Women's Day: Beauty Products From Donkey's Milk
Women's Day के स्पेशल एपिसोड में GoodReturns की Editor Bhawna ने Organiko Founder-Pooja Kaul से बात की और जाना कैसे हजारों मुश्किलों के बावजूद उन्होंने अपने Startup के नए आयाम तक पहुंचाया. Pooja Kaul की company Organiko, गधी के दूध (Beauty Products From Donkey's Milk) से बयूटी प्रोडक्ट्स बनाती है. Ancient Wisdom से एक Successful Business पूजा ने इस जर्नी में कई चुनौतियों का सामना किया लेकिन उन्होंने हार नहीं मानी. चलिए जानते हैं Women's Day Special में पूजा कॉल की कहानी. Women's Day
#organiko #startup #donkeymilk #womensday #women #womenentreprenuer #internationalwomenday #business #beautyproducts
Women's Day के स्पेशल एपिसोड में GoodReturns की Editor Bhawna ने Organiko Founder-Pooja Kaul से बात की और जाना कैसे हजारों मुश्किलों के बावजूद उन्होंने अपने Startup के नए आयाम तक पहुंचाया. Pooja Kaul की company Organiko, गधी के दूध (Beauty Products From Donkey's Milk) से बयूटी प्रोडक्ट्स बनाती है. Ancient Wisdom से एक Successful Business पूजा ने इस जर्नी में कई चुनौतियों का सामना किया लेकिन उन्होंने हार नहीं मानी. चलिए जानते हैं Women's Day Special में पूजा कॉल की कहानी. Women's Day
#organiko #startup #donkeymilk #womensday #women #womenentreprenuer #internationalwomenday #business #beautyproducts
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hi, this is Bhavna and you are watching Goodreturns.
00:09Welcome to a special episode celebrating Women's Day.
00:12Today we have a very inspiring guest with us, Pooja Kaul, who is the founder of Organico.
00:18Pooja has revolutionized the beauty industry by creating organic beauty products using donkey's milk.
00:24Using traditional and natural skincare, she has taken her business to new heights.
00:31With ancient wisdom, a successful business, Pooja's journey is filled with hard work and passion.
00:38Today we will listen to her journey and find out how a combination of women entrepreneurs' challenges and opportunities
00:44became a part of her success and made her vision a reality.
00:49Welcome Pooja, welcome to Goodreturns.
00:51Thank you so much Bhavna, thank you so much.
00:53Pooja, first we will start with your journey and then we will ask you some women-centric questions.
01:00How did you get the idea of Organico in your mind?
01:04What was the inspiration that brought you to make beauty products using donkey's milk?
01:09So yeah, if I talk about inspiration, then definitely a social aspect was associated with it.
01:15I graduated from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Master in Social Innovation Entrepreneurship.
01:20In my course, there was a compulsory component that everyone has to do a project, thesis kind of, which is given.
01:27And at that time, I had a lot of interest in livelihood creation.
01:33I wanted to create livelihood for people.
01:35And then suddenly, I will say that I accidentally read about donkey milk.
01:40There was a lady in Switzerland who was doing donkey farming.
01:43And at that time, I thought why not implement something like this in India.
01:47Because we can't hear the name of donkey farming here.
01:51Donkey is considered a taboo in itself.
01:53We use it as a curse.
01:55So why not change this point of view and bring livelihood opportunities for nomadic tribal people.
02:03This is how I started during my college days, basically.
02:07The college project was small.
02:09After post-graduation, I pursued full-time and decided to open an entrepreneurship startup.
02:16So, as you said, the existence of donkeys is a stigma in itself.
02:21We use it as a curse.
02:23Especially when we have to tell someone that when we have to use the word mad, then we use this word.
02:29So when you started your own business, did you have to face any difficulties?
02:34Did you have any such moment?
02:36Or if we talk about stigma, when you felt that you should leave everything now.
02:43Definitely.
02:44I won't say one moment.
