At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the start-up ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Niyati Chander for an exclusive interview with us. Niyati is a Leader, Entrepreneur and Co-founder & COO of SmartDEN. Let’s learn more about her inspirational journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Niyati:
Talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
I am the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of SmartDEN. I have done my ‘Masters of Business in Management’ from University of Technology, Sydney and B.Com (Hons) graduate from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.
I have over 6 years of corporate experience in formulating strategic alliances and business strategies.
I along with my co-founder started SmartDEN with an aim to make smart homes accessible to every Indian household.”
Honestly, I don’t believe in calling myself a “Woman Entrepreneur”, I am an entrepreneur with an aim to contribute to the betterment of people’s lives.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
I am an entrepreneur at heart.
I always wanted to make a positive impact on a macroeconomic level, that would only be possible as an entrepreneur.”
I believe that the entrepreneurs of today are the ones shaping the economy of our country and I am very proud that I can be a part of that league.
‘SmartDEN’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
SmartDEN simply means having a “DEN” which is your home and is “Smart”, where all the devices are connected to each other and can be controlled from one single platform.
We at SmartDEN, aim to be a one-stop solution for all the smart home requirements. We want every homeowner to experience the benefits of smart homes and hence we guide and assist our customers in every step of their transition to smart homes.”
Currently, in our country, the smart home industry is very fragmented, people hesitate in adopting a smart home due to expensive integration and installation. And that is the problem that we are trying to solve.
What does your company specialise in?
SmartDEN is a one-stop solution for all smart home requirements. We provide a free consultation about our offerings and client’s requirements, One-Day Installation and Lifetime support which includes on-call customer support as well and assisting in any maintenance as well as Smart Home Upgrades.
Our packages are very affordable that includes: consultation, devices and installation.
Along with the affordability, we understand that every customer requires quality products and that’s why we partner with the nation-leading and world-leading manufacturers to provide the customers with the quality of products that they deserve.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
SmartDEN was born during the pandemic and plays an important role to negate its impact.
We are automating the fight against Covid-19 by enabling contactless living, easier Work From Home Conditions and better Home security with the use of Smart Home Technology.
For the team, we have employed a 4-day work from office policy, to make sure they spend minimum time in public places.
For our clients, we ensure optimum safety with daily temperature checks and a fully sanitized Home Installation process, that make sure that all our customers and their loved ones are safe and secure.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
The willingness to make a change in the industry and in people’s lives is what keeps me going. Challenges are never-ending phenomena, which are meant to be overcome.
As a startup, we focus on overcoming those challenges and solving problems on an everyday basis. The day we stop, our aim of making a change in people’s life will not be achieved and that fear keeps me going.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My team members, the ones who are working with us, are the biggest source of motivation in my daily life.
No single day is the same for us but what keeps me going is the willingness in everyone to make it big and the efforts that I see from them.”
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
Being patient is the one thing that has helped me grow as a person. With patience, comes better thoughts and techniques to handle a situation.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
1) Honesty
2) Commitment
3) Ownership
These are the pillars that help me grow every day and I have imbibed the same at SmartDEN.
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
I think evolving is the most important trait that one must imbibe as an entrepreneur.
Being adaptable in today’s economy is key to the success for any company/leader.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building your startup?
(a) Never Stop
(b) Work Smart
(c) Don’t take anyone for granted
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
“Never give up” and the attitude to work hard are the keys to success. You may change the path to achieve the goal, but one should never give up on the goal.”
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Patience is key!
I see many young professionals, as well as freshers struggling to establish a career due to the current circumstances. However, the key to growth is to remain patient and opportunities will come your way soon.
Don’t stop Learning!
Upskilling is important for all working professionals to keep growing within their field and expanding their skillset and bridging their knowledge gaps.
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.
