Natasha, a brilliant engineering student, graduated from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-
Mumbai.
Landing a dream job
Her exceptional skills and knowledge secured her a coveted position in an IT company based in
Bangalore, where she embarked on an exciting and promising career.
She was excited and called her parents after completing her campus interview.
Natasha: (on the phone with her parents) “Mom, Dad, I have some exciting news! I landed a plum job with an IT company in Bangalore!”
Mother: “That’s wonderful, Natasha! We’re so proud of you, beta. Finally, all your hard work has paid off.”
Father: “Congratulations, my dear. This is a big opportunity for you. But remember, it’s your first time living alone in a different city. We’re a bit anxious about your well-being.”
Natasha: “I understand, Dad. It’s a new chapter for me, but I’m ready for this adventure. The company has arranged a service apartment for me until I find a permanent home.”
Mother: “That’s good to hear, Natasha. We want you to be safe and comfortable. Make sure to take care of yourself.”
Natasha: “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be careful. I’ll miss you both, but we can stay connected through video calls.”
Father: “Indeed, technology has made the world a smaller place. Just focus on your career, and we’ll always be here to support you.”
Natasha: “Thank you, Mom and Dad. Your support means the world to me. I promise to make you proud.”
With the assurance and encouragement from her parents, Natasha embarked on her journey to Bangalore,
ready to begin her new job and build a life of her own.
Natasha came from a middle-class family. Her father was a government employee, and her
mother was a homemaker. She had no siblings and was, therefore, the only focus of her
parents. Their world was centered around Natasha.
Stepping into the professional world
Natasha reached Bangalore. Her company booked her stay in a service apartment until she could find a permanent home. It took a little while for her to find a one-bedroom furnished apartment close to her place of work.
Natasha soon settled in and got used to the rigour of her working life and the 9am to 5pm job. One year into her career, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning to roots
Natasha decided to work from Mumbai since the company had declared to shut down its offices and asked its employees to work from home.
For her parents, this was a blessing in disguise. During this critical and scary period, they would have their daughter stay with them.
Natasha was hardworking and got on well with her team members. She quickly learned the project management skills and was assigned a product development project which she was
successfully leading virtually.
Her patient and joyful personality and good attitude made it easy for her to communicate and coordinate work virtually with her team.
In March 2021, the company decided to partially open its offices. It allowed the employees to come to the office twice a week.
Natasha made a monthly visit to Bangalore to meet the team in person and spend time in the office.
During one such visit, she met one of her senior directors, Nitin Shetty. Nitin had decided to exit the company to start his own business. It was an education start-up, and Nitin was putting together a team to build a training platform.
Inspiration from a mentor
Nitin invited Natasha for lunch and explained to her his start-up vision and how he planned to pitch to investors.
Nitin: (over lunch) “Natasha, I’m really glad we got the chance to meet today. I wanted to share my start-up vision with you. I’m planning to build an education platform that revolutionizes the way students learn.I’ve been working on this idea for a while now, and I believe it has tremendous potential.”
Natasha: “That sounds fascinating, Nitin. Education is such an important field, and I can see the impact your platform could have. But I must admit, I’m still unsure about leaving my current job and joining a start-up.”
Nitin: “I understand your concerns, Natasha. It’s a big decision to leave behind a well-paid job for the uncertainties of a start-up. But I believe in you and your skills. You have the potential to make a real difference here. Think about the opportunity to head the product development group and shape the future
of education.”
Natasha: “I appreciate your faith in me, Nitin. It’s just that I have very little knowledge about the start-up world. It’s a completely different environment from what I’m used to. I want to take some time to consider all the factors and talk to some of my classmates who are already in the start-up industry.”
Nitin: “That’s completely understandable, Natasha. Take all the time you need. I believe in making informed decisions. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to me. Just know that if you decide to join, we would be thrilled to have you on board.”
Natasha: “Thank you, Nitin. I appreciate your understanding. I’ll definitely think it over and keep your offer in mind. If I do decide to make a change, I’ll reach out to you. I hope you understand my situation.”
Nitin: “Of course, Natasha. Your career path is ultimately your decision. I respect that. I wish you the best in your current job, and if things change, I hope we can work together in the future.”
