Tell us about yourself – What does the future hold for you?
I am Vidhi Sagar, co-founder of an inspirational platform named www.feministaa.com. I have been running this venture for about a year now and it has been a tumultuous, yet a fruitful journey for me. I did my undergraduate studies in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the Prestigious Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA. After coming back to India, I pursued my degree in CS (company secretary). Next, I found myself heading a Senior Secondary School as the Administrative Head. While I was pursuing this job, I started writing for a website. It was the passion to write which resulted in formulating of the platform, www.feminsitaa.com. I left my job and started devoting all my time to this venture.
Tell us about the company you have set up – when did you set it up, what products or services do you provide, what is your target market?
Currently, www.feministaa.com is an e-magazine, which features women achievers, inspirational celebrities and new generation start-ups. There are also videos of inspiring women answering some of the most asked questions. It’s very women-centric but we try to make ourselves different by focusing on valuable information and filtered quality content.
We also run corporate mentorship workshops in corporate offices. These workshops are mainly for female employees who have a lot of questions but there is no one to answer or they are hesitant to ask. We discuss unconventional topics such as balancing work/life and dealing with stress. This helps them improve their productivity at work.
Why did you set up the company? / What drove you to become an Entrepreneur?
The reason I decided to set up the company was because I too, was a victim of having no inspiration. I felt demotivated in life and a boring routine was not giving me a sense of fulfilment. I wanted to create something unique and I saw women around me having the same problem. Inspiration is something we need everyday, so why not create a platform where we have a community of women who are inspiring and are willing to inspire others as well. My own problem of having no inspiration pushed me to fill the gap.
Entrepreneurship is a drug. Once you become one, you can’t work under anyone else. It’s a beautiful feeling of being your boss but it brings with itself tonnes of responsibilities. I decided to be an entrepreneur because I felt it was the right time to take a risk. Sometimes, you have to take a plunge immediately because you wouldn’t do it otherwise. It requires a lot of hard work and patience but it’s definitely worth the pain.
What has been your biggest challenge in achieving your success?
My biggest challenge has been creating the perfect team. The right team is behind the success of any venture and getting the right people is a challenge. It’s very hard to find the people who can understand your vision, because not everyone can see and understand what you are trying to create. Once you have the right people on-board, you are half way through.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
I believe we are still on our way to achieve greater heights. I believe small compliments and applauds are my achievements for now. When I tell someone about what Feministaa is all about, I get nothing but, “bravo!” I have a bigger vision for Feministaa and any achievement we get right now is nothing but a pat on the back, to move forward and see the bigger picture.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration has by far been my dad, who had a vision to give the best life possible to his family. He created everything from scratch while paying his own tuition for college. He lost his dad when he was just five and lived an average life when he was young. Today, he has a business empire worth billions and I am nothing but proud and inspired looking at his journey.
How do you balance your work life and home life?
Balancing work and home is a task for any woman. I still feel my parents have helped me and supported me so much that I don’t need to worry so much about home. They are happy to see me do what I love and that’s what keeps them contented.
What advice do you have for women starting out on their own?
For women who are planning to do something, I would say that don’t wait for the right time because there is never a right time for anything. The joy behind having something of your own is the purest form of joy and you will cherish your learning experience even if you fail. Don’t worry about failing or being criticised for your idea – if you believe in it, there is no need for any approval.
Can you recommend any organisations or networking groups that have particularly helped you on your journey?
There are various online networking groups on Facebook that have recently been very active and supportive of start-ups. They help people find the right jobs and connect the right person for the right task. I think it’s a boon to have such groups and one should take full advantage of the social media out there.
If you could ask for one thing to help propel your business what would it be?
Content is king and quality content is scarce in the online industry. I think we have a scarcity of good quality writers in our country. Just because its not a well paid career, people underestimate this job. I believe an increase of good quality writers would definitely help us define our platform in a much better way and help us get ahead of our competitors.
The future is something totally unpredictable but all I can hope is for the best. I see Feministaa, not just an e-magazine but more like a movement to drive ambition in women, especially in India. I have a vision of Feministaa being the best platform for any women achiever to be associated with. I hope that’s what the future holds for us. I know we will get there eventually.
About Vidhi Sagar:
Having studied Finance and entrepreneurship in one of top ten business schools of the USA, Vidhi Sagar started her entrepreneurial journey at a very young age. She is also a Company Secretary by qualification, which adds to her collection of degrees.
Having a natural flair for writing, Vidhi started writing for a website just out of passion. This passion gradually helped her find her way and she decided to start something of her own which resembles her own personal ideology. That’s when “ Feministaa” came into power. There has been no looking back since then.
Contacting Vidhi Sagar:
