At Brilliant Read Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. This week we invited yet another passionate woman entrepreneur Saniya Sugla for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Content Strategist, Social Media Consultant, Influencer Specialist and Digital Marketing Expert. Let’s read more about her incredible journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Saniya:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I was always intrigued by social media and was aware of the power it had over people. I decided to utilize my passion & knowledge to create content that makes people feel good, educated and empowered.
I pursued a Master of Science in Management (specialised in Marketing) from the University of Bath School of Management. After which I got my first taste of consulting while I was still in the UK.
After coming back to India, I worked as an Influencer specialist to analyze trends and design effective social media strategies for campaigns for a variety of brands. After which, I went on to work as a social media specialist.
Having worked for almost a year with start-ups and agencies, a family emergency pushed me out of my comfort zone and I ended up choosing to become an independent social media consultant.”
As I celebrate six months, this month as a freelancer and an independent marketing consultant, I am working with over six brands, creating engaging and positive content for them and living life on my terms.
How did you discover your passion?
I think for anyone to discover what they’re passionate about, it’s important to pay attention to what makes your heart happy, what interests you and resonates with you, effortlessly. Ever since I was a kid, I have been good at expression and communication. Growing up, I was always drawn to beauty, fashion & lifestyle products.
Today, my niche is fashion and lifestyle and I ideate content that really makes me happy and I am sure my clients can tell. Through iterative planning intertwined with continuous shifts in execution, I have taken up numerous projects in my areas of interest.”
I also think elimination is an underrated tool. Among the many projects I get offered frequently, I have learnt to pass on what doesn’t strike a chord with me. Passion is a big part of my USP.
I was always fascinated with the world of social media – it had the power to make people smile, cry. and engage. It was a whole new world of endless opportunities. I, too, would fall prey to self-doubt when I watched others post their “good” life on social media. That is when I knew that this power could be channelled into making people feel better about themselves.
Soon, after working with a number of brands and influencers, I knew the stark difference between reality and social media presence. The sheer strength that social media has, whether it was making posts viral or donating for various causes across the world, was exciting. I knew I wanted to use my love for creating strategic content to produce something meaningful, impactful, engaging and positive.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
As a 24-year-old woman who is an independent consultant leading a team of 5, and working with 6 -7 brands, I do face my fair share of challenges. I go through days that are extremely tough and truly test my strength. However, I do believe in taking a step back and taking some time to accept and reflect. It helps me stay more grounded and solution-oriented.”
I personally have developed a lot of strategies that motivate me during challenging times and I always try to focus on things I can control and accept the things that are out of my control. Planning everything and leaving space for the unexpected is something that really helps me keep calm in a crisis.
Above all, I know that every journey has its ups and downs and without the challenges, no journey can be fun and wholesome.
My dreams drive me. I am hungry to make them happen. What is rewarding is that I have exceeded my targets 6 months in advance and have found my footing in the industry. I am fuelled by the support, faith and feedback I get from those around me – my clients, my family, my friends and sometimes strangers on the internet.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
I think I am extremely self-motivated. At the point in my life where I started this practice, no one required me to do anything. There was nothing I had to prove to anyone. My ambitions are so personal and I think that is why they pull me towards them with a force that guides me in the right direction.
I do things because I want to. It makes me happy. It is for no one else. My vision motivates me every day.
That being said, I grew up in a household where I saw my father build his business from scratch and work hard every day of his life. I would like to believe I am like him.”
I always saw my mom multitasking, managing her passion and her personal life and looking to add purpose to the world. She used to work simply because she could.
She is 50 and still studying to fulfil her dreams. My clients are generous, kind & constructive. They give me the space to bring my own element to whatever I do for them and that too pushes me to wake up every morning and try harder than I did the previous day.
What are some of the strategies that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
I have a lot of experiences that have shaped me and learnings that I still carry with me:
(a) Focussing on my overall development; physical, mental and emotional.
(b) Establishing a work-life balance.
(c) Being the change I want to see in the world. Changes begin on a personal level and I start with myself first.
(d) Believing in my skills and abilities.
(e) Road Bumps are proof that you are growing.
(f) Don’t think twice before reaching out to someone you’d like to work with.
(g) It’s okay to not know things – upskill & specialize.
(h) Delegation is an art and not as easy as it looks.
(i) Your journey doesn’t have to make sense to anybody but you.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
I don’t think anyone is ALWAYS positive and motivated. There are always going to be flickering moments of doubt and uncertainty. I think it’s important to accept that and remind yourself that it’s okay not to feel okay. What is beautiful is that I love what I do and it is enough to overcome these moments, refreshing my mind and reminding myself that I am on a journey that I love and have chosen for myself.
One thing that I tell myself very often is: All you can do is your very best every second and then leave the rest to life.
I really believe that the universe has unlocked amazing golden doors of opportunities for me and I am brimming with gratitude always, and that helps me look past the biggest setbacks.
I have clients who show huge faith & trust in me and my work. They help me become better and we grow together.
Spending time with my family and friends is also always relaxing. It always gives me the energy boost & rejuvenation that I need.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
There are a few:
1) Transparency & Effective Communication
2) Humility & Honesty
3) Initiative – You will be surprised to know how many doors it has opened for me.
4) Giving more value than I am expected to – makes people want to stick with me for the long haul.
5) Confidence – it’s okay to know everything or make mistakes as long as you exude belief that you will be alright.
I personally believe that success comes to those who work for it. There are many other factors and the ones that I find extremely important are:
~ Being open to learning new things, I upskill myself frequently to keep up with the changing requirements
~ Focussing on mental and physical health. Lots of self-work
~ Learning to accept changes, being open to change
~ Finding things that you love in your profession and doing them no matter the workload – it always grounds you and is a source for happiness
~ Reading and engaging in content that helps me personally and professionally
~ If you know what you want, put in your 100% to make it happen
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
A lot of people will tell you a lot of things. They will tell you that something is the right thing to do just because they did it that way and the person who was there before they did it the same way. Dare to be different. You don’t have to accept the norm, pave your own way.
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.
