As part of our relentless pursuit to identify and share with our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem, this week we spoke to yet another passionate entrepreneur Dr Raina Khatri Tandon to understand more about her inspiring journey, her vision and the way forward. Dr Raina is a Coach, Mentor, Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Change Enabler and POSH Specialist. She is the Founder and CEO of Right2Rise.
She is an Alumni of EDX Harvard, the USA in Women right & Child psychology under Human Rights. Have been felicitated as Thrive Global 100 Mentors, Mentor at Cherie Blair Foundation, World Hrd Congress-Women in Leadership 2018 Awards & 101Most Fabulous GlobalTraining and development leaders Award2019 as the and also the UN REX Karmveer Global Fellowship Awardee 2019-2020. Dr Raina has represented India at World Women. Summit, 2020 and is also a global ambassador for sustainable SDG5 UN goals for gender equality, inclusiveness & UN chartered Human Rights. She has been working as an external ICC member on advisory for almost 500 organisations. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey so far
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Dr Raina:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I’m an Internationally acclaimed speaker Mentor who has been on various conferences and summits representing India on Gender Equality, Women and Child Rights & Inclusiveness. I hold a double degree in IT and Law and am the founder of “Right2rise®️” (India s 1st ISO 17024 n 21001 accredited organization) & “RKT Foundation”, which is catering to Training, certifications, compliance and auditing of various organizations and institutionalise core values of justice equality, safety and ethical values at workplaces.
As a young child, I always cherish 2 important learning of my life “Never stop learning and evolving” and always go for giving your 100 per cent to what you do, start small but be persistent-Never give up which are the words of my parents always ringing in my mind.”
A meek reverent girl, from a North Indian joint family, born and brought up at Chennai (South India) people keep asking me how come to that combination. But one thing despite that was I was blessed to be holding with high values, ethics instilled who my parents have always been open-minded to educate me(girl child) to the highest degree of a Masters in VLSI System Design from the University of Westminster, U.K. which I have conferred a scholarship based on my scores.
Little did I know that after pursuing my masters I would meet a friend, Anisha who would ask me, casually to seek to learning a Counselling certification, from London and supporting society in the UK leading ahead to do my Research in VLSI tech from Edinburg which would be a turning point on having the vision to support child fraternity in India and transform from designing chips to designing lives.
I returned to India and was determined to pursue further pathways on leading my passion of being a thought leader, a visionary, and fulfil the dream to touch lives and create massive change as an “enabler” through training and coaching. I knew there is no look back from my goals and hence, I decided to deep dive into academics, certifications, courses and develop my knowledge and skills as I thought it would help me grow my mindset, broaden my horizon and make me an achiever.”
And yes, I was finally guiding a lot of societies, NGOs, organisations and institutions soon into designing safe conducive workplaces by creating strategies which are implementable avoid violence, abuse and creating a realistic solution. What stuck with me most is living an ethical life to leave a legacy behind for a safer future for our children & a respectable place for all gender all life unleashing the maximum potential in all of us.
What made you passionate about “BEING A LIMITLESS ENABLER’?
The answer was just me! It’s me who made me LIMITLESS! Sounds funny in it:? Creativity is an art and skill of we human beings and we don’t realise that.
Each of us is a genius and artistic in what we do. What I as a limitless enabler wanted was to bring out that massive potential of highest productivity in all human beings .”
In doing that I realised by sharing knowledge and skills as the expertise I was no other than turning into the epitome of being a limitless enabler. I love the work I do uplifting each one woman and children, especially cause we are the part of society who still fail to see the best-untapped potential in us. SO let’s join in with me to be “LIMITLESS”
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Empowering and challenging the myths, stereotypes about women and children and bias on patriarchal norms and culture drives me, the attitude of people on different race religions and views have urged me to inspire self-awareness and courage into each life 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 Spreading smiles of the unspoken, the unheard and people who require your time and positive energies. I believe all people are capable of change. It is important to understand people are shaped by their experiences and circumstances.”
At Right2rise we envision a world in which all people have access to ethical safe and happy workspaces that can help them improve their mental and emotional health and achieve harmony at work. Healing self creates growing healthier families and communities.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My life changed around when my pillars; my husband Girish and son Vivaan was around. To be able to listen and be there no matter how much I talk and to be able to be his backbone and support system no matter how much ifs nuts tiffs we have we still are the biggest strength to each other – my husband and son are like my two eyes and a blessing.
Of course, how can I forget my Younger sister Ritu whose like always been my best critic and the two extended loving nurturing families whose who, gave me legacies of learning, being a giver and the art of overflowing love from both my mothers and fathers (inlaws and parents). Their love has kept me smiling, shining, and warm. Both my family and my friends have also been very supportive in whatever steps I choose to grow.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
– Ask clients what they want to achieve and why they want it. Listen to their focus areas and note their journey.
Don’t fire your clients—help them! If you see your client is unmotivated or even distracted from their goal Help them restructure
Define a path, goal and start and end destinations also the duration for stepping stones to Progress 1 Progress 2 and Progress 3 before you aim at the final destination (BREAKING DOWN TO SIMPLICITY)
– Emphasize the process over results. We’re always taught to set goals. Celebrate small victories and appreciate to boost their morale.
– Providing an individualized approach to each session show confidence that they continue to aim to succeed
What are some of the strategies that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
1) Listen to and then be heard
2) Be a learner for life -there is nothing tiny or huge it’s a perspective always
3) Taking extreme ownership and responsibility for my actions Courage
4) Ability to take risks & venture into uncharted territories.
5) Taking action is all what matters Keep focus and be at it!
What are the challenges that you often face being a young and successful woman entrepreneur?
~ Finding your niche
~ The target audience
~ MARKETING TO THE RIGHT people
~ Financial growth
~ Stability
~ Market changes
~ Technology upheavals
~ Right mindset of people you choose to be with.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My motivation comes from dance because I enjoy it. 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 takes practice so that I don’t get bogged down by my client’s problems or family gatherings or the stress of overloaded work.
I schedule a daily appointment for self-care, even if it’s just alone time. For example, I schedule in time the same I would for my client to meditate, cycle, exercise, soak in the shower, listen to music and have breaks when I go silent and off my gadgets. I keep a gratitude journal and write five things I am grateful for and forgiveness prayer daily.”
I also read works by people, hear Ted Talks and admire all inspirations that reminds me of the power we all have within us.
Last but not least when I see my clients having a moment and I get the privilege of witnessing their breakthrough me, it’s the most powerful stimulant I can imagine.
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:
a) Accepting & Loving myself.
b) Trust and respect
c) Ownership and courage
d) Resourcefulness
e) Curiosity & Learning attitude
f) Taking massive action (execution) with consistency
What would be the one message you like to give to all the aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Challenges are always going to remain, what shows the inner power when you jump up every morning when no one tells you no one sees you and yet INSPIRES you to touch and create miracles in every life.
Leave a smile on many faces and live a life of an adventurous curious soul always wishing to learn new things welcoming every moment with the tag
“BIO – BRING IT ON!- LET LIFE THE LIFE AS A STAGE AS IF THIS IS THE LAST MOMENT I CAN DO SOMETHING MAGICAL – SPREAD UR SPARK”.. ARE YOU THE ONE? YES STEP UP TODAY.”
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.
