March Special Edition 2023

Editor’s Note

India is rapidly becoming a prominent nation in the global economy, especially after leapfrogging the United Kingdom and becoming the fifth-largest economy in the world. Its aspiration of achieving the status of a developed nation and becoming the world’s third-largest economy hinge on the progress of its manufacturing sector. With the correct measures and rigorous execution, India’s manufacturing industry has the potential to shoot up the GDP.

According to the Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 20112036, India’s population in the working age group (15-59 years) expects to increase over the years and reach 988.5 million in 2036. Manufacturing Sector has the potential to create millions of more jobs, which can work as a multiplier for economic growth. The Government of India is making significant efforts to push the sector, for instance, the launch of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme to promote manufacturing activities and encourage investments has garnered great benefits.

India’s exports in the first 11 months of FY23 have already crossed 2021-22’s full-year record figure of $672 billion and are touching $702.88 billion. It depicts the nation’s commitment and resilience and shows that the world trusts Make in India brands and products.

Trade and foreign policy have been intertwined throughout history. In our March Special Edition, explore how Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s foreign policy and how he is utilising his diplomatic wisdom to position India as an economic superpower.

This decade can be a game-changer for India. Do you agree?

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Posts in the cabinet are highly coveted and always tend to be held by party loyalists. Rarely does a bureaucrat pull it off. But Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s profile is in a class by itself.

When a 64-year-old retired bureaucrat made entry into PM Narendra Modi’s cabinet, it left everyone stunned. On May 30, 2019, he took oath as the External Affairs Minister of India and led off to establish India as a global power around the globe.

He walked into the Ministry of External Affairs when international relations had been turned upside down by US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping. People who go around with how PM Modi works, understood his move. Jaishankar’s diplomatic wisdom was worth betting on!

THE RIGHT MAN FOR INDIA’S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is a highprofile, quick-witted diplomat with an excellent understanding of the complexities at hand. His ingrained patience for handling tough negotiations

and straightforwardness speak volumes. A diplomat like him is one in a million.

He is the second Foreign Secretary in Indian history to become the Minister of External Affairs, after Natwar Singh. But what made Modi choose a career diplomat over a politician? To understand this better, let’s take a tour of his past achievements.

S. Jaishankar entered the world of diplomacy in 1977 as Indian Foreign Service Officer and took the plunge to represent India’s interests and foster friendly relations with countries around the globe. 1977 was the year when Indira Gandhi misjudged the mood of the nation, called off the emergency and ordered new elections. At that time, rebuilding the credibility of India seemed like an arduous task but he left no stone unturned to portray a positive image of India in global affairs.

He is also the architect of the ambitious Indo-US nuclear deal. His relations with the US go back to the 1980s when he served as Under Secretary (Americas) and Policy Planning in the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters between 1981 and 1985. From 1985 to 1988, he

served as the First Secretary at the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C. He also got the opportunity to serve as the Joint Secretary (Americas) at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi from 2004 to 2007.

He went to Sri Lanka as the Political Advisor to the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) in 1988. Unfortunately, the IPKF (the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation) mission went horribly wrong. It resulted in severe damage to India’s credibility. Sri Lanka’s failure left a deep impact on his psyche. In the coming years, he used this experience to ensure that there must be coordination between the Indian government and their diplomats.

While he was serving as the Deputy

Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Tokyo (from 1996 to 2000), India conducted Pokhran-II nuclear tests. This incident affected the relations between both countries but Jaishankar used his diplomatic intelligence to revive the relationship and achieve tranquillity.

For 4.5 years (2009 to 2013), Jaishankar served as India's ambassador to China. He actively pushed economic trade, cultural relations and border peace with China. The countries witnessed a major standoff (stretching to several weeks) when Chinese troops pitched tents at Depsang Valley in Ladakh. The ambassador reportedly delivered a clear message that if Chinese troops did not vacate, it would impact the ties between the countries. Later, political interventions solved the issues. Premiers

of both countries visited each other. To improve the relations, during Jaishankar’s stint, India and China signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA).

WHEN PM MODI MET S JAISHANKAR

Jaishankar drew PM Modi’s attention for the first time when he visited China in 2012 as Gujarat’s CM. The meetings with renowned Chinese personalities which Jaishankar fixed for him left PM Modi amazed.

After Jaishankar finished his term as India’s Ambassador to the US, PM Modi appointed him as the Foreign Secretary of India in January 2015, just two days before he was due to retire in 2015. When the tenure was about to expire, he observed an extension in his services for one more year. During his cooling period, he served as the head of global corporate affairs of Tata Sons group.

When BJP came into power again in 2019, Narendra Modi appointed him as the Minister of External Affairs.

BIGGEST AMBASSADOR OF PM MODI’S FOREIGN POLICY

Diplomacy plays a pivotal role in developing India. With his three decades of diplomatic experience, S Jaishankar is roaring all across the globe to position India as a superpower. After he took charge of the country’s External Affairs ministry, India has managed to chalk up elevated growth in recent years.

 Relationship of Great Potential

With the United States

India’s EAM has always emphasised that India and US relations are one of the significant ties in the world today.

In an address at the Indian Ideas summit in 2021, organised by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Jaishankar expressed the importance of the five TsTechnology, Trade, Talent, Trusteeship and Tradition in the India-US relationship.

In a meeting held between S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April 2022, the ministers underlined

the significance of strengthening the economic partnership. They also exchanged dialogues on specific trade concerns, bilateral trade expansion, removal of market access barriers, and improvement in ease of doing business. Ministers also appreciated the rebound in bilateral trade between India and US over the last year. After concluding his four-day official trip to the American capital, Jaishankar highlighted that India-US ties are in good shape. He said, “If you look at the India-US relationship, it's not a narrow relationship only devoted to each other's gains. Our relationship today impacts the rest of the world, definitely does the Indo-Pacific”. He added, “If you look, our trades been doing well, our political exchanges have been very solid.”

In another meeting held in March 2023, the ministers spoke about shared efforts to elevate and expand strategic

technology and defence industrial cooperation, promote food, energy and global health security, counternarcotics cooperation, clean energy transition, and women’s economic empowerment.

 Longstanding Relations With Russia

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India and Russia have shared cordial relations. However, the relations have taken a serious setback because of its close relations with China. Moreover, some serious challenges to India’s relations with Russia have emerged due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Russia-Ukraine War confronted India with difficult strategic choices. The veteran diplomat moved mountains to defend the ‘India way’. Since the war started, India has emphasised the need for diplomacy and dialogue.

In November 2022, Jaishankar said that the West 'must live with India's stance' on Ukraine. He also mentioned that India is in favour of peace regarding the RussiaUkraine war. He made this statement in the context of serious criticism that the nation faced by the West over the purchase of discounted crude oil from Russia and not condemning Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, India and Russia plan to push bilateral trade of $50 Billion. The target was earlier fixed at $30 billion but the figures shot in 2022 due to India's oil imports from Russia.

 Singapore: A Leading Contributor to India’s FDI

While serving as India’s High Commissioner to Singapore from 2007 to 2009, Jaishankar explored enormous economic opportunities for India. He enhanced the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, a free trade agreement between Singapore and India for strengthening bilateral trade.

In July 2022, S Jaishankar met Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to boost the bilateral relationship. Today, Singapore is one of the leading contributors ($15.9 billion) to India’s foreign fund inflows.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, has recently praised India for its digital identity and payment systems. He said, “India has certain strengths - FinTech, digital finance, digital inclusion, and what they have done with digital identity and payment systems, is a clear opportunity for us."

 FTA with European Union India and the European Union are important trade and economic partners.

In 2022, both resumed negotiations on a free trade agreement to strengthen their strategic partnership, despite witnessing many hurdles from both sides.

While addressing an event at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the EAM said that Europe and India

ensuring supply-chain restructuring. According to the minister, the agreement will be a game-changer for the India-EU relationship.

 Challenging Relations With China

Currently, India-China relations are at an all-time low because of the standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Despite engaging in rounds of diplomatic and military talks, the relations between the countries are sour.

S Jaishankar has been continuously emphasising improving the ties between

foreseeable future. For ties to return to a positive trajectory and remain sustainable, they must be based on the three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest.”

In India Today Conclave 2023, he also said, "China situation is very fragile and the situation is very challenging. You cannot violate agreements and pretend that everything is normal."

INDIA’S PRESIDENCY OF G20

G20 Presidency is a perfect opportunity for India to showcase its development and diversity. However, a bundle of challenges

S Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

S Jaishankar with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

S Jaishankar with State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi

S Jaishankar with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong

confronts global problems.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict makes it challenging for India to get G20 countries to agree on a common framework. Bringing Russia and other countries together and finding a solution to the war is the biggest challenge for the nation.

