The Most Influential Business leaders

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Vol - 6|Special Edition|October 2023 Publisher & Editor : Abhishek Kumar Dubey Editorial Team Kajal Dobhal | Sugandh Bahl | Dr. Amit Mishra | Avishek Singh | Kriti Anand | Sanjay Maurya

Business Head ASHISH KUMAR

Senior Marketing Manager Sonia Tiwari Senior Relationship Manager Reshmi Mishra

BUSINESS PIONEERS – CREATING NOTABLE IMPACT IN HUMAN RESOURCES

Business Connect Magazine is renowned for featuring entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and visionaries who have significantly impacted their communities, respective industries, and the local economy. We are thrilled to announce that Business Connect Magazine is back with another exciting edition– “The Most Influential Business Leader in the Staffing and Recruitment Industry 2023”, providing the knowledge, insight, concepts, creativity, and inner thoughts of top HR experts, thought leaders, and innovators.

Corporate Team Satyam Singh | Sunny Pathak | Asha Dudeja | Pradeep Pandey | Reetu Chauhan | Komal Verma Sudha Gupta | Vikash Kumar | Kazim Barati | Rahul Kumar | Abhishek Mishra| Vijender Saroj Karan Sharma | Kavita Tiwari |Sanyam Bhayana| Jasmine Kaur| Suful Bhattacharjee | Deepali Kalra Co-ordinator (Business Connect-Clients) Anita Kumari | Priyanka Gupta Data Research & Analysis Anita Yadav | Mukul Kumar | Sachin Banga | Gunjan Chaurasiya | Hitesh Kumar | Adarsh Pathak| Prince Banga | Diksha Singhal | Aditya Thakur | Nupur Sharma | Brahmdeo Kumar | Meera Bhardwaj| Raj Sharma | Akansha Kumari | Aashish Kumar | Nikita Chouadhary Finance Team Gaurav Singhal | Jyoti

Creative Director ASHUTOSH OJHA

These professionals are recognized in the Staffing and Employment category for their thought-provoking, progressive approach to recruitment and for turning outside-the-box ideas into reality. Their commitment to innovative solutions and continuous growth potential has resulted in the launch of numerous unique business environments.

Creative Team Rajat Pathak | Pawan Yadav | Vishant Saroj | Vandana Gusain Legal Affairs Mukesh Kumar

The entrepreneurial spirit of these progressive business leaders allows them to recognize opportunities when others only see barriers fostering the expansion of businesses and the community as a whole.

At the forefront of all the stories featured in the edition, we have highlighted the inspiring tale of a visionary and seasoned industry leader in human resources, Yogita Tulsiani, and her brainchild, iXceed Solutions, a leading provider of technological and digital solutions., Yogita formed iXceed in 2017 with the vision of enhancing the human ecosystem through hiring solutions. She is a prominent thought leader in the field and brings an insightful mind to the table when it comes to imparting knowledge, insights, and concepts that every HR professional should have a look at. Please take the time to read the complete story based on the discussion with her to gain insight into the variety of subjects on which she has provided her thoughtful observations. Also, we greatly value your input in terms of helping us understand the value we are providing to our devoted readers. Additionally, we want to sincerely congratulate all of the recognized leaders for their outstanding accomplishments and efforts.

Last but not least, as let’s embark on this journey to explore the dynamic world of human resources, we encourage you to join us in applauding these incredible business leaders and keeping a close eye on their progress.

Human Resources Nivedita Basu Digital Marketing Manager Anurag Tiwari | Simran

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Contents

iXceed

Table of

Solutions

Page No.

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Yogita Tulsiani

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SUCCESS STORY

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ZARINE MANCHANDA

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CULTURE

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STARFIRE DIAMOND JEWELLERY

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HEALTH

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BY THE GRAM LLP

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CONCORD TALENT HUNT

Vandana Tolani,

Director & Co-founder

Leading Convanto With 21 Years Of Rich Experience In International And Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising

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versatile & dynamic professional with a sustained passion to help businesses reach their growth potential, Vandana Tolani, CEO & Founder, Convanto is one such inspiring women leader who has been developing an eagle’s eye for spotting opportunities in industries that are set for long term growth in the Indian economic context. An adept strategic planner with a proven history of mentoring Business start-ups, identifying new growth avenues, developing innovative strategies, and building high-performing teams. Her core area of work is Fundraising for early-stage start-ups across sectors and industry sub-verticals.

TECHNOLOGY

Her brand, Convanto comes under the Top 10 Women Entrepreneur Brands along with Nykaa. Vandana has also been awarded as the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth. With over 21 years of rich experience in International and Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising, she has closed 165 investments in more than 35 countries. This month she has been recognized one of the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth Management 2021 and has participated in 160+ talks.

CONVANTO, A BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK FIRM

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Convanto started 7 years ago, in Gurgaon, Haryana. Convanto is a portmanteau of the words “Consultant Vandana Tolani”. It is a boutique investment bank firm with a range of services aimed at enabling young start-ups - it provides them with services such as Fund Raising, Marketing & Growth Advisory, GTM Strategic Advisory, and value-added services such as building Investor Presentations and Financial Models.

CONVATO

Convanto advises small, medium, and large enterprises on raising capital, finding their product-market fit, and implementing a successful go-to-market strategy, branding strategy, and brand positioning. Unlike traditional consulting firms, the firm has proven its operational expertise in bringing money, creating value, and driving growth to help you maximize your results.

THE INSPIRING STORY

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Coming back to India after 15 years was not easy, but Vandana was determined to move on in her journey. She set up Convanto 7 years ago, a boutique investment bank. Determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult. She had to believe in herself and not others, and at one point she even had no support but I was still firm on my decisions.

The day I stopped listening to negativity from many people I found out that I was skillful, talented, and was doing things in the right manner which was why I succeeded, not mere luck.

When many doors closed many others opened, and it felt like God himself was by my side. I think looking for more solutions and fewer problems, and staying positive and happy, helped me overcome my roadblocks. Ultimately, we always have to help ourselves as someone won’t always rescue us, and not giving up easily always helped me. As a woman, The banks consider us less credit-worthy and discourage us as borrowers on the belief that we can at any time leave their business.

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Vandana Tolani CEO & Founder

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COVER

iXceed

STORY

Solutions Pooja | Business Connect

Staffing is an essential requirement for every organization.

The lack of skilled labour may trigger any organisation’s vital assets, like cash, materials, and machinery, to fail.

There is a pressing demand for dedicated players who can leverage their in-depth knowledge and experience to serve as “strategic business partners” for organisations by taking care of their entire human resource needs and enabling growth for them. This will help companies gain a competitive edge and stay at the forefront of their market. iXceed Solutions, a pioneering talent and digital solutions provider , has been hailed as a leader in the recruitment space for offering comprehensive talent solutions, enterprise services, and digital solutions, as well as specializing in hiring for all positions both horizontally and vertically across a variety of industry verticals.

Yogita Tulsiani, a visionary and seasoned industry leader, decided to embrace her profound expertise from nearly a decade in business development and strategy consulting with Fortune 100 organizations in diverse sectors, cutting across continents, to establish the innovative enterprise iXceed Solutions in 2018. Ms. Tulsiani co-founded the organisation with the creative vision of enhancing the human ecosystem by offering cutting-edge talent solutions and supporting clients in making the most of their brands. The company started off by operating out of its London headquarters, but it shortly established itself as an internationally recognized brand in the staffing and recruitment industry.

