At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Tanya Dogra for an exclusive interview with us. Tanya is a Certified Soft Skills Coach, Etiquette & Communications Coach, Corporate Trainer, Image Consultant and an Influencer. Let’s learn more about her background, journey and her advice for our community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Tanya:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My professional journey began 25 years ago when I started a small home-based business making chocolates and baking brownies. I’ve always had a love for baking and sweets, so this felt like the perfect fit. From the start, I was successful, handling large corporate orders across India and personal orders from clients, friends, and family in Mumbai.
Running the business from home was a practical choice, as it allowed me to pursue my passion while taking care of my young children. As my daughters grew older, I had more time and wanted to try something new. In 2019, I decided to improve my skills and shift my career by taking a detailed course in Image Management and Soft Skills Training.
Today, I am an Internationally certified Soft Skills Trainer and Image Consultant. Over the last four years, I’ve trained over 200 corporate employees and worked with many individual clients. My passion is helping people transform and present the best version of themselves, both personally and professionally.
How did you discover your passion?
I have always had a keen eye for fashion, keeping up with the latest trends and expressing myself through my personal style. I believe that one’s appearance reflects their inner self and that confidence combined with good etiquette, is key to carrying oneself with grace and poise.
I wanted to further explore this passion, and that’s when I came across an advertisement from ICBI offering a course that perfectly aligned with my aspirations. After much consideration and discussion, I enrolled in the course with enthusiasm, marking a significant career shift for me.
Transitioning from my background in Baking to a career in Personal styling and Image Consulting, my goal was clear to help people overcome their inhibitions, embrace confidence, and learn the art of dressing well.
While the pandemic and subsequent lockdown posed challenges, it did not set me back. I completed the course online and became certified during this period. Soon after that, I secured my first client, which marked the beginning of my journey in this field.
Since then, I have been fortunate to have a variety of enriching experiences, from conducting training sessions for major conglomerates like Shapoorji Pallonji to working with individual clients with specific needs and providing styling sessions for renowned brands such as AND and Global Desi at their stores.
These opportunities have been both fulfilling and rewarding. I have always had the constant support of my husband and daughters, without whom this journey would not have been possible.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
My husband and children are my biggest support. Whenever I face tough times or feel things aren’t going right, they are always there to help me through it.
What also keeps me going is my belief in making a positive difference in people’s lives, and the trust they have in me. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing I’ve made a real impact on someone’s life.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
a) Education is a valuable investment, but it’s just as important to invest in ourselves. Our lives are in our hands, and we have the power to decide where we want to go.
b) Change is a part of life, and being adaptable helps us deal with the unexpected. When we can’t change something or someone around us, we must learn to make changes within ourselves.
c) The more we give, the more we receive. A positive attitude, a smile, and happiness attract good things, and the universe has away of returning what we deserve.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Hard work, consistency, taking responsibility for my actions, staying positive, believing in myself, and maintaining confidence are key principles I live by.
I understand that change is inevitable and embracing it with a positive mindset allows me to grow and adapt.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
As I mentioned earlier, Education is a lifelong investment, but it’s equally important to invest in ourselves. Learning key life skills is essential and today, it is exactly what employers look for when they’re hiring people.
Be the change you wish to see, and approach everything with confidence, whether it’s what you’re currently doing or what you dream of achieving. Stay ambitious, dream big, and success will follow.
What advice would you like to give our readers?
Invest in yourself, whether it’s your appearance, confidence, communication skills, dressing, or personal branding. Creating a strong first impression can leave a lasting impact on others. Follow your dreams and never give up!
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Receiving positive feedback from individuals who have been inspired by my social media content, training sessions, styling events, as well as from friends and family, motivates me to strive for even greater achievements. Seeing the positive changes in their lives and their progress is incredibly fulfilling, as their success feels like a reflection of my own.
Being able to make a positive impact and boost someone’s confidence through my work brings me immense satisfaction. Transforming lives is a rewarding experience, especially when the hard work and effort I put in are recognized and appreciated.
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.
