As part of our endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from India and around the world, we invited Rachna Shah for an interview with us to understand more about her inspiring journey so far. She is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Founder at Swanand. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, background and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Rachna:
Talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
I am from Jamshedpur, where I did my schooling from St. Mary’s High School and completed my graduation with B.Sc. I got married and moved to Kolkata where we stayed for 3 years and then shifted to Vadodara, Gujarat. As we were settling down, we did tuition to help my husband financially.
In the process, I got connected to the students and their challenges. I was in PTA in my son’s school. I used to participate in meetings and discussions regularly. One day Principal of the school called me and said you are a born counsellor, do something in Counseling. Meanwhile, we shifted to Ahmedabad as my husband started working there.
I welcomed the guidance given the Certificate course in guidance and many other certificate courses in Counseling skills, Advance Personal growth, Competent teachers training under a renowned Psychologist in Ahmedabad. I also did a Masters in Clinical Psychology.
I worked as a student counsellor in a renowned School in Ahmedabad for 5 years and helped slow learners and students with different challenges. I always used to feel people deserve a beautiful life. This urges me to help people have a beautiful life made me start my Counseling centre, Swanand in 2011. I do counselling of people at each stage and all roles at a personal and professional level. It includes teens, Parents, couples and corporations.
I make sure that I empower them and help them to be successful and have the life they desire. I conduct workshops, seminars and corporate training as well on varied topics in institutes. It was a journey of lots of learning, unlearning and serving. This is a continuous process to reach out to more people and make a difference.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
Since childhood, I used to love helping people and caring for them. I am a people person and always want to make a difference. I feel this is possible in entrepreneurship. It gives me a wider area to work on.
I can research and formulate my system. I can plan things well, work hard and have the courage to put forward my ideas and design the strategies.
‘Swanand’ 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?
Swanand means self-happiness and joy. I always have a feeling apart from success, people want self-happiness and joy. It is their ultimate need and desire. Helping people to have a beautiful life is my desire and niche so I thought of this name for my company.
We reach out to people and help them grow inside-out. Personal counselling is done to help people overcome their blockages, phobias and be successful.
Specific areas:
> Students – Academic and behavioural problems, Career counselling
> Relationship – Pre-marriage counselling, Conflict management, well being and relationship
> Parents – Parent-child relationship, parenting at different stages of the child.
> Teachers training
> Corporate – Soft skill training and the workshops as per the need of the institutes.
Workshops and seminars are conducted for:
> Students
> Couple
> Parents
> Teachers
> Personal growth
> Corporates
What does your company specialize in?
Empowering people and helping them to design the life they desire.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
During the crisis of Covid 19 online counselling sessions are taken. Webinars are conducted on a regular basis. I also launch podcasts and videos on Youtube during Covid. Counselling at the centre is done with full precaution when someone wants counselling in person.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Challenges are the part and parcel of life. I feel every challenge has an opportunity attached to it. I accept the challenge, make it simple and find the solution. Empowering people to overcome their blockages and fixation and see them having a beautiful life drives me.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
(a) To make a difference wherever I can motivate me.
(b) The belief of my family in me motivates me.
(c) After getting all the love and respect, giving back to society motivates me.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
(i) Introspecting ad getting connected to self.
(ii) Working on self
(iii) Overcoming the weakness and fears
(iv) Gathering knowledge through books and seminars
(v) Setting goals
(vi) Taking responsibility for my decisions and actions
(vii) Working ethically for the betterment of all.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building your startup?
– Connecting to people and knowing their needs.
– Making myself available in person and virtually.
– Adapting the changes and the changing situation and working accordingly to give the best.
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
The leader should have a vision and can foresee things in minute detail.
He should be radical, cautiously impulsive and a go-getter.
He needs to be a solution-oriented person.
He should have hiring and spotting capability.
He must be futuristic and realistic at the same time.
Can figure out the pressure points that trigger.
He should be in constant development mode.
Can figure out on pillars, ever permanent things that are not going to change and work efficiently on that.
Should be a decision-maker
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
~ Giving the best to people
~ Empowering people
~ Helping them to have a better life.
~ Regular personal counselling
~ Conducting Webinars, workshops and seminars at various institutes as per their need.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Keys of success:
1) You need to have a vision, clarity of what you want and where are you heading?
2) Planning and organizational skill
3) Upgrading self on a regular basis
4) Stay focused
5) Work ethics and art to serve people
6) Standing up and not feeling low in times of adversity
7) Be futuristic and at the same time stay realistic
8) Consistency
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
They should be aware of their interest, intelligence and personality. It helps you to have a successful career. They should have interpersonal relationships and effective communication skills in the workplace.
They need to be focused and consistent. They should have work ethics and art to serve people. They should own their mistakes and upgrade themselves on a regular basis. They should have the vision to make a difference.
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.
