me and to our team, COVID-19 was not the bogeyman it was to other traditional businesses - rather we are glad we could help other businesses”, shared Sujata. Sujata and her entire team took COID-19 as a challenge that if they can surmount it would mean that very little could stand in their path to success. CDM saw growth within the ambit of the pandemic and did 21

SUJATA UPADHYAY’S TAKE ON EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES As Sujata succinctly puts it, “I don’t say content is the king, it is the most basic element in building a brand. It is the base for a long-lasting, impactful marketing strategy. I believe that the market is heading towards an exciting future for content where it, in itself, is an entire vertical within which companies shall encompass the various perspectives such as marketing, branding, sales, websites, AVs, VOs, blogs as well as articles through which it can be effectively disseminated.” INSPIRING WORDS FROM THE VISIONARY Sujata’s mantra that she would like all budding entrepreneurs to know - To be successful in this dynamic market, it is important to value add. What is it that you can offer to your customers that no one else can? This is the question each one of us should ask ourselves, daily, so that it keeps us on our toes to thrive to get better and more innovative. The same applies to each employee, employer, professional connections, and so on what is it that you have, that no one else can replace you. Sit with this thought as long as it takes for you to digest it, and question yourself daily.

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The 10 Most Influential

Business Women

to Looking For 2022

VINI RUKHANA

A Rousing Entrepreneur Leading A WorldClass Digital Venture Kajal Dobhal | Business Connect “A woman who walks in purpose doesn’t have to chase people or opportunities. Her light causes people and opportunities to pursue her.” No doubt, women at present are giving a surprise to those societies who used to consider them fit for only house chores. There is not a single domain left where women haven’t exhibited their skills and potential. Female entrepreneurs are revamping the business realms with their innovative and exceptional point of view. And the team of Business Connect has been putting in their best efforts to identify these great leaders and to introduce them to the world. Here again, we welcome our global readership with this fascinating tale of a rousing entrepreneur who is influencing the entire feminism with her entrepreneur skills.

Our editorial team had an interesting and joyful session with Vini Rukhana, Director of one of the leading ventures in the digital realm-Divine Space Digital Technology. She shared some valuable nuggets and numerous interesting facts about her entrepreneurial journey with us that we are keen to spill in this particular read. Her inspirational journey and top-notch leadership qualities made us feature

Vini Rukhana Director

her in our exclusive edition“Inspiring Women of 2022.” We truly hope and desire that this read will add some extra value in the lives of our global readership and will motivate the upcoming business enthusiasts out there. Introducing us with her initial journey, Vini affirms, “The desire to create something on my own and through my efforts acted as a driving force that instigated the need to become an entrepreneur in me. Coming from a business family, it is very easy to join the business of either my father or my husband. But I wanted to carve a niche for myself independently. I was determined to create a name for myself through my efforts. I never wanted to be an extension as is usually seen in the Indian scenario, where you are constantly compared in your looks, behavior, and achievements with your family.” We asked her to explain to us her journey so far and she replied by saying, “Well I began my undergrad in Arts, then went overseas to complete my education in Psychology-and

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returned to India to join Lowe Lintas, one of the biggest ad agencies in India to explore the creative side to me. My stint with Lowe Lintas made me sure that this is what I wanted to do, but in my way. Divine Space design was born out of this dream to carve a niche for me. Psychology taught me how to deal with people, colors, my agency experience taught me design, marketing, client servicing and I kept accumulating knowledge and then ventured to make it on my own.” The company was initially dealing only in the Real Estate realm but, in the year 2014, the team expanded their business into other realms, including Digital Technology, providing turnkey Digital Solutions to key clients and Designs, which included every kind of designing and Social Media Management.

AN INSPIRATIONAL “SHENTREPRENEUR”

Explaining her perception of women’s involvement in the entrepreneurial space she affirms, “Being inherent multitaskers, I think we can juggle our work quite efficiently. Playing multiple roles in our personal life of daughter, wife, mother, sibling, friend, automatically extends to the workspace. I lead an all-women team and keep

encouraging them to grow in their jobs too. Today you see women entrepreneurs doing so well across the world in every possible industry and I am truly inspired by their story and believe, there is enough place for everyone to succeed. Also, the factor that most contributed to my success journey is a supportive husband for sure. He is always egging me on whenever I am unsure or concerned. Kudos to my in-laws and parents too. They always rise to the occasion when it comes to pitching in with their support whenever I need it. My parents raised an independent girl child and I think this goes a long way in making me what I am today. I was taught early on to share my opinions and to take responsibility for whatever I did, right or wrong and today I feel it is what empowers me most.” Shining some light on her leadership style, she told us that she follows a friendly style to lead the organization. She always provides an immense creative space to her team that encourages them to discuss different ideas. Vini always tries to be there for her employees and never cut their wings and make them free to learn on the job.