Jaishankar’s main endeavour is to bring back focus on the original G20 mandate which is global growth and development.

THE WORLD IS GETTING INDIA READY

While addressing the general public at an event on Indian Foreign Policy held in October 2022, S Jaishankar urged young people to understand the roles of a Foreign Minister and how foreign policy affects everyone today.

"Today, all the walls we created regarding the world stand broken. Anything that happens anywhere in the world, its effects are felt everywhere. The war in Ukraine and

dependent on any particular country. We have to enhance the global workplace and global marketplace," the minister said.

While speaking on the development the nation has made in the manufacturing sector, he highlighted that during the last 20-30 years, when manufacturing was growing rapidly in other countries, India lagged behind but today, even iPhones are made in India.

Jaishankar’s self-assuring words, “While we are making India future-ready, the world is also becoming India-ready” reflect the global position that India has achieved in the recent past. At present, India is the fifth-largest economy with an estimated GDP of more than 3.4 trillion dollars and is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by the end of this decade.

A lot needs to be done. India has a long way to go. And we all know Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is a man of his word!

India’s aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047 relies heavily on the growth of the manufacturing sector. The country is cutting down its import dependence and focusing on domestic manufacturing. Moreover, as per India Brand Equity Foundation, in FY 202122, the value of India’s merchandise exports touched US$ 417 billion, while services exports rose to US$ 250 billion. The export can cross US$ 750 billion in the current financial year. India has a lot going in its favour to emerge as a global manufacturing hub. This could be the golden age of manufacturing for the nation in the coming years.

SAFE PRO FIRE SERVICES ON

A MISSION TO MAKE THE WORLD A SAFER PLACE

In the event of a fire occurring, huge amounts of flammable inventory could be a recipe for an unimaginable disaster. Therefore, all buildings should be equipped with the requisite fire safety equipment. To keep the communities safe from fires, Safe Pro Fire Services specialises in designing and manufacturing a wide range of fire safety products that withstand even the most challenging environments.

Prioritizing the value of people’s life to its very core, the company conducts rigorous testing and quality control checks to ensure that its products meet all relevant safety standards and regulations.

THE MAN BEHIND THE VISION

Needless to say, one man whose leadership, financial acumen and guidance have paved the way for Safe Pro Fire Services is Aleem Khan. Under his stewardship, Safe Pro Fire Services has emerged as a leading manufacturer and exporter of high-quality fire safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, and continues to make an everlasting impact on the safety of people and property in India and around the globe.

“When Safe Pro Fire Services was incepted, we initially focused on the manufacturing and distribution of fire extinguishers. Upon understanding the advanced fire safety needs, we soon expanded to offer an extensive range of ISO, CE, UL and ISI-certified fire safety products and services, including fire detection fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, and dedicated industrial filling plants,” mentions Aleem.

RAISING THE BAR OF EXCELLENCE

As easy as it sounds, strictly adhering to quality standards while keeping up with

up-to-date with the latest fire safety best practices

 Highest level of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction in the fire safety industry

SYNONYMOUS FOR SAVING LIVES

Since its inception, the company has grown from strength to strength with Pan India branches. Mumbai-headquartered Safe Pro Fire Services offers its services across various sectors and industries. Its diverse range of clients includes small businesses, large corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, residential customers, and more.

BEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

FUELING THE GROWTH OF MODERN INDIA

SPACEMAX OFFERING

SMART FURNITURE SOLUTIONS TO NEW-AGE BUYERS

The global smart furniture market was valued at USD 143.6 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2021 to 2028. Owing to a considerable rise in demand for smart furniture, many renowned firms are entering the market. One such firm that is contributing its fair share in the Smart furniture industry is SpaceMax Indoor Solutions.

these developments. SpaceMax comes to the rescue with its space-saving, practically usable furniture products that are compatible with current trends and choices,” says Himanshu.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

SpaceMax's offerings reach the largest demographic segment of the middleclass population in metro cities, especially new-age buyers or those looking for home improvements.

“We take great pride in the quality and effectiveness of our unmatched fire safety products.”

the continuously increasing demand is a tough row to hoe but Safe Pro Fire Services has always stood the test of time because of its unwavering commitments. Here’s why Safe Pro Fire Services becomes the preferred choice:

 Use of state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing techniques to create effective, durable, reliable, and easy-to-use safety products.

 Customised fire safety solutions to meet specific customer needs and requirements

 Experienced team of professionals & experts who go above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional service and support

 Strong emphasis on training and education to keep clients

“First and foremost, our primary duty is to ensure the client’s safety. Team Safe Pro Fire Services works closely with each customer, assesses their requirements, recommends appropriate products and services, and provides ongoing support to ensure that their fire safety needs are adequately met,” reiterates Aleem whose sole intention is to make the world a safer place.

Looking ahead to the next decade, Aleem envisions making his company a leading global provider of fire safety solutions, expanding its reach and impact to new markets and customers, which in his words, “is impossible without the unswerving support of the entire team.” The company will also continue to invest in ultra-modern manufacturing technologies and digital solutions that would further spark off the path for smarter, more connected, and more user-friendly fire safety products.

Sustainability and environmental responsibility are the need of the hour. Thus, Safe Pro Fire Services is on its toes to explore ways to reduce its carbon footprint and promote circular economy principles throughout its operations. Its CSR wing, Safe Pro Life Foundation, is contributing to society by working in the domains of healthcare and education.

Running under the strategic leadership of Himanshu Goel, SpaceMax offers ‘tailor-made’ smart furniture solutions along with a technologically driven in-house manufacturing facility. The firm is successfully carving a niche in the furniture industry by providing homes with premium quality, multifunctional and comprehensive furniture articles.

In a highly unorganised market of interior designers, carpenters and furniture shops, Pune-headquartered SpaceMax positions itself as an emerging furniture brand by becoming a one-stop shop that takes care of everything from design to delivery and by offering innovative space-saving furniture concepts with affordable cost and top-notch execution.

WHEN PASSION BECOMES PROFESSION

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Himanshu worked in the domains of investment banking and Business-IT consulting for 18 years. His industry-rich experience also includes working in America for six years with large Global Investment Banking firms which equipped him with skills like business development, operations management, technology product development, business and technology consulting, and more.

Himanshu’s career pivoted in 2015 when he decided to live his passion, which ultimately led to the inception of SpaceMax, India’s first furniture company to offer innovative smart furniture solutions to homeowners with an integrated designto-delivery model. Due to his intelligence

“When it comes to innovative, functional and high-quality smart furniture, SpaceMax has no competition.”

and fervent leadership, what started as a small 500 sq. ft. workshop seven years ago has today become a large modular furniture factory equipped with state-ofthe-art German machinery.

“We have executed 1500+ projects so far, served 1000+ clients and are present in 12 cities in India,” mentions the Founder who is planning to expand the services to more areas.

A COMPANY LIKE NO OTHER

The passion-driven visionary approach of the Founder, coupled with overthe-top services places SpaceMax different from many other furniture companies. Its innovative, functional and high-quality smart furniture goes beyond comparison.

“In metropolitan cities, real estate prices are skyrocketing and spaces are shrinking. Developers are reducing the sizes of flats, thus making traditional furniture unfit for

A dedicated, professionally qualified designer works with every customer to provide end-to-end services, starting from customising the designs as per their needs to installation and delivery completion.

In Himanshu’s words, “Each employee working in SpaceMax believes in creating dream homes for clients with precision and accuracy, therefore they always go the extra mile to ensure ‘we holistically deliver what we promise’.”

SpaceMax’s unique and innovative approach is paving the way for its success and growth. That day isn’t far when SpaceMax, an already fastemerging furniture Indian brand, will make its name among the best furniture companies in the world in the coming decade.

The company’s unswerving mission‘Creating happy families by offering them smart, functional and aesthetically beautiful furniture solutions’, will take the company to greater heights.

THE PRESTIGIOUS HONOURS

 Multiple awards in categories like ‘Best MSME of the Year 2021’ by ET Now Leaders of Tomorrow

 ‘Best Smart Furniture Company of the Year 2019’ by APS Media

 ‘Best Bespoke Furniture company of the Year 2019’ by Asia’s Emerging Brands 2019

 ‘Best Company in ‘New Products and Design’ category by MCCIA (Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture), Pune in 2022

Founder & Director, Safe Pro Fire Services

Waris Ali Badruddin Khan (Aleem Khan)

Founder & MD, SpaceMax

HIMANSHU GOEL

And one day she discovered that she is fierce, and strong and full of fire. And that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears”. These words by Mark Anthony take us to the inspiring story of 68 years old Gita Prakash who is breaking all the stereotypes related to age in the modelling industry. This doctor-cum-model is a happy-go-lucky person who accepts every opportunity that comes her way with a smile on her face.