Though Natasha chose to continue with her current company, the conversation with Nitin left a seed of curiosity and possibility in her mind. She knew that if she ever wanted to explore the start-up world, Nitin’s offer would be a valuable opportunity.
Natasha continued with her present company.
The grind of corporate life
The 9am to 5pm grill became mundane for her as working hours stretched beyond 5pm. Since she was working with a virtual team and global stakeholders, the Zoom calls with her team and stakeholders would go past 6pm and sometimes late evening hours.
She had no time to look after her parents. Things started getting worst when her mother was diagnosed with covid and had to be hospitalized. The stress of managing her mother’s health and office work started taking a toll on her.
Natasha started thinking there must be more to life than this corporate slavery. She talked to some of her classmates from the IIT. She had completed two and half years with the present company and was known for her agility and technical skills.
Family aspirations and personal reflections
With the overwhelming work hours and challenges at home becoming too much for her to manage, she took a month’s vacation. She wanted to spend the vacation talking to people and reflecting on what she needed to do to have a more balanced life.
While Natasha was thinking about her career, her parents were worried about her marriage. They wanted to see her settled in life with a suitable partner. Natasha had always ducked her mother’s effort to get her married since she wanted to pursue and grow in her career.
Natasha connected with her IIT alumni network and a few classmates to explore AI start-up opportunities. She had a few ideas but was hesitant to take the first step. The fear of failure and the risk of giving up a well-paid job held her back.
Finding inspiration in Richa’s success story
She heard Richa’s success story during lunch with some of her friends. Richa was her senior at IIT and, soon after college, had set up an e-commerce site selling cosmetics. Within one year, her business had taken off.
Richa’s story inspired Natasha to think. She had several ideas on the Ed Tech space but needed a nudge to get out of her comfort zone. After talking to Richa, she started working on a start-up plan.
Natasha reached out to some of her seniors in college, who agreed to mentor her. She discussed her plans with her parents.
Natasha: (sitting with her parents in the living room) “Mom, Dad, I have something important to discuss with you. I’ve been working on a business plan for a start-up.”
Mother: (concerned) “A start-up? But, beta, you have a stable job already. Are you sure about this?”
Father: (supportively) “Natasha, we want you to be happy and fulfilled in your career. But starting a business is risky. Have you thought it through?”
Natasha: (determined)”I understand your worries, Mom and Dad. It’s a big leap,but I have a vision and a plan. I believe in this opportunity and I’m willing to take the risk. I’ve discussed it with some of my mentors and classmates, and they believe in me too.”
Mother:(still worried) “What about the financial aspect, Natasha? Starting a business requires funds.Are you prepared for that?”
Natasha: “I’ve been working on it, Mom. Some of our relatives have agreed to finance my initiative.And I’ve also managed to convince a few angel investors who believe in the potential of my start-up. I won’t be alone in this journey.”
Father: (thoughtfully) “Well, Natasha, we know how driven and capable you are. We’ve always supported your dreams. If you truly believe in this, we’ll stand by you and support you.”
Natasha: (gratefully) “Thank you, Mom and Dad. Your support means everything to me. I’ll continue with
my current job for now, working from 9am to 5pm, and dedicate my weekends and evenings to shaping
my business plan. With your encouragement and the help of my mentors and investors, I’ll make this
dream a reality.”
As Natasha discussed her plans with her parents, the setting was their cosy living room, filled with a sense
of apprehension and hope.
The familiar surroundings offered a safe space for the family to express their concerns and support. The
room was adorned with family photographs and cherished memories, serving as a reminder of their unwavering bond.
Together, they navigated the uncertainties and challenges that lay ahead, unified in their commitment to
Natasha’s aspirations.
While they were skeptical and worried, they stood with Natasha while she was giving some shape to her dreams.She continued with her 9am to 5pm job and spent time firming up her business plan on weekends and evenings.
Some of her relatives agreed to finance her initiative.She also convinced a few angel investors and some other mentors on this new journey.
While Natasha was good at technology and platform development work, her upbringing had never prepared her for an entrepreneurial journey. She always had a very sheltered upbringing. She felt nervous when she decided to quit her full-time job and submitted her resignation letter. She was in the process of turning around her first business idea into an actual business, and the thought of it was super exciting for her.
