I began my career with Mu Sigma, a technology company, and got the opportunity to work with Fortune 500 companies in the USA.  I am an avid reader and hence being a storyteller comes naturally to me. I wrote two books, the first one ‘Y.O.U’  was announced as a best-seller by The New Indian Express & the Oxford bookstores, and the second book was titled ‘How I was forced to become a staunch RACIST’. When I decided to pursue entrepreneurship, I decided to stick to the media space where I authored 70 original scripts. I exited after 3 years when my company was acquired by a Bombay-based production house. My experience with my first start-up gave me the insight that even large corporations make marketing decisions based on how they feel about the content instead of using data to get the best results. Here is where I stepped in with Instoried to help marketers/ content creators or just about anyone to create content that is more empathetic and thereby more likely to convert. Humans are emotionally driven and it is important to communicate with empathy be it in business or in personal relationships. Instoried has been on the forefront of the empathetic revolution for content.

What are the biggest hurdles that you faced in your journey?

My biggest challenge was getting the team in place and ensuring that there are always enough funds to spend for the same. After my savings were exhausted, I had to break my PPF account, despite my parent’s disapproval. Subsequently, I mortgaged my jewelry and used the money to pay salaries. Once the team was set, I was confident of our journey being positive even if it would have a few hurdles in between. I am very happy to share that we now have an outstanding team, 60% of which are women.

Failures are the best teachers so how did you overcome that?

I strongly believe that a failure only happens if you conclude it as a failure. If you are persistent, innovative, and agile you can always convert a failure into an opportunity. In my own case, because I knew that a fund shortage is only a temporary setback if you allow yourself room to innovate and grow, I persisted and invested my own personal savings to grow. You don’t fail if you persist and are quick enough to make changes to the way you do things.

Your opinion on the current situation of OTT platforms or the scope for young writers

OTT platforms provide lucrative prospects to budding content creators. Demand for OTT content based on geo-demographics is on the rise, both within India and internationally. I think the year 2022 is definitely going to be an exciting year for OTT players as the content pipeline will be stronger than ever.

Share 3 advice for young entrepreneurs and storytellers

1. Persevere and don’t stop!
2. Team is everything. Running a start-up is not a one man show!
3. Money, name and success are all transient. The only one that prevails is the relationship with humans. So be grounded, humble and empathetic in life.

The post In Conversation With Sharmin ALi- An author, Entrepreneur And Writer appeared first on The Pink Journey.

I was always interested in spirituality, but I can say my spiritual journey began in earnest when I started reading the Bhagavad Gita during my first pregnancy. I also studied the Vedas, Upanishads, and Swami Vivekananda’s works in quest of spiritual knowledge.

I can say that I had a blessed life, and I had not experienced any major problems. But the birth of my daughter Shruti, who was a special child, changed my life forever. She had a shunt in the brain and underwent four brain surgeries by the time she was just four months old. I had to take Shruti to various doctors in therapy centers. I realized that having a special kid is a huge trauma for any parent, but the situation is especially challenging when one is not financially strong. Special children have special needs and they require certain things to just survive, but these things are very expensive, and way beyond the reach of most people. The poor have to struggle through every single day of therapy. Moreover, the therapy does not lead to immediate results, and it takes years for special kids to acquire even basic skills.

While I was much better off, some instances got me thinking. Once I came across a couple during therapy who used to have only buttermilk for lunch every alternate day because they didn’t have money. I was shaken, and I told myself that I need to do something to help such people. Initially, I started supporting needy people I came across during visits to therapy centres with Shruti. I had helped 10 people, but I realized that there are many more people out there who need help. This is how the idea of establishing an NGO to support such people came, which took shape in the form of Madhuram Charitable Trust. I did not know how to begin, but the law degree came in handy. Our intention was noble and we received support from everyone.

In just over two years, the Trust has achieved much more than I had imagined. We have supported more than 1,000 special kids in one way or the other. Later, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, we launched Project Stepathon with an aim to distribute prosthetic legs to physically challenged persons. We have distributed high-tech prosthetic legs imported from Germany to 85 beneficiaries so far, and we aim to cross 100 very soon.

Going ahead, I plan to ensure the beneficiaries of prosthetic legs are literally standing on their own by providing them with employment opportunities and helping them become financially independent. I am in talks with companies that can absorb some of the beneficiaries.  Another target going ahead is to open an aqua therapy centre for special kids. These kids are looked down on in general facilities due to a lack of awareness about their condition. I am already talking to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, which is very supportive of such a center. I am confident there will be good news to share shortly.

(The author is Founder and Trustee of Madhuram Charitable Trust, an NGO working for the specially abled)

The post Journey of Shraddha Soparkar who Runs a NGO called Madhuram Charitable Trust appeared first on The Pink Journey.