She Believed, She Could, So She Did - Shilpa Venkat

They say Geminis are highly creative, that they make great entrepreneurs, that they can be highly artistic and inventive. Well, I am a true-blue Gemini 😊. I love to dabble in multiple things. For me, learning is a never-ending process. I have completed my Masters in English Literature and a PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Media. I started my career as a Sub Editor in Mumbai, later worked as a Senior Editor for a financial firm. Marriage brought me to Pune, the city has opened so many new avenues for me and given my life a new perspective in many different ways. I am a go-getter and have a flair to learn things on my own. I strongly believe in hard work and strong determination. Nothing comes easy in life, unless you have the willpower to achieve it. Choosing to stay away from a fixed full-time career allowed me to try out different experiences over the last decade or more. I have written travel blogs from my own experiences, made and sold quilled and terracotta jewelry for a while, took up amateur and then professional photography. Eventually, what started off as just a simple women’s group to help me market my own services ended up being my largest initiative yet. 

1. What service(s) or product(s) do you offer/manufacture? 

FB -  https://www.facebook.com/wowgroupindia/

Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/wowgroupindia/

I am a Freelance professional photographer and I am also the Founder of WOW Women of wonder Group, Pune. I started learning photography around 9 years back. It all started as a hobby, and slowly my camera became my most cherished possession. Pregnancy put a stop to my photographic pursuits. When my child turned 2, I started again my photography journey (big thanks to my closest friend) as a baby/toddler photographer and I have successfully established myself as a baby photographer. 

It was during my pregnancy phase that I learnt quilling (paper craft) from YouTube and started my own paper jewelry business. 

In 2015, I started a small women’s group on WhatsApp with just 12 members and today it is the biggest women’s business group on Telegram App in Pune. I have experimented with quite a lot of things however I make sure to put my heart and soul in everything I do. 

2. How did you get your idea or concept ?

There’s a popular adage by Thomas Edison – The value of an idea lies in the using of it! We all have never-ending thoughts and ideas, but few have courage to put them into action. I believe in using my thoughts and ideas in action. It has been the same when I started pursuing photography as a hobby but was strong willed to make it professionally too. With WOW Group too, I have done the same. The idea and concept has totally been my brainchild. What started from a small WhatsApp group, slowly bloomed into a full-fledged women’s business group on a messenger app. 

3.What do the day-to-day responsibilities of the role look like ?

Being the Founder of WOW the last 5 years has been the busiest in terms of people management. Running a big group of ladies is not easy. You need to invest all your time. I have become an expert multitasker. I have to be always active in answering queries in group. Every post has to be monitored. WOW is a zero-chaos, super-disciplined group as I make sure that no unnecessary drama unfolds in the group, it’s strictly for business purposes only. I take up photo shoots only on weekends. 

4. What are some of the mistakes you wish you could have avoided ?

Every mistake in life teaches you a great lesson. I have always been naive in trusting people initially, and sharing significant decision-making authority and credit. However, when this is done with people who do not share the same drive as you, it has the tendency to hold you back from all you could achieve. 

5. Are you happy and what would you change ?

Yes!!!! Right now, I’m in a very contented space. I never thought I will achieve so much in life. All I wanted was never to sit idle and keep myself busy in learning new things, or hobbies. But my ideas and initiatives are slowly turning bigger which is so overwhelming to see. I believe in the Power of Positivity. I am sure I will achieve more with my continuous hard work and resolution. 

6. A quote you stand by ...

I am a strong believer of Buddha’s life lessons. A lot has changed in my life once I started following his quotes ardently. This is the quote of Buddha that I standby: Each morning we are Born again, What we do Today is what matters Most!

Wondering, why this whole post is written in first person? Its because this is not written by me, Shilpa didn't just have a worthy story, but also wrote it for all of us. Its said, self doubt is the worst enemy of inspiration. Shilpa is someone who comes across as a very confident yet humble person. People when they turn their passion into profession, they build self. Shilpa on the other hand, didn't just do it for self, rather for thousands of women. This is incredible, as what she has built is not just a community of entrepreneurs, but a community of women(2000+) who help, support, and uplift each other. Hats off to her for the vision and path she created for so many women.

THANK YOU SHILPA!

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