At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring to our community some of the finest stories from the entrepreneurship world. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur – Shivani Gohil for an exclusive interview with us. She is the youngest Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker and Influencer. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, background and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shivani:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
Growing up as a young girl in India like every youth I also wanted to settle a perfect reputed life, working for the same I was not finding a real meaning to it. Coming from a middle-class family and a girl with dreams wanting to do something to make something unique out of it.
I have decided to fight back in the downward direction of my life and believe in myself by taking that bold step and learning from the great people around me. Now I have turned the tide and become a force which is reckoned with today.
Today, I’m 23- year old entrepreneur and speaker and gone from unknown childhood to featuring in speaking engagements worldwide. With the great support from my parents, I’m able to take a step into the unknown and getting on a path to known. It would be impossible to fight against the people who don’t accept the change easily in society. It may sound like a fairy tale, but it’s not. This is a story of determination despite overwhelming obstacles.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
What attracted me about entrepreneurship is that I believe in personal branding and in social media which is a game-changer in today’s world and that’s why my mission is to equip people with the industry’s best known and help them find opportunities through social media.
‘Shivani Personal Branding’ 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?
As an overall goal, I want to want to continue connecting with businesses and reaching out to new audiences so that they can work at presenting their ideas on a worldwide stage as well.
Navigating today’s digital space is not always the easiest in the process but with a dedicated practitioner, it is possible to connect the gap between various cultures, generations and business ideas through personal branding and unique creativity.
By checking out some of my work, you may find yourself inspired on assessing new business goals or looking at your career and life in a different way.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
It was very important to align the steps towards the uncertainties. There is always an option in any situation. Being in the profession of training, consulting, authoring and speaking engagement specialized in personal branding, I always had a go-to option anywhere anytime. But, in the uncertain and complex times going social proved beneficial.
My profession demands reaching, connecting and driving people towards their personal and professional branding. I successfully took my sessions, workshops, guest invites, and collaborations online. The benefit was to connect with people worldwide and taking the business to the next level.
Another thing to mention, I also emphasized on VUCA concept that states being the situation volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous which being an individual turned VUCA into vision, understanding, clarity and agility to adapt in uncertain times.
How do you manage yourself and keep on going despite the challenges? What drives you?
No one is perfect. I like imperfections and that is what provides me with the strength to be confident to face challenges. It’s all about confidence and how you feel for yourself. I believe in my own strengths and talent.
Go forth with an open mind. Explore new ideas and access the positives that I feel come from big changes. This is what drives me more to pave the way for new approaches. All I do is not to get nervous and be prepared to take actions.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building your startup?
1) No one can take what’s within YOU, discover it. Discover your hidden quality, who knows you can turn out inspiration and add important values to people’s lives.
2) If innovators can solve India’s problems, they can save the world. So, brand yourself to become an Innovation for change in you and to the world.
3) Right from the start, I always emphasized while delivering my sessions to let people know their power. In training, 50% of the energy is created by the trainer’s content and delivery and the other 50% is by the environment. Your personal brand stands for what you yourself deliver in your personal and professional life.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
B: Be Yourself
R: Right Attitude
A: Ace Communication
N: Network Mastery
D: Distinct Dressing
I: Influence People
N: Natural Selling
G: Gain Wellness
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
a) The ability to believe in our own strengths and talents.
b) Go forth with an open mind.
c) Explore new ideas and access the positives that can come from big changes.
d) Never forget change creates the opportunity to pave the way for new approaches.
e) All we can do is, do not get nervous and be prepared to take actions.
Please share with us – what has worked well for you so far?
For me it is trying, trying and trying until satisfied for the best.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
Anything can change anytime. It is not necessary that we are always surrounded by a good, positive and motivating environment but it is in our hands to change the situation. I always consider this quote –
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on its Wings.”
I have learned a lot from this, whatever is happening around us, we need to have the confidence to take control and believe in ourselves.
Inspirational person and why you choose him or her as an inspiration?
People generally ask about “Inspirational Person”. But according to me- Inspiration should come within YOU. Everyone is successful and wants to be successful in their own terms, only the difference is most people admire looking others that they want to become like others, but the REAL PERSONAL BRAND lives within you; don’t be other person but learn from them to develop your passion into WHO YOU ARE!
Be your own inspiration and learn to make it perfect day by day. For me, I am my own inspiration because it makes me think about what good version I can create of myself.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out as an aspiring women entrepreneur?
I believe, women can be the driving force of the economy. It is very important, every women entrepreneur to recognize what unique set of values they can present being an entrepreneur. This age is to act and be smart and take a step to brand you.
If you have an idea, that you genuinely think and feel is good, don’t let some idiot talk you out of it. Have confidence in yourself. Being in the profession of creating people’s self-brand and have trained many women around starting right from home seekers, Nonprofit Organizations to the corporates, remember the world is watching and admiring you with your multiple roles, so don’t let it go to waste. This is what is going to build your Brand.
You are skilled enough to hustle your business. You are determined to work hard to succeed. You are ready to work 12-16 hours a day. You don’t make any excuses.
“Build bridges and not walls, bridges set you step to lead and walls set breakers to your life. It’s up to you, what you want to choose- your brand or general public.”
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.