Gita has worked for well-known designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta, Torani, Jaypore, and many more. Ironically, she never thought of doing modelling as she believed that she didn’t have what it takes to be a model but life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

She is ‘Dr. Gita’ on weekdays and ‘Model Gita’ on weekends. Let’s hear the story of Ms Prakash in her own words.

1. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING?

I am currently working as a General Physician at Max Multi Speciality Centre - Panchsheel Park. I also work with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and the India International Centre. And of course, my biggest love is Modelling. I also run a charitable clinic at home from 5 PM to 7 PM.

2. TO SAY 'AGE IS JUST A NUMBER' AND TO DO IT PRACTICALLY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. WHILE YOU ARE MAKING AGE LOOK LIKE JUST A NUMBER, HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU?

A lot of people ask me, ‘Are you doing modelling just because you are tired of medicine?’ Absolutely not! I love doing medicine; it is my first love but modelling to me is equally important as it is another facet of my life that I didn’t

know would become so integral to me. It hasn’t been that tough because I absolutely love what I do. God has always blessed me with opportunities that are worth giving a shot at. I must say that my family is also very supportive and they are proud of the fact that I am 68 years old and still doing a lot to keep myself happy and contented. They get very excited when they see me on billboards or in other advertisements. They keep sending me pictures.

On my 61st birthday, I got the best surprise of my life- My Picture on the Femina Magazine Cover. At that time, I didn’t even know what it meant to see yourself in print media but these milestones helped me understand that it is never too late to try different things.

3. MODELLING IN YOUR LIFE HAPPENED BY CHANCE. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE IT?

but things happened when an Italian photographer visited my clinic for his treatment and asked me if I could model for him. I never knew this is going to take me to a world never explored before. A couple of months later, he asked for my pictures. My kids selected some regular photos and shared them with him. Two months later, he came to India and I shot for Tarun Tahiliani. I also worked with ‘Jaypore’ brand to model for their ‘kani shawls’ which were mostly worn by women of my age

group. Many other opportunities followed.

I absolutely wish to continue this. I don’t say ‘No’ to anything if I know I will be able to do it. I always try to balance my job as a doctor with my passion for modelling. I have never missed out on giving consultations to my patients as my job is my first love. I do modelling on weekends and sign up for projects whenever I feel free.

4. AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR MANY, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR OTHER WOMEN? WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED EACH DAY?

I always say that your career should be your foremost priority but you should also look for other opportunities which you can do apart from your career. If you find something extra to do, it adds fun to your life. Never miss an opportunity.

VINROX TECHNOLOGIES

A ONE-STOP SOLUTION FOR ALL ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING NEEDS

STRONG CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS

60% of the company’s clients are US-based from different domains like Industrial Automation & Control, IoT and IT, Power & Energy, and Medical Devices companies. Unlike many other manufacturing companies, Vinrox assigns a dedicated project engineer to manage the client’s project. Moreover, competitive pricing and regular support and unparalleled services give repeat business to the

“We have developed a range of PoE Injectors and PoE Switches with Giga speed and fiber connectivity for one of the leading distributors who used to import products from China. They have now stopped buying products from China and are selling products designed and manufactured by us,” mentions Ashvin with pride.

FIRM

Ashvin Navadia is a graduate Engineer in Instrumentation and Control Engineering with 22+ years of industry experience in Product Design & Development, Global Sourcing, Vendor Development and Electronics Manufacturing. Before stepping into the world of entrepreneurship, Ashvin swotted up his skills by working in the engineering and global sourcing department of multiple organisations.

While elucidating the meaning of his company, he says, “WIN combined with ROCKS makes VINROX. Each client associated with us ‘Rocks’ high and achieve a big ‘Win’.”

FROM A TEAM OF 10 TO 200 PROFESSIONALS

When the foundation of Vinrox was laid, the company had only 10 people but we all know that ‘No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.’ To take the company to heights, Ashvin spent hours hunting the right pool of people for Vinrox. “It was quite tough to find skilled human resources in Vadodara in the manufacturing domain. We hired tech-savvy fresher engineers,

“We have grown 100% YOY and will be registering $11 Million in revenue this FY.”

trained them and aligned their thoughts to the company’s vision,” says Ashvin. Currently, the company has a team of 200 young passionate technocrats.

THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS

Vinrox is a one-stop shop for customers looking for all kinds of electronic manufacturing services. The company becomes a preferred choice of clients as it is equipped with:

 Excellent Sourcing network for PCB and Components

 Highly skilled, passionate and dynamic manpower

 No MOQ and can scale up to large-volume production

 Core experience in Product Life Cycle Management

 Advanced SMT Line from the world’s leading brands

Vinrox has also acquired many US-based clients who were earlier outsourcing manufacturing products from China, which clearly projects the scintillating future of the company.

THE STAGGERING GROWTH

Vinrox is growing by 100% YOY and will be registering USD $11.00 Million (INR 91.00 Cr.) revenue in FY’22-23. Currently, the company has 3 SMT lines from Fuji, Japan.

We are planning to construct a top-notch state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in 1.25 Lac Sq. Feet land, having a 70,000 Sq. Ft. constructed area which will provide employment to more than 500 people in near future.

Vinrox has quite a few milestones to its name. The most coveted ones include:

 ‘Indian Achievers Award 2021-22’ in recognition of outstanding professional achievement & contribution to nation building

 Recognition under ‘10 Most Promising Electronic Manufacturing Service Providers-2019’

CEO & Co-Founder, Vinrox Technologies

ASHVIN NAVADIA

Sucharita Eashwar

Who Is Enabling women to Start-up and Scale-up Businesses

Entrepreneurship (CWE) as a not-forprofit entity and got into action.

What hurdles did you face while building your career? How did you overcome them to succeed?

In my earlier career, I faced quite a few challenges: relocation due to marriage, maternity pushing me to choose between career growth and time with my baby. However, I learnt to create new pathways to fulfil my aspirations.

*Mentoring Roundtables *CWE JAMS – peer learning/networking and role model meetings *Founder’s Cafes –business opportunities and support on challenges faced

What is your company’s USP? What marketing strategies do you adopt to stand out from the competition?

look after their families and community, generate employment and contribute to the GDP of India. Many have got patents for their innovations in health, education, and environment, and Made in India products, got funded and reached global markets.

Time is changing. From running finance firms to logistics, construction and security companies, women are dabbing into fields that have always been bastions of male domination. However,

Sucharita Eashwar Founder, Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurship

50,000 women in pan India to start their businesses and grow successfully.

Let’s hear the journey of Sucharita and about her venture that promotes women's entrepreneurship in her own words.

Give us a glimpse of yourself and walk us through your journey of becoming an entrepreneur. While working with women at different levels, I realized that the fundamental gap in women’s empowerment is financial independence. There are millions of skilled educated women in cities across India who wish to start their own businesses. What they need is the flexibility to look after their families and earn an income, without going out for a fixedhours job. Unfortunately, they don’t know how to start a business and take it to heights.

In 2016, when I was planning CWE, some skeptics said: “Business is gender agnostic. Why do women entrepreneurs need special hand-holding?” Hence, we did a study with 400 women/men entrepreneurs, policymakers, business associations, and investors. Our study “Accelerating Women Entrepreneurship in India” identified 5 major challenges women especially face – Access to Finance, Markets, Enabling Technology, Information and Networks, and proficiency in Business Skills. In addition, the lack of Access to Mentors and reliable professional service providers for business compliance, legal, financial, and other professional services, was expressed by women entrepreneurs as a significant challenge.

These findings validated the need and I decided to go ahead and build CWE as an ecosystem.

Briefly describe your company and the products or services you are offering.

 Other organisations offer some elements of what we cover with our online and offline platforms. Currently, no organisation offers CWE’s entire range of resources and services across India.

 We’re successful women entrepreneurs ourselves. We know the challenges of being female entrepreneurs. We’ve launched and run corporate initiatives and also mentored women to become entrepreneurs. We love running these initiatives and more on a much larger scale.

 We have 100+ years of experience with sales/marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, and teams. We work with profit and non-profit entrepreneurs. We also partner with local, state, and national governments and international institutions.

CWE stays with them through their business lifecycle to help them achieve success in their next goals.

Shed light on the mission of the company. What is its long-term strategic vision?