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A Yogita Tulsiani Led End–to– end Talent and Digital Solution Company, Creating Value for both Clients and Candidates

Yogita Tulsiani Director & Co-founder

The Woman at a Helm

With a profound experience of one and a half decades, Yogita Tulsiani, the Co-founder, has been leading iXceed as Director. Her expertise spans a strong track record as an accomplished leader in business development and strategy across a range of industries in the UK, USA, Europe, and APAC. She possessed significant positions in the information technology, telecom, retail, and financial services sectors before founding iXceed, where she developed ingenious business solutions to lower costs, increase business agility, and use artificial intelligence/ML for competitive advantage.

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Established on a foundation of innovation, iXceed has grown into a trusted name that works with international businesses to accelerate their growth by offering best-in-class services with a combined force of technology and talent. www.businessconnectindia.in|Vol - 6 Special Edition October 2023|INDIA

iXceed: At a Glance

Yogita has always been an ambitious individual who strived to do her best in everything she did, whether it was in school, extracurricular activities, or her employment. As a result, she has received countless prizes and distinctions throughout her academic and professional career.

She is the recipient of the “Female Tech Entrepreneur of the Year 2022” award from the SME UK Enterprise Awards, the “Extraordinaire: Change Makers” Award at the 6th Brand Vision Summit 2022 Award Ceremony, recognition as “Ace Women Leaders to Watch in 2022,” and the “Entrepreneur of the Year 2022” Gold Award from one of the most prestigious Titan Business Awards in the category “Recruitment.”

iXceed’s services have over the years supported 200+ organizations in developing and launching 450+ projects, products, and services across various geographic segments, keeping its hawk eyes on talent and connecting it with golden opportunities for multinationals within the staffing industry.

Yogita’s Journey: Ushering a New Era in the Staffing Landscape

In academics, Yogita did her schooling at Holy Child School and went on to study engineering at the esteemed Delhi Institute of Technology, which is now known as NSIT. She later completed her MBA at Hyderabad’s renowned Indian School of Business (ISB).

It was not an easy decision for her to become the first woman in her family to start her own business after more than ten years of job stability.

However, she managed to succeed in her endeavor. Yogita now serves as the director of IXCEED. Yogita’s present position as Director at iXceed is the culmination of a number of previous jobs in her career, when she executed global expansions and experienced exponential revenue growth.

“One challenge I encountered was the fact that I did not really have a background in the recruitment industry or know the business dynamics, but I still selected this pathway as I wanted to make a difference in society”, the leading lady revealed when asked about her key obstacle.

Bundled with Top-notch Services and Solutions

With decades of expertise serving clients with their talent needs and initiatives involving digital transformation by enhancing their knowledge, iXceed offers an extensive spectrum of services that address all facets of a business.

The company offers top-notch end-to-end recruitment services to toptier and mid-tier IT enterprises and managed talent solutions across the entire spectrum of technologies eg : , identity and access management, data management and analytics, SAP services, and plethora of new -gen technologies .

Industry Evolutions Over the Years

The market for IT skills was severely deficient. People were not being placed in the proper positions for their abilities and skill sets. After observing this situation, Yogita decided to build valuable partnerships with companies and candidates by offering effective talent solutionsleveraging artificial intelligence .

Yogita’s Take on ‘Being a Woman Leader’: Major Struggles

“I’ve received judgment and criticism for my decisions, such as the statement that married women with children should not truly strive to pursue entrepreneurship. They would advise me to concentrate on assisting my husband in pursuing his entrepreneurial aspirations ”, stated Yogita, sharing her experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a woman.

She further highlighted the following points as the primary obstacles women leaders face: • • • • • • •

Lack of support for female entrepreneurs Female business owners are perceived as being less capable than their male counterparts.

Perceived bias within the venture finance community is a concern.

Generally speaking, women are more risk-aware than men and are more cautious when beginning or growing a firm.

Society believes women possess low entrepreneurial skills.

Women have additional responsibilities for the home and children, and young children require a great deal of care during their formative years.

It’s like walking an invisible line to balance a career and a family.

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The Clientele and Corporate Ethos

Numerous well-known brands have chosen iXceed to design and outsource the best recruitment systems for their businesses. Some of the notable names include Oracle,, HCL, Infosys, NIIT, the Global Research Council, Coforge, and AsenTech, to name a few.

Customer-centricity is at the core of the company. They partner with multinational corporations to boost their growth by offering topnotch services. They are constantly coming up with new, innovative methods to use cutting-edge technology and toolkits to strengthen processes and better serve clients.

Their AI-based recruitment solutions offer enterprises and candidates the best-inclass user experiences.

Powered by the Latest Technologies

iXceed relies on AI and MLpowered talent solutions, which are changing the way the industry perceives talent solutions, to set itself apart from competitors. The company takes advantage of off-shore advantages while fully adhering to local legislation. The foundation of its success is its extensive local expertise , cumulative years of knowledge and usage of AI. Additionally, the RPO solution employs strict procedures that give its clients crucial benefits.

In addition, iXceed uses a reliable and effective process to create solutions for the recruitment industry. This assures that the businesses are the forefront of the innovation curve by leveraging expert talent capital 13

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Fulfilling Growth through R&D

In an ever-changing industry, research and development (R&D) are essential to expansion. Ms. Tulsiani highlights how important R&D is to keeping a business on the cutting edge. Using AI-based talent solutions, which are revolutionizing the way the industry views recruitment and streamlining the entire process and robust delivery, they were able to launch new lines of business focused on digital solutions, take advantage of cutting-edge technology like AI and ML to build sustainable businesses, and introduce new product lines.

The Proudest Milestones and Recognitions Since its inception, iXceed has grown to be the recruiter of choice for some of the most prestigious brands all over the world with its exclusive range of recruitment services. Further, it has accomplished numerous awards and recognitions over the years. A few of them are listed below:

Nurturing an Innovative and Friendly Work Culture

Being a company focused on innovation, iXceed aspires to implement the most up-to-date technological tools to improve production, increase efficiency, and create resilient processes. The management makes sure that everyone has equal opportunity, and it also provides awards and possibilities for advancement based on production and the accomplishment of goals rather than a person’s position in the hierarchy.

•

Every thought or idea is respected equally here, and employees are free to approach management with any problems thanks to the open-door policy. Employee experience is valued equally to client-centricity at iXceed.

• • • •

Guiding with Compassion and Empathy

Yogita focuses on creating a better ecosystem for employees to boost their growth and add value to themselves.

Sharing her insights on leadership, the inspiring lady said,

“Leadership should be approachable and connected to the grass-roots level.”

She looks up to Indira Nooyi as her role model and gets a lot of inspiration from her. Additionally, Yogita’s mother , Mrs Mala and her little daughter Devanshi , have been her biggest motivation.

Yogita’s mother had faced a lot of hardships in life, bringing her up due to the circumstances they were in. She constantly encouraged herto be resilient, have faith in her own abilities Her mother taught her how to pursue her objectives with tenacity.

Her daughter has been a constant source of motivation for Yogita . Devanshi looks up to her mom as her hero and Yogita wants to ensure to live up to her daughter’s expectations

Sharing her key message for people who look up to her, Yogita stated: • Don’t be afraid of challenges. Failure is a part of success.

• Don’t be satisfied with stories about how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.

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Yogita’s Insights on Women’s Entrepreneurship

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Women entrepreneurs today are unquestionably significant.

It is thought that when more women work in enterprises, more value and influence are generated in the community as a whole. In this situation, it is crucial to encourage women to participate more frequently in industries like business that are dominated by men. This will increase the economic value of the planet and alter the thinking of financial lenders.

