Interview with Lakshmipraba U S | Environment Sustainability Coach | Author | Speaker | Founder and Director at Prithvimitra Innovations (OPC) Private Limited
At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Lakshmipraba U S for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Leader, Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Author, Keynote Speaker and Changemaker. She is the Founder and Director at Prithvimitra Innovations (OPC) Private Limited. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, her background, and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Lakshmipraba U S:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My journey began as an engineer working in the area of Micro-controllers, Post that, I moved on to a BPO industry where I embarked on a path filled with opportunities and growth.
However, after my marriage, I made the decision to become a homemaker and prioritize my role in taking care of my family. This transition marked a new chapter in my life, where I dedicated my time and energy to creating a nurturing and loving environment for my family.
A TV reality show in 2014 showing how household garbage, when added up as city waste, pollutes an entire village dumped as landfill waste created a ripple of change inside me. I felt a strong inner calling to share a powerful message with the world, which led me to embark on a journey of volunteering.”
While working as a volunteer with Whitefield Rising (a citizen movement committed to waste management & other civic issues) in Whitefield, Bangalore, I witnessed the overwhelming amount of waste generated by single-use disposables in my community and surrounding areas. Driven by my desire to be part of the solution, I decided to volunteer in Solid waste management for pursuing my purpose.
Motivated by Mahatma Gandhi’s quote – Be The Change you want to see in the world, I embarked on a personal transformation. We as a family embraced a healthier lifestyle, reducing greatly processed food and opting for healthier alternatives, shifting from chemical-laden food to chemical-free food.
The seed for which was sown by my husband Raghav. This period marked the blooming of me as a changemaker, leading me to establish Rent A Cutlery (https://www.facebook.com/rentacutlery/) in collaboration with my friend Rishita.
“Rent A Cutlery” offers a sustainable solution to the rampant issue of single-use disposables. By providing the option to rent reusable cutlery, this initiative has saved over 250,000 single-use items from ending up in landfills or being incinerated. This inspiring work has not only motivated others to start their own cutlery banks but has also showcased the power of individual action in solving community level problem contributing to climate action.
I firmly believe in grassroots-level penetration, particularly among children, as the key to creating a lasting impact as conscious citizens in the future.
To this end, I authored the book “Suju Learns to be a Green Warrior,” which educates children about waste segregation and reduction in a colourful and informative manner. My passion for empowering young minds extends beyond my writing.
I intend to collaborate with schools and foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment from an early age. Additionally, I aim to enable corporates, Resident Welfare Associations and small businesses to become changemakers by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge.
My latest venture, Prithvimitra (www.prithvimitra.com), sets sights on ambitious goals. Prithvimitra Innovations (OPC) Private Limited (incubated with Nsrcel, IIM Banglore) offers consultancy and advisory services, Speaker and coaching sessions focused on waste management solutions, composting, and toxin-free living.
Our mission includes bringing accessible waste management solutions to communities, building capacity for waste management and toxin-free living, collaborating with schools to educate children, empowering small businesses to become changemakers, and generating livelihoods through clean eco-services. Prithvimitra also offers Eco-friendly green gifting products for corporate/bulk gifting and green supplies.
Adding to my list of accolades, my remarkable efforts have been recognized with the prestigious Emerging Woman Sustainability Professional award by The Sustainability Practitioners Recognition Program 2022.
I was also awarded the Grand Queen Leadership Award 2023 in Hyderabad for “Leader- Sustainable Environment”, Nature & Environment by Lions Club Yuva, and celebration makers. I am thankful and grateful to all recognitions and awards. I am grateful and thankful to Indian Startup Queens FB community and Women’s web online portal for featuring me.
I am also a licensed Heal Your Life® teacher (https://healyourlifeworkshops.com/teacher/lakshmipraba-u-s), dedicated to spreading the transformative message of self-love based on Louise Hay’s philosophy.
As an instrument, I intend to empower individuals to embrace self-compassion, unlock their true potential, and create positive change in their lives. I am intending to touch the lives of many, inspiring them to embark on a journey of personal growth and inner healing.
How did you discover your passion as a ‘Coach’?
I realised that teaching was flowing naturally for me. I apparently wanted to be a teacher post-college 🙂 I was also a product & process trainer training a lot of teams for a telecom product & process with a multinational company earlier.
The natural flow with higher energy seemed to connect for me while educating/training/coaching people for creating an impact towards environmental sustainability.
It took many years (7+ years) and more money for me as a consumer to find the right product and service which encourage Environment sustainability contributing to one’s health and the planets.
Thus, to add value to more businesses and people in shifting their lifestyle to environment-friendly living in a short time and without spending a huge in trials, the Coach avatar came up. The intention is to contribute to people and the planet’s health.”
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
My passion towards the environment as being an action taker rather than complaining converted to a bigger purpose of impacting 10 million people to conscious living. This commitment as a self-responsibility keeps me going.
The joy of doing without burning (learning from life mistakes) makes a huge difference in my life in whatever I do. Being humble, grounded and a lifelong learner as a leader greatly motivates me to grow. The company of supportive, uplifting, and positive people also matters.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My Husband and my trust on myself. Nature’s abundance that we are blessed with every moment. Truly grateful.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
> Being mindful
> Always being resourceful
> Taking extreme ownership and responsibility for my actions
> Ability to take risks & venture into uncharted territories.
> Willingness to change
> Investing in self
> Self-love
> Self-belief
> Being in the present
> Positive
> Being a giver
> Collaboration over competition
> Promoting what I believe and been a practitioner
> Being an action taker
> 100% commitment, honesty, truth, responsive
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
– Accepting & Loving myself.
– Responsibility for my actions
– Standing up for myself
– Resourcefulness
– Fire to learn
– Positive Attitude
– Taking massive action (execution) with consistency and belief
– Relationship and trust
– Action Action Action
– Patience
What advice would you give to our readers?
Do your action. Be patient. Action is in our hands, not the result. Accept and evolve. Be open to learn. Collaborate over the competition to grow. Be a giver and a receiver.
Believe in yourself, validate yourself, accept yourself, love yourself- You will be surprised to know that the whole world believes, validates, accepts and loves you 🙂 Do what connects to you in a flow. Invest in your growth(personal and professional).
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
The trust people keep on me is truly humbling and gratifying. As an author creating legacy for the greater good gives me great happiness.
I feel truly moved to have earned wonderful people in my life. The self-realisation and inner transformation I am undergoing is truly amazing and helps me in my personal and professional growth.
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.
