ST Bureau
Mumbai
This
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
ST: Please tell us more about
yourself.
yourself.
Aarti Pandey: A dance enthusiast and a fitness
freak is what comes to my mind when I have to describe myself. Currently the
Co-founder of Folk Fitness, I started off my passion in dancing at a very early
age with Bharatnatiyam and went on to pursuing expertise in fitness and folk dancing.
I have trained in various dance forms including Salsa, Bachata, Ball room, Cha
Cha, Merengue and the closest to my heart – Bollywood from some of the best
instructors in the world. An MBA in Marketing by qualification, I have worked
for over six years in the corporate world and am a happy mother of two.
freak is what comes to my mind when I have to describe myself. Currently the
Co-founder of Folk Fitness, I started off my passion in dancing at a very early
age with Bharatnatiyam and went on to pursuing expertise in fitness and folk dancing.
I have trained in various dance forms including Salsa, Bachata, Ball room, Cha
Cha, Merengue and the closest to my heart – Bollywood from some of the best
instructors in the world. An MBA in Marketing by qualification, I have worked
for over six years in the corporate world and am a happy mother of two.
 |
| Aarti Pandey, Co-founder, Folk Fitness |
After
a hiatus post my first child, it was only befitting to turn my passion to begin
a platform for budding young dancers to pursue their dancing dreams to reality
and so I co-founded DDLL in 2010 which went on to become one of the leading
dance academies in Pune in less than 3 years. Fitness being my passion and
priority, I also cofounded Fiber Fitness club with like-minded buddies.
a hiatus post my first child, it was only befitting to turn my passion to begin
a platform for budding young dancers to pursue their dancing dreams to reality
and so I co-founded DDLL in 2010 which went on to become one of the leading
dance academies in Pune in less than 3 years. Fitness being my passion and
priority, I also cofounded Fiber Fitness club with like-minded buddies.
I
wanted to break the myth that folk dancing is boring and wanted to inspire
today’s youth to get fitter knowing their roots and inculcating their culture
which is so rich in fitness through Folk Fitness. My vision is to see women who
have few hours at home and aspires to be fit, do something on their own and
develop their skills in dance and fitness adopt Folk Fitness.
wanted to break the myth that folk dancing is boring and wanted to inspire
today’s youth to get fitter knowing their roots and inculcating their culture
which is so rich in fitness through Folk Fitness. My vision is to see women who
have few hours at home and aspires to be fit, do something on their own and
develop their skills in dance and fitness adopt Folk Fitness.
I have
participated in Mrs. India in 2010 and have come in top 10.
participated in Mrs. India in 2010 and have come in top 10.
ST: Who is your biggest influence in
life?
life?
Aarti Pandey: Positive influence is extremely
important for our enrichment and development. I believe that we all are in a
way sum total of multiple source of influences in our lives and the
corresponding actions. Whatever I am today and whatever I have achieved has a
lot to do with these people who have influenced me strongly in different phases
of my life.
important for our enrichment and development. I believe that we all are in a
way sum total of multiple source of influences in our lives and the
corresponding actions. Whatever I am today and whatever I have achieved has a
lot to do with these people who have influenced me strongly in different phases
of my life.
At the
expense of sounding cliché but absolutely true, while growing up the biggest
influence in my life was my Mother. Being from a small town, she made sure to
instil in both her kids all the attributes to be self-sufficient in life. She
always supported my passion towards dancing and though it wasn’t considered a
main stream profession.
expense of sounding cliché but absolutely true, while growing up the biggest
influence in my life was my Mother. Being from a small town, she made sure to
instil in both her kids all the attributes to be self-sufficient in life. She
always supported my passion towards dancing and though it wasn’t considered a
main stream profession.
Today,
I admire Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev and our PM Narendra Modiji. I believe they are both
phenomenal leaders and are true ambassadors of India. Modiji’s ‘Make in India’
initiative has been an inspiration for us to create “Folk Fitness”.
I admire Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev and our PM Narendra Modiji. I believe they are both
phenomenal leaders and are true ambassadors of India. Modiji’s ‘Make in India’
initiative has been an inspiration for us to create “Folk Fitness”.
ST: What challenges do you face in
your day to day professional life, if any?
your day to day professional life, if any?
Aarti Pandey: Challenges are what you accept as such
or else they are all situations that one can handle and manage. Being a mother
of 2 and managing business are more of an inner predicament rather than
external challenges. Work has always been an integral part of my life and
has been my strong pillar. When I know that I am enjoying my work and doing
something meaningful, life is balanced for me. This gets better with a
brilliant support system i.e. my family, my partners and team and my friends. So according to me, the only real
challenge in its correct definition could be the failure to manage your work-
life balance.
or else they are all situations that one can handle and manage. Being a mother
of 2 and managing business are more of an inner predicament rather than
external challenges. Work has always been an integral part of my life and
has been my strong pillar. When I know that I am enjoying my work and doing
something meaningful, life is balanced for me. This gets better with a
brilliant support system i.e. my family, my partners and team and my friends. So according to me, the only real
challenge in its correct definition could be the failure to manage your work-
life balance.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself
in next 5 years?
in next 5 years?
Aarti Pandey: I have only 1 vision and that is to
see Folk Fitness as the most popular and result oriented workout routine in the
world and to witness people globally enriching their wellbeing with the jewels
of India & its culture. Be an expert in the Dance and Fitness domain in
India and a brand ambassador to take folk dance through Folk Fitness globally.
I hope to be an inspiration to women including married women who let go off
their careers and physical fitness.
see Folk Fitness as the most popular and result oriented workout routine in the
world and to witness people globally enriching their wellbeing with the jewels
of India & its culture. Be an expert in the Dance and Fitness domain in
India and a brand ambassador to take folk dance through Folk Fitness globally.
I hope to be an inspiration to women including married women who let go off
their careers and physical fitness.
ST: What is your message to the
readers on ‘International Women’s Day’?
readers on ‘International Women’s Day’?
Aarti Pandey: Pursue excellence not equality. We are
social beings and we need support of people around us. The actual growth of
happiness and relationships happens when we work together not by competing with
each other.
social beings and we need support of people around us. The actual growth of
happiness and relationships happens when we work together not by competing with
each other.
You could send your feedback at
startupterminal@gmail.com
startupterminal@gmail.com