 Equip 50,000 women pan India to start up and grow successfully

 Select 500 women-led businesses to accelerate and create global success stories

 Promote 100 role models to inspire thousands of women

It lights me up when I think of the difference this will make to India and the world!

a lot stil needs to be done to encourage more women to become financially independent. Many women are coming to the forefront to motivate women;

Sucharita Eashwar is one such woman who is selflessly promoting and mentoring women entrepreneurs since 2011. She is on a mission to create and uplift

I started talking to entrepreneurs & business leaders and found that they too agreed that there was a need to fill this gap. With them, I developed a strong mission and plan to make women successful entrepreneurs and bring them into the mainstream business industry.

Four eminent industry leaders came forward as Ambassadors and backed me with Rs 5 lakh contribution each.

We registered Catalyst for Women

CWE is a non-profit organisation focused on promoting women's entrepreneurship across India. CWE is a nurturing platform to enable women to start up their businesses and scale them successfully. We are currently working with 4500 women entrepreneurs through online and offline support, business skills training, mentoring, and access to finance, new markets, and enabling technology. CWE is industry agnostic and supports women in any industry sector, manufacturing, or services.

WE ENABLE:

*Mentoring by industry experts & successful entrepreneurs *Connects to Finance *Advisors *Corporates * Professional Service Providers *Global Markets

Our networking and ongoing capacity building include: Business Series training workshops

 CWE has a rich pool of 23 Catalyst Mentors, including Industry & business leaders, and entrepreneurs who are committed to supporting women entrepreneurs. We have 24 local, national, and global partner institutions that provide access to finance, markets and networks.

 CWE's initiatives are grounded in research, ensuring that they are evidence-based and effective in addressing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

Shed light on the clientele of your company. How do you ensure a successful client relationship?

CWE caters to 4500 women entrepreneurs in Tier 1/2/3 cities across India and supports them with resources to start or grow their businesses at any stage of their business life cycle and across all industry sectors - from deep tech to agri/ food products, contemporary handcrafted products, to health, wellness and education offerings.

They are skilled educated women who have chosen to start their enterprises,

Every entrepreneur employs an average minimum of 5 employees, and women tend to employ more women. That means employment for 2.5 lakh persons. These women are creating innovative and sustainable products & services which will surely make a huge difference to the environment and population.

Mention the awards and milestones received by you and your company so far.

 Niti Aayog 2020 recognition: 100 Women Leaders Transforming India

 Chatham House Working Group Member for Report on “Women Entrepreneurs After the Pandemic” 2020

 Womennovator 100 Women of Asia Award 2021

 Nokia Women’s Day Recognition to Woman Leader 2021

 Women’s Economic Forum 2019 Award for Exceptional Woman Leader

 Global Women Leaders Award 2023 by World Women Leadership Congress

CWE is a complete ecosystem, a nurturing platform to enable women to start up their businesses and scale them successfully.

(CWE)

In this era, our lives have differed a lot. Technology is improving every single day. Our schedules are getting busier than ever. May it be a student or office person, everybody seems to be dealing with every up and down alone.

Our emotions are becoming secondary. We have stopped thinking and understanding others. Prioritizing ourselves and accomplishing the goals of our lives have eliminated our supportive attitude.

The population count of the world is increasing every minute but that is not helping in removing the isolation of people. People with strong emotional drive feels left out of the crowd. The crowd does not embrace them with love rather pushes them away.

This has empowered the negative thoughts to affect the emotions of many. Fighting alone with the emotional anguish turns the person into an isolated being. If the situation starts worsening, people gradually become cold-hearted and moody.

Some people cannot resist the thought of punishing themselves for any unfortunate event and in that case, the negative thoughts win over them.

Our job is to stop the negative thoughts by standing firmly on our feet to walk towards our accomplishments.

Let positive thoughts flow in our nerves to knock out all the depressing vibes because our goal is to decorate our lives with peace and love. To do the same we must learn how to clear our minds.

NOW LET US DISCUSS THE WAYS TO ELIMINATE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

 STOP OVERTHINKING

One must have life goals, otherwise, life will not be able to keep its tires on the track. You must have concerns regarding something and sometimes you overthink and eventually make a room for negative thoughts.

Remember, overthinking will not help your job. You are the one who is supposed to help out yourself from the situation.

If you feel like brooding over things that do not make sense, try to get away from them. Try to keep yourself involved in other things that will help to clear your mind.

 STOP PRIORITIZING NEGATIVE COMMENTS

The best way to keep your mind clear is to keep a distance from negative comments or by putting up with them positively.

Many times, situations arise when people start judging a person and pass negative comments. It may be for their appearance, their language, and the downfall that they have confronted without an understanding of what they might be paying for such a condition.

If you are forced to face such a situation then try to control your mind and learn

to take the criticism enthusiastically to resist the temptation of negativity.

 KEEP YOURSELF OCCUPIED

When you feel negative vibes lingering behind you, engage yourself with different jobs. Try to keep yourself busy as much as possible.

This will keep the negative thoughts away from your mind and help you clear your mind.

 SHARING

LIGHTENS THE BURDEN

Suppose negative thoughts are crushing you and gradually drowning you into the river of uncertainty. How will you clear your mind when you are facing such a situation?

Sharing your thoughts and events that have given birth to negativity will help you. Try to talk about it to someone who will listen to you without interrupting or judging you. Talking over the situation will lighten your burden.

When you share your thoughts or experience to a dearer, they will pull you out of the circumstance without raising any condition, because they know you better than anyone else.

 LIVE IN THE MOMENT

Try to avoid brooding over unnecessary occurrences. This will only make your head feel heavier. Live in the moment with your loved ones.

Spend time with them. Go for a walk or vacation and refresh your attitude. This will help you prioritize yourself and focus on what you have in the first place. Do not let people’s judgments affect your mentality.

Know your potential and complete your tasks with confidence. Look for the positivity you have around. Think of the people who always are waiting for and thinking of how precious you are. Live in the moment.

Stop watching the morning news

You should avoid listening to or watching the morning news as it increases the chances of developing negative thoughts in mind. Your morning should be positive and for a positive mindset, you need to watch something which de-stresses you.

A positive mindset leads to greater productivity and satisfaction and reduces the chances of making errors. So, stop watching the morning news to overcome negative thoughts.

 TRY MEDITATION

Doing meditation is always a rational choice as it helps to control emotions. Our emotions become less prevalent while meditating. So, to overcome negative thoughts, sit in a tranquil environment, and start meditating daily. Many researchers also confirm that meditation is an effective way to deal with anxiety and stress. So, if you want negative thoughts to not trigger you, start making meditation a routine. Initially, it is difficult to meditate but eventually, you get better at it and find comfort in it. The more you will meditate, the more you will experience positive feelings.

 BE HAPPY AND SMILE

In today’s world, we are so busy that we have forgotten to smile for ourselves. We let negative thoughts dominate us because we don’t find enough time for happy moments. Try to stand in front of a mirror and force yourself to smile. You will feel energized and positive the very next moment.

Keeping yourself happy can be a wholesome dose of positivity. So, smile as much as you can and let all the negativities run away from your mind.

 READ POSITIVE QUOTES AND PHRASES

“Train your mind to see the good in everything. Positivity is a choice. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” It is a famous quote by Marcandangel which highlights the importance of staying positive.

We need to stay positive no matter what the situation is. Negative thoughts only lead to negative results.

You can read more positive thoughts daily to keep yourself empowered and positive. Write positive quotes and paste them on your mirror, fridge door, laptop, bedroom walls to stay positive.

 ENGAGE YOURSELF

If negative thoughts invade your mind, try to do whatever you like doing the most. It can be singing, dancing, cooking, doing art and craft, swimming, playing games, and many other activities.

These activities distract you and help in reducing negative views from the mind. Sitting idle and overthinking add to the stress so it’s better to engage yourself in activities that you love doing the most.

Atwork

A PERFECT SPACE FOR OUT OF THE BOX THINKERS

We strive to provide a holistic experience to our clients with a variety of solutions.

hen you initiate your business, working from home might be enticing but as your business expands, doing a business meeting at a nearby coffee shop may not seem like a nicest idea. A Co-working space that can provide seamless office solutions at an affordable cost can be a well-suited solution. The conventional work culture is getting revolutionised, and the concept of Co-working space is gaining prominence all around the globe.

To provide affordable office solutions to new-age startups and SMEs across New Delhi, Atwork Coworking Space started its operations in 2020 with impeccable interiors and bespoke coworking services and is on a path to becoming one of the renowned co-working space aggregators across India.

Atwork provides dedicated seats, cabin seats as well as managed office space with all the basic amenities like meeting rooms, high-speed internet, purified water, printer & scanner, cleaning and hygiene, open desks, investor access, and more.