02:46There were many such moments where I felt that I should give up.
02:49I should go towards an easy way.
02:51Towards an easy career opportunity.
02:53Why is it so difficult to pursue?
02:55Along with that, there was also a pressure of the society, family, and peers.
02:59That you should take a simple job and do 9 to 5.
03:03Live a normal life.
03:06The most challenging part is to change the mindset.
03:10When we mobilized the donkey owners and tribal communities in the community.
03:14We used to tell them that we want to purchase donkey milk from you.
03:17And we will pay you 2000 rupees per liter.
03:20They used to think that we will do some black magic.
03:23We will buy donkey milk and do some black magic.
03:27And their donkeys will die.
03:30We have now changed that point of view.
03:34It was not a matter of one or two days.
03:37It took me more than 4-5 years to change that point of view.
03:41I would say that 0.1% is right.
03:44But somewhere we are successful in changing people's mindset.
03:48There are more than 1000 donkey farms in India.
03:51People are farming and all are educated.
03:54I won't say that they belong to nomadic communities.
03:57The majority of donkey farms belong to educated populations.
04:02One of the biggest opportunities and achievements for us.
04:06That we have brought some change in it.
04:08I would like to know from the perspective of women.
04:12What kind of challenges do women entrepreneurs have to face in today's world?
04:16Especially if I talk about your business.
04:18What kind of challenges have you faced?
04:21Apart from this.
04:23Which you told about your business as a woman entrepreneur.
04:26And how did you convert those challenges in your favor?
04:29Talking about women entrepreneurs.
04:31There are challenges in that.
04:32But being a social entrepreneur.
04:34That to be a woman in our country.
04:36That is a big challenge.
04:37No one will take you seriously.
04:39You will feel that you are opening an NGO.
04:41You are doing social work.
04:42Social work is a different career in itself.
04:44But changing people's mindset.
04:46That there is opportunity in that too.
04:48There is growth in that too.
04:49That is a big challenge.
04:51Secondly, from the funding point of view.
04:53I have faced many investors in my life.
04:55I remember one incident.
04:58I was pitching to an investor.
05:00And 2-3 male candidates came to me.
05:02Everyone liked it.
05:04I was asked this question.
05:05How are you going to manage the business after you get married?
05:08Obviously, it was a bit shocking for me.
05:10That you did not ask this question to a male candidate.
05:12And one of the well-known investors asked me this.
05:15I don't want to take names.
05:16She is in her society and country with a mindset of a woman.
05:21She thinks that once marriage is done.
05:23Once things are done.
05:24How will people manage business?
05:26But if we look at the database.
05:28If we talk about researches and polls.
05:31Women entrepreneurs are more successful than male entrepreneurs.
05:35And if you invest in women.
05:38There are more possibilities than male.
05:42That you will get more returns.
05:44Many researchers have also said this.
05:46But still the stigma and mindset about women.
05:49I don't think so.
05:50There has been so much development in the country that it has changed.
05:53We all face discrimination about women.
05:56We all face gender wiseness.
05:58But many people don't tell.
06:00Plus many people get used to it.
06:03So they don't feel that wiseness.
06:05You are right.
06:07The kind of society we live in.
06:09We get so used to it.
06:11That we believe that we will be asked such questions.
06:15Or we will get to hear such things.
06:18When you make beauty products from donkey's milk.
06:22Before you started this business.
06:25What was your vision?
06:27And how does it differ from regular beauty products.
06:30Which are available in the market.
06:32When I started this journey of entrepreneurship.
06:35My vision was totally centric towards impact creation.
06:39That I want to create an impact.
06:42I want to bring employment opportunity in communities.
06:44I want to do something for the society.
06:46But later I realized.
06:48Without funding, without financial support.
06:51You can't create social impact.
06:53You will do good for the society.
06:55If you have a sustainable funding opportunity.
06:58Or if you have a sustainable revenue line.
07:01If you have a cash flow.