Female business owners have a significant economic impact. Women who start their own enterprises create new jobs for themselves and others, as well as provide society with various answers to organizational, management, and business problems. A new value is contrived.

Better throughput is another benefit of having more women in business. Long-term relationships are more likely to be formed and maintained by women. They possess more effective networking, communication, and organizing abilities.

The Roadmap: To Be a Global Leader in the Future

For the upcoming two years, iXceed has established a clear strategic direction and ambitious plans. This includes growing in new regions, such as the Middle East and the US, as well as fostering the development of two new service lines, such as digital marketing and enterprise services, which will result in a 40% increase in revenueYOY and become the preferred employer throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific. while also growing in the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

The company has recently begun operating in the Middle East and Southeast Asian regions as well. Additionally, management is very concerned with improving the working environment for employees so they may advance their careers and contribute value to themselves, as well as looking into new opportunities to forge fruitful connections for businesses and people by providing efficient talent solutions and maintaining their commitment to connecting talent with global opportunities.

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• •

• • •

Recognized as one of the “5 Most Promising HR Tech Startups” by a reputable publication in 2021 for using technology to transform recruitment firms Recognized as one of the “Top 5 HR Tech Startups Empowering Talent Recruitment” by a reputable magazine in 2021 List among the ‘Hottest HR Tech Startups’ revolutionizing the hiring game using technology in 2021 by a renowned publishing brand Awarded as the ‘Most Admired Global Indians’ by Passion Vista, 2022 Honoured as the ‘CEO of the Year 2021’ by The CEO Story Recognized as ‘Top 4 Women Leaders Technology Pioneers of 2021’ by PinkVilla Honoured among the ‘10 Most Influential Business Women Revamping the Future, 2021’ (by a renowned publication) Giving Back to the Community “Giving back to society and country is very important”, said Yogita. “In order to secure societal improvement, we should give back. Take action and create sustainable environmental solutions. As the company’s founder, I firmly believe in doing my part to improve the world,” the magnificent woman shared. iXceed has been running several great social well-fare activities, like – Undertaking initiatives to sponsor education for underprivileged kids in India Contributing to organizations dedicated to the cause of safeguarding children from domestic abuseFunding a charity for deaf children Donating to many charities for the current COVID crisis in India

Attributes and Advice for New Entrants

Success depends on grit and dedication. While hard work is expected, smart work is crucial. Yogita last shared a famous quote by an ancient poet:

It’s your road and yours alone; others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

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SUCCESS STORY OF

SUGAR COSMETICS

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ZARINE

MANCHANDA

Zarine Manchanda

Beauty, Brain & Benevolence

Regional Director at BRICS CCI

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Kajal Dobhal | Business Connect

s a young woman blessed with movie star beauty, Zarine Manchanda is probably not considered the prototypical CEO. Indeed, she is the rarest of the rare, with a personal USP that helps explain her meteoric rise in the past years to the top levels of Indian media, philanthropy, business, trade and commerce, and fashion.

Zarine has become a media sensation by being profiled over 20 times in major publications in 2021 and 2022, and she earned the rarest distinction of being covered by both leading business/political magazines such as Forbes, Fortune, Economic Times and India Today for her successes as an award-winning young woman CEO/philanthropist, and also glamour/ lifestyle magazines such as Femina, Hello India, Robb Report and Vogue due to her beauty and fashion style sense.

Consider this: Zarine’s unique and wide-ranging credentials include being a respected award-winning philanthropist and social activist as CEO of the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a prolific Mumbai-based charity NGO that has administered 200 donation programs of food, clothing and other essentials to Mumbai’s poorest residents since its inception in 2019. Due to her outstanding charity work and in recognition of her inspirations, Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, Zarine has been labelled as “Princess of the Poor”, poised to be the “Mother of Millions” by the Times Group’s Femina magazine in their commemorative issue celebrating International Women’s Day in March 2021.

With all these successes showcasing a uniquely empowered woman and role model, Zarine has appeared on the cover of FEMINA magazine; was separately named one of the “Fabulous 50 Women” by Femina in 2020; was named one of India Today’s “45 Most Influential Indians” commemorating their 45th-anniversary edition in 2020. She also appeared in Forbes magazine multiple times as a renowned game-changer and icon of inspiration.

Zarine received awards from Economic Times for her multiple business expansion and received an award from the Times of India as a Young Philanthropist in January 2021.

In December 2021, Zarine Manchanda received the Nelson Mandela Peace Award which conferred a doctorate degree to Dr Zarine Manchanda.

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Also in 2021, Zarine received two National Awards for her charity work, one of which was conferred by the Governor of Maharashtra.

Zarine is also is an award-winning entrepreneur who has successfully launched businesses in various sectors, most notably as the founder of Zarine Manchanda Café, India’s first 7-star café in Mumbai. Additionally, she has launched other businesses bearing her name in interior design, and film production, as well as a 7-star premium security service company and a 7-star cloud kitchen food delivery service, for which she has been felicitated as a young entrepreneur in multiple business expansion.

These successes have broadened Zarine’s appeal to other sectors. In December 2021, she was named Regional Director in Mumbai for the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which fulfils important economic and trade policy objectives for India through its alignment with BRICS country members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).

Zarine’s movie-star beauty and glamourous aura have launched her

as a model, brand ambassador and twice a showstopper at Mumbai’s most prestigious fashion galas, the Bombay Times Fashion Week.

It’s no wonder that Zarine’s profile in India’s Robb Report - whose subscribers are the country’s most affluent jet setters - was titled “Seven Star Wonder”, labelling Zarine as India’s new brand ambassador for all things luxurious.

Zarine Manchanda’s background is as unique as she is. She was born and raised in a prominent political family near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, the daughter of a Minister and successful businessman, near the home of the Dalai Lama.

Following university, she moved to Mumbai to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.

Experiencing challenges breaking into the glamour industry; her struggle led Zarine to make a dramatic, life-changing career shift.

Wanting to build her own political base, Zarine established a charitable NGO, The Zarine Manchanda Foundation Aarey Colony, Mumbai, in 2019. In two years and despite COVID-related lockdowns, the Foundation administered approximately 200 food and clothing donation programs in Aarey Colony and Andheri and is a top-rated, respected Foundation in Mumbai favoured by Mumbai’s Charity Commissioner’s Office.

Zarine made another bold move, venturing into the hospitality industry by opening a luxurious Café in Mumbai, Zarine Manchanda Café.

ZMC offers gourmet and organic fare. The menu includes healthy sandwiches on freshly baked slices of bread, nutritious salads, savoury portions of pasta and Maggi-inspired noodles, flavourful Indian rolls, and other delicious dishes. We also offer a wide range of breakfast and snack items such as fresh croissants, pastries, muffins, and chocolate sweets. Plus, we feature a wide array of speciality teas and coffees, fruit or chocolate smoothies, and colourful tasty mocktails.

ZMC’s slogan is “Delicious, Luxurious, Spiritual Charm.” Zarine elucidates, “Our USP stands out in two important areas.

We are a luxurious, 7-star café and all the décor, installations and accessories are of the highest quality. This includes

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all the crockery and cutlery. Zarine Manchanda Interiors designed the space and I specifically had the vision to be the Founder of the 7-star café experience in India.

With these successes, and still committed to her dream of being an actress, Zarine opened a production house, Zarine Manchanda Productions that will soon start producing international crossover content through its association with Los Angeles-based Lotus Entertainment Group.

How did Zarine end up being the Founder of India’s 7-star café experience?