FIGHTING AGAINST ALL ODDS

When the world went into a lockdown, Atwork had a tough time keeping the lights on. “Post covid, we were fortunate that our existing clients came back to us due to our transparent approach during

Infrapro Space

PROMOTING A GROWTH-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT

Our idea here is to create communities where people can build new relationships.

Wcovid times,” says Vandana Nagpal, the Proprietor, while taking a sigh of relief.

Currently, Atwork is catering to multiple clients across various domains like MNCs, emerging startups, freelancers, and SMEs and looking to expand its operations in the coming years.

“Our office space is located in central Delhi which makes it very convenient to attract talent from across the capital city. Hence, making it a worthwhile investment for our clients,” mentions Amanveer Singh who plays a pivotal role in Atwork’s growth.

A PLATFORM BY THE FOUNDERS, FOR THE FOUNDERS

There are many coworking spaces available in Delhi but what makes Atwork different is its transparent approach and deep focus on providing seamless solutions to clients. The network that Atwork provides to its clients with respect to hiring solutions, fundraising as well as operations is second to none.

While most of the companies providing workspace solutions focus on maximising profits, Team Atwork ensures that every business operating from Atwork keeps on growing without any hassles with respect to operations.

“Our clients have been extremely satisfied by our ability to provide prompt solutions to different requirements requested by them,” mentions Vandana and Amanveer with pride.

THE VIBES OF CREATIVITY AND SUCCESS

Atwork operates across multiple floors that provide different types of vibes on each one of them. On one hand, one floor at Atwork has a complete urban office space vibe while the other floor has an urban cafe vibe, which generally attracts marketing companies and designers who want to think out loud and be inspired.

Atwork runs with a mindset to put an end to any type of hierarchy, that exists in big organisations. Unlike other coworking spaces, Atwork directly engages with all its clients and their management teams, therefore building an impregnable relationship.

THE NEXT MOVE

Since its inception, Atwork is providing affordable office space to India's growing number of startups and wishes to keep fulfilling their workspace needs in all aspects. The company intends to create multiple venues across India without losing focus on the affordability aspects.

In just a few years of inception, Atwork is becoming one of the top choices of many startups and businesspeople. Vandana and Amanveer give due credit to their team for Atwork’s growth. In their words, “Our team consists of individuals who have vast experience of running businesses for more than 2 decades. Our team is deeply connected with the startup ecosystem across New Delhi and India and has been actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship for the past 3 years.”

e spend almost half of our day working. Whilst that seems like a lot of time, working in an environment that encourages innovation and creativity can make that time productive. To help startups and business owners turn their innovative ideas into valuable assets, Infrapro Space by Nitish Bhardwaj provides coworking spaces and offices for rent. The company is present at premium work locationsGurgaon, Noida and Delhi.

“We provide utmost privacy to all our clients and provide dedicated workstations and offices without the hindrance of others. We serve our clients with complete office security with the presence of day and night office guards and CCTV cameras,” mentions Nitish who has vast experience in sales and righteous knowledge of real estate.

Infrapro takes great price in offering customisable, flexible, and managed workspace options. Whether you need a desk for a couple of hours or space to hold a professional meeting, Infrapro is the perfect solution for you.

CREATING A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Infrapro is a renowned workplace company that provides meeting rooms, conference rooms, managed office space, cabins, day pass, and virtual offices. The company successfully positions itself differently from other market players due to the following reasons:

 Stylish and contemporary interiors with pops of bright colour contrasting with a sleek, industrial finish.

 Spaces are designed to encourage a new way of working for an ever-changing workforce.

W Smooth & uninterrupted wifi and internet services.

 Competitive pricing and workplace customisation as per the needs and budget.

 Hygiene and cleaning are the topmost priority. A housekeeping staff by Infrapro ensures a clean and hygienic space.

 The commute is quite easy as all centres are located at a walkable distance from the nearest metro stations.

 All the amenities like basic stationery, parking facilities and cafeterias are available.

 Spacious coworking desks, stylish meeting rooms & booths and an onsite coffee and tea bar make the place wholly comfortable.

Nitish mentions, “We provide excellent office solutions for every business requirement.”

ENCOURAGING NETWORK BUILDING AND CONNECTIVITY

Infrapro’s clients come from a wide range of backgrounds- small business owners, Multinational Corporations, working professionals, freelancers and houseworkers. As people belonging to different backgrounds come together in one place, it encourages collaboration and networking.

“Infrapro is a place where people from different industries and professions make connections with each other. Our idea at Infrapro is to create communities where people can forge new relationships and tap into this community with mutually beneficial collaborations,” reiterates the Founder.

THE GROWTH CHART

Infrapro is run by three business partners having expertise in different fields- Sales, Finance, and Operations. Infrapro is the result of a lot of brainstorming sessions that happened over cups of coffee between three intellectual minds. The company was started in 2021 during Covid-19 and in just a short time span, the company has established four centres with 650+ seats in three different cities.

Nitish also believes that Infrapro has been able to scale to such heights because of the indubitable determination of his team members and their passion to go the extra mile to meet the client’s requirements. Each professional serving Infrapro has a strategic role to play in achieving business goals.

Nitish along with his business partners envision creating top-notch coworking spaces that holistically promote focus and productivity.

Taking any business off the ground requires great dedication and a lot of sacrifices, especially when it’s a bootstrapped business. “We have had our own share of challenges and risks but with a clear vision, resilience and professionalism, we are surviving against all the odds and achieving heights,” Nitish signs off.

Coworking Service 10 Best Providers in India

Founder & CEO, Infrapro Space

NITISH BHARDWAJ

o person on this planet can guarantee you success. What works today may not work tomorrow. No matter how calculatingly and brilliantly you make decisions, you will surely experience failure. And that’s when the real challenge begins. Whether you give up or come back with a bang.

A renowned businessman W. Cement Stone once said, “Like success, failure is many things

Nto many people. With a positive mental attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.” These words by him make absolute sense.

Many big names and by that we mean giants like Netflix, Apple, Walt Disney, Starbucks and more, have been through really tough times but they managed to bounce back.

WALT DISNEY

We all admire Walt Disney as the most iconic entertainment company and often thank the company for gifting us animated characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Today, the company owns Marvel Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and many other brands.

In the early twenties, Disney was fired from a Missouri newspaper for “not being creative enough.” In 1921, he founded his first animation studio, Laugh-O-Gram Studio but unfortunately, it went bankrupt within two years of operation. After this failure, he decided to move west to pursue his dreams in Hollywood. And Disney never looked back. In October 1923, he and his brother Roy found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio which later became Walt Disney Studio in 1923.

KFC

Every non-vegetarian lover once in their life must have gone to KFC to have their favourite meal. But do you know a 62 years old Colonel Harland David Sanders had to face rejection 1000 times to sell his secret chicken recipe? It wasn’t until the 1010th time that he was able to sell his recipe.

Sanders could have taken it as his failure when he faced rejection 10th, 100th or even 1000th time but he didn’t give up because he knew that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

APPLE

Apple had experienced success in its early years but things went wrong when he was forced out of the company. Apple was just months away from bankruptcy when Jobs returned to the company in 1997. With his perseverance and determination, by 2011, he turned Apple into one of the biggest multinational technology companies. By introducing iMac, iPod, and iPhone to the market, Jobs bought a revolution in the computer, music and smartphone industries.

If he would have given up, think how different the tech world would have been. When Jobs was fired he even considered running away from Silicon Valley, ashamed by the fact that he was outed from his very own company. But he also admitted later that, that period made him enter one of the most creative periods of his life. In his speech, he once said, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

STARBUCKS

When Starbucks was in its expansion phase, it was expanding not only its product offerings but also venturing into a new music venture. With time, Starbucks had its own recording system and an entertainment office too but the company faced a huge financial crisis in 2008 when its stock prices dropped drastically. Starbucks had to fire 18,000 people and shut down 977 stores.

Starbucks decided to make a comeback in 2009 by focusing on what they are best at- coffee. The company launched its largest marketing campaign ever- ‘Coffee Value & Values’ by teaming up with an advertising agency BBDO. A shift in branding strategies also helped a lot. That’s how Starbucks saved itself from failing.

ADIDAS

Adidas was incepted by Adolf Adi Dassler in 1949. When his son, Horst Dassler passed away in 1987, the loss of the founding family left Adidas deeply shaken. Leadership turnover and messed up business strategy led to huge losses and unfortunately a bankruptcy-like situation in 1992.

CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus emerged as a saviour in 1993. He shifted the focus of the company from sales to marketing as it was the need of the hour. Between 1992 and 1996, Adidas doubled its gross profits and that’s how emerged victorious.

MARVEL

Marvel was never this giant creative powerhouse. It went through a series of ups and downs. Thor, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spiderman and many other comics kept the company growing but in 1993 the comics market began to shrink.

The company’s leadership couldn’t decide what to do next until a brilliant idea came into their mind i.e. films. While some movies didn’t work out, some turned out pretty well. Marvel Studios produced a new line of films including the popular Spiderman and Daredevil. Thereafter, Disney bought Marvel Studios for $4.3 billion. Marvel’s The Avengers became a huge blockbuster, followed by many other big hits.

MAGGI

Remember when Maggi was accused of having lead and monosodium glutamate above permissible limits? All its variants were banned for about 6 months but Maggi made a comeback in November 2015 and is loved by all today.

Despite facing such a big tornado, it never stopped communicating with its audience. By making tribute videos, and using the hashtags #WeMissYouToo, the company kept interacting with its customers. From connecting with boys and girls living in hostels to Indian moms who love making Maggi for their kids, Maggi reconnected with its audience and came back with more force.

NINTENDO

A successful player in the video game industry had its bad times after the late 90s due to the launch of PS2 (sold 156 million units) and XBOX (sold 26 million units). GameCube by Nintendo sold only 22 million units in the world. In 2006, Nintendo made a comeback with the launch of Wii. And woohoo! 100 million units were sold worldwide! When the updated version called Wii U was launched, it didn’t work well.

Nintendo had never learnt to quit. The launch of Pokemon Go attracted everyone’s eyeballs. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times, adding billions of dollars to Nintendo’s market value.

Kickstart Workhubs

A PERFECT PLACE FOR STARTUPS AND ENTREPRENEURS

We encourage our clients to network with each other which helps in collaborating and expanding their individual businesses.

The pandemic has altered the way companies function. Neither workers want to return to offices full-time nor do they want to work from home due to some incontrovertible constraints. While some companies are exasperatingly dealing with the challenges of re-imagining the workspace, a perfect alternative has entered the market- Co-working Spaces and this trend is here to stay forever.

When Suman Shanbhag felt that there was a business opportunity where she could provide a place for budding entrepreneurs with the least financial burden on them, she founded Kickstart Workhubs in 2021.

Bengaluru-headquartered Kickstart Workhubs provides a home-like fully-furnished office with all the facilities like high-speed internet, comfortable workstations and seatings while also maintaining adequate distance between the co-workers and meeting rooms. To facilitate a top-notch experience, the firm also provides beverages like coffee and tea and a full-time admin to provide regular assistance to the people. “We also have a well-ventilated office for those who choose to work in energy saving environment and prefer not to use air conditioners,” mentions Suman.

Currently, the company has clients in various fields including Sustainability, App development, Software solutions, and many more. As the firm provides an all-encompassing environment, it is contributing towards nurturing and growing the next generation of businesses.

HOW IS KICKSTART WORKHUBS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WORKSPACES?

Besides offering an environment of inspiring workspace for creative

entrepreneurs, corporates and many enthusiastic minds, Kickstart Workhubs becomes an ideal choice for many due to the following reasons:

 Kickstart Workhubs encourages a culture of energy and creativity through its contemporary designs and community driven-approach.

 Amenities like High-Speed internet, Cleaning services, Conference Rooms, Ample Parking Space, Printing/FAX services, and Beverages are taken care of. Conference Rooms are well-equipped with all the essential equipment and infrastructure needed to ensure a flawless and smooth meeting.

 A naturally well-lit and ventilated place creates a positive, energetic, stress-free and non-claustrophobic atmosphere.

 The most competitive pricing is offered. There are no hidden costs that come as a shock to the clients.

 Easy for people to commute as the office is located at a walkable distance from two metro stationsKonankunte Metro station and Doddakallasandra Metro station.

 Kickstart Workhubs is just 500 meters away from the new Forum mall on the Kanakapura Road which makes it easy for the clients to help unwind after working hours.

“We also encourage our clients to network with each other which further helps in collaborating and expanding their businesses,” mentions the Founder.

WHEN SECOND WAVE HIT THE COUNTRY

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit India for the second time, it posed huge challenges for Kickstart Workhubs as people switched back to working from their homes.

Oftog Global CREATING

A SENSE OF INCLUSION AND BELONGING

The company fought the challenge by providing comfortable and big workstations to people which helped them maintain social distancing. The situation was handled to a great extent by encouraging the clients to work with windows open.

The ergonomic layout and spacing along with ample ventilation ensured that the air conditioners remained switched off, thereby controlling the spread of the virus. That’s how Kickstart made a comeback with a bang.

WHAT LIES AHEAD?

The Co-working space's concept is getting all trendy and Suman has already chalked out a judicious plan for her Bengaluru-based Kickstart Workhubs which is getting bigger and better with each passing day.

Kickstart Workhubs is well-known in and around South Bangalore for its top-notch services. The company envisions creating more such startup-friendly work environments with uncluttered spaces and free-flowing energies. By facilitating collaborative workspaces and co-working environments, the company aspires to become Bangalore’s epicentre of innovation and productivity.

“We are also exploring opportunities to turn our business into a franchisee model and have more workspaces across the city,” adds Ms Suman.

obody had ever thought of Hybridwork culture until it became a buzzword a decade ago. When businesses realised its advantages, coworking spaces started coming to the fore, in the middle of the change in demand and inclination for flexible workspaces. Businesspeople are now investing in coworking spaces, thereby putting the limelight on top-notch coworking services providers like Oftog Business Solutions which provides flexible spaces and solutions to startups, budding entrepreneurs, and businesses.

The company is currently run by a business enthusiast Ridhi Vatnani, an entrepreneur with 12 years of experience. She envisions Oftog to be present in B-tier cities by the end of 2024 and across 5 Metros by 2025.

Oftog is one of the largest providers of flexible and hassle-free workspace stations in Hyderabad, with clients ranging from individual-owned businesses to multinational corporations. Your search for PlugNPlay, Business Centers, Office Spaces, Meeting Rooms, Training Rooms, Conference Rooms, Hot Seats, Dedicated Seats, Manager Cabins, and Convention Centres, ends at Oftog as the firm delivers it all.

“In 2017, Oftog was incepted as a platform that would help and serve people in business. We came up with the name ‘OFTOG’an acronym for OF (often) TOG (Together) as we feel that people always stay together in a business and work towards a common purpose,” explains Deepak Goel.

The technologically advanced and cost-effective coworking space solutions by Oftog adapt to evolving business necessities; all this is possible because of the fervent leadership of Deepak Goel and Ridhi Vatnani.

WHY OFTOG?

 Oftog’s current capacity is around a total area of 8000+ Sq. Ft having 160 Workstations, 10 Cabins, 2 Conference rooms, and Meeting rooms.

 Amenities include high-speed internet, front desk reception, beverages, biometric access, cleaning services, free print, restroom, cafeteria, and personal booth.

 The pricing and plans are as affordable as they can be.

 One can concentrate solely on their work as beverages and snacks arrangements are handled entirely by team Oftog.

Our ‘one price no surprise concept’ is the most sought-after aspect that allures the clients towards us as it guarantees them a fixed operating cost. We are always in demand because of the clients’ word-ofmouth reference and satisfaction level that they experience,” mentions Deepak.

THE CLIENTELE

Oftog’s clientele includes companies from different domains like finance, software handling, travel, recruitment, & digital marketing, NGOs and budding businesses.

Ridhi mentions, "Our focus has always been start-ups run by struggling entrepreneurs who have a vision in life. We cater to them in our best possible manner and ensure that they feel in place at any time."

“Since the very beginning, we have made sure that we deliver what we promise which in turn helps us in building a strong relationship with all our clients. We also provide 24*7 assistance to encourage a relaxed and comfortable business environment designed for innovation and productivity,” mentions the CEO.

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP

Since 2017, Oftog has grown for all intents and purposes. The company has presence in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. For better business growth, Oftog is also looking for Franchisees all over the world.

Like any business, Oftog has also faced its fair share of challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges was managing and maintaining multiple locations when the pandemic hit the world. Oftog had to shut down its operations in Bangalore and Chennai but ‘there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and your struggles only make you better in the end.’

The company kept moving forward. Thanks to the unfaltering energy and determination of Team Oftog that it stood the test of time and bounced back with a bang. Oftog has now expanded to multiple floors in a 5-storey building with a vision to help businesses grow in the collaborative environment.