07:03Then you will be able to do good for the society.
07:06You will be able to do something.
07:08Then I realized.
07:11That we will definitely keep the social impact part.
07:15At the same time.
07:17We should focus on creating a brand.
07:20For the last 2-3 years.
07:22We are focusing on creating a brand.
07:24So that people get to know the story of the brand.
07:26So that people don't get to know the brand through social impact.
07:29But people can connect the social impact with the brand.
07:32In that era.
07:34We are working on that side.
07:36To identify the brand.
07:38To identify how the brand is impacting the society.
07:40Rather than.
07:43If this happens.
07:45Then there is an NGO feeling in the mind.
07:47That there are SSG's.
07:49Or we are going in the NGO line.
07:51We are creating that.
07:53The effectiveness and the value of the product.
07:55That doesn't come out in the market.
07:57Leaving that behind.
07:59We are changing the marketing strategy.
08:01Plus the consumer's point of view.
08:03And the community's point of view.
08:05We are trying to change that too.
08:07So obviously.
08:09Your goal was this.
08:11So that people get to know the social impact of the brand.
08:13So that people get to know your brand first.
08:15With this goal.
08:17You slowly made it your target.
08:21How much have you achieved so far?
08:23How successful have you been?
08:25As I said.
08:27When I started.
08:29It was very difficult.
08:31To procure donkey milk.
08:33There are more than 2000 donkey farms in the country.
08:35And the best thing.
08:37I think our efforts.
08:39Created in the communities.
08:41You must know.
08:43The annual husbandry department.
08:45Has a national livestock mission.
08:47Donkey farming.
08:49As one of the alternative.
08:51Employment opportunities.
08:53The source of livelihood.
08:55Has been considered.
08:57So definitely.
08:59You can see the changes.
09:01The efforts that we have started.
09:03The changes are coming.
09:05When I started in 2018.
09:07Donkey farming was not there in India.
09:09Seriously.
09:11When I had to do internship.
09:13It was difficult for me.
09:15To choose the sector.
09:17NRC is being researched.
09:19Donkey is being considered.
09:21Farms are being opened in India.
09:23Donkey farming has started in South India.
09:25People have started drinking donkey milk.
09:27So the small efforts.
09:29That we have put in the past few years.
09:31I can see that we are getting the result.
09:33We are able to achieve it.
09:35The picture is totally different.
09:37Donkey milk will be one of the trending.
09:39Ingredients in the skin care market.
09:41Many new brands will bring it.
09:43Recently I saw Baba Ramdev's.
09:45Instagram account.
09:47He also promoted donkey milk.
09:49When we started.
09:51We were the only one in India.
09:53Who took the initiative.
09:55To create awareness.
09:57It was a very difficult situation.
09:59Now it is well known.
10:01People have started using it.
10:03We keep getting orders.
10:05People keep calling us.
10:07To sell donkey milk.
10:09Earlier we had to go to the communities.
10:11These are the small achievements.
10:13That we have achieved with our efforts.
10:15Even when I was.
10:17Studying about your company.
10:19I saw that you have.
10:21Many other brands.
10:23Who make such beauty products.
10:25Donkey's milk.
10:27They also sell it.
10:29Even our well known.
10:31Sites like Amazon.
10:33Flipkart, Nika.
10:35I was also seeing.
10:37The presence of those brands.
10:41If we talk about the development of your products.
10:43What is the process of development?
10:45What are the special techniques?
10:47Which you use.
10:49To ensure that the products.
10:51Remain completely organic and effective.
10:53First is our USP.
10:55We make products in small batches.
10:57We do not do commercial production.
10:59In small batches.
11:01We do handmade production.
11:03The soaps.
11:05We use cold process method.
11:07Which is an ancient method.
11:09Of soap making.
11:11In which you make soap from scratch.
11:13Oil, distilled water.
11:15Different natural ingredients.
11:17Donkey milk.
11:19One soap takes 30 days to craft.
11:21It goes through a natural process.
