As part of our ongoing quest to get you meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world, we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur – Sonal Oswal for an exclusive interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is a Certified Graphologist and Graphotherapist and the Founder of Elevate Minds and the Co-Founder of The Healing Studio India. Let’s read more about her inspiring journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sonal:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
I did my schooling from Pune and then further Pursued Psychology from Fergusson College, Pune. I have always been passionate about learning about Human Psychology, so I further did my Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Post Graduate Diploma in Buddhist Psychology. This was my formal education background.
But in life going in non-formal direction always interested me. In my 11th standard out of curiosity, I joined a course of handwriting analysis and that changed a lot for me. Since then, I started analysing handwritings and helped individuals in whatever small way I can.
This practice gave a new direction to my life, as when I saw people healing and being happy, it made me happy too. It was in my Second-year college that I volunteered to use graphology in a De-addiction centre (Wisdom Matters, Pune) for people suffering from addiction and mental health issue.
Since then it was never looking back. I had my first graphology training when I was nineteen and established my first institute named “Principles of Graphology”. Along with this, I did other courses of Reiki Grandmaster, Crystal healing, mind power training.
By 21 years- I had media publications, corporate training and Rotary clubs etc. The process was challenging. I had to build trust in people because the age made it really difficult for them to believe in my skill.
But as my work grew- associations, training, counselling kept increasing. Then later I renamed my institute to Elevate Minds, where more modalities other that graphology we started using and got international accreditation for our courses.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
I choose this as I like to create things rather than just follow. I wanted to make an impact in the lives of others. People change more from inspiration than just motivation. When you built something unconventional, work towards it and create it, you inspire others also to live their dreams.
Belonging from a business family. Entrepreneurship is a part of me. The courage to step out was mainly given to me by my parents and that has really acted as a backbone during every up and down. It gives immense satisfaction to see people happy with your work, something that you built.
‘Elevate Minds’ 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 with the help of your startup?
Thank you. So Elevate means to raise/lift. Elevate Minds we came with the name: to help individuals lift above their issue by getting a better perspective. We have three domains.
1) Training- Where we train individuals into graphology and drawing analysis
2) Counselling related to self-growth, career, relationship and parenting issues
3) Support groups for youth and teens. Here they come together and a topic is spoken about to help the teenage get support and understanding to different life issues.
So the aim is to help people with emotional issues and even train them to be able to help others.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
So as my major work is training and counselling.
During the pandemic time- the major shift went from offline to online.
So all the courses & counselling were taken via zoom.
The course material had to mainly be taken in soft copy as we had printed books before.
So these shifts happened during this time.
How do you manage yourself and keep on going despite the challenges? What drives you?
The transformation that happens in individuals is the biggest drive. I plan my day in a way that I do not feel overburdened. In my free time, I like to travel, learn, spend time with my family and watch series. Travelling helps me to be more creative and gives a solution-focused space.
My strongest driving force is my parents, whom I’ve grown up seeing work diligently irrespective of any obstacles or challenges.
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
The ability to effectively lead and adapt to changes is a crucial factor in the success, or lack thereof, in entrepreneurial ventures.
The leader should have the ability to take up the responsibility for the work.
This gives the other members a sense of security.
In your opinion – what is more necessary: Idea or a good team for a successful startup?
In my opinion, it’s a combination of both. An idea gives a starting point to your dreams and the team helps you to bring the idea into reality.
An idea by itself is like a car without batteries. You cannot do anything. The team is the life force (the battery) that makes a company run and flourish. So both are needed.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
a) Being consistent and giving your best shot every day irrespective of whom you meet.
b) Believing in your skills.
c) Listening to suggestions from experienced individuals.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building your startup?
I’ve learned that it’s important for you to be visible in the market. Talking about your achievements is not show off- people will only know your credibility when they see it or hear it.
Give more than what people expect and give quality work. That will make your customers stay loyal to you.
Do research whenever you want to try something new. It gives a lot of direction
Please share with us – what has worked well for you so far?
Consistency, constantly upgrading yourself and taking feedbacks has really worked well so far.
The more we follow these, the stronger we build has a company.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
I love my work. It never tires me. You meet new people every day, new stories and problems. The newness brings every day, the learnings is something I just love.
The smile and satisfaction on the faces of people after learning and transformation is enough to keep me motivated and positive.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out as an aspiring women entrepreneur?
Be consistent and just experiment with every small opportunity that comes to you. Do not be afraid to fall. Trust your skills and you will find your way to the top.
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.