THE HONOURS

Some of the coveted honours received by the company include:

 Best Coworking Space & Best CEO of the Year Award by Indian Achievers Award in 2020

 Best CFO of the Year Award by SuperCFO

Founder, Kickstart Workhubs

SUMAN SHANBHAG

DEEPAK GOEL & SHILPA GOEL Coworking Service 10 Best Providers in India

One

Do you know that the fashion industry produces 20% of global wastewater? It may sound hard to believe to many but unfortunately, it’s true. Globally just 12% of the materials used for clothing end up being recycled. While most of us read these statistics daily, we hardly do anything about it but when a 16-year-old boy read these numbers, he was in shock.

“The environmental impact of denim and the fastfashion industry is alarming, yet little is being done about it. When I came to know that each pair of jeans requires up to 10000 litres of water, I decided I had to do something about this,” said a worried Nirvaan.

And there he is, contributing his bit to the environment through Project Jeans. Let’s hear from Nirvaan Somany what he has to say about this project.

Tell us something about yourself. What are you currently doing?

I am a class 11 student of The Shri Ram School, Moulsari (Gurgaon). I am extremely passionate about the environment. I also enjoy music greatly and am the head of the music society in my school. I enjoy playing football and am on the school soccer team.

Through Project Jeans, I collect used denim and repurpose them into sleeping bags for the needy. As per United Nations data, each pair of jeans requires up to 10,000 litres of water to produce. Denim is strong, durable and has great insulation properties. Leveraging these, I aim to redirect them from landfills by extending their utility, to help the environment and the homeless.

How do you handle your studies and the project together? Do family support play a pivotal role here? The balancing act of studies and the project is quite challenging. My academics are extremely important to me. In the Grade 10 exams, I was amongst the toppers in my school.

Besides studies, this project is very dear to me. This is why I manage to do both together. This project has grown with the help of many educational institutions, corporates, and NGOs like Robin Hood and others. I believe that since we are working for a good cause with sincerity and dedication, things fall into place. My family has always supported and encouraged me. It's the values instilled at home and the school that has made me who I am today. My younger sister has helped design my website and my mother helps answer calls when I am in school.

How many sleeping bags have been made under the Project? Is there any expansion plan too?

We have managed to collect around 6000 pairs of jeans so far and made and distributed around 850 sleeping bags. To increases social awareness about the project, I have conducted workshops

and awareness sessions with residential buildings, corporate offices, and several educational institutions across India.

Some of these include B.D. Somani School, Ardee School, Shiv Nadar School, Hill Springs School, and Hindu College.

We have also collaborated with and trained local tailors to create sleeping bags that could provide a surface and a cover, were easy to carry around, and simple to clean. 15 of these tailors were women who needed a source of income to support their households and achieve financial independence.

We have been in touch with the embassies of Turkey and Syria in New Delhi to support victims of the recent earthquakes by fundraising and sending sleeping bags to those who lost their homes.

a) I would like to involve governments to ensure that nobody has to sleep on the ground. Our sleeping bags are great for migrant populations too and I hope that they can help refugees too.

b) I want to train more people in making these sleeping bags so that they can be made and distributed locally all over India.

c) I also want to reach out to denim manufacturing corporations to tie up with us so that consumers can be rewarded or encouraged to donate their old jeans through the

network of their stores. I want to ensure that not even a single pair of jeans is thrown into a landfill.

How is Project Jeans providing comfort and support to homeless people?

In Delhi, the number of homeless people sleeping on the roadside is disturbingly high. People often donate blankets but these are ineffective in the harsh winter months. We’ve seen a surge in demand during Delhi’s cold winter months. To prepare for next winter, I hope to work all year round, to be prepared for when people need sleeping bags the most. To keep the enthusiasm and tempo up for the entire year, I would like to build a team of student volunteers and ambassadors all over the country, so everyone is aware of what goes into what they are wearing and where it lands up after use. Few people are aware that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. At this pace, the fashion industry’s greenhouse gas emissions will surge by more than 50% by 2030.

Besides Project Jeans, are there any other projects that you are thinking of launching?

I believe that the youth should be aware of environmental issues. I write and publish a monthly newsletter called ‘Environotes’ to spread awareness about environmental issues. I distribute these in government schools in my locality.

Associate Vice President for the National Ship Classification Society and heads Quality, Compliance and Audits.

I am also a blogger and writer with humour as my forte. I am the author of one of the best-seller books- #TheyInspire. Besides, I am a motivational speaker and love to speak at different forums.

I have a flair for picking up talent. I always make sure that if I try something new, I give my 100 per cent to it. I was a weak runner in the academy but when I came out I made sure that I become a good runner. That’s how the journey towards distance running started.

im Watkins once said, “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” The story of Lt. Cdr Bijay Nair reestablishes the fact that a little more persistence and a little more effort, can turn hopeless failure into glorious success.

We connected with Lt. Cdr Bijay Nair to listen to his story in his own words. He also has a great piece of advice to share with everyone.

1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, TELL US WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING.

I am a Post Graduate in Engineering specialising in Marine and Weapon Controls from the Indian Navy. I completed my MBA in Defence from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai.

I have a total of 25 years of work experience. After completing engineering, I served Indian Navy for 10 years, relinquishing as Lieutenant Commander, with many medals and accolades. I was also a part of Operation Talwar (Kargil War) in 1999. I am decorated with Ops Vijay Star and Vijay Medal. I was also awarded a commendation by the Flag officer western Naval command in 2003 and 2004. 2006 was also a fortunate year as I was awarded the prestigious Chief of Naval Staff commendation.

For the past 15 years, I am working as an

2. TO SERVE THE NATION IS A FEELING THAT GOES BEYOND WORDS. DESPITE BEING DECLARED MEDICALLY UNFIT, YOU DIDN'T LOSE HOPE AND STARTED PREPARING FOR THE NAVY. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER?

Since my childhood, I always dreamt of wearing the white uniform. I gave the National Defence Academy exam and cracked it but I was declared medically unfit, I could see my dream collapsing. I then enrolled myself in engineering but in my 3rd year I got to know that I could join the Navy again through Short Service Commission (SSC) and the dream of joining the armed forces ignited again. I dedicatedly put myself to achieving this dream.

My unswerving commitment and dedication paved the way for my entry into the Navy. I feel proud of the fact that I donned the uniform for 10 years.

3. YOU ARE FIT INDIA AMBASSADOR, WINNER OF THE BEST AUTHOR AWARD, STORYTELLER, AUTHOR, AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS WITH GREAT EASE?

One of the best things that the Indian Armed Forces teaches you is Multitasking. That’s how I brought that aspect into my life too.

I am a good listener & observer and love to read books. That’s how the love for writing happened. My writings are all about people.

4. HOW DID YOU DEVELOP LOVE FOR WRITING BOOKS? TELL US ABOUT YOUR VERY FAMOUS BOOK- THEY INSPIRE.

They Inspire is my first book as a Writer which features the story of 42.195 runners who’ve run 42.195 kilometres (and beyond). These stories have the power to motivate people and most importantly help you understand what the human body can do when one sets one's mind to something.

I wrote my second book BHAGH (Bijay's Hilarious Anecdotes Gags and Humour) during the lockdown period. This book is a collection of articles of my humorous take on different situations which an amateur distance runner may encounter. I also have quite a few anthologies to my name.

5. WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED DAILY? ANY TIPS THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE READERS?

Life Can Change at the Snap of a Finger. My mantra of life is ‘Be Happy’ and ‘Live in the moment’. Always Give your best shot and the entire universe will conspire to make it happen for you.

One of the researches done by an Educational Institute in Germany has proved that morning people tend to be more successful and proactive. While the fact that some people’s brain is more active at night is also true, there are multiple benefits of being a morning person.

Morning people buy themselves some alone time when they can do Yoga and meditation surrounded by the melodious voices of the chirping of the birds. They can also go for a run and make the most of their day. Research has proved that morning people are more peaceful, happy, and stable in life.

Many CEOs and successful people have reported that they wake up early in the morning and also have a “morning ritual.” You can kickstart your day with positive and calm energy if you wake up early and give some time to yourself to think about what you are grateful for today.

Let us look at some techniques through which you can trick yourself into becoming a morning person:

1. WORK ON YOUR SCHEDULE

A daily schedule is something that most people follow i.e. they have a certain routine for the day. It is important to fix your schedule and train your body to wake up early.

The only way morning people get themselves to do it is by forming a habit. When you ask early risers how they wake up early and work out as well, they say the key is to go to bed early.

If you truly want to work on yourself and change your unhealthy lifestyle, you need to stick to a schedule.

2. STOP THE UNNECESSARY SCROLLING

You will be shocked if you recount the number of times you are sleepy but still don’t want to go to bed because you are hooked to your screen.

