At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Meena Screwvalla for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Leader and Co-Founder & Director at Tattva CX LLP. Let’s learn more about her background, inspiring journey so far and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Meena:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My professional journey so far has helped me cross-pollinate ideas across a wide variety of industry sectors, including telecom, Steel, Concept Sales, Office Automation, Modular Office Furniture, Recruitment, Landscaping and Indoor Plants Library – businesses so diverse and roles all encompassing!!
An Armed Forces childhood probably geared me to wear multiple hats and adapt my talent and passion to take on all that came my way in the form of an opportunity.
Schooled all over North India, graduated from Chandigarh and pursued my MBA from Pune, I joined as a Management Trainee in Corporate Strategy with a Telecom Company in Mumbai managing Product Launches and Business Growth.
Post Marriage I shifted base to Pune where a Corporate Strategy role did not exist. Hence, I moved into Sales!! This is where I realized what my true potential was. Being a people’s person and never giving up was part of my DNA!
I moved on to Heading branches, setting up Franchisees across the country for the various companies I worked with in different domains like Steel, Office Automation, Modular Concept Furniture and Concept Sales.
Blessed with motherhood, I took a break post which I consciously changed my profile to Heading Operations in a startup of a Dotcom !! Handling multiple branches, it was also a tumultuous phase where the Dotcom bust happened and I had to veer the company which was bootstrapped to an Offline Recruitment Model! A completely new role of running a Profit Centre in a dynamic market had a lot of learnings!
Turned my passion into a sustainable business of Landscaping and Plants Library for Corporate which is 15+ years into operation!
Currently, I am a Co-Founder with my sister for Tattva CX LLP, Headquartered in Pune with support teams in Pune, India and the Philippines. Operating across industries we provide BPO, Consulting, and Outsourcing services; adding substantial value and performance improvements to our client’s business requirements.
Our most recent success story substantiates how we successfully set up an entire performance ecosystem for an Industry leader in the Micro mobility space with a customer base spread across 17 + (and counting) countries/languages. Setting up the entire operations from recruitment & training to going live and then scaling up performance in record time has been a challenge that we take pride in.
How did you discover your passion?
The diverse domains and multifaceted roles over the past 25+ years have shaped me as an individual who can start afresh – learn, unlearn and implement.
The ability to leverage my core skills of managing people, ideation and implementing successful strategies gave rise to the Serial Entrepreneur in me!!. This truly reflects who I am!
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Empowering and challenging the myths, to have the grit and courage to lead from the front.
Selling begins when someone says NO- that principle of overcoming every challenge with passion, positivity and the ability to create opportunities for people drives me.
I believe nothing is impossible and have experienced it first hand whether in my professional or personal life. Truly attitude is everything
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
The foundation received since childhood, my father – a self-made man from a small village and agricultural family who left home in 7th grade to pursue education as his family was unable to afford it who faced many difficulties but did not give up and went on to retire as a Colonel from the Indian Army – cannot be a better role model for me!
My mother a shy young girl who got married at the age of 17 years from a small village, taught us basic values, resilience, managed 4 children while my father was posted half the time away from us. I owe my education, foundation and strength to her.
My life has been a gift, travelling and educating myself across the country, made me into arounded personality, and sparked my ability to learn from everything and everyone around me! My sisters have been a constant source of inspiration and the beautiful bond we share teaches us the importance of family!!
My daughter motivates me daily to strive to be a better human adding value to the lives of all that I touch. My husband who has encouraged me to take on the paths I chose without questioning the merits, knowing that I will make a success of it!
All the beautiful support and leanings from friends and people I have worked with have shaped me into a richer human being!
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
I would say, more than strategy – it’s a practice of a few principles:
– Being Disciplined
– Finding solutions and taking ownership of what you do
– Balancing life and personal space well
– Learning and Unlearning at every stage.
– Being a good Human Being and Being Respectful
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Success is different for different people!
> To understand that nothing is easy but everything is possible.
> Persistence pays. Do not give up until you have done your best. Then you won’t need to give up anyways 😊
> Self-motivation and being positive
> Establishing Processes and having faith to delegate
> Keeping an open mind and being adaptable while upskilling
> Taking responsibility and understanding what your customer needs
What advice would you give to our readers?
Work on what gives you joy, never stop learning. Failure is not an option! If one door closes, another will open. Attitude is really everything!!
Upskilling and being adaptable in these changing dynamics is the key differentiator.
Do not forget – People are at the core of all you do. Networking and developing your people skills are most important.
Lastly, Stay Humble.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
The journey has been a super one. The satisfaction of seeing the fruits of all those whose lives I have touched come back to me in some form or the other.
Creating opportunities for people gives me immense satisfaction.
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.