11:23We do not use.
11:25Melt and pour.
11:27We do not do anything like that.
11:29We directly source our ingredients.
11:31From the farmers.
11:33We directly source it.
11:35We put it in our products.
11:37Organic ingredients.
11:39We do not use.
11:41Chemicals.
11:43Synthetic color.
11:45Synthetic smell.
11:47We do not use.
11:49All our handmade products.
11:51We go through the handmade process.
11:53Ancient process.
11:55The ingredients.
11:57Our grandmother's recipes.
11:59In the 90s.
12:01With the time.
12:03We have forgotten it.
12:05Our ingredients.
12:07We have incorporated.
12:09Our grandmother's recipes.
12:11We are bringing it to our customers.
12:13Pooja.
12:15How important is sustainability.
12:17How do you ensure.
12:19That your business.
12:21Is eco-friendly and responsible.
12:23If we talk about it.
12:25There is a lot of focus on it.
12:27Packaging.
12:29Reusing waste.
12:31We focus on everything.
12:33We do not create any waste.
12:35In soap.
12:37Zero waste is created.
12:39We have not created any waste yet.
12:41The waste that is created by mistake.
12:43We reuse it and distribute it.
12:45In the communities.
12:47Hygiene and sanitization.
12:49Everyone wants it.
12:51We recreate it and distribute it.
12:55We use glass and recycled paper.
13:01We are not using any plastic at all.
13:09We do not use any plastic.
13:13We have a zero plastic rule.
13:17We do not want to promote it.
13:21If I talk about the milking process.
13:25We have kept it natural.
13:29We do not inject anything.
13:31Every two days we milk.
13:33So that the children.
13:35Can get their mother's milk.
13:37It is very important.
13:39It is not seen in the dairy sector.
13:41People do not pay attention.
13:43We have kept it a priority.
13:45We milk for a time period.
13:474 to 5 months.
13:496 months.
13:53We keep it in the storeroom.
13:57We do not want to impact the animals.
13:59We do not want to affect the children.
14:03It is very important.
14:05This is also a part of sustainability.
14:11We take care of the environment.
14:13We make sure.
14:15That we do not do anything wrong.
14:17Business learning.
14:19You have described it very well.
14:21Through this startup.
14:23What personal learning did you get?
14:25I would like to know about it.
14:29There is one thing in the startup ecosystem.
14:31That is the dark side of the startup ecosystem.
14:33People do not talk.
14:35That was a big personal learning for me.
14:39I have studied entrepreneurship.
14:43I was not told in college.
14:45There are many challenges in it.
14:47Your mental health is also affected.
14:49When it comes to the startup ecosystem.
14:51Many people do not talk about it.
14:53Your struggle.
14:55You are fighting alone.
14:57You cannot tell anyone.
14:59You cannot express.
15:01Those who do not belong to the ecosystem.
15:03They cannot connect either.
15:05They will not understand what is happening.
15:07Your fight alone.
15:09That matters a lot.
15:11How long you can survive.
15:13How long you can survive.
15:15It is all about the startup.
15:17Your commitment.
15:19That matters.
15:21How long you survive in the ecosystem.
15:23That depends on you.
15:25How much you can fight.
15:27There are startups.
15:29That become a 100 crore company overnight.
15:31They get funding.
15:33VCs, angel investors.
15:35There are startups.
15:37That take 5 to 7 years.
15:39To get the first funding.
15:41In the first 2 years.
15:43They give up.
15:45My personal learning is.
15:47Commitment matters.
15:49If you are passionate.
15:51If you are committed.
15:53There are chances.
15:55They can convert in reality.
15:57Then stick.
15:59Stick to the idea.
16:01Stick to the concept.
16:03It will take some time.
16:05It takes 12 to 13 years.
16:07How can a startup happen in 2 years?
16:09It takes time.
16:11It happens slowly.
16:13Second lesson.
16:15Balancing the personal and professional life.