Taking the Leap: Embarking on an Entrepreneurial Path
Richa became her mentor and supported her in sales and marketing. She helped her in hiring a small team. While the entire product development work was done by Natasha, Richa became a co-founder. She invested her time and finances in marketing efforts.
Natasha’s product knowledge and passion for solving customer problems stood her well. She soon got a good client base, and money started flowing in. It took her almost six months of hard work and many sleepless nights to get her first paid customer.
This was the moment of truth for Natasha. During this process, she learnt new skills and gained experience. It took a lot of work. But after the first success, a new rush of self-confidence flowed into her.
Throughout the process, her parents, Richa and some of her IIT classmates helped her gain footing in her business.
A Moment in the Spotlight: Young Turks Interview
A few days later, Natasha got a call from the CNBC news channel for the Young Turks Show.
This show spotlights young entrepreneurs poised to become tomorrow’s leaders. It was a surreal
moment for her. She was thrilled and nervous at the same time. She knew this was an opportunity to share her journey and inspire others.
Natasha prepared herself for the interview. She rehearsed her answers and talked to Richa, who had been
through a similar experience, for some last-minute advice.
The day of the interview arrived. Natasha walked into the CNBC studio, feeling a mix of excitement and jitters. She was greeted by the show’s host, Arjun.
Arjun: “Welcome, Natasha! We’re excited to have you on the Young Turks Show. Your journey as a young
entrepreneur is truly inspiring. Can you tell us a bit about how you started your own business?”
Natasha: “Thank you, Arjun. It’s an honor to be here. Well, it all began when I met Nitin, a senior director at my previous company, who had started his own education start-up. His vision and passion sparked something in me, and I started considering the idea of joining the start-up world. However, I decided to continue with my job at that time. But as the work hours and challenges grew, I realized I wanted more balance in my life. I took a vacation to reflect and connect with my network, and that’s when the idea of starting my own AI start-up took shape.”
Arjun: “That sounds like a transformative journey. How did you overcome the fear of failure and take the
leap into entrepreneurship?”
Natasha: “It wasn’t easy, I must admit. The fear of leaving a well-paid job and the risk of failure held me back initially. But I drew inspiration from successful entrepreneurs like Richa, who had taken their own leaps of faith. Their stories showed me that it’s possible to turn dreams into reality. With the support of my mentors, including Richa, and my family, I gained the courage to quit my job and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.”
Arjun: “That’s commendable, Natasha. Can you tell us more about your start-up and the challenges you faced along the way?”
Natasha: “Certainly! My start-up focuses on leveraging AI technology to revolutionize education. We aim
to provide personalized and interactive learning experiences to students. The biggest challenge was navigating the start-up ecosystem and learning new skills as I went along. From developing the product to
building a team and acquiring clients, there were many sleepless nights and moments of uncertainty.
However, with perseverance and the support of my parents, mentors, and friends, I overcame those
challenges and found success.”
Arjun: “That’s impressive, Natasha. How did you manage to balance your work and personal life?”
Natasha: “Finding that balance was definitely a struggle, especially in the early stages. However, I realized that taking care of myself and maintaining a support system were crucial. I made sure to prioritize my well-being and spend quality time with my family. Having mentors like Richa, who understood the challenges of entrepreneurship, also helped me navigate the ups and downs.”
Arjun: “It’s inspiring to see how you’ve grown both personally and professionally. What advice would you
give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?”
Natasha: “I would say, believe in yourself and your ideas. Don’t let fear hold you back from pursuing your
dreams. Surround yourself with a strong support system and mentors who can guide you along the way.
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and most importantly, never stop learning. Entrepreneurship is a journey of constant adaptation and resilience.”
Arjun: “Thank you, Natasha, for sharing your incredible journey with us. It’s been a pleasure having you
on the show. We wish you continued success in your entrepreneurial endeavors.”
Natasha: “Thank you, Arjun. It’s been an honor to be here. I hope my story inspires others to pursue their
dreams.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Natasha’s story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the pursuit of passion.
Her journey, from a bright engineering student to a trailblazing entrepreneur, embodies the spirit of endless possibilities and the rewards that come from chasing one’s dreams.