Zarine says, “I spent a lot of time in Delhi growing up due to my father’s work. I was always in awe at the luxuriousness of the 5-star hotels and the exclusive shopping enclaves that provided an ideal ambience for its visitors. When I moved to Mumbai, I was surprised that such a sprawling and cosmopolitan city did not really have any luxury cafes cum coffee bars except for the 5-star hotels. So, I set out to make the first, and ZMC proudly is known even in prestigious media outlets as India’s first 7-star café.”

Zarine will feature as “Zara”, the lead in a film titled #Me Too Meets Aarey, directed by National Award-Winning director Arunaraje Patil, to be shot in 2022. The film is in the supernatural horror genre and is set in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony – known as Mumbai’s most beautiful and pristine location but also its most haunted place. As the name suggests, the story’s centrepiece is an unfortunate “Me Too” incident; that leads Zarine’s character into a fascinating journey deep in the Aarey forest where spirits come alive.

In addition to its sophisticated and elegant décor, the Café’s other USP is its “Spiritual Charm.” Zarine explains, “I also envisioned a space offering its patrons ‘Spiritual Charm’. ZMC has a beautiful collection of Tibetan Bells from Dharamsala on display, and each time my staff brings food or drink to a patron’s table, we ring a bell and

provide a blessing. Our patrons love this experience!”

Were there challenges that Zarine experienced along the way? Indeed, there were. “Obviously, COVID and the various restrictions/lockdowns that have been consistently imposed the past 18 months have been the biggest challenge. We opened during COVID restrictions but I was determined to be the first 7-star café.

Our patio is exactly at the bottom stairway to one of the Versova station metro stops but it has not been open one single day in the 18 months and we expected a huge “grab and go” business from metro riders.

There were weeks when we were closed entirely, and months when we had to operate on limited hours and capacities.

Our beautiful patio has been closed for months and it was very popular for the latenight crowd that is the time period when we did our best business. Still, we have always had a loyal customer base from day one as I know Mumbaikars have a zest for life and still wanted a unique venue to enjoy whenever they were not house-bound,” claims Zarine.

ZMC was always able to attract customers from the beginning because of its USP of luxury and spiritual charm. As per Zarine, “I knew many film professionals and other producers and directors in Bollywood and they all love ZMC. I knew I would attract that A-list crowd. Even though I am proud to have a 7-star café, I did not want to make the café only a haven for the rich and privileged. I wanted to make sure all Mumbaikars could enjoy the café. When I lowered prices on some fares months after opening, it seemed to do the trick, as it improved our customer count and sales.

What’s next for ZMC? Zarine is planning a larger flagship café in the Bandra area and is currently looking at possible locations. In addition, she explains that we get calls and inquiries all the time about franchising ZMC in other Indian cities and even globally. We have a careful but ambitious expansion strategy in place and we will grow ZMC so that it is a premium brand all over India and the world.”

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And most recently, Zarine launched her Premium Security Agency and “Heavenly Flavours” Cloud Kitchen, bringing her six companies to her growing empire. She reveals, “The Security Agency and Cloud Kitchen work hand-in-hand.

Large gatherings such as private parties, and film sets need security, and frequently the host also wants appealing food options. This means that many times we get double bookings for guards and bouncers, plus food delivery orders.” And of course, keeping with the Spiritual Charm USP, the cloud kitchen chefs ring Tibetan Bells to bless the food before it is delivered.

Zarine explains her unique and bold New Age vision this way, “Of course business success is about maximizing profit and minimizing loss. I will let the numbers will speak for themselves. My focus is to create a vision and a blueprint that always is about good karmas and good intentions, about doing God’s will here on earth I train my staff the same way, whether they are café employees or security staff or my chefs.

They are there to serve our clients and customers, to give them an enriching experience. When we keep this in mind, I believe success follows us because God notices all and he is proud when he sees compassion, benevolence – and I’m certain he smiles every time the Tibetan Bells are ringing!”

And so it seems the Sky is the Limit for Zarine Manchanda and her New Age business USP of luxury and spiritual charm. Her successes in business and philanthropic charity work point the way toward a future that is sure to include politics.

Zarine conveys, “I am blessed to have the DNA of my father, who was a dynamic and charismatic political figure in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

As a child, I used to watch the long queue of constituents come to our home; my papa would greet them one by one, and I could see the positive effect this had upon the constituents he loved,” Zarine goes on to say, “My own political DNA will be different and unique to my own personality as a young woman, but of course, it is guided and shaped by my father. I count this as another blessing I have experienced in my life to have such strong political DNA, and every time I count a blessing, it energizes me to give back, to serve others in the same manner as I witnessed again and again from my father. His inspiration is like the ringing of the Tibetan Bells for me every day.”

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CULTURE

Tips to Drive Diversity and Inclusion at Your Workplace Over the past few years, diversity and inclusion in the workplace have always been hot topics. It should be because a diverse workforce (in age, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and gender) has the ability to bring diverse viewpoints and perspectives to the organization, these elements can aid you to produce great products and great new ways to cater to consumers. But it cannot be possible without inclusion (collaborative, supportive, and respectful environment). Many types of research have shown that there is an inherent link between diversity and inclusion. Many strong companies value D&I policy, so do you. Having such kind culture make employees feel more secure and confident. In that case, they can perform better.

Here I have given 4 tips to drive diversity and inclusion at your workstation.

SECURE BUY-IN FORM LEADERS

Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi once said, “Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization.” This is entirely true for driving diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It isn’t enough for any company to have policies in place if they are not being made law. Tone and retheme of activity come from those most visible. So, diversity and inclusion must be led from the top and then lived by all through the organization. A meaningful step towards the right direction makes

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changes. Leaders run the culture and buy-in from the senior staff can ensure a greater chance of adoption. A great team also requires a leader. A leader, who understands team perspectives, creates a sense among team members that they belong to this place and works to develop a deep sense of alignment and camaraderie. This kind of culture stretches beyond a “diversity quota” in the recruitment strategy and needs to be grown from leadership. The perception; diversity and inclusion are embedded in each aspect of the organization is important for its overall success.

whether it’s learning about special rights in the workplace, how to ease implicit bias from interview panels, or even had experiences of marginalized groups, these are all vital pieces of information in the cause. Now the question is, what is the best way to learn? There is a lot of free and paid training program available on the internet pick best one.

DISCUSS YOUR DIVERSITY POLICY OFTEN AND CLEARLY

Many companies start their diversity and inclusion policy with a perfect plan. But when it comes to discussion, most organizations get stumbled. In order to sustain the policy D&I, often communication is imperative for success. Also, do not forget to follow-through with the plan. The diversity policy makes the base of your organization commitment and posture. It should be consistently promoted; otherwise, it lips the service. Ensure it isn’t just on your web page or in siloed company folders. Put the contents on newsletters, and social media, even use official email to demonstrate that you not only talk the talk. Similarly, that having leader commitment supports the effort, so does your often conversation. It should be followed in two- ways, first by encouraging feedback from your employees and others communicating regularly.

ENHANCE THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED

Your workplace can switch into a breeding ground for microaggressions toward underrepresented groups. In that case, it is difficult for those minorities who work at your place they unsure enough to raise a voice. So, it is crucial to learn how to disturb department and space, privilege, and power. Changes you will be experiencing when you become an effective ally for others. Look around the offices and meetings. Note down on your diary, who isn’t there, and raise this issue. To not let the workplace be a breeding ground, one should be able to bring their best self so that everyone can work and feel comfortable to contribute.

