As part of our ongoing quest to get you meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur – Kalpana Singh Chauhan for an exclusive interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is the Co-Founder of IPPODHU, Marketing Head and Director at Promogage. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, her background and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Kalpana:
Talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
I did my schooling from St Paul High School, Patna and further pursued BA Journalism from Makhan Lal University and then came to Bangalore to pursue my Post graduation (Master of Science in Communication) from Garden City College Bangalore. I have always been very passionate, high performing and ambitious individual.
During My BA journalism, I got loads of opportunity to work, I worked as newsreader, anchor and reporter. (Uttam Television Programme used to be broadcasted in DoorDarshan channel). I also worked for Bachpan Bachaw Andolan, We all know Mr Kailash Satyarthi (noble peace award winner) I was lucky to have worked for his organisation.”
From childhood I always wanted to help society via my charitable work, I worked for child labour and met so many children who were being abandoned and were sold. I also wrote my PG THESIS ON CHILD LABOUR. I Had a wonderful 3 years in Patna and after my graduation, I got many opportunities in Patna from big media houses but I choose to study further. During my PG (master of science in the communication) I worked for Deccan Chronicle, idea now communicating etc. post my PG I choose a different path, It was away from media and journalism.
I started my career as event manager worked In Bangalore for 5 years and then moved to Chennai in the year 2014, I worked in Chennai for few years, got married to my childhood friend Amit Chauhan (scientist in IGCAR) and then started my own Company Promogage along with my friend Gunjan Chauhan, Promogage deals with Brand activations, virtual events and corporate employee engagement events. We have worked with many corporate and brands.”
I was lucky to meet Gunjan in my first company in Bangalore in 2009, we both had the same approach towards work, we both discussed in 2013 that we should start something of our own. We always knew about what idea we have to work on. Gunjan is MBA from IIMS. Getting the right people in your career is the key to success.
In the end, I will just say never be afraid to fail and always follow yourself and your dreams.
Also, I have a great passion for gardening and I keep researching on types of plants and so have I have planted 600+ plants and 200 of them are at my home itself.
Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a corporate career?
I always wanted to take the risk, and be my own boss; taking risk has made me choose entrepreneurship over a corporate career. My 10 years of corporate career has made me the professional what I am. I chose entrepreneurship over a corporate career because I always have good instincts and entrepreneurial approach towards my work.”
Companies wherever I had worked, I have managed to work as an entrepreneur, from beginning only I had a dream to be of my own boss and I followed my dream and took a risk. It’s just a baby step what I have taken but there is a long journey which I have to cover and I am sure that will be super exciting.
Please share with us some of the challenges you faced in your journey;
I never faced any challenges for being women, everyone in family and society is so supportive. But you need to be careful with few people who are not happy with your success and always try to put you down; I had few friends and male colleagues who come from that category. Never jump for your own business if you are not ready, you need to forget about the text message which you get on every month that your salary has been credited.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures we have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
COVID has affected almost every business except few but as it is said when there is one door closed, you will see that God has opened many doors and you need to be cleaver to enter to the correct door. Virtual events have taken a place of ground events and there are loads of Technologies available, you just have to choose the correct technology and start working. Virtual platform and augmented reality have saved many event companies like mine.
What is your Business Mantra: Money or Emotions?
In my opinion, you have to be emotional towards your work, then only you will achieve levels, once you start achieving levels money will flow in.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
In the event industry, life is full of pressure and stress- Pressure and stress in beginning is actually happiness, and when you are of your own stress and pressure is just a word nothing else, My business Partner Gunjan Chauhan and myself both talk and find out the solutions for issues so in that ways we convert stress and pressure in happiness and business success. And the key is without pre4ssure and stress you cannot cross the levels of success you In my opinion Pressure and stress are ingredients which will make the rest of the journey smooth.
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
Ability to adapt to change and technology, Time management, Resilience, Vision, Influence, and most importantly Positivity.
Our audience wants to know – what has worked well for you so far?
We both Gunjan and I are the first Girls in the family to jump into entrepreneurship.
We both come from different places and background and when we combine our specialities and talent and put it in work, it works like wonder. Getting the right partner is the key to every business.”
Who is your motivation in your entrepreneurial journey?
My business partner Gunjan Singh Chauhan.
Kalpana With Gunjan (Right)
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Talent + Hard work + Self Confidence + Networking = Success ✔.!
I absolutely love what I do! So if you love what you do that itself is the greatest motivation for you to do something.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Know your market and your customers, Do it your own way, choose the right people and treat your clients as Priority. Just remember if you are not getting repeat business then your client is not happy with your work, and there are loopholes which you need to fix ASAP.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out as an aspiring women entrepreneur?
Believe in yourself and follow your dreams and choose the right people in your life, never compromise with your dreams. Remember when you are ready that is the right time. Listen to everyone, take opinion but do what you feel is correct. And start with ideas which do not requires a lot of investment at first, earn from your business and put it in business to grow it further.
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.
