I am not a feminist! I believe in equality & fair play

IT field is said to be the male dominated field. How did this field fascinate you? Why did you choose to make your career in the Technology industry?

My tryst with technology was more incidental than a conscious choice. I was doing a part time research analyst job in my brother’s software company while I was pursuing my PGDBA in St. Joseph College in Bangalore. During my short stint in my brother’s company, I started getting fascinated by the internet and the power it holds to drive enormous changes in the way we do the business. That is where the idea of founding Web Bazaar emerged and developed.

What is your role in eMarket Web Technologies Pvt Ltd.? What are your key responsibilities in the company?

I have worn many hats in web bazaar over the years and continue to do so which is typically true for any startup. I sometimes jokingly call myself  the Janitor in chief fashionably known as an entrepreneur. On paper, I am the founder and CEO of Web Bazaar. My key responsibility and focus  is to grow and support the distribution channel that we are building for our latest product ‘Web Bazaar Express – Website in 4 hours.’ This is a box product and we are building a physical channel for distributing the same. So my key responsibility is to identify onboard distributors and dealers and set a system for them to succeed along with us.

Being a senior woman executive what kind of challenges did you face at initial days of your career or facing while dealing with your counterparts?

I have a positive way at looking at challenges because we only learn and grow from encountering challenges. So, I don’t term it as challenges, but the “learning milestones” that we need to cross or overcome. The only big challenge is when people don’t take you or your ideas seriously and the only way to counter that is focus and let the results speak for yourself. Also, let me confess, I am not a feminist!! Instead, I believe in equality and fair play.

Despite of having talent, the ratio of woman entrepreneurs is still very less in the Indian IT industry. According to you, what are the prominent reasons behind low level of participation by women in the technology jobs?

The ratio of women entrepreneurs is low across industries and not in just IT. It is mostly because women are used to put their wants and desires as the last priority and allow life around them to take over. Lack of support, encouragement, confidence from family is also a big reason for their low participation in the challenging jobs.

Does a glass ceiling exist in the IT industry in India? How do you address the issue?

I don’t think it exists now or at least I have not experienced it. Therefore, I cannot comment.

What is your success Mantra in career? What advice you want to give to women IT professional?

My success mantra is simple. Be positively enthusiastic about everything you do. If you can master the art of going from one failure/ struggle to another without losing enthusiasm then you can achieve any goal you set your heart on. Don’t assume that you know it all, reach out for help / seek advice whenever needed. Work on building a strong team that will build your business. Believe in yourself and your capabilities and the world will sit up and take note.

 What are your hobbies and interests and what are your future plans personally and professionally?

My latest hobby is to spend quality time with my 2 year old son and I enjoy doing that. Reading books for him also give me joy. Besides that I dabble into charcoal sketching whenever I get time.  My future plan is to make Web Bazaar’s name synonymous for getting websites.

Please tell us about your family and educational back ground.

My family is in the restaurant business in Mumbai. I have2 elder brothers and both of them are entrepreneurs too. My eldest brother runs a software services company and my second brother manages 3 restaurants in Mumbai.  I have done BCom, M com, LLB, an PGDBA.  I will join a PG course in IIM Bangalore soon.

Please highlight few of your professional achievements.

Web Bazaar was given the Best start up 2009 award. We were given award by Amazon and Silicon India in the internet category. We also won the service leader award in 2012 and this was given to us by Mr. Ron Kaufman who is thought leader on the topic of building service culture in organizations. One of the websites we built was inaugurated by the governor of Karnataka in Raj Bhavan in 2011. We have been featured in many regional newspapers and recently we were featured in the DD news and were interviewed before the prime minister rolled out the Startup Nation initiative.

On a lighter Side

What is your de-stress and fitness mantra?

Cycling, spending time with my son

Who is your role-model?

Indra Nooyi

If not an executive, what you would had like to become?

A Teacher

What is your daily schedule of work?

There is no fixed schedule