16:17You lose your personal life.
16:19You lose your personal life.
16:21You are too much into your startup.
16:23There is no 9 to 5.
16:25There is no time limit.
16:27365 days.
16:2924 hours.
16:31You work so much.
16:33You don't have time to have food.
16:35Life touches us.
16:37We leave it.
16:39Managing that is very important.
16:41I learned this after a long time.
16:43When I looked back.
16:45I felt.
16:47Friends are not there.
16:49Everyone is busy.
16:51Things have become complicated.
16:53I understood this after a long time.
16:55I believe.
16:57In MBA schools.
16:59Entrepreneurship.
17:01Life skills.
17:03I have not studied this.
17:05Although I have studied social entrepreneurship.
17:07This is the learning.
17:09Two important facts.
17:11You said one thing very well.
17:13Personal and professional life.
17:15If we look at this.
17:17If we look at gender for a second.
17:19Balancing personal and professional life.
17:21It makes it difficult for both.
17:23Whether it is a male entrepreneur.
17:25Whether it is a female entrepreneur.
17:27But I want to understand from the perspective of a woman.
17:29Because.
17:31What we are talking about from the beginning.
17:33For women.
17:35It has always been a mindset.
17:37No matter how much you do outside.
17:39Your startup.
17:41Your job.
17:43You reach any level.
17:45You have to take care of the house.
17:47You have to take care of your family.
17:49You have to take care of your children.
17:51You have to take care of your husband.
17:53You have to do that.
17:55This is the mindset.
17:57No matter how far we go.
17:59You have a family.
18:01Along with this startup.
18:03How did you balance?
18:05In a positive way.
18:07It is very simple.
18:11You have to understand the priorities.
18:13How much time to allot to whom.
18:15That is a very important aspect.
18:17In the same way.
18:19Divide your time.
18:21Neither can the family leave.
18:23Nor can your work leave.
18:25But there are such women.
18:27We know this.
18:29We have seen many cases in society.
18:31In my circle of friends.
18:33I have seen.
18:35They have left their passion for the family.
18:39It is very important to balance.
18:41How much time to allot to whom.
18:43Along with this.
18:45If you are married.
18:47How much time your partner is allotting to the family.
18:49That is also important.
18:51It is not like.
18:53Just because we are born as women.
18:55We have the right to see the family.
18:57We will not see the male.
18:59That is a stereotype.
19:01We have to break it.
19:03We have to move ahead.
19:05Only then.
19:07A woman will be able to follow her passion.
19:09The whole time.
19:11Family, friends, work.
19:13Same as men.
19:15Men also see the family.
19:17They see their personal life.
19:19They see the work.
19:21In both.
19:23You have to see the opportunity.
19:25You have to balance.
19:27That is important.
19:29I have done the same.
19:31I have discussed this with my family.
19:33I have discussed with my partner.
19:35This is the thing.
19:37It is very important for me.
19:39I want to give some time to this.
19:41I need some time to grow my career.
19:43Then only I can decide.
19:45How to manage.
19:47Mutual understanding.
19:49Mutual balance.
19:51Mutual understanding is very important.
19:53In any family, relationship.
19:55Friendship, work.
19:57Most important part.
19:59Entrepreneurship or regular career.
20:01Communication.
20:03Communication is very important.
20:05Very right.
20:07You are a leader in your business.
20:09According to you.
20:11Women should be encouraged in leadership roles.
20:13In society.
20:15Do you see any barriers?
20:17Women's leadership.
20:19Definitely.
20:21If we see wages.
20:23Salary scale.
20:25Men and women.
20:27You can see.
20:29We are stopped from leadership.
20:31In the same position.
20:33You are giving different pay scale.
20:35This is a clear example.
20:37There is still a gap in society.
20:39It is very important to fill it.
20:41It will take a lot of time.
20:43Although we are developing.
20:45It will take a lot of time.
20:47It will take a lot of time to fill the gap.
20:49I think so.
