Name: Dr. Vibha Tripathi
Country: India
Occupation: Founder & Managing Director, Swajal Water
ST:
Please tell us briefly about you.
Please tell us briefly about you.
Vibha: Born and brought up in Delhi, I come from a
conservative family, where I had to fight to turn my dreams into reality. I
have travelled widely and lived in Africa for many years. I find solace in
reading a good book and a cup of tea. I and my husband were bothprofessors of
Physics at IIT Kanpur, which we left and came to Gurugram to start our social
enterprise called Swajal in 2014. As a founder of Swajal, I believe that clean
drinking water is everyone’s basic right, and is a resource which must be
accessible to all.
conservative family, where I had to fight to turn my dreams into reality. I
have travelled widely and lived in Africa for many years. I find solace in
reading a good book and a cup of tea. I and my husband were bothprofessors of
Physics at IIT Kanpur, which we left and came to Gurugram to start our social
enterprise called Swajal in 2014. As a founder of Swajal, I believe that clean
drinking water is everyone’s basic right, and is a resource which must be
accessible to all.
ST:
Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Vibha: Joy Mangano is an American inventor and entrepreneur
known for the invention of self-wringing Miracle Mop. Aged 33, she was a single
mother to three children who had invested her life savings (and $100,000
borrowed from friends and family) into a small business based around her
invention, the Miracle Mop. A movie named “Joy” is based on her story which I
have watched several times. When I started Swajal, I have had dreams of my
business success fading away because of limited funding. Pitching your ideas to
people can be pretty much daunting at times and then asking them for money can
be a long hike all together. One message that I have for woman entrepreneurs,
homemakers and working class woman is that – have sincere and passionate belief
in whatever you do. That can make your innovation and work extraordinary and
magical.
known for the invention of self-wringing Miracle Mop. Aged 33, she was a single
mother to three children who had invested her life savings (and $100,000
borrowed from friends and family) into a small business based around her
invention, the Miracle Mop. A movie named “Joy” is based on her story which I
have watched several times. When I started Swajal, I have had dreams of my
business success fading away because of limited funding. Pitching your ideas to
people can be pretty much daunting at times and then asking them for money can
be a long hike all together. One message that I have for woman entrepreneurs,
homemakers and working class woman is that – have sincere and passionate belief
in whatever you do. That can make your innovation and work extraordinary and
magical.
ST:
How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Vibha: I am taking out all of my female employees for a
brunch date. I want them to share their experiences and challenges at
workplace. This would give me an opportunity to learn about how they feel, in
order to redouble my efforts at workplace and create even a better ambience for
them to grow in my company.
brunch date. I want them to share their experiences and challenges at
workplace. This would give me an opportunity to learn about how they feel, in
order to redouble my efforts at workplace and create even a better ambience for
them to grow in my company.
ST:
What is the most important message you want to send out to all the women around
the world on this occasion?
What is the most important message you want to send out to all the women around
the world on this occasion?
Vibha: We have been telling our daughters to be perfect and
our boys to be brave. In order to be brave, young girls need to take risks and
learn to program– two very important skills to move society forward. On this
International women’s day, I want to tell women that they should be comfortable
with imperfection.
our boys to be brave. In order to be brave, young girls need to take risks and
learn to program– two very important skills to move society forward. On this
International women’s day, I want to tell women that they should be comfortable
with imperfection.
ST:
What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Vibha: If society proactively supports woman towards her
choices. I consider it Women empowerment.
choices. I consider it Women empowerment.
ST:
What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
Vibha: Expectation of multitasking. Women suffer greater
stress due to multitasking in India. It’s important to note that even though
women are considered to be better than men at multitasking; this particular
strength is sometimes taken for granted and can affect a woman’s health.
stress due to multitasking in India. It’s important to note that even though
women are considered to be better than men at multitasking; this particular
strength is sometimes taken for granted and can affect a woman’s health.
ST:
Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Vibha: In next 5 years, I want to continue the work that I am
doing and ensure that Swajal reaches out to even more countries where water is
a serious problem.
doing and ensure that Swajal reaches out to even more countries where water is
a serious problem.
 |
| Dr. Vibha Tripathi |