Vini Rukhana Director

WHY DIVINE SPACE DIGITAL & DIVINE SPACE DESIGN

To differentiate itself from other competitors in the market, Divine Space Digital Technology and Divine Space Design is putting its utmost effort into perfection and detailed research. The Director always makes sure to be available 24X7 for the employees throughout the organization and that’s an edge the company has over others. Vini affirms, “I believe my ability to explore opportunities in our areas of work is an added advantage. We never say no to any opportunity. Instead, we have an interesting story to tell. During my Godhbharaie, I designed the first e-invite by the Agency, with the birth of my child, we created birth announcements and that gave birth to our kids-line of stationery and a wedding in the family made us create our own line of Wedding Collaterals.” In addition, she says, “I have an open-door policy which extends to include an open mind too. My team is always free to discuss anything with me. We have ‘staircase breaks’, where we get out of our workspaces, hang around casually with our coffee mugs on our staircase, and ideate. It’s a good break for all of us.”

ACCOLADES SO FAR

The team of DSDT always strives for perfection. Of course, people have to face numerous challenges and criticism in the journey of success-but what differentiates

one from the rest is his or her determination and willpower. Talking about dealing with criticism, the leader states that she always tries to answer the criticism with a positive comeback. “Take it with a pinch of salt and move on,” she says. She further adds, “I am not the kind of person who would dwell on it for long,” which is the best thing to learn from her. Now, talking about the recognitions and achievement of the company so far, she affirms, “We are working on two major projects namely Mumbai International Airport and GMR, Delhi, which have by far been major achievements for us. I believe working on expanding our product portfolio as also adding on to the jobs with our existing clients, and building 23

new clients is also an achievement. Our repeat customers are our greatest validations.”

PARTING WORDS

The company is relentlessly working towards creating new products in its portfolio and is preparing itself for expanding its roots in the entire digital world. Vini adds that there is still a long way they have planned to walk on. Hence, the team constantly bubbles with zeal and keeps refreshing their talented brains with some innovative and emerging ideas. Before signing off, the leader conveys a strong message to all the business enthusiasts out there by quoting the Late President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, “ Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.” www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

Health

The Stress Solution:

BEST MENTAL HEALTH CHATBOT APPS CHATBOT APPS

For people in general or entrepreneurs, chatbots nowadays can be used to treat a variety of psychological issues such as tension, anger, depression, and so on. Psychiatrists may use chatbots to cure these diseases on their own time and under their circumstances.

India has just five thousand psychologists and two thousand professional psychiatrists, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That, even though 5.6 crore people out of a billion in the country suffer from some kind of mental illness. It’s a major issue for which there is currently no solution. In this case, mobile apps and chatbots have emerged as a practical means of providing relief to people suffering from psychological issues, requiring only internet access. Chatbots are applications that allow you to chat in a similar way to how you would in WhatsApp or Messenger. The difference is that there is no person in front of the machine; instead, there is a bot (software robot) that is most likely using artificial intelligence to improve accuracy. Chatbots and smartphone applications are usually available for free. Yes, if you want to use a service that isn’t available for free, you might have to pay a charge. For instance, one-on-one consultation with a counsellor or a coaching service that provides ongoing guidance. The main thing is that you always have a way to deal with www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

depression, despair, anger, tension, and a slew of other popular and serious issues in your own time, place, and circumstances. Every psychological stumbling block is caused by another problem. Sometimes it’s complicated, and other times it’s straightforward. People, on the other hand, seldom talk about their issues with others. Issues with love, problems between husband and wife, workplace problems, and so on. Some people face similar issues as a result of their behaviours, nature, or other factors. Then others are who are confronted with a psychological challenge as a result of a life event. What is the problem with addressing what you find difficult to discuss with human beings with a lifeless computer, mobile app, or a chatbot? This technical counsellor may be contacted at any time of day or night to express your thoughts in private.

using amusing words. It is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is an evidencebased therapeutic technique. Woebot classified three of a user’s thoughts as negative and assisted him in thinking of three other constructive thoughts, according to one user.

iWill ePsyclinic is one such chatbot that can analyse the answers to a few dozen questions to provide an early assessment of what a patient’s issue is, how serious it is, and what kind of help he or she needs. It was created by an organisation that has 35 psychologists on staff, with another 15 professionals available as freelancers if needed. In India, it is said to have 50,000 downloads. It is to be anticipated that since it was created by an Indian, it would have a better understanding of the Indian situation. He keeps track of his users’ behaviours, behaviour, food, sleep patterns, moods, and thoughts, among other things, and gives them advice as needed. He links them with his psychiatrists when necessary, who continue the recovery process.

