As part of our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the ecosystem, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Riddhi Kunjwani for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. Riddhi is an Entrepreneur, Leader, and Certified Corporate and Soft Skills Trainer, Consultant, Mentor, Influencer and Change Enabler. Let’s learn more about her background, her inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Riddhi:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I started working as a compounder, receptionist, and home tutor when I was in HSC. After passing out, I took a 3-year pause from studies and continued working at small vendors to financially contribute at my home.
Eventually, I started working as a CSE at Vodafone and from there I started gathering professional experience and realized that I should complete B.com.”
Through distance education, I graduated in 2010. In 2011, I got married and continued working at NIIT (1 year), then ACPD (1 year). I worked as a Freelancer Trainer for Spoken Eng, PD, Soft Skills and some Commerce theory subjects.
From July 2019- Jan 2022 I was working as a Soft skills Trainer at one of the business management colleges at Kalyan and parallelly completed my M.A (English Literature).
Also engaging some students at home, for skill development training. Currently, I am working on my Research Proposal on ‘ Soft Skills’ looking forward to get admission in Phd.”
In march-Apr 2022, I became a Certified International Corporate Trainer, Soft Skills Trainer, Life coach and Executive Coach. Thanks to ILA for designing such certified courses.
I somehow felt that I should start up something on my own to utilize my skills efficiently. From 3rd May 2022, I started with my small venture ‘ Riddhi’s Soft Skills Solutions’ with a lot of missions and a single vision to transform people’s lives through skill development training.
What made you passionate about ‘Training’?
At NIIT and ACPD, I was a centre head. Sometimes, I used to engage students in the emergency absence of any trainer.
During that time, I realized my: confidence and interest in public speaking, training’s influence on learners, and areas of professional interest. I found that my Communication is one skill that I should certainly utilize in a fruitful manner.”
I believe that I am a person of integrity, Moral and professional ethics, empathetic, organized, goal-oriented, and emotionally balanced and have witnessed the outcomes of being so.
I preach what I teach. Through training, I believe that I would be and I am (so far) able to make learners realize that:
– Our MIND-SET is the biggest ASSET.
– Our Network is our net worth.
– Things are easy if we think them easy.
‘Riddhi’s Soft Skills Solutions’ 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?
Riddhi’s Soft Skills Solutions is a very general and simple name. The term ‘ Soft skill’ is marginalized I feel. Through this name, I wanted to publicize and make the term ‘SOFT SKILLS’ at the top…. Solutions as in.. it is the one-stop solution for Communication Skills, Personality Development, Soft Skills, Interview Handling, Life Coaching and Executive Coaching.
According to me, more than 90% of conflicts in the workplace, home, city, state, country or world, arise due to communication gaps or miscommunication. So, Riddhi Soft Skills Solution is the one-stop solution for all life’s or work’s problems and challenges.”
There is less scope when we say ‘PROBLEM’ and more scope and interest to solve when we address those as CHALLENGES.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
The precise answer I would like to give here.
I believe that if there is a will to do or achieve something, we will always end up finding ways to achieve it.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My written goals, like many others, I do follow a lot of YouTubers like Sandeep Maheshwari, Dr Vivek Bindra and Saint Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj.
But I can say that, from them, I implement my learning too. My mother, who made innumerable efforts to make me marry with a guy who respects and encourages my goals. She rejected a number of guys before I got married to Mr Mukesh Kunjwani.
I am fortunate to have Mr Mukesh Kunjwani as my husband. He constantly encourages me in my after-marriage studies, my work and now my venture. He tries to make smart-smarter-smartest. My mother-in-law who is very supportive as well as encouraging with regard to my work. She takes very good care of my son in my absence. Blessed to have them all.
Last but not least, there is some invisible, Supreme energy around all of us, that is God – My biggest motivator.
No matter what sort of obstacles, financial or other challenges, my belief system has always become stronger day by day. I truly believe in this energy.”
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
By guiding them in achieving their personal and professional goals. Making them realize their potential and dignity through various training and coaching techniques.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are many, few of those are:
(1) Learning is the greatest earning.
(2) Things are easy if we think them easy.
(3) Empathetic/Optimistic thought process.
(4) Assertive communication. (I was a passive person long back, but through training students on assertive comm., I have also accepted this strategy of saying ‘NO’ when you actually want to.) This assertive behaviour is very significant for all of us to grow and achieve our priorities.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Well! To be very honest, I was one of the people who always believed in doing a 9-5 job, having a fixed salary and some leaves. How my mind changed and I got in the favour in business, is indescribable.
It is just 2-3 months since I have experienced what business is but yes!!! One thing I am sure of: I will prove that business can be profitable even after being ethical. I believe in business ethics.
What about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
I believe in feedback… both positive and areas of improvement. It makes me happy when corporate clients, entrepreneurs, and working professionals come back and share their experiences of what was learnt and implemented by them and also what they couldn’t implement.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My goals. I have decided to address this to each and everyone that no matter hard skills are important to label our academics or other tangible achievements, these soft skills/life skills shape up our thoughts and eventually our character- and this is long-lasting. This is what even Bhagwad Geeta says.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I will say it straight that there are many factors but if you really have to have the key elements then to me these are the ones:
– Accepting & Loving myself and also others
– Standing up for myself, encouraging others too
– Curiosity for learning new things
– Positive Attitude toward the gift by god-that is human life.
– Enjoying every moment.
– Not getting panicked at any threats or obstacles.
– Reading (although I am not that voracious reader) but I do read.
– Writing down goals, to-do lists, weekly, monthly plans etc.
– Be ethical and Believe in the supreme energy around you
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Hard skills like degrees and certificates are the gateway to a job or business. But if you wish to sustain yourself in any industry, job or work, start working on your personality and soft skills and be consistent in developing them.
It is not a one-day/one-month/one-year job or certification program. These skills are to be learnt till the last breath of your life. Keep on enhancing your communication skills. Not just speaking, but listening+speaking + reading + writing as a whole process.
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.