Once you start setting an alert to limit your use of technology after about 10 p.m., you will see a significant change in your sleep schedule.

Social Media is addictive and can lure you to sleep less. Turn off all the technology and go to bed after reading for 15-20 minutes. It is important to have a good 8-hour sleep along with waking up early; otherwise, it will cause a lot of stress.

3.

DECIDE A MORNING RITUAL

A morning ritual does not have to be anything extensive but something that makes you feel positive and productive. Some morning rituals you should practice daily are mentioned below:

 Practice Gratitude: Focus on your life as a whole and think of all the positive and cheerful things you are grateful to the universe for. Recall each big and small thing that has made you happy and graced your everyday living.

 Write down your tasks for the day: It is important to be clear about what you need to do during the day. This will help you become more organized, and you can prioritize these tasks and manage your time better.

 Meditate and listen to soulful music: This will help you calm your body and mind. It will also help you have a positive outlook on the day ahead.

 Have honey with warm water and lemon: This drink will make you feel calm and will flush out the toxins from your body. It also helps to boost the energy level and reduces any pain in the body.

4. DO NOT HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON

As we earlier talked about forming habits, hitting the snooze button every morning is also a habit most people can’t get rid of. It also makes you feel irritated and interrupts your natural sleep cycle.

One effective strategy through which you can resist the snooze button is by keeping your phone afar; this way, you will actually get up trying to reach your phone.

5. START YOUR DAY WITH YOGA OR A STRENGTHENING WORKOUT AT HOME

It is important to take care of your body and set an aim to exercise at least four mornings per week. A 30-minute solid home workout will leave you feeling energized and will prepare you for the day. If you don’t feel like exercising and doing yoga then a 20-25 minutes’ walk will energize and freshen you up.

6. SLEEP WHEN YOU FEEL TIRED

Sometimes you feel physically exhausted because of an occupied day. Your brain

gives you signals that the body and mind should rest and sleep but you often ignore this. Just because of your daily routine of sleeping late at night, you wait for too long to go to bed. It affects your body adversely and makes you feel tired while lying in bed.

7.

BREATHE FRESH AIR

Expose yourself to sunlight on a sunny day and get a healthy dose of Vitamin D and breathe fresh air in the morning. During the winter season when the weather is cold, try to get a sun bath because it helps your brain to think positively and helps in reducing depression and anxiety. It also regulates your body’s chemicals and helps you remain optimistic throughout the day.

8.

AVOID PLACING SCREENS IN THE BEDROOM

Television comes first on the list because people have a habit of watching movies late at night or playing video games. You can become a morning person only when you try not to use a laptop, mobile phone, and other gadgets at night. Most of us spend our whole day looking at these screens. So, it is necessary to make your bedroom a place of relaxation and sleep. Restrict your contact with screens at least an hour before you go to bed.

9. TAKE DINNER SMARTLY

It is often recommended that you should not eat too much as it keeps you awake. The same applies to too much drinking, especially alcohol and caffeine. You can try to eat and drink in a balanced manner so that you take a good sleep. You can also try to do a 10 minutes walk before you go to bed.

10. GET COMFORTABLE AND COSY

One needs an effective sleeping environment which makes up your mood to sleep early. Appropriate temperature, comfort, silence, and a cool and quiet room add to your sleeping mood and help you take a better sleep. So, get comfortable and cosy to sleep early. This will surely make you a morning person.

BEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

FUELING THE GROWTH OF MODERN INDIA

Brand Name Designation

Bharat Fritz Werner Ravi Raghavan CEO & MD

Gansons Ashis Banerjee Chairman & MD

Goma Group Keshavji Meghaji Gosrani Founder Director

Kinam Engineering Industries Kirit Mehta MD

Maxima Boilers Jayagopi Pillai MD

Safe Pro Fire Services Waris Ali Badruddin Khan Founder & Director

SpaceMax Himanshu Goel Founder & MD

Vel-vin Paper Products Vincent Mathias Founder & MD

Vinrox Technologies Ashvin Navadia CEO & Co-Founder

Vulcan Sanjay Gandhi Chairman

All the names have been arranged in an alphabetical order, and it is not a ranking

Coworking Service 10 Best Providers in India

Brand Name Designation

91Springboard Anand Vemuri Co-Founder

AltF Coworking Yogesh Arora Co-Founder

Atwork Vandana Nagpal & Amanveer Singh Co-Founders

DevX Jaimin Shah Co-Founder & CEO

IndiQube Rishi Das & Meghna Agarwal Co-Founders

Infrapro Space Nitish Bhardwaj Founder & CEO

Innov8 Coworking Dr Ritesh Malik Founder & CEO

Kickstart Workhubs Suman Shanbhag Founder

Oftog Global Deepak Goel & Shilpa Goel Co-Founders

Workafella Gurbinder Rattha Founder & MD

What’s the best way to understand the bygone era? We can either find answers in books or explore the museums that the world offers. There are vast collections of artefacts available around the world for us to see and explore. From the underwater museum and chocolate museum to the spy museum and the museum of gold, we have covered every museum that will take your breath away. Let's take a look at the museums.

CANCUN UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART, MEXICO

The largest museum of its kind in the world is the Cancun Underwater Museum, locally known as the MUSA or Museo Subacuático de Arte. The museum draws nearly 7,50,000 tourists every year. It is home to around 500 sculptures which are made mostly by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor and the rest by local Mexican sculptors. You can explore the museum through Scuba diving (Cost Per Person: $90 USD - $145 USD), snorkelling ($47 to $70 USD), or a glass-bottom boat tour ($47 to $70 USD).

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM, USA

If you wish to put yourself in the shoes of the spies, International Spy Museum is the place for you. With the largest collection of espionage artefacts and first-person accounts from top intelligence experts, the museum makes you understand the role that intelligence has played in history and how it is used in the present times. The authorities follow strict safety measures including mask recommendations and cleaning protocols. The cost per person to explore the museum may range somewhere between $12 to $30.

THE MUSEUM OF GOLD, COLOMBIA

If El Museo del Oro attracts half a million visitors per year, you can easily calculate its significance. The museum exhibits more than 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials from Colombia's pre-Hispanic culture. The collection is displayed in thematic rooms spanning three floors. Besides gold collections, you can also see stone, shell, wood, and textile objects. You can explore the museum for free on Sundays. If you visit on weekdays, the cost per head would be 4.000 Colombian pesos.

APARTHEID MUSEUM, JOHANNESBURG

As the name itself suggests, Apartheid Museum puts light on the rise and fall of apartheid. The exhibits at the museum are from film footage, text panels, photographs, and artefacts illustrating human stories. The the most notable exhibit is the one detailing the life and wisdom of the famous revolutionary- Nelson Mandela. The normal adult ticket costs R85 while for students and children, the cost per head is R70.

THE DOG COLLAR MUSEUM, UNITED KINGDOM

If you are a dog lover, you must pay a visit to The Dog Collar Museum. Housed in Leeds Castle, Kent, the museum has an amazing collection of dog canine neckwear spanning five centuries. The oldest collection dates back to the late 15th century which is a Spanish iron herd mastiff's collar. So, if you are a pet enthusiast, go get yourself the tickets to a museum housing 130 rare and valuable collars. The cost per person ranges from £16.00 to £24.00.

NATIONAL RAIL MUSEUM, DELHI

If you love to explore the history of rails, visit the National Rail Museum of Delhi which has an exotic collection of over 100 real-size exhibits of Indian Railways. You can explore antique furniture, static & working models, historical photographs, signalling equipment, and related literature. Besides boating, another fascinating experience at the museum can be a ride in the joy train and monorail.

LINDT HOME OF CHOCOLATE, SWITZERLAND

If you are a chocolate lover, you can discover the real world of chocolate at Lindt Home of Chocolate museum, home to the largest Lindt chocolate shop spread over 500m2. That’s not it. It also has a chocolate fountain over 9m tall that has 1,500 kilograms of chocolate flowing through it. And the best part is, you can create your own masterpieces under the guidance of the Lindt Master Chocolatiers in the Chocolateria. The cost per head to explore this museum from CHF 10.00 to CHF 15.00.

CUP NOODLES MUSEUM, JAPAN

Located in Yokohama's Minato Mirai District, The Cup Noodles Museum shows the history of instant noodles. This museum was opened by the Nissin Food company, whose founderMomofuku Ando, invented instant ramen noodles in 1958. And you know what’s the most interesting part? You can create your own cup noodles there. You can explore the museum for free but it costs 300 yen per person if you want to make your own personalised cup noodles.

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