A salute to all the women who have striven to make our lives wonderful! Presenting to you four fabulous inspiring women who have achieved success in their respective fields due to sheer determination and hard work!
Jaya Mahesh, the energetic fitness expert and founder of Jaya Mahesh Body Sculpting Theraphy
1. Your advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs:
It is always about believing in oneself. My favourite line is When the going gets tough, the tough gets going! So no matter what have a goal, stay focused and work hard.
2. Who's your inspiration/role model?
My mom, Mrs. Andal Chandra Mohan is my inspiration. She has taught me the basic scruples and principles in life and that has taken me places.
3. What are the challenges you have faced in becoming the person you are today and how did you overcome them?
Challenges are always there whether you do something or you don't do something. Look at the hurdles as challenges, not as problems. The minute you start looking at it as problems it is going to pull you back. It is always about what next, okay it's happened what do I do about it. It opens arenas, your able to think clearer and move forward. I have faced loads of challenges in my life. Perseverance and determination are the key to go through all that.
I love being a woman! Happy Women's day!
Nazia Syed, the aesthetic Bridal designer who owns the label Nazia Syed
1. Your advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs:
My advice to women entrepreneurs is to believe in yourself. Work really hard and love what you do. You need a lot of perseverance and patience to succeed.
2. Who's your inspiration/role model?
I was very lucky that I had very strong women in my family like my mother and sister. I have seen them work and shuffle their family life. They are my role models.
3. What are the challenges you have faced in becoming the person you are today and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge is to be able to balance family and work and in the design field you need to have an active social life as well. I have been able to overcome it with the support of my family who are the backbones to who I am.
Gayatri Nair, the skillful contemporary wedding photographer and founder of Weddings By Gayatri
1. Your advice for aspiring women professionals:
I know this sounds clich, but follow your heart. I know a lot of us think of the possibilities and are soon discouraged by the pressures of our friends and family (the so-called well-wishers). Every woman, be it a student, a professional, a freelancer, a mother, a wife or any other identity that you wish to take on, has the right to make her own decisions. There will always be people happy to tell you that your chosen path is not the right one. Ignore them. Instead, find your support group. This can be a friend, a family member or a work group, with whom you can actually discuss your ideas and get constructive feedback from.
2. Who's your inspiration/role model?
My parents and my brother are big inspirations for me. My father and mother both taught me that there was no difference between a girl and a boy and that has helped mould me into the person I am today. I get very agitated when I see women being treated differently and always try and speak my mind about it. My brother, despite being 3 years younger, is wiser than me. I look to him for advice and encouragement. I am blessed to have a husband and in-laws who have been totally on-board with my plans and not questioned my decisions. I am also lucky enough to call some amazing women professionals my dear and closest friends. I draw my inspiration from these women whom I have had the pleasure of knowing and learning from. My dear friends, Priti Nigam, a Sustainability Consultant in the UK, Shuchi Mittal, an engineer turned private chef in New York, Riddhi Shah, one of the leads at San Francisco-based Medium.com, Aakanksha Sharma, a HR professional in Singapore, Priyanjoli Basu, a textile designer in Chennai, Shuchi Kapoor, an independent photojournalist & writer and so many more women who I consider my role models. All of these women defy what our traditional Indian society expects of them and I admire them for that.
3. What are the challenges you have faced in becoming the person you are today and how did you overcome them?
I must say my life has not been specially challenging when I compare myself with others! Just by virtue of being a woman in India, I know that there are challenges all women face. For example, Prejudice! A woman should not do this or why are you doing this. Those kind of questions are asked, even questions on society, marriage and children. Women constantly face these challenges in India where they are expected perform a role. So, just breaking away from all of that has been a challenge which is not unique to me because all the women face this. I have a very supportive family. I have such amazing parents who taught me to be intellectually, emotionally and financially independent and my husband who has been supportive in everything I do. I am surrounded with people with positive energy and if I get negative energy from people, I just ignore them and don't let them influence me!
Prakruthi Ananth, a dexterous freelance makeup artist who is fondly known as PrakAtWork
1. Your advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs:
Never let yourself believe that your goals are too great or your dreams are too big. Make a dream board. With some sparkle and some motivation to inspiring you every morning, your goal will be that much closer. Be unstoppable and celebrate today and everyday how damn amazing you already are!
2. Who's your inspiration/role model?
My mother has always been the pillar to my roof. She has not only picked me up when I have fallen, but has picked herself up, brushed herself off and strode confidently into the wild unknown. Overcoming cancer and changing careers in her 40's, my mother can handle anything. With #Hairbyseetha taking off despite her late arrival into the field, she has never let anyone's judgements or opinions demotivate her. And that's who I aspire to be; a strong, self-assured, self-made woman who believes in herself and her vision.
3. What are the challenges you have faced in becoming the person you are today and how did you overcome them?
Born into a family of lawyers and chartered accounts, make up wasn't exactly a celebrated industry to make a career in. But once I realized that my skill was career worthy and my passion was undeterred, nothing could stop me. Everyone eventually came around. So what made me the person I am today was the knowledge that even if it's just you alone, persevering and having faith in your dream, keep at it. The world will eventually come around.