Moreover, establish resource groups is another great key to make your team member’s voices heard.

PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION

In order to proactively demonstrate your commitment to diversity & inclusion, you have to organize training for this policy. It will equip your teams with a deep understanding and practical skills to make sure a more inclusive workforce.

As vital as getting a leader to buy in is, each and every team member also need to recognize their key role to support the culture. And it should start with educating team members. So,

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ENSURING EXPERTISE AND TRUST Smita Kumar | Business Connect

T

Shweta Khan

he immense beauty and the inner fire of the diamond have made this very precious gem, gathering applauds for centuries. When designed by the most skilled designers to form jewellery, it’s like adding another feather to its cap and its magnetism enhances much more. This is what Starfire Diamond Jewellery does!

Founder & Owner

Based in Brisbane and built on the concept of trust, expertise and experience, this brand is now an elite brand of Australia. Founded

by Shweta Khan, Starfire is known for exceptional customer service and high quality of craftsmanship in its jewellery. The personification of positive thoughts and passion, Shweta ensures all this and sees to it that nothing stops her. Her confidence in herself and passion to create something unique for her clients lifelong, have qualified her to be a part of our upcoming edition The 10 Most Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs to Watch Globally 2021.

INCEPTION AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY The Starfire Diamond Jewellery was incepted in 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. The brand is a synergy between remarkable design and exceptional quality. The company uses natural diamonds, precious gemstones and metals to create beautiful designs. As a result, the one-of-a-kind jewellery boutique comes up with unique one-off designs for the clients.

The showroom comprises of goodexperienced and skilful diamond graders, gemologists and jewellery designers. The team is always willing to design and create beautiful pieces as per the client’s choice and they take

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proper care of what would go really well with the client. The Brisbane’s top destination for designer diamond jewellery, aims at going beyond the customer’s expectations and also to serve the person all days.

way to showcase your love, passion and connection with yourself or your loved one.” She feels jewellery in itself tells stories and creates a connection with a person, his memories and his soul.

Coming back to Shweta’s hard work, it could be said that the journey had begun long before 2012 and Starfire was started as a result of her hard work and passion. She was always fanatical about diamonds even when she had her wholesale diamond business and jewellery designing. In today’s date, Shweta states, “I believe that sourcing beautiful stones and creating stunning designs is the best

Her jewellery speaks loudly about the same and with this approach, she has designed an array of products. To quote a few, you could have a look at-

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STARFIRE SIGNATURE The brand is known for its lavish designs and unique diamond stones.

They have a long list of their bestloved designs which are prepared very scrupulously.

SIGNATURE DIAMOND DROP EARRINGS As far as Signature Diamond Drop Earrings are concerned, the firm is quite confident that these would definitely leave a beautiful impression on the others. Modern studs are what are supposed to be reinventing the customer’s look, according to Starfire Diamond Jewellery.

STARFIRE TIMELESS This is what the brand calls ageless collection. To be more specific, this collection showcases classic pieces like classic ring, which is forever in style. In the words of Starfire, their Timeless Collection couples elegance and their signature passion for the exceptional diamond stones.

STARFIRE CONSTELLATION Now, you must be wondering what this is! Actually, this brings out the natural beauty of gemstones.

According to Starfire- Vibrant colours at play refract the light and add a touch of colour to one’s life with exquisitely hued rubies, emeralds, sapphires and aquamarines.

STARFIRE LUX Starfire boasts about this by using the words ‘Luxurious’ and ‘Glamorous’.

This features high-end pieces with brilliant diamonds and unique designs as an impact of which, these empower you with their daring energy.

TWELVE-MONTH WARRANTY ON EACH JEWELLERY PIECE OF DIAMOND As soon as you purchase jewellery from them, you are considered a valued member of Starfire’s family.

They ensure you are offered a

warranty of twelve months from them/manufacturer. This is meant for each jewellery piece and lifetime care too. Starfire asks customers to put on their jewellery with comfort because the company would ensure polishing, repairing and servicing of the jewellery always.

me. My parents gave me the best education possible and therefore, I learnt values and to be selfdependent. After pursuing B.Com in finance and accounting, I was on the way to become an accountant but the passion for entrepreneurship didn’t allow me to do so.

WOMEN SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY AS MEN The days are gone when it was a real challenge for a woman entrepreneur to establish herself! Shweta is of the same opinion. Shweta affirms, “As business is conducted through technology or the internet to a great extent, the one sitting on the other end, is hardly aware of the gender of the person. Therefore, things are becoming easier and gradually, discrimination between men and women is also going away. Advance in technology is challenging gender discrimination a lot. However, storytelling and write-ups appreciating an entrepreneur who is a woman, is always an effective way to inspire other women. Moreover, treating women equally as men should be followed.”

It was my first leap of self-confidence that I resigned from my first job as a graduate tax accountant. I opted to become a diamond wholesaler at that time and that was done in partnership with an Indian firm planning to start their business in Australia.

JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOUTH OF THE LUMINARY Shweta feels having good mentors and role models, is an additional benefit in the achievement of your goal. She says, “I have been fortunate enough to have such mentors around me. First of all, I am independent since the age of 13. It was at this age that my journey to Australia began. With my parents staying in Fiji till my high school studies, I was with my elder sister who as a guardian, took care of me and became a great mentor for 31

Shweta, is not only a business woman but also a wife and a mother of two boys. Her boys have further fueled her determination to succeed and leave a legacy.

I did an intensive course in diamond grading with my wholesale business which taught me how to grade diamonds, giving me the confidence and tools to sell. The first three years in any new business is tough but once you learn how to grow with the times, you can not only survive but also excel.”

Shweta adds she has learnt a lot about herself after experiencing tough times and that is the reason why she is a strong person today.

MY FATHER MY INSPIRATION Shweta’s father has always been a great source of her inspiration.

He never feared of anything and challenged himself always to do more business.

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NEVER FOLLOWED THE MARKET The 43-year-old confident entrepreneur says that she never followed what the market wanted. She created a market for her jewellery pieces. Her vision is to create amazing diamond and gem jewellery which captures the fire within one, resonates with the person and empowers with its innate beauty.

CONFLICT-FREE DIAMOND Starfire believes in offering you with conflict-free diamond and also certified with GIA international grading. Here, what contributes a lot is Shweta’s specialized training and experience in diamonds.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THE KIND OF WORK CULTURE Her business has a workforce of women who are also mothers and although they are all passionate like Shweta. They understand the need to be there for one another. A good leader need not to dictate but rather learn to be more compassionate of another person’s plight. I am grateful for the support I have from my team and them for each other.

Shweta knows that motivated work force would always follow a motivated leader. She states, “Being the head, the vision to be successful shall never be forgotten and the same shall be instilled in the team members. Encouragement, rewards and celebrating every success together are all very important.” This proves how well she enjoys staying involved in motivating her team.

CONTINUE WITH YOUR AIMS Shweta believes in never stopping and continue having aims. She asserts, “I want to see another store for my brand and of course, a greater online presence in few upcoming years.”

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ENTREPRENEUR Shweta has been seen appearing in a local magazine as one of the

women to watch in 2020. In 2017, Starfire served as host to ‘Business in Heels Fundraiser’ which was a networking event for women entrepreneurs to meet like-minded individuals. Her brand has been affiliated with Queensland Ballet and she is also a proud supporter of Freelancing Gems. That’s a business that advocates jobs for women and women equality in the workforce.

She is a brand ambassador of many women networking groups too. Also, her support has been recognized many times, in charities empowering women under the aegis of Women’s Network Australia. She is an active member. Her company is a major sponsor of an annual event ‘Women In Fashion’.

