Tell us something about your studio in New Delhi renowned by your name?
A very warm hello to all !!! I'm SheetalBatra and I design exquisite Indian Ethnic wear. My studio is in GK3, New Delhi. We specialize in Indian wear adorned with exquisite traditional embroideries.
Your styling & designing sense is awe-inspiring. What inspired you to turn this skill into a profession?
I started designing for family and friends. My love for detailing and beautiful colour combinations soon got my designs noticed by a lot of people and thus a hobby transformed into a full time career.
Please share your future goals.
We have a client base of over 1500 clients and we host a lot of private shows too. We just did a show in SFO and received an overwhelming response. In the near future we are going online and are also planning to host a lot of shows overseas.
What all challenges did you face and what were your strategies to overcome them?
The journey so far has been very rewarding but a lot of hard work goes into it. It's a challenge to keep designing new styles every week and to make sure that the quality is always optimum. A lot of hard work keeps you on track with the ever increasing demands of our profession.
What's your opinion about whether women can have it all?
Of course women can have it all. Here I would like to add that a supportive spouse makes it very easy. My husband is my pillar of strength and has helped me from the very beginning. In fact he is the one who encouraged me to start this business and advices me till today at every step.
What piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring youth who wish to pursue their dream of becoming an entrepreneur?
My advice to young women is that dream big and be very true to your work. If you are a hard working woman and are true to your work the world will be your oyster... There will be no looking back.
According to you, what are the top three essential skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
According to me the number one skill is sheer hardwork.The way you deal with your clients is also so very important. A client feels so much more comfortable with you if you are soft-spoken and genuine. Last but not the least is how well you keep your staff. If they are happy with you they would always put in that extra effort for the company's progress.
How have you managed the work-life balance and has the family been supportive?
Striking a perfect balance is so so important for every working woman. I try to achieve that balance by spending time with family on weekends and taking the kids out for small vacations from time to time. A small two day break also makes you so rejuvenated and gets you close to your loved ones. Family has been extremely supportive and as stated earlier my husband is my pillar of strength and has helped me from the very beginning. In fact he is the one who encouraged me to start this business and advices me till today at every step.
What are your views and opinions towards the ambiguous need to promote women entrepreneurship and women empowerment in India?
It is important to promote women entrepreneurship in India as it will give women a deserving respect in society. They will be more confident and would make their dreams a reality.