20:51In leadership position.
20:53Women can perform better than men.
20:55They are trained at home.
20:57In the field.
20:59In the workplace.
21:01They can take the lead.
21:03Naturally.
21:05It is natural.
21:07As a woman.
21:09It comes naturally.
21:11We are born with leadership.
21:13But at home.
21:15We are not professional.
21:17But people who are professional.
21:19In leadership position.
21:21You know.
21:23We know.
21:25They perform well.
21:27What are your future plans?
21:29What direction do you want to go?
21:31Expanding your business.
21:33We have a lot of future plans.
21:37We are working on new products.
21:39Skin care products.
21:41We are going to bring it to the market.
21:43Along with that.
21:45We are experimenting food with donkey milk.
21:47To enter into the industry.
21:49In the future.
21:53Donkey milk is a super thing.
21:55It is known for superfood.
21:57How we can reach general people.
22:03We are experimenting with it too.
22:07We have trials.
22:09Along with that.
22:11Our main focus is on South India because people are already aware of donkey milk and consume it there.
22:19So our main focus is to expand it in the South region.
22:26Pooja, according to you, how important is it to support each other?
22:31Because you are also thinking of expanding your business.
22:35Not only beauty products but you are also thinking of expanding your business.
22:40So how important is it to support each other?
22:45Has there been any woman mentor or role model in your career whom you have been inspired by?
22:53Definitely, my entire team is female.
22:56We don't have any male members in our team.
22:59I don't talk much about this but my entire team has helped me to reach here.
23:06Our model is female centric.
23:09I think there will be one male who is working part time.
23:12Otherwise, all are female only who are associated full time.
23:15Secondly, if I talk about mentorship, definitely the college project we started.
23:20My first mentor was a female.
23:22She supported me a lot to enter in this field.
23:25Because in college, I decided that after doing pilot project, I will quit and go for a job.
23:30I also got placement in Rajasthan government.
23:33I was getting a government job.
23:35So there was peer pressure and family pressure to pursue it and settle in 9 to 5.
23:40But my professor and my sister played a big role in supporting me and pushing me.
23:48So I will not deny this.
23:50Definitely, female's support is very important in any life aspect.
23:55It is not necessary that female is just a mentor.
23:57Female can be your mother, sister or best friend.
24:01But I believe that if a female motivates more than a male, we can connect more.
24:07We build more trust that we can also do something if the other person believes in us.
24:13In my case, I was very fortunate and lucky that I had 7 females who pushed me to move forward.
24:20I hope that all the viewers and listeners have female mentors like your sister or mother.
24:29You can take mentorship from them.
24:31You will get motivation from them.
24:32You will understand how they managed their house and business.
24:36Everything is interconnected.
24:37It is not about that if someone is managing house, he can't manage business.
24:40If someone is managing business, he can't manage house.
24:42Everyone is a different leader in their area.
24:45We can take leadership lessons from everyone.
24:48Very rightly said.
24:49In beauty industry, most of the women dominate.
24:56But you chose a different approach and that is donkey's milk.
25:01Do you think there are stereotypes that women entrepreneurs have to break?
25:06Especially in unconventional fields.
25:08Definitely, there are.
25:10We can't deny this.
25:12This is a big question in itself.
25:15Every female who is in business or startup, they are facing.
25:22Either a male is dominating them in decision making or you are facing problems in funding.
25:29First of all, I think finance is an area.
25:32I am a part of incubation and female circle.
25:36Financial management.
25:38Management in the sense, how to secure finance.
25:41That is a big expectation for females.
25:43There are many people who, if there is a male co-founder with a female,
25:48then they trust that yes, we can fund in this.
25:50If there are two female co-founders or a single female co-founder.
25:54For a single female founder, it becomes very difficult to survive in this ecosystem.
25:59I have faced it myself.
26:01I am a single founder, basically a female founder.
26:03I have faced the same issue that people don't trust.
26:06They think, what if you go somewhere in the future?