Woebot Health is a mental health chatbot created in San Francisco, California. India makes extensive use of it as well. You must first answer a series of questions so that he can get a sense of your mood. The majority of users think it’s a good idea to look into it. He can sense your mood, for example, and if you’re irritated, he’ll try to lighten the mood by

Wysa: your safe space in this difficult time. Joe Agarwal and Ramakant Vempati, a married couple, created this artificial intelligence chatbot. These individuals desired that a solution be sought until the psychological issues were out of control. It, too, is based on clinical behavioural therapy, similar to iWill. It is supported by a team of 25 individuals, eight of whom are mental health experts who may serve as guides or coaches. He grouped the interactions he recorded with millions of people into groups. During these discussions, an effort is made to understand the trend that occurs, as well as the relationship between psychological issues such as tension, anger, and depression, among others. The diagnosis and outcomes of Wysa and other chatbots will become more reliable as the database expands.

Some issues arise as a result of the procedure. Is it true, for example, that the chatbots we think of as inanimate have no one behind them? This means that the consumer who does not tell anyone about his issue is walking here in complete privacy. But who knows what’s going on behind the app’s interface? Discussions with them are aimed at determining who they reach and how they will be used in the future. You’re probably aware that there’s a lot of concern about the abuse of data gathered on the Internet and privacy violations. The second concern is that the information would be misappropriated by a third party. What is the system’s level of safety in terms of keeping them safe? Third, humans are continually expanding their intelligence, expertise, and abilities, but can software that is based on rules keep up with them? The response to the third question is clear: they are currently being used as a connection before reaching a human expert, rather than as a replacement for humans. The creators of the other two challenges assure them that they will be secure. However, in the users’ best interests, independent confirmation of these statements is needed. 25

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

The 10 Most Influential

Business Women

to Looking For 2022

MEGHANA PATIL

AN INNOVATION LEADER AND RELATION BUILDING SPECIALIST Indranil Roy | Business Connect Technology and leadership are the hottest trends in the business world and have a symbiotic relationship. While technology is sculpting a futuristic landscape, it’s also reshaping leadership and giving equal access to men and women. The logistics industry has seen increasing adoption of technology and female leadership. While it is primarily a male bastion, rising automation and innovations are welcoming female entrants. The pandemic has heightened its significance. The rise of e-commerce and new logistics start-ups has opened up a world of new opportunities for leaders to explore. One leader rising to the occasion is Meghana Patil, Vice-President, Analytics and Innovation, WebXpress. She is a young and dynamic leader with a track record of developing cutting-edge solutions to unique business challenges. Our magazine recently had the pleasure of interviewing this leading lady. The following excerpt is a thorough synopsis of the subsequent discourse.

AN ASTUTE INDUSTRIAL PERSONA

Meghana started her career as a business analyst at WebXpress in 2012. In the years that followed, she honed her skills in customer relations and corporate operating models. Her hard work and dedication soon promoted her to lead product development. Following that, she joined Aurionpro and expanded her horizons in consulting and servicing the software needs of LSPs throughout Southeast Asia. After gaining substantial experience, she joined Mahindra Logistics as a strategic alliance and partner manager. She worked with several business partners and suppliers to improve operations through value-added services. Meghana has held positions in product development, analytics, sales, operations, and procurement throughout her employment tenure. Her diversified background has enabled her to analyze opportunities and design solutions. Cutting it short, she focuses on enhancing the business size, customer base, and offerings. “When you seek solutions to business challenges, temporarily ignoring the static foundation and autopilot run routines, you truly start listening and leading situations,” asserts Meghana. Now leading WebXpress’ analytics and innovation team, Meghana sees herself as an entrepreneur, bringing new ideas to the table to build products, redesigning existing offerings, interacting with clients to understand their needs, and collaborating with partners to curate unique solutions. She emphasizes meeting the needs of stakeholders (vendors, business partners, and customers) to simplify growth for everyone involved.

Meghana Patil Vice President - Analytics and Innovation

WEBXPRESS – THE HOUSE OF TAILORED SOLUTIONS

WebXpress is a one-stop-shop for new-age logistics solutions for LSPs from various sectors. Founded by Mr. Apurva Mankad (CEO), under the banner of ECFY Consulting Pvt. Ltd., WebXpress provides cloud-based mobile solutions to 3PL/transporters for managing their transportation, fleet, warehousing, and e-com logistics delivery, regardless of their business volume. Its modules can be integrated into the procurement systems of manufacturers and retailers to plan routes for primary and secondary transportation. Its offerings include - Logicloud (Supply chain visibility), Velocity (Transport & Fleet management), Acres (Warehouse management), and Kart (E-com logistics management). Besides these modules, the firm provides a control tower showing real-time data, alerts, analytics, advanced reports, and dashboards. WebXpress takes pride in being an Indian-made solution with international standards. In this way, it sets an example of the www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

government’s ‘Made in India’ initiative for the global market, providing integrated products for managing contracts, bookings, deliveries, billing, and financing. WebXpress is headquartered in Mumbai with a development center in Surat and has regional teams in Delhi, Pune, and Hyderabad.

