Name: Shweta Shetty
Age: 37
City: Bangalore, India
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Co-founder, Hosting Raja (www.hostingraja.in)
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Shweta: I was born and brought up in
Mumbai and come from a business family. I completed my graduation from Narsee
Monjee followed by an LLB and an M. COM in Mumbai and then finished my PG from
St Josephs in Bangalore. I worked for about 3 years in Mumbai in the banking
sector. After getting married, I shifted to Bangalore.
Mumbai and come from a business family. I completed my graduation from Narsee
Monjee followed by an LLB and an M. COM in Mumbai and then finished my PG from
St Josephs in Bangalore. I worked for about 3 years in Mumbai in the banking
sector. After getting married, I shifted to Bangalore.
My tryst with technology
was more incidental than a conscious choice. I was doing a part time research
analyst role in my brother’s software company while studying for my PGDBA in
St. Joseph college in Bangalore. During my short stint in my brother’s company,
I started getting fascinated by the internet and the power it holds to drive
enormous changes in the way we do business. That is where the thought of
founding my first company came along. I realized that technology alone has the
power to change lives in the fastest way possible. In India, we are at a very
nascent stage of tapping into the plethora of opportunities the internet can
create for small business owners. We researched on this topic and realized that
out of 58.5 million small business owners in India, less than 5% were online. With
Hosting Raja, we are certain that our mission to help at least a million small
business owners to kick-start their online journey, simplify their hosting
needs and help them to go from being invisible online to being discovered
online will be a reality soon.
was more incidental than a conscious choice. I was doing a part time research
analyst role in my brother’s software company while studying for my PGDBA in
St. Joseph college in Bangalore. During my short stint in my brother’s company,
I started getting fascinated by the internet and the power it holds to drive
enormous changes in the way we do business. That is where the thought of
founding my first company came along. I realized that technology alone has the
power to change lives in the fastest way possible. In India, we are at a very
nascent stage of tapping into the plethora of opportunities the internet can
create for small business owners. We researched on this topic and realized that
out of 58.5 million small business owners in India, less than 5% were online. With
Hosting Raja, we are certain that our mission to help at least a million small
business owners to kick-start their online journey, simplify their hosting
needs and help them to go from being invisible online to being discovered
online will be a reality soon.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Shweta: There are so many- Indra Nooyi,
Nina Lekhi, Brene Brown, My MOM… I love Indra Nooyi’s discipline, I loved Nina
Lekhi’s story and how she has moulded herself while building and scaling her
business to a 100-crore company. I can relate to her the most also because she
is a Mumbaikar. Plus she works for just
3 days in a week. I would like to get there soon. I have seen some TED talks by
Brene Brown and I was totally inspired by her talk on vulnerability and how it
is associated with success and living a wholesome life. My Mom is my forever
inspiration. She is the most positive person I know and has a solid belief
system. I have learnt these qualities from her and they have been my major
strengths.
Nina Lekhi, Brene Brown, My MOM… I love Indra Nooyi’s discipline, I loved Nina
Lekhi’s story and how she has moulded herself while building and scaling her
business to a 100-crore company. I can relate to her the most also because she
is a Mumbaikar. Plus she works for just
3 days in a week. I would like to get there soon. I have seen some TED talks by
Brene Brown and I was totally inspired by her talk on vulnerability and how it
is associated with success and living a wholesome life. My Mom is my forever
inspiration. She is the most positive person I know and has a solid belief
system. I have learnt these qualities from her and they have been my major
strengths.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International
Women’s Day?
Women’s Day?
Shweta: I celebrate being a woman
everyday and encourage others to do so too. However, in my company, Hosting
Raja we have around 20 women team members and we have planned something special
for each one of them to add a little extra sparkle to their day. They are all
inspiring in their own ways and we want to make them feel special on the
International Women’s Day.
everyday and encourage others to do so too. However, in my company, Hosting
Raja we have around 20 women team members and we have planned something special
for each one of them to add a little extra sparkle to their day. They are all
inspiring in their own ways and we want to make them feel special on the
International Women’s Day.
ST: What is the most important message you want to
send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Shweta: You are enough! You are the best
version of YOU and there is no one else like you. Learn to love yourself and
empower yourself every time. In Kareena Kapoor’s words from the movie Jab We
Met, please say to yourself, “Main toh apni favourtie hoon”!
version of YOU and there is no one else like you. Learn to love yourself and
empower yourself every time. In Kareena Kapoor’s words from the movie Jab We
Met, please say to yourself, “Main toh apni favourtie hoon”!
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
When
a woman feels content with just the way she is, doesn’t need any external
validation on her work, her commitment, her looks, her contribution, and her
existence, then she is truly empowered.
But before all that she should ensure she is financially independent.
a woman feels content with just the way she is, doesn’t need any external
validation on her work, her commitment, her looks, her contribution, and her
existence, then she is truly empowered.
But before all that she should ensure she is financially independent.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing
women at present in India?
women at present in India?
Shweta:The ratio of women entrepreneurs
across various industries is very low in India. Not more than 14% of business
establishments in India are run by female entrepreneurs. Lack of
support, Lack of female roles models, lack of access to finance are the primary
reasons. Women have to work doubly hard to be taken seriously as business
owners. Encouragement from family is also a big reason.
across various industries is very low in India. Not more than 14% of business
establishments in India are run by female entrepreneurs. Lack of
support, Lack of female roles models, lack of access to finance are the primary
reasons. Women have to work doubly hard to be taken seriously as business
owners. Encouragement from family is also a big reason.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Shweta: 5 years down the line, I would
have hoped to start 2 more businesses, each scaling to reach a 50 CR turnover along
with Hosting Raja growing profitably year on year. I would also mentor at least
5 budding women entrepreneurs. And all this while enjoying with my family and
dog in my villa and not working for more than 3 days in a week.
have hoped to start 2 more businesses, each scaling to reach a 50 CR turnover along
with Hosting Raja growing profitably year on year. I would also mentor at least
5 budding women entrepreneurs. And all this while enjoying with my family and
dog in my villa and not working for more than 3 days in a week.
 |
| Shweta Shetty, Co-founder- Hosting Raja |