AN INSPIRING MESSAGE FOR YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND READERS Shweta speaks her mind, “Just have faith in yourself and follow your instincts like I did.

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HEALTH LEAFY VEGETABLES

To live a healthy life, it is necessary to have a fit body and for that a healthy diet is really important.

Having low-calorie foods for

Green leafy vegetables are most common among those people who are health-conscious. These are some of the best low-calorie foods for a healthy body that delivers a lot of minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients and they are considered the most nutritious. One of the best green leafy vegetables for people who are into weight loss is Spinach, as it is packed with nutrition like Vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium and protein. It also slows digestion and keeps you feel full.

LENTILS

forgetting how harmful it can be for their body.

These tiny little beans that come in brown, red, black, and green varieties are rich in a high level of protein and fibre. Lentils are good for boosting health as they have a plentiful source of folic acid and potassium that helps support your heart health. Lentils are best consumed as normal daal or as a vegetable soup, which has a very low-calorie count and the macros are good for a balanced diet.

It is still not late! Try to attain a healthy body by keeping a

CITRUS

a healthy body with good nutrition is one of the key steps to a healthy life.

Nowadays, people are into bad eating with the consumption of junks and a lot of oily and spicy foods,

balanced diet.

Start eating food that has vitamins and minerals, which includes fruits & vegetables, a source of protein and whole grains. In the beginning, it might feel hard to change your eating habits but being focused on small changes, will help you to walk on the path to improve your health. Opt for foods that have a naturally low-calorie count with good nutritive value.

The bright, refreshing, colourful, fragrant and juicy citrus fruits are the best low-calories food for a healthy body that is not just delicious but are also rich in multiple nutrients like Vitamin C and Dietary fibre that keeps your appetite in control. Citrus fruits such as Lemons, Oranges, Mandarins, Limes, and Pomelos etc. are consumed for their numerous nutrients like Flavonoids, which are plant-based nutrients and Dietary fibre, which is a type of complex carbohydrate that is found in plant foods.

OATS A steaming bowl of freshly cooked oats drenched in milk is the healthiest breakfast you could ever have. Oats are rich in soluble fibres, which help in lowering cholesterol levels. This is considered as one superfood that can easily fit itself to suit your needs, which will boost your energy levels and will help you lead a healthy lifestyle.

GOURDS The family of gourds have Ridge Gourd (Turai), Bitter Gourds (Karela), Bottle Gourds (Lauki), and Pointed Gourd (Parval) etc. they are packed in a whole lot of nutrients. Gourds are high on nutrition, great for diabetics, aids digestion and boost weight loss. Gourds can be consumed in vegetable form, juice, or even it can be made in as a healthy smoothie by adding apples and spinach to it. Gourds are amazing to strengthen the immune systems and it contains anti-ageing properties, which boosts skin health.

Here is a list of 5 Low-Calorie Foods for A Healthy Body that will help you to maintain a healthy weight and promote overall health & wellbeing.

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Consumption of a wide variety of filing foods with a lot of proteins and fibre will help you fight cravings and when the above mentioned low-calorie foods for a healthy body are paired with maintaining an active lifestyle, it keeps you feel satisfied.

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THE INSPIRING JOURNEY

By The Gram LLP is a company helmed by three female co-founders. What started as a tiny startup in their living rooms in Mumbai very soon expanded across Hong Kong, New York, London, Dubai, and so on. They now service clients globally having a back-end team of thirty full-time employees.

Their beginning collided with the rise of streaming platforms in India, but today sees a different picture.

BTG is the go-to partner for clients like Netflix India, Dharma, Tiger Baby, etc.

AALIYA AMRIN, EMAN BATLIWALLA & DANISHA KOHLI The Young, Creative, Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs Renovating the Landscape of Content Creation

Moreover, the BTG team got the opportunity to work with some of the best clients, a lot of whom happens to be women creatives. They get to learn and be inspired by them every single day.

Puja Bhardwaj | Business Connect Brimming with innovation and creativity, Aaliya Amrin, Eman Batliwalla, and Danisha Kohli are unique in the landscape of digital with their shape-shifting work in the field of content creation.

EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF BTG

The largest impact has been the shift the team has created in a market like Mumbai specifically. They reinvented the wheel of content, the way it’s produced, and the way it’s being served. We have begun to witness short-form content production companies everywhere, whereas that wasn’t the case three years ago. Clients are now more aware than ever and they demand meaningful short-form content, produced sustainably without long billable ad agency hours, and receive custom-fit solutions.

They are the ‘creative masterminds’ of By The Gram LLP (BTG), a content studio and the go-to partner for content needs of clients ranging from fashion, beauty, lifestyle & film globally.

Danisha Kohli

Incorporated on 23 January 2021, BTG is a strategy-driven company that lives at the intersection of creativity & tech. The core motivation behind the inception of the company was to invent a new-age solution for new-age requirements, different from traditional ad agencies or marketing firms. Besides, the focus areas also include adding substance to a brand’s identity, doing meaningful story-telling, and creating strategies for brands that straddle purpose & profit.

In a world where your voice is your command, facial recognition is your ID, finances are at your fingerprint, and you tell your lives with emojis - why should your content be any different? BTG is here to inspire and enable you. We’re unclassified in a cluttered agency landscape. We build interfaces where humans can touch technology”, shared one of the leading women of the firm.

Partner

‘SMART WORKING’ IS THE KEY

The biggest audience today; Gen-Z was born surrounded by technology, which makes them and social media marketing a natural fit for each other. BTG is a strategydriven company that lives at the intersection of creativity & technology. And the technology part is ‘working smart’.

This has been the key to a lot of their success.

LEADERSHIP STYLE

In a largely remote world, the trio has learned about technology completely to keep them connected and collaborative, especially since a large part of their work is so creative. They are also a lateral structure with very little hierarchy which they do believe has been working for them.

A FOCUSED AND ENTHUSIASTIC WORKFORCE

Eman Batliwalla Partner

ROADMAP AHEAD

Ever-evolving, and consistently reinventing the wheel.

TIP FOR ASPIRANTS

EXCLUSIVE SERVICE PORTFOLIO

BTG designs smarter ways to use simple things and even simpler ways to use smart things. As far as the dream is concerned, it is to create the narrative, one that talks back. As a brand, you don’t have to choose between purpose and profit.

Here is a list of the major services to support you to do both: www.businessconnectindia.in|Vol - 6 Special Edition October 2023|INDIA

The work BTG does often fuels them in ways that they never expected. Each project is a brainchild that they see through to the finish line. There’s immense gratification to be gained at the end of the process which they do attribute to having a focused and enthusiastic team.

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• • • •

Identity Content Development Visual Direction

Social Media Management

Think big picture!

Aaliya Amrin Partner

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Preeti Phuskele Founder & CEO

PREETI PHUSKELE

AN IDEAL EXAMPLE OF HARDWORK WITH UNYEILDING STRIVE TO GROW

Indranil Roy | Business Connect

T

he legendary author Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”. While this adage interprets various aspects of life, the most credible and inspiring reflection is leadership, particularly female leadership. Across time and physiology, women have stood out to be vigorous and benevolent leaders. They are the epitome of multi-dimensional skillsets, managing home and pursuing dreams simultaneously. Working mothers, in particular, provide a good example not only for society but also for their children. The internet is sprawling with stories of such women, and they are from all kinds of segments.

