Name: Jagriti Choudhary
Age: 30
City: Bombay
Occupation: CEO and Cofounder at Skinyoga
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Jagriti: I
grew up on a farm in India and lived a very simple, Indian and organic life
with my sisters. We grew our own vegetables and milked cows for diary
requirements. It was only later that I moved to abroad and experienced what a
normal city life entails. I finished my MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson
College and MSc in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics.
During my undergraduate I have taken Business courses at Harvard University and
Otemon Gakuin Japan. My hobbies are playing basketball, learning languages and
watching movies.
grew up on a farm in India and lived a very simple, Indian and organic life
with my sisters. We grew our own vegetables and milked cows for diary
requirements. It was only later that I moved to abroad and experienced what a
normal city life entails. I finished my MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson
College and MSc in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics.
During my undergraduate I have taken Business courses at Harvard University and
Otemon Gakuin Japan. My hobbies are playing basketball, learning languages and
watching movies.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the
most and why?
most and why?
Jagriti: I
have had a chance to watch and work with many women and today reflecting on
whom I take the most inspiration from, I have to admit it is my mother. My
mother works with my father in his business of Coal and Petroleum coke since
the beginning. She inspires me because I have never sensed from her that she
was any inferior or different from men in business. I have seen her work so
graciously and courageously all these years. I have learned from her that no
obstacle is too big and no achievement is too small. She inspired my life moto
to simply enjoy what I am doing and leave the rest to destiny. She has taught
me to be so strong and confident and treat everyone equally including myself. I
am sorry to say that I have met women who have been conditioned to think so low
of them and their thought process reflects on their children. I am so fortunate
to have been brought up by a woman like my mother. And ofcourse my father must has
had a big role to play in making my mother who she is.
have had a chance to watch and work with many women and today reflecting on
whom I take the most inspiration from, I have to admit it is my mother. My
mother works with my father in his business of Coal and Petroleum coke since
the beginning. She inspires me because I have never sensed from her that she
was any inferior or different from men in business. I have seen her work so
graciously and courageously all these years. I have learned from her that no
obstacle is too big and no achievement is too small. She inspired my life moto
to simply enjoy what I am doing and leave the rest to destiny. She has taught
me to be so strong and confident and treat everyone equally including myself. I
am sorry to say that I have met women who have been conditioned to think so low
of them and their thought process reflects on their children. I am so fortunate
to have been brought up by a woman like my mother. And ofcourse my father must has
had a big role to play in making my mother who she is.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s
International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day?
Jagriti: Skinyoga
is a 99% women run company and this year, we are highlighting stories of young
women entrepreneurs who have embarked on the journey of following their passion
and adding value to their society and their families. Every day is a Women’s
Day at our organisation and we take every opportunity to empower women by
providing them job opportunities, educational support and guidance.
is a 99% women run company and this year, we are highlighting stories of young
women entrepreneurs who have embarked on the journey of following their passion
and adding value to their society and their families. Every day is a Women’s
Day at our organisation and we take every opportunity to empower women by
providing them job opportunities, educational support and guidance.
ST: What is the most important message
you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Jagriti: Women
can uplift women. I would like to believe that today most of us women want to
see other women progress and so I want to request every woman out there to
reach out to woman in their circle and create an opportunity for them to grow.
can uplift women. I would like to believe that today most of us women want to
see other women progress and so I want to request every woman out there to
reach out to woman in their circle and create an opportunity for them to grow.
ST: What according to you is ‘women
empowerment’?
empowerment’?
Jagriti: Women
empowerment according to me begins with considering women equal to men. If one
can actually condition themselves into thinking and believing this, I think our
economy can grow by leaps and bounds.
empowerment according to me begins with considering women equal to men. If one
can actually condition themselves into thinking and believing this, I think our
economy can grow by leaps and bounds.
ST: What would you say are the main
challenges facing women at present in India?
challenges facing women at present in India?
Jagriti: We
work with women in more than 15 countries and what we have experienced is that
although there is sexism present in all the cultures, Indian and Arab women
suffer the most. Indian women are treated as someone built to take care of the
house and not eligible to have say in financial matters. It is getting better
in some of the urban societies in India but it is still prevalent in majority
of the Indian homes. Indian women have to struggle to have themselves heard. We
still need to prove our worth and dreams before getting support from our male
family members. Indian women’s contribution in the society is considered a
bonus and not a requirement. It should be a requirement and women should be
expected to take charge of business. One of the main challenges I think Indian
women are facing today is the lack of expectations of them.
work with women in more than 15 countries and what we have experienced is that
although there is sexism present in all the cultures, Indian and Arab women
suffer the most. Indian women are treated as someone built to take care of the
house and not eligible to have say in financial matters. It is getting better
in some of the urban societies in India but it is still prevalent in majority
of the Indian homes. Indian women have to struggle to have themselves heard. We
still need to prove our worth and dreams before getting support from our male
family members. Indian women’s contribution in the society is considered a
bonus and not a requirement. It should be a requirement and women should be
expected to take charge of business. One of the main challenges I think Indian
women are facing today is the lack of expectations of them.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in
next 5 years?
next 5 years?
Jagriti: I
am living my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and am enjoying every day of it.
In the next five years, I want to achieve my goals I have set for my business
by creating employment opportunities for 10000 women. Enabling and empowering
women makes me feel extremely satisfied and powerful.
am living my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and am enjoying every day of it.
In the next five years, I want to achieve my goals I have set for my business
by creating employment opportunities for 10000 women. Enabling and empowering
women makes me feel extremely satisfied and powerful.
 |
| Jagriti Choudhary, CEO and Cofounder at Skinyoga |
