Women Entrepreneurs: Aparna Mishra’s Bold Choices, and Wisdom for Startups

Can you share a defining moment that shaped your approach to business leadership?

It was in the year 2008, September when I finally decided to quit my Corporate Job with Reliance Communications after working for 18 years. Though it was brewing for long but finally jumped into the vast ocean entrepreneurship and started with Women Shine.

Can you highlight an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

As I am an entrepreneur so for me there is no single specific proud moment, rather I have many moments where I am proud of. The first few deals that I cracked for my venture gave me lot of kick to move, the first payment I received for my venture I am really proud of as these achievements gave me boost to strive and work more.

What initiatives or changes would you like to see in the business landscape to further support women professionals?

Though lot of work is happening by various organizations, government for Women professionals but it needs to speed up more as still many women professionals I interact are not aware of licenses, schemes, so it needs to penetrate more and more

Can you discuss a time when you had to take a bold decision that significantly impacted your career?

During my entrepreneurial journey I have taken few wrong decisions which now I regret I should have not done. Among these wrong ones is my biggest mistake was to invest in an educational startup. As that person was looking for funds and his idea was good and interesting so I thought to be a part of it. But within 2 years I had to exit as it was in losses and my lot of money was invested in that startup and I got no returns on it. So, I had to take a bold decision to exit which impacted me a lot.

What all strategy you generally advice for startups?

We all are riding ride on a roller coaster. The world of entrepreneurship is quite beautiful, amazing but at the same time very risky. So, you need to have an appetite to inhale failures and exhale successes and focus on customer acquisition. Also, your skin needs to be in the game only then you will understand the value of money. Don’t always depend on money getting from outside rather get more sales, increase customers and rotate money.

How women entrepreneur course with Goldman Sachs and ISB Hyderabad really helped you?

Though I am already a Management Graduate but it helped me a lot as my MBA course was revised with more case studies and great mentoring with the teachers. It gave me an opportunity to meet fellow women entrepreneurs and learn a lot from them.

In your opinion, what role does mentorship play in the success of women in business?

It is very important to have a mentor for your business.  They guide, helps in identifying the right business, helps you in getting successes, scaling and networking.

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