Standing among them is Preeti Phuskele, a seasoned entrepreneur who has shown splendid leadership while becoming the backbone of her family. She is the founder of two workforce solutions provider - Concord Talent Hunt & Pinacolish expertise in hiring critical technical positions of engineering and automation companies. Furthermore, she has edited many books, which are available in libraries around the world and written numerous papers on Economics and Finance.

EMBARKING ON HER TURNAROUND JOURNEY

Turning into a fully-fledged entrepreneur from a professor in MBA College in Pune was a pure roller-coster Preeti.

While she planned for a sabbatical for child care, fate had something else in store. An unforeseen financial crisis, followed by her husband’s untimely death and his losses in business, forced her to take the helm of Concord Talent Hunt. What made this transition more acerbic - is she had to rear two children without any financial or family support.

But, that didn’t shake her will or deviated her focus. Despite not having any strong network or experience in the HR space, her interest in learning and admirable hard work kept her going. She found her first breakthrough in her very www.businessconnectindia.in|Vol - 6 Special Edition October 2023|INDIA

first assignment from a renowned automation MNC. The success of this project helped Concord Talent Hunt rapidly ascent through the automation sector and gave it an edge over peers. Furthermore, this helped Preeti understand the need for a competent staffing Company for technical recruitment. Since then, Concord built its stronghold around technical hiring, including Automation, automotive and engineering companies across Pune and further delved into IT Sectors.

But with the innovation surge in recruitment space, Preeti realised the need for outsourcing solutions. The mayhem of COVID-19 further made this the immediate reason. Since the last year, the job market is in distress; and global companies are seeking recruitment partners for offshore projects. Thus, Preeti incorporated her brainchild, Pinacolish. Born amid chaos, the Company works on a candid mission – address the hiring challenges due to COVID -19.

Managing resources working in India without having physical offices in the country is a significant challenge for Global IT Firms.

Mobility of staff is also drastically curtailed considering pandemic and challenges at the personal front. Pinacolish caters to these challenges with skilled resources. Although the client is responsible for managing the resources, Piancolish ensures all candidates have the required IT skillsets, as per the client’s preferences.

A GLIMPSE AT HER ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES

Concord Talent Hunt has grown into an avid firm for churning and delivering the best talent. With a focus on recruitment, training and retention, it has developed a portfolio consisting of Contract and permanent staffing, Executive search and Selection, Flexible Resourcing and Employee Development through training, coaching and mentoring. It has a customized suite of HR consulting solutions drawn upon the client’s framework that focuses on increasing productivity and improves access to opportunities. The provided services are closely monitored - from the beginning to the end and further provided support if required. They specialize in crafting a customized

“

“Our end-to-end HR solutions are tailor-made to suit every unique business need and designed to be cost-efficient”, says Preeti.

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Its team on board is adept, and they ensure the solutions are compliant, professional and qualified. Concord Talent Hunt primarily works with Engineering, Automotive and Automation Manufacturers. , and its results-oriented services boost business efficiency and employee performance. With end-to-end solutions ensuring complete customer satisfaction, CONCORD TALENT HUNT stands as a “Partner of choice”. Its assurance built around seasoned expertise and technology helps the Company deliver innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions.

sections of engineering companies. Her involvement further propels confidence amongst clients. She and the staff on board are continually learning about various sectors of automation and heavy engineering, and it reflects on their deliveries.

“

“The learning curve helps in gaining client’s confidence, boost productivity and acquiring new clients through references”, opines the founder.

A CULTURE OF GROWTH AND MATURATION

Leveraging upon its sister concern’s technical competency, Pinacolish offers innovative business optimization solutions, which includes Permanent Hiring, Software Projects, Augmented Staff Services & Outsourcing, Management Consultancy – Training, Organization Development, Marketing and Sales Consultancy, Insights & Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Financial & Accounting Support. With such a diverse portfolio, Pinacolish ensures holistic development while keeping companies off the stress of seeking different agencies. A detailed consultancy also provided to guarantee that every element of the process is operating at peak efficiency. Staff augmentation and outsourcing have evolved as two flexible strategies for completing projects for offshore companies. And the scenario propels the need for Pinacolish, for it is a single umbrella for companies seeking application development across diverse technology verticals.

Preeti’s journey to be in the pantheon of leaders is quite stirring as challenges we an integral part of her growth. And learning from them, she has built an inspirational culture at her Companies. She believes that leadership requires more than just academics - it requires a large part of inner-self. A proper blend of attitude, compassion, decision making, risk-taking and management skills not only makes a good leader but ensures a prolific track. Preeti is well-imbibed with such qualities, which gives her the ability to nurture a young and energetic ecosystem.

The collaboration contributes to overall professionalism and growth of every individual with independent decision making, management skills, multitasking capability and ability to seek new trends. Very soon, the team is aiming to bring AI-Powered solutions for better optimization.

Preeti’s interest in learning further helped her cope up with uncertainties and market challenges. Digitisation is influencing the face of every industry; hence, Preeti is working on generating more productivity through their digital marketing. Pinacolish is also a pillar of support for every woman entrepreneur.

The Company is helping emerging women to strategise their businesses and cope-up with challenges in marketing, brand building and statutory requirements.

DISTINGUISHABLE FACTORS

The industry has gone through simultaneous transformations over the last few years. And it has raised the demand for committed service providers. Although this creates an emergence of big players and MNCs, as well as shared service centres, staffing players are still counted for skilled and competitive hiring for R & D centres. Complete outsourcing often takes down consistency and quality, while shared service centres have their own challenges in terms of overheads. In such a scenario, recruitment firms sourcing for technical positions will have an advantage and better visibility amongst clients opting for niche skillset with a prescribed background. Upon this understanding, Concord Talent Hunt focuses on recruiting for niche positions, senior roles and specific positions for R&D 41

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TECHNOLOGY

5 EXCITING AI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HOW THEY CAN AFFECT YOU FACIAL EXPRESSION DECODING In our daily life interactions, we use tons of nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, intonations, gestures, and posture, to convey our emotions and feelings.

For us, it has always been an easy task to decode people’s emotions and understand what individuals are trying to say. But intelligence technology can do the same now. According to nature.com, Researchers have used an ML Algorithm to decipher the seemingly inscrutable facial expressions of laboratory mice. While companies like Emotient and Affectiva are developing AI algorithms to read and decode people’s faces.

Imagine being able to read your customer’s feelings as they use your product or service.

Or Being able to target ads to individuals when they make a sad or angry face. This will be the future of the business to consumers interaction.

DEEP LEARNING

BUSINESS FORECASTING

Deep learning is merely part of machine learning in AI in which a device can learn to improve on its own by examining computer algorithms.

This AI function imitates the workings of the human brain in processing data for use in detecting objects, identifying speech, translating language, and giving results as per making a decision on its own.

A most interesting fact is, Deep learning doesn’t need human supervision. Imagine, what can possibly you do with it in your business?

You don’t need a translator to communicate with foreign business clients, it can be used to determine which ads to display to your customers in real-time, you will have a self-driving car, and many more you can do with it.

AI-based devices are increasingly being to fill the gap between quantitative and quotatives analysis of marketing prospects. It has emerged that holds considerable promise in helping, to improve the forecasting process, including understanding the customer pattern demands, employee’s turnover, distribution requirement, cash flow, and many. Overall, AI-based application helps make business forecasting both automatic and accurate.

Nowadays, when you ask people about AI (Artificial Intelligence), they will start picturing some science fiction-inspired images of the machine-dominant futures.