as men. While the gender disparity has narrowed, there is still a fundamental element that requires a creative solution. She intends to address them through compassionate leadership, innovative tactics, empowering the weaker sections, effective resource management, precision, creativity, foresight, and morality.

WORKING ON A DYNAMIC MODEL

AN AUTONOMOUS WORK CULTURE

As a new-age firm, WebXpress is well aware of and aligned with the increasing technology adoption in logistics. With the radical shifts in business models and rising demands for transparency and online procurement, everyone is shifting to digital models. This forces businesses towards cloud platforms, IoT devices, AI & ML, and other augmenting tools. It enables them to use advanced analytics and data-centric tools for optimization and planning. The generated transactional data is shared with stakeholders, requiring scalable technologies to extract insights from the data clusters.

Driven by people-centric leaders, WebXpress has a flat hierarchy and a matrix-like ecosystem that gives employees a lot of freedom; and having a large team of 100-150 individuals, they emphasize engagement. The company frequently trains its recruits and employees to induce healthy product ideas among teams. However, instead of employees, the company calls them “WebXites.” They took their suggestions and ideas in stride while encouraging them to upgrade their skills and be flexible in switching to additional projects. This keeps the WebXites on a learning curve and enables them to work in cross-functional teams. “Whether a developer or product manager, every WebXite is constantly working on something new and challenging, from new processes to apps, to hardware integration, to even business intelligence,” explains Meghana.

WebXpress places a major emphasis on R&D to stay on speed. They are committed to stakeholders’ success; hence, their product portfolio is constantly updated. Its team comprises techenthusiasts who focus on clients’ underlying challenges and work with advancements to craft qualified solutions. “We’re known for our strong analytics and foresight, which allows us to plan ahead of time to endure any disruption,” proudly asserts Meghana. Their software is customized to adhere to changes in policy, compliance, and the entry of new IoT devices. By doing so, they prevent starting from scratch and reduce the TAT of a solution’s deployment. Moreover, its flexible framework fosters the development of new features faster than any other vendor. WebXpress also works with industry experts and policymakers to assess forthcoming changes and disruptions.

The atmosphere ensures employees’ contentment, paving the way for innovation and sustainable growth. Each WebXite is clear of its roles and aware of the company’s vision and challenges, which keeps them dedicated even without supervision. The teams can address the top management of clients and make executive decisions. Putting it simply, they work like independent leaders, making decisions, sharing suggestions, and getting insights through problem-solving.

THE FRUITS OF LABOR

Meghana’s dedicated stewardship has rewarded WebXpress with diverse growth aspects. It’s at the forefront of the next generation of technology, from mobility to business intelligence, cloud to machine learning. Its client base has increased by 50% so far in this financial year. WebXpress caters to 100+ clients in India and overseas. It serves warehouse management giants like Jeena, Rhenus, and Global Trade; large e-commerce players like Snapdeal; fashion retailers like Madhura (Aditya Birla Fashion), Pantaloons, etc.

MORE INSIGHTS ON MEGHANA’S LEADERSHIP

WebXpress is making new strides on the technology front, and a substantial credit goes to Meghana. She has matured as a conscientious leader, mastering many business facets over the last ten years, but the ride hasn’t been easy. She had her share of struggles that tested her might, but not because she was a woman. Her challenge was balancing personal and professional life and ensuring prosperity in both quarters. Fortunately, she has a supportive family, peers, as well as leaders who constantly guide and shape her into the leader she is for her team and the company. For more motivation and leadership values, she looks up to legends like the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mr. Ratan Tata, and the late Sushma Swaraj and their timeless leadership qualities. She also credits Mr. Apurva Mankad’s leadership, which helped her strengthen her forte.

FEATS TO CONQUER

Regarding prospects, WebXpress is primarily focusing on bolstering its technological fortitude. Meghana highlights that they are on a rapid ascent and are seeing immense opportunities in IoT, analytics-as-a-service, cognitive solutions, etc. Also, they are revving up for the upcoming transformation in Indian e-commerce with the launch of ONDC. “By March 2023, we should reach 3x our turnover and expand our customer base,” forecasts Meghana.