26:09What if you get married in the future?
26:11What if you have children in the future?
26:13How will you manage?
26:14You have to answer that question continuously.
26:17You have to tell people that it is not necessary that something like this will happen.
26:21It is not necessary.
26:22The system is running in the same way.
26:24If someone builds a house, he cannot build a career.
26:26He cannot fulfill his career.
26:28It is a little difficult to change the system.
26:32There are a lot of challenges.
26:34Everyone has to face it.
26:35I have heard from the female entrepreneurs in my circle.
26:39Either they are not getting support from their families in entrepreneurship.
26:42Or they are not getting time from their families.
26:44That's why they are not able to give more time.
26:46A lot of commitment is needed to pursue full-time.
26:48A lot of people are lacking that.
26:51Because of other responsibilities they have.
26:53Because of that.
26:55What does success mean to you, Pooja?
26:57Especially as a woman in business.
27:00Do you think that women's success should be measured differently from the traditional definition?
27:05Definitely.
27:06For me, I will define satisfaction in one word.
27:09That is success for me.
27:11If I am satisfied with my work, my life, my family and the time I am balancing.
27:17I think that is the success for me.
27:19In monetary terms, you can measure the success of the business.
27:26Whether the business is successful, the startup is successful or it is a failure.
27:30But as a person, satisfaction matters a lot.
27:33I think it is the same for you.
27:35If there is no satisfaction from any side.
27:37Whether it is from the side of family, business or career.
27:40If there is no satisfaction from any angle.
27:42Our mental health defects.
27:45We feel very low.
27:47Women tend to feel low automatically.
27:50I think that is the hit.
27:52Satisfaction matters a lot.
27:55For me, achievement will measure my success and satisfaction.
28:00I feel that a lot of women will be able to connect with this.
28:04They will be able to relate to this.
28:06Satisfaction.
28:07Even if you fail.
28:09Even if you want to do something, you are not able to do it.
28:12Even if you don't do it, you should be satisfied.
28:14At least I tried.
28:16I will try more in the future.
28:18Satisfaction is very important.
28:20Trying is important.
28:23We didn't give up in the beginning.
28:25At least I gave a few years.
28:27I tried.
28:28I pitched to investors.
28:29After 2 years, the company failed.
28:32After 5 years, we decided to quit.
28:34But at least we tried.
28:36That is important.
28:37We did hard work.
28:38We achieved something in our case.
28:42Then we decided to take a pause.
28:45We need to work on ourselves.
28:47Then we will jump again from different points.
28:50That is very important.
28:52Satisfaction matters a lot.
28:54What advice would you give to women who want to start their own business?
28:59Any tips to make their journey easier?
29:02Yes.
29:03I will give the simplest and most realistic tip.
29:09Don't rush.
29:12Don't rush.
29:14Give time.
29:16Not in 1 year.
29:17Not in 2 years.
29:18Give at least 3 years.
29:20Give little by little.
29:21But wait for 3 years to understand it.
29:24In 1st year, you start understanding things.
29:27You start allocating resources.
29:30In 3rd year, you understand whether you want to pursue it or not.
29:35But some people give up in the 1st year.
29:39They say that there is no profit this year.
29:41Profit doesn't happen suddenly.
29:43If you talk to a lot of businesses,
29:45it takes 3-4 years to earn profit.
29:48It takes 5 years to reach break-even.
29:51But you should definitely have a passion and commitment.
29:56Then only you will stop.
29:58You will stop at that place to fulfill that thing.
30:01If you are missing that commitment,
30:03then you should rethink your startup.
30:08If you are committed towards your goal and vision,
30:10then definitely the startup ecosystem is for you.
30:13Pooja, I would like to ask you a hypothetical question.
30:17We are in a tough industry where women are dominating.
30:22This is a women-led industry.
30:24If you were in a male-dominated industry,
30:28what kind of challenges would you face?
30:33How would you deal with them?
30:35How would you face them?
