At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring to our community some of the finest stories from the start-up ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited passionate entrepreneur Ekta Sharma this weekend for an exclusive interview with us. Ekta is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with 20+ years of experience across many verticals. She is the Founder and CEO at Unifabz Pvt Ltd. Let’s learn more about her inspirational journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Ekta:
Talk us through your background and your journey so far, please
Being a part of defence family, I Did my schooling from KV’s across India and further pursued my Graduation from J&K University followed by MBA from Prestigious Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS, Pune ). At present pursuing Women entrepreneurship programme with IIM Bangalore.
I am a Marketing and sales specialist with over 23 years of invaluable experience worldwide working with global brands. I have vast experience working with schools and Corporate uniforms end to end supplies with different service models. I am an avid sportsperson and have played national level Basketball and Handball.
I love driving and have participated and successfully completed the Times Women’s Drive on 30th April 2017 and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest Women’s event – “Motor Sports”.
I share a special bond of love and loyalty with stray animals and helps them through her various charity work.
I started My MBA knowing fully well that I was going to do something of my own someday but when was the question that I didn’t have the answer to. Moved to the apparel industry, learnt the basics and applied my management skills to every aspect of the business I handled.
I changed companies, kept absorbing and learning. I was always fierce and righteous in everything I worked for. My managers backed me thorough and through allowing me to lead & take responsibility of the divisions I handled. “
It was 30th Nov’18 when I knew I was finally ready to take the plunge. I knew I was moving out of the security of a salaried job & risking by moving into taking on as an entrepreneur …But I knew I was ready to build a company of own and thus was born UFZ Unifabz Pvt Ltd.
Please tell us know more about UniFabs and its offerings.
Unifabz believes in….“Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what customer experiences out of it”
UniFabz is a one-stop identity for all schools, colleges and corporate requirements, It is a chain of stores which is channel partner to many renowned schools and corporate houses for their head to toe and gifting needs. We have our first 2000 sq feet flagship store at Yehlanka, Bangalore. We operate through both B2B and B2C models and have pan India presence.”
We are committed towards welfare of stray animals and all earnings with our FB page “ Book wrapping service “.goes to feeding street animals and a donation towards animal shelters.
UniFabz is firmly dedicated to empowering women status in society through raising awareness, training and providing them employment opportunity. At present, we proudly state that 99% of our employees are women who come from a different layer of society.
Unifabz, I would say a first company that offers internship to the school children from class 9th onwards, because we believe that there is no age to be an entrepreneur and learnings.
What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person/startup?
Ethics and fairness, be in a win-win situation all the time.
Be real and be honest and your customer will always come back to you ☺
How do you handle pressure and manage stress?
It is challenging because at every stage one has to prove oneself. Irrespective of me being a woman, I can work late nights, can deliver what a job demands. I can manage my house and office; it’s about proving oneself every time, at every step and in any circumstances.
If you have decided what you exactly want from yourself, then all the hurdles turned out to be the stepping stone towards success. You simply need to be confident and determined towards your goal.
My Parents, Children, Pets and friends are my stress busters (☺)
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building Unifabz?
I’ve learned finally to not compare myself to other successful women who seem to have it all together. Invariably, things are not always as they seem, and no one has it all together.
I have also learned how important it is to embrace change because, at any given time, you will need to shift strategies due to circumstances beyond your control.
Finally, I’ve learned that when you are in the middle of the ocean, failure is not an option. We must keep swimming. Somehow, in the hardest of times, we are able to find the strength to pull through and to come out stronger in the end. We must have patience and faith that things will turn out the way they were meant to be.
What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring female business leaders reading this?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and see them as an opportunity to learn.
Follow Unifabz At:
Website – https://www.unifabz.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/ufz-unifabz-pvt-ltd
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UFZ-Unifabz-2257377837810762
Follow Ekta At:
LinkedIn – http://linkedin.com/in/ektaa-s-35596218