Meghana strives to challenge people’s preconceptions of corporate insignificance as a leader by valuing women from all walks of life and providing them with the same opportunities

The company will be the preferred logistics tech vendor with ready-to-implement IoT devices for diverse requirements, according to the Meghana’s foresight. Green gas emissions, primarily from freight, are also a focus for WebXpress. To address these, it will shortly develop ‘GreenExpress,’ which will redirect 3PLs and shippers to more efficient means.

“

TO ASPIRERS & LEADERS Be curious and a perpetual learner. Not only will it build experience but also confidence to stand firm in any situation. For leaders, it’s important not to polarize power and be gender inclusive with opportunities.

”

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Lifestyle

This is such a frequently asked question. Many of us must have faced office politics once in our lives. Office politics feel like: you are being pressurized and consumed by all the politics that happen in your office. It creates stress and anxiety in their life. Therefore, we will be sharing some tips that can help deal with office politics. In its simple form, office politics is simply about the differences between people at work: differences in opinion, conflicts of interests are often manifested as office politics. It all goes down to people’s communication and relationship. Firstly, we would say that there is no need to be afraid of office politics.

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

FOCUS ON BUILDING A GOOD CIRCLE. In order to deal with office politics, you need to get involved. A study from Sage Journals shows that when someone feels they don’t belong here, their physical health and wellbeing plummets. So, if you are feeling alone or excluded by negative office politics, you need to make new friends at your offices so that if someone at work is the source of the main conflict, it can be dealt with them by being united with your co-workers. The camaraderie at the workplace is as needed as your skill, food, and shelter. In this way, you don’t just increase your productivity but also help you to reach a proper solution. People with bullying tendencies often try to isolate victims, so the more people you have on your side, the less you are to be taken advantage of at work. DOCUMENT YOUR TIME. When you are subject to your colleague’s bad political like taking credit for your work, it’s important not to retaliate. Most of the time, people make a strategy to expose their colleagues or boss in front of others, but this isn’t a good idea. It can backfire. In order to deal with it, you need to have clever strategies, for example, make sure that you document your work thoroughly and let your colleagues and your bosses, or senior know what you are doing have done till now. In this way you can defend your reputation, if your work ethic is called into question by co-workers, then you have a way to prove your productivity. TRY TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND IT RATHER THAN ACCUSING. This is another one of the best ways to deal with office politics. When you feel that your colleges or seniors try to make you look bad or undermine you. Step back and question to yourself; why are they doing that? What could be possibly driving them that has nothing to do with you?

What could be his personal agenda or goal that you know nothing about? Is there anybody else facing the same issue with the co-worker what are you facing right now? If you ask such a kind question to yourself, there are 30 to 40 percent chances, what you are actually facing will eliminate. Because eventually, you will find out that a large part of the stories you are telling yourself are just moving around you, and you are in the centre of the problem. The fact is that you are not part of this problem. The person is behaving against you in a manner that you don’t like has nothing to do with you. It could be anyone in front of you, it’s not personal, it just drives them for a reason they hold within themselves and has nothing to do with you.

people behave and work together and how well they function as a team. Therefore, office politics should be looked at as something that can be reframed into positive, says Williams. While working at the company, one should contribute to a culture that values people and discourage a negative mindset individual. One of the best ways to contribute to office culture is to appreciate others, encourage teamwork and be empathetic to other people, one can create a better work culture for anyone. DON’T TAKE SIDES. In-office politics, it is quite possible to find yourself between two power figures’ arguments. In such a case, you see yourself being thrown around while they try to outwit each other and secure their own place: at any coast of you getting the job done. You cannot get them to agree on a common decision for a project, and neither of them wants to take ownership of the issue; they are afraid that somebody will destroy for any mishaps.

If you haven’t got any answer yet, ask them for a private conversation, polity asks them why they have acted how they did. REPLACE THE CULTURE FROM WITHIN. The culture at any company sets an expectation for how

In such a situation, focus on business objectives and avoid taking a side, even you like one better than the other. Place them for open conversation among others, so that no one will say “I didn’t say that”. By not taking sides, you will help to direct conflict resolution objectively. If your job is a hub of office politics and makes it difficult for your to do your job. You should probably look for other company. Because it may affect your career growth.

Not taking sides also help you to build trust with both parties. 31

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www.businessconnectindia.in ||Vol. March2020 2022 INDIA INDIA www.businessconnectindia.in Vol.43| |Special Issue Edition 5 December

NATASHA C ACHARYA

Born To Inspire And To Empower Indranil Roy | Business Connect

atasha C Acharya is an entrepreneur, designer, curator, traveler, writer, photographer, and handloom, and handicraft evangelist. After a successful 15-year stint in the ITES sector, Natasha moved into the craft sector with a passion to collaborate with craft communities across the country. Her work in the past 10 years has brought Indian handloom and handicrafts from the interiors of rural India into the urban global landscape. Natasha believes that businesses should not be just about creating wealth for one organization but collaborating with communities that impact and improve their lives substantially. Her enterprise is committed to ethical sourcing and paying the artisans a fair price. She works with several organizations that engage people with disabilities, underprivileged women, and tribal groups to produce crafts that secure a source of livelihood for them. She believes in promoting organic, eco-friendly products and encourages sustainable fashion.