30:37How would you rise from them and start again?
30:44This is an unsaid question.
30:47But males have already dominated.
30:50Technology is being promoted a lot in India.
30:55Majority of startups in technology are male-led.
30:59They have male founders.
31:02Non-tech startups get less opportunities.
31:06They are given less focus.
31:12I would say that I am facing this.
31:19This is not a hypothetical situation for me.
31:22I am currently facing this.
31:24Tech is being promoted a lot.
31:26Everyone is towards technology.
31:28If you have a skincare startup,
31:30then bring tech to the website.
31:33Bring AI to tell you about skin.
31:36It is a little difficult to fight that.
31:39It is difficult for women who don't know technology.
31:43Majority of women don't know tech.
31:47They have studied other fields other than science.
31:53It is challenging for them.
31:55It is difficult to fit in that field.
32:00In my case,
32:02to get rid of that,
32:05you have to change your perspective.
32:07Soap making is a simple process.
32:09It is traditionally a handmade process.
32:11In my case,
32:13I have to explain the process scientifically.
32:17They think there is something technological in it.
32:22You have to change your point of view.
32:26When it comes to male domination,
32:30it is the same with any other sector or career.
32:33If I was in any other sector,
32:35where male domination was prevalent,
32:37I would have changed my point of view.
32:39I would have explained and communicated.
32:41So that people understand.
32:43From that point,
32:45you should make them understand in the language
32:47they want to hear and understand.
32:49I think this is the solution at this time.
32:51I have one last question for you.
32:53The focus of self-care and wellness in your business,
32:57what impact does it have on your personal life?
33:00What is the role of self-love and confidence for you?
33:04Especially as a woman entrepreneur.
33:06Self-love is very important for me.
33:09If you don't love yourself,
33:11if you don't thank yourself,
33:13you won't be able to thank anyone else.
33:15You won't be able to be thankful for anyone else.
33:17So it is very important.
33:19It is also said that if you want a glowy skin,
33:22definitely love yourself.
33:24No product will work on your skin.
33:26If you love yourself,
33:28your skin will glow on its own.
33:30This is a very famous line in the wellness industry.
33:32Definitely that matters a lot.
33:34I have PCOS.
33:36I have a very sensitive skin condition.
33:38In that case,
33:40it becomes very difficult for you
33:42to build confidence.
33:44Breakouts keep happening.
33:46Skin condition, texture, etc.
33:48Products have definitely worked for me.
33:50But the most important thing for me
33:52is self-love.
33:54I don't say anything bad to myself.
33:57I never tell myself that
33:59I haven't done anything in my life.
34:01People are going ahead of me.
34:03But I feel that
34:05I have done more than what I could do
34:07at my level.
34:09That love can be seen in you.
34:11It brings that glow inside you.
34:13As a beauty expert,
34:15I will say that self-love
34:17matters more than skin care.
34:19So please definitely do skin care.
34:21Apply sunscreen.
34:23But also do self-love a lot.
34:25It will give you the confidence
34:27to stand out in the society.
34:29Three things related to that only.
34:31Pooja, your journey
34:33and your thoughts
34:35are very inspiring.
34:37You told us
34:39what are the challenges
34:41for women.
34:43How can you convert your challenges
34:45into opportunities?
34:47When the situation is not in your favor,
34:49how can you bring it in your favor?
34:51As we heard,
34:53in the beginning
34:55when you were going to buy donkey's milk,
34:57you had to hear bad things
34:59like black magic and all.
35:01So obviously,
35:03it demotivates some people.
35:05But you didn't get demotivated.
35:07You stayed motivated and achieved your goal.
35:09Many congratulations
35:11for this venture of yours.
35:13I wish you all the very best
35:15so that you can reach
35:17new heights and new stages of success.
35:19Thank you so much
35:21for joining us and talking to us.
35:23Thank you so much.
35:25Really nice talking.
35:51Thank you all the ladies and all the viewers
35:53for watching us.