At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the finest stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited a passionate women entrepreneur – Anshika Srivastava for an exclusive interview with us. She is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Coach, Image Consultant, Soft Skill and Corporate Trainer. Let’s learn more about her exciting journey, background and advice for our growing community.
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Anshika:
We are aware of your contributions to the ecosystem; talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I have been brought up in the folds of the Indian Army and now married to an Olive Green. I have travelled extensively across the country. I have always been a person who loves to meet new people and make new friends.
After completing my MBA in marketing from Mumbai, I was absorbed by Kotak Mahindra Bank, that’s where my corporate journey began and later I moved to the Media sector and worked with corporate giants like The Indian Express and NDTV media.
Being a wife in the Army I have also been very closely related to the NGO AWWA and have made significant contributions in empowering the Woman and have been adequately awarded for my contributions as well
How did you discover your passion in ‘Training’?
Life has given me mixed experiences. There came a time when I questioned myself as to “WHO Am I’. My thirst for more awakened and I thought of enhancing my skills and evolving as a person. That is when I went on to become a Certified Soft Skill Trainer, Coach and Image Consultant.
In due course of time, these initiatives helped me identify the areas of my core passion -Public Speaking and a Personality coach. It was essentially about arriving at a point in life to explore what really resonated with my personality and life choices.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Empowering and challenging the myths, stereotypes about wellness journey to have self-awareness and courage to do their own therapy to live a life of respect, dignity and treat others with the same ethical principles is my drive to work in this field.
I believe in sharing Joy and Pushing my own boundaries. I believe that all people are capable of change because that is the only thing constant in life. It is also important to understand that people are shaped by their experiences and circumstances.
Being a Corporate Trainer and being able to bring about a change in the lives of students and young professionals is what drives me and gives me contentment and a feeling of accomplishment.
What about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Getting great feedback from those who have been inspired through my social media content, through my coaching sessions/programs amps up my energy to deliver more value to them. Seeing shifts in them and in their journey makes it satisfying because I see their success as my success and their breakthroughs as mine.
Being rewarded for my Contributions time and again has kept me going and wanting for more
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
I believe that the one person who can bring about a change in one’s life is the Person himself. You are your own competitor and motivator. So, Self-belief and Self-love are the key ingredients that first help you to move ahead in life. Then comes your family and I feel blessed to have a wonderful one.
A very supportive husband who has always encouraged me in taking the right decisions in life, a true wind behind my wings. I am blessed and proud to be a mother of two adorable daughters and a pet mommy to a lemon beagle.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are a few:
> Self-Belief
> Being mindful of my decisions
> Always being resourceful
> Taking extreme ownership and responsibility for my actions
> Ability to take risks & venture into uncharted territories.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
The motivation to work hard and practice and stay disciplined comes from the desire to master my skill to keep learning something new, and my genuine enjoyment for my purpose. I try to set boundaries which take practice so that I don’t get bogged down by anything.
I schedule a daily appointment for self-care, even if it’s just alone time. I keep a gratitude journal and write five things I am grateful for. I like to read motivational books.
Last but not least when I see my trainees having a moment and I get the privilege of witnessing their achievements of self-exploration through me, it’s the most powerful stimulant I can imagine.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Getting the right opportunity and performing to the best of your capability when you get that opportunity.
To get that opportunity, I present myself as a brand. I prepare myself to give in my best shot at each and every opportunity that comes my way.
The one mantra that I follow and advise to all would be BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!!
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I will say it straight that there are many factors but if you really have to have the key elements then to me these are the ones:
(1) Accepting & Loving myself.
(2) Responsibility for my actions
(3) Standing up for myself
(4) Resourcefulness
(5) Curiosity
(6) Positive Attitude
(7) Taking massive action (execution) with consistency and belief
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
The advice that I would like to share with them is to be grateful that you have got a chance in your life to prove your worth in whichever field you choose. Give in your best and be ready to accept all the challenges that come in front of you because life is all about challenges.
Look at the bigger picture and set your Goals. Once your goals are set all you have to do is focus. Keep short-term goals and thrive to achieve them in a set time period. Give self-feedbacks and keep on improving.
Be your own competitor and strive for more with every step in every aspect. Be limitless.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