After all, we all are influenced by Hollywood movies like Robot, Interstellar, and more. For them, AI is just a concept, but in reality, AI has already become part of our lives. We are using AI every day. For example, Alexa or Siri, you know the capabilities, right? But this isn’t the end of AI. Today, AI has made business more efficient. Let’s deep dive to know about it.

HERE ARE THE FIVE EXCITING AI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Increasing popularity in the business world has pushed the AI Virtual assistant toward rapid innovation and development. As employees and employers struggle to effectively work remotely. While giant tech companies are giving their efforts toward a multitude of changes in AI assistants. In its digital assistant and AI voice assistant forecast for 2016 to 2021, by 2021, approximately 47.6% of AI virtual capable devices are estimated to be used in Asia and Oceania, as per Ovum. The Virtual assistant like Amy or x.ai has been seen as the most exciting and beneficial for entrepreneurs. Amy is an AI voice assistant that’s not just schedules meetings but also interacts with your contacts like a human. The AI virtual assistant is a fantastic innovation, it is saving many hours in a week.

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HEALTH MONITORS As per OECD estimates, 20% of health expenditure is wasted worldwide. The United States Institute of medicine made research the figure is more like 30%. Using both estimates, the top 15 countries by healthcare spend waste an average of between $1,100 (Approximately 80482.05 INR) and $1,700 (Approximately 124381.35 INR) pp/annum. That’s why many multinational tech and start-ups are making more efforts to make the CEO of your own health as well as reduce the prices of healthcare. There are many ways AI can empower in the medical sector, such as Guiding treatment choice, clinical trials optimization, and drug development, empowering the patient. On the other hand, many AI devices are being developed, so that you can manage your health by yourself and, in some cases, you can replace doctors and hospitals, with the combination of AI and personal smart monitors.

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Vandana Tolani,

Leading Convanto With 21 Years Of Rich Experience In International And Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising

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Puja | Business Connect versatile & dynamic professional with a sustained passion to help businesses reach their growth potential, Vandana Tolani, CEO & Founder, Convanto is one such inspiring women leader who has been developing an eagle’s eye for spotting opportunities in industries that are set for long term growth in the Indian economic context. An adept strategic planner with a proven history of mentoring Business start-ups, identifying new growth avenues, developing innovative strategies, and building high-performing teams. Her core area of work is Fundraising for early-stage start-ups across sectors and industry sub-verticals.

Her brand, Convanto comes under the Top 10 Women Entrepreneur Brands along with Nykaa. Vandana has also been awarded as the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth. With over 21 years of rich experience in International and Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising, she has closed 165 investments in more than 35 countries. This month she has been recognized one of the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth Management 2021 and has participated in 160+ talks.

CONVANTO, A BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK FIRM

Convanto started 7 years ago, in Gurgaon, Haryana. Convanto is a portmanteau of the words “Consultant Vandana Tolani”. It is a boutique investment bank firm with a range of services aimed at enabling young start-ups - it provides them with services such as Fund Raising, Marketing & Growth Advisory, GTM Strategic Advisory, and value-added services such as building Investor Presentations and Financial Models.

Convanto advises small, medium, and large enterprises on raising capital, finding their product-market fit, and implementing a successful go-to-market strategy, branding strategy, and brand positioning. Unlike traditional consulting firms, the firm has proven its operational expertise in bringing money, creating value, and driving growth to help you maximize your results.

THE INSPIRING STORY

Vandana Tolani

Coming back to India after 15 years was not easy, but Vandana was determined to move on in her journey. She set up Convanto 7 years ago, a boutique investment bank. Determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult. She had to believe in herself and not others, and at one point she even had no support but I was still firm on my decisions.

The day I stopped listening to negativity from many people I found out that I was skillful, talented, and was doing things in the right manner which was why I succeeded, not mere luck.

When many doors closed many others opened, and it felt like God himself was by my side. I think looking for more solutions and fewer problems, and staying positive and happy, helped me overcome my roadblocks. Ultimately, we always have to help ourselves as someone won’t always rescue us, and not giving up easily always helped me. As a woman, The banks consider us less credit-worthy and discourage us as borrowers on the belief that we can at any time leave their business.

Given such a situation, women entrepreneurs are bound to rely on their own savings, if any, and loans from friends and relatives who are expectedly meager and negligible. Thus, many women enterprises fail due to the shortage of finance. Another struggle we face is that Male chauvinism is still the order of the day in India. The Constitution of India speaks of equality between sexes. But, in practice, women are looked upon as able, i.e., weak in all respects. Women suffer from male reservations about a woman’s role, ability, and capacity and are treated accordingly.

MAINTAINING A FOCUSED WORKFORCE & KEEPING EMPLOYEES CONTENT

Enthusiasm is an intense enjoyment or lively interest in a certain thing with zest and a strong belief that can be felt by those around you.

Vandana typically sets goals for her employees some of which are • turn barriers into possibilities and look at negative behaviour and attitude as opportunities for change • show respect for others opinions when a disagreement arises, avoid telling someone that they are wrong, and try seeing things from other perspectives • strive for excellence, exceed expectations by giving everything utmost best.

Keeping your employees happy is important for retention and it does not always require a raise. Happy employees are more creative and productive, they are also less likely to quit. Being transparent and honest with your employees helps them feel valued and respected. As an employer saying thank you is a simple but effective way to show your appreciation. The best benefit you can provide to your employees is the opportunity to make a difference through their work and help guide the course of the company.

VANDANA’S TAKE ON WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORLD The number of women-owned businesses increased nearly 3,000% since 1972. Not only that but between 2017 and 2018 women started an average of 1,821 new businesses per day in the U.S. With women now making up a whopping 40% of new entrepreneurs, it’s clear that more women are turning to entrepreneurship than ever before. But why are so many women starting businesses?

TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY

The reality is that women are still the primary caregivers whether we’re talking about children or aging parents. One research study indicated that the primary reason American women start businesses is to accommodate work to their family needs. Another survey revealed that roughly 74% of women said flexibility is more important than making the most money. Being your own boss generally allows for more freedom than working for someone else. This additional autonomy is especially helpful when the family may be the number one priority. The ability to set your own schedule also makes it easier to make time for exercise and a healthy lifestyle—another reason why women are turning to entrepreneurship. To charge what they are worth!

FROM THE FOUNDER’S DESK

I had my own Family Office in Singapore and Jakarta. I worked as an Investment Banker & Advisor to Family Offices and Angel investors in Jakarta, Indonesia, helping start-ups from diverse backgrounds, from Fin-Tech and B2B Tech all the way to consumer startups. I was raising funds for them & providing them with a range of services just as Convanto does today. After 15 years of staying in Singapore and Jakarta, I came back to India. I did investments for a bit, and then returned to the advisory. That is when Convanto was founded. Today Convanto is one of the most well-known boutique investment banks in India and led by a female founder.

Today, I am also a Venture Advisor with Loyal VC, the INSEADled Canadian VC Fund, having a core portfolio of over 160 investments in more than 35 countries. I am also a Partner with GSD Venture Studios, a Silicon Valley-based venture builder.

Over the years, I have arranged Funding for startups & growthstage companies in diverse sectors like EdTech, FinTech, Consumer B2C & B2B, AgriTech, Health-tech, Food- tech, Disruptive & DeepTech as well as non-tech sectors.

VISIONARY’S MESSAGE TO THE READERS

Every single person I know who is successful at what they do is successful because they love doing it. Anything can be done, as long as you truly believe it. Find something you love and do it better than everyone else. Also, remember that you will never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You will only be criticized by someone who is doing less, so always remember that.

CEO & Founder

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