To inspire and be the face of change, needs a leader and a team with passion and vision. Here is an excerpt from the conversation we had we Natasha when we interviewed her.

WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND THE ENTERPRISE?

“As younger generations of artisans seek employment in other unskilled jobs, we are slowly losing craft traditions that are age-old and part of a heritage that needs preserving. We are losing our cultural identity in a bid to be a homogenous part of the global citizenry. There are so many examples of craft traditions that have dwindled to a single-family practicing it today, and a few years from now, when the next generation has no incentive to carry them forward, it will be lost to the world.

Her e-commerce enterprise, “Of Indian Origin,” was recently awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

OF INDIAN ORIGIN: A WOMAN LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Of Indian Origin is a women-led social enterprise that works with a collective of artisan-based cottage industries, providing a platform that promotes hand-crafted products made in India to a global audience. They currently work with over 100 artisans and as many craft traditions. Their online store, ‘Of Indian Origin,’ showcases a mindfully curated or co-created product line that articulates cultural identity. It is an effort to reclaim our extraordinary heritage by engaging with an audience that understands the history of these crafts and the need to patronize not just the crafts but the artisan communities that struggle to keep them alive. www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

A solution cannot be achieved without an approach that clearly understands and addresses the challenges endemic to working in this industry, where product quality, production consistency, delivery timelines, and professional business practices need serious process intervention to make it into an organized supply chain business. The idea is to create a model which will provide quality craft that is relevant, build artisan communities that are organized and professional, and create an audience that will engage in long-term and volume transactions. This holds a big potential for self-employment and wealth creation at the grassroots level and truly empowers the community both socially and economically.”

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

“I have always struggled with the question – What’s the story? What was the turning point in your journey? No, I was not sitting under a tree when the apple fell, and I embraced gravity. In fact, I was sitting in my muchcoveted corner office with a view of the woods and the river, 2 large monitors on my desk, pouring over excel sheets, managing a team of 300… when I gave it all up to pursue my long-held dream of working with artisans. I have been travelling since I was an infant, but in the last 20 years, my travels have led me to the most remote parts of the country, giving me an opportunity to live and work with artisan communities, and tribal communities. The woods were there sometimes, at other times a river, and sometimes a narrow lane crammed with people and products, but the corner office was replaced by a chai ki tapri. And while I sat there chatting up with the locals, I would spy merchants on scooters piled high with bundles, their limbs akimbo, barely managing to keep the balance. And while none of them have seen an excel sheet in their lives, their wives are wearing diamonds to the sabzi mandi. I developed a disdain for PowerPoint presentations. I was naïve, I know. Now my life seems to be revolving around Pitch Decks and presentations. Life has a wicked sense of humor. What can I say?

Natasha C Acharya Founding Partner

before admitting me into their inner sanctum. These people were illiterate, but they had the wisdom of the earth. They are so grounded, and so generous. It was a humbling experience. I felt so connected and at ease with them that I was drawn back to them over and over again. That really is my story of transformation that led me to wanting to work with them and for them.

It has been a learning experience, every step of the way. In the early days, pre-selfie days, to be sure, I remember living in places where there were no roads, no electricity, no toilets, no water. You had to walk in the dunes for miles to reach the neighboring village cluster, and would be very lucky if you stumbled upon a camel who was willing to offer you a lift. Needless to say, I soon befriended all the camels in the area. We were on a first-name basis. The locals had never seen a train in their lives. There was no television there. I remember, courtesy of my short hair, the women would actually feel me up to ensure that I was a woman

I have seen this industry transform from the time when the artisan had never travelled outside his village to the present times when they participate in international exhibitions and fashion shows. There may have emerged a few award-winning craftsmen who are doing well for themselves, but the situation for the community at large remains unchanged.

Of Indian Origin’s mission is to disrupt the quantum of impact that transforms the livelihoods of artisans and artisan communities. We plan to do this by bringing in an intuitive technology-driven process and a digital platform that lends structure to a currently unorganized sector. The vision is to make technology and thereby, a global market accessible to even the remotest artisan in the country.” 35

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Growth

How To Set Up Franchises Business In India “How To Set Up Franchises Business In India” It is not always necessary you get a unique idea to start your own business. But it can happen that you have an industry/sector which really excites you, and you truly want to go for it, “you can” by all means go ahead and buy a franchise of that company and be your own boss. India is the 4th largest consumer goods and services in the global market. Setting up a franchise in India is a tried-and-tested approach to starting one’s own venture. An industry like fast food, education, healthcare, the automobile is known as some of the booming domains for setting up a franchise. The franchise business is one of those models that brands have adopted for expansion in India. There are many low-cost franchise businesses in India one can buy it. This is why we will be talking about How to set up a franchise business? HOW TO FIND THE MOST PROFITABLE FRANCHISE BUSINESS? In comparison to startups, franchises businesses have been found less risky because the business model has already proven successful. To set up a franchise business, we recommend you follow these steps. 1.

Find the area that excites your most.

Look for the right franchisor.

Come to an agreement.

HOW TO GET A FRANCHISE BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING? If franchises business really truly excites, then you should explore a multitude of options on the internet. There are thousands of genuine groups in India today that connect interested entrepreneurs with franchise businesses, helping all the way from plan to floor. But, keep in mind making business success lies with you. To get a franchise business up and running, you should be very careful while selecting the right partner, understand the operational and financial expectations and be willing to diligently. Let’s deep dive into the above points to understand how one can value their franchising option.

#1. FIND THE AREA THAT EXCITES YOUR MOST. The key to getting success in any venture is to find out the area of interest. So, our first step would be – make a small list of franchises that really excite you.

“If you have experience in a specific area, that would be great. But not required” To buy a burger king franchise, you don’t need to have experience know making a burger Or a degree in teaching to open a kidZee center. Even if you have a degree or experience, either way, you will be hiring a team with the necessary skills and expertise.

While looking at the franchise option on your list, ask some questions like: “are you going to be equally passionate about the idea for the next 10 to 20 years?” “Are there opportunities for personal and professional growth?” “How does this help people’s lives at a large scale?” By doing that, you will eliminate a few of the businesses option from your list and point you towards the industry that really interests you.

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www.businessconnectindia.in | |Vol. March2020 2022 INDIA INDIA www.businessconnectindia.in Vol.4 3| Special | Issue Edition 5 December

Avishek Singh | Business Connect

Zaitun Khan- An Inspiration that Paves the Path for Women Entrepreneurs. “ I used to be honestly very nervous once I went ahead to create my career all on my very own . I had no idea what the future held, and I had no way of knowing whether my wild ideas to construct a great career on my own terms would ever succeed. And, despite the fact that I eventually work for a billion-dollar company, I don’t think I could’ve predicted that I’d end up here because, unfortunately, countless women, including my younger self, believed that leaders are men.”

This is the journey of Zaitun Khan and her company, Mouthshut. com, India’s leading social network for consumers to review various products and services. When you enter a busy conference, you can count on one hand just the few number of women there. It might be unsettling for female entrepreneurs to discuss business with predominantly male executives. In this environment, women may feel compelled to adopt a stereotypically “male” corporate attitude: fierce,and even demanding. Zaitun, on the other hand, feels that staying loyal to yourself and establishing your own identity are the cornerstones to overcoming preconceived notions.

“ It’s much more difficult for women, who are regularly subjected to scrutinising gazes. I’m sure I’ve battled with ignoring inane remarks in the past. If you are a woman with goals, I want to reassure you that the world is changing and that you have cause to be hopeful. I’ve witnessed the wonderful aspects of that shift, and I believe that if we all choose to participate by giving as much as we receive, we can make the world a much better place.”

Zaitun Khan Director - HR

adds Zaitun

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

With a strong sense of self-confidence and the ability to overcome adversity, Zaitun saw the rising need for businesses to gauge consumer satisfaction. Over the years Zaitun has managed to take Mouthshut.com to a different level. It is a platform where customers can review thousands of products and services and they can be accessed by everyone free of charge. It then becomes easier for customers to make purchase decisions. Simultaneously, Mouthshut provides businesses and companies with a vast archive of reviews to strengthen their services, products and brand recognition. “ We have a vast database at Mouthshut.com, and we have clients from many industries and from all major brands. They invest in us in order to have a real understanding of how their customers feel about their product or service and we show them the mirror of what the market feels. Zaitun attributes her accomplishments to her aunt. Her aunt, she claims, left an indelible influence on her. “ Seeing her take on every work with such elegance and confidence inspired and encouraged me to identify my passion and pursue it. Even when it wasn’t necessary, she could smoothly synchronise every aspect of her life. As a youngster, I used to sit in her office, awestruck by her intelligence while staying modest. My aunt instilled in me the values of dedication, hard work, and social consciousness. One of the motivators for me to pursue a law degree in Criminology and Business was my aunt’s legal experience, which helped me strengthen my HR abilities. I will be eternally grateful to her for teaching me how to be a strong woman.By being committed and loyal to myself and my roots, I have gone a long way emotionally and professionally.” she adds

and motivated no matter what life throws at us, but we must also take time to feel every emotion and monitor our mental health, since it has recently been made abundantly clear that the mind is a temple that must be kept free of unreasonable notions. First and foremost, believe in yourself and work on yourself every day so that you may be proud of who you are.”

She claims that as a woman entrepreneur, she was not spared the critical gazes, and that it is still difficult for women to build a name for themselves in any profession. Nonetheless, she believes that the world is progressing in a favourable direction and that women entrepreneurs have a bright future. The government of India has contributed by lending a hand and fostering a sustainable environment by acting as a catalyst for new businesses to thrive and achieve their objectives.

CONCLUSION “Women with advanced degrees, technical skills, and professional qualifications should be encouraged to start their own businesses rather than working for someone else”, believes Zaitun. “Young women’s untapped skills may be identified, trained, and fully used in a variety of industries, increasing production in both the industrial sector and the nation. Indian women are becoming more aware and financially powerful after overcoming several challenges. Women have been identified as exceptional entrepreneurs due to their ability to strike a balance between work and personal life. These characteristics may vary by nation and sector, but women’s entrepreneurship is vital for the development of any economy, regardless of its size.”

A MESSAGE FOR YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Zaitun advises all women entrepreneurs to be a voracious reader who keeps up with everything from their sector to global political climates and the stock market in general. She feels that networking both within and outside of your sector can help you stay on top of the latest market developments. She further adds, “ There is no such thing as a good or wrong way to live. Perception is the only thing that matters. How you see your vision will determine where you end up. We must be inspired 41

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Education

Higher Education Being Pushed Towards A Hybrid Model Of Teaching & Learning Covid-19 has driven higher education toward a hybrid paradigm of teaching and learning, the same way, just as it has revolutionized our working environment. According to the report by PwC India as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), both teachers and students have a strong preference for blended learning, which combines physical as well as virtual learning through classrooms and online platforms. The analysis, which was titled “Re-Envisioning higher education through digital adoption”, is based on a research of management, staff, and students performed in the second half of 2020 at over 50 central, state, and private higher education institutions to assess the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. It demonstrates that during the outbreak, online degrees and certification courses are gaining acceptance among these institutions. According to the survey, 89% of institutes have integrated technology solutions, however, 64% of management has had difficulty integrating digital technologies. Institutes have been in difficulty as a result of the pandemic’s exceptional interruption of normal operations since its inception early last year. According to the survey, one out of every four institutes postponed regular fee collection to address the financial impact, and one out of every three institutes curtailed capital investment.

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

A 43 percent of higher education institutions undertake online admission tests, with 26% using digital promotion as an entrance method, indicating a substantial shift toward digitalization. Apart from the shortage of a one-stop digital solution for all tasks and the struggle for faculties to keep students involved and motivated, connectivity concerns — only 42% of urban households have an internet connection — are regarded as the main hindrance in the digital journey of the universities. According to the report, 58 percent of students want to take certification classes, while 35 percent want to take degree courses. Sixty percent of students said they would consider pursuing a supplementary online degree from a different college in addition to their present one. Fifty-three percent of students are interested in taking an online course through a hybrid or university-owned platform. As per the study, blended learning is the most successful for 46 percent of professors. While 62 percent of respondents said moving to an online model was difficult, 83 percent believe learners can quickly absorb topics online. Students have the majority of the prerequisites for online learning, and 96% are happy with the current online course delivery.

According to the study, the institutes’ management is actively seeking partnerships with edtech companies.

offline classes were held during the lockdowns, this is primarily the result. We didn’t foresee such a dramatic shift, but the preference for a hybrid, blended model is evident. Over 85 percent of management replies indicate a desire to pursue holistic IT solutions,” he says.

It also states that 82 percent of professors support the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which prioritizes tech-enabled learning, and that 58 percent of institute administrations are ready to execute policy reforms.

Over 47% of faculty respondents agree that online education is the way of the future. As a result of this shift, physical infrastructure and facilities can no longer be the primary criteria for students selecting a college.

Technology adoption had been occurring previously, but the outbreak has hastened it, according to Ashok Varma, leader, social sector development, PwC.

“Softer attributes of an institute, such as placement history, diversity of course curricula, and competent and experienced professors, will be more appropriate now,” Varma adds.

“The hybrid model that has formed is intriguing. Because no

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA

RNI No. : DELENG/2018/76695

www.businessconnectindia.in | Vol. 4 | Special Edition March 2022 INDIA