We are continually inspired by our Launchpad entrepreneurs, but who inspires them? In celebration of International Women's Day earlier this month, we decided to find out…
Being a woman in today’s society is still an uphill battle as we strive for equality and parity, and that always-elusive work-life balance. We all know women who we find inspiring and courageous. Our own mothers, sisters and grandmothers, our friends, employers, artists, business leaders, and the list goes on. In honour of International Women’s Day (which should be every day, by the way!), we wanted to hear some of our Launchpad entrepreneurs’ personal stories about the women they love and admire. Read on, and be inspired!
1. Kindness and courage: I will always be in awe of my mum
“The woman who inspires me every day is my mum. She’s two in one – both mum and dad. She has single-handedly brought me up since my dad passed away when I was two years old.
Some of her friends call her Lucky. I’m indeed very lucky to have a strong and independent woman bringing me up to be the lady I am today. Mummy truly has a heart of gold and is very selfless. She’s always willing to help people around her. She’s just the cutest and tries to perform at least one random act of kindness a day!
Her favourite line is, “when you become a mum, then you’ll know.” I wish I could be just half the woman she is when I become a mother someday, as I don’t think I can fill her shoes – she’s set the bar very high.”
Amrita Dhillon, Founder and baker at Amrita’s Artisan Bakeology
2. A multi-tasking mama with a rock-solid work ethic
“I would like to shine a light on my business partner – Candice Chong, who is inspiring because of her invaluable work ethic. The fact that she is able to juggle multiple responsibilities and still maintains a high level of performance is truly respectful and valuable to me as a business partner. Being a new mum, handling a full-time job, and running a yoga studio simultaneously require a tremendous amount of energy, focus, and time management skills. Having the ability to balance these responsibilities while maintaining her work ethic speaks volumes about her dedication and resilience. When I meet someone who is reliable, dedicated, and committed to their work, it inspires and motivates me to do better for myself too.”
Candice Chong, Co-Founder, On Good Ground
3. Unconditional love and sisterly support
“My twin sister Arpita and my cousin Navya have been my pillars of support, strength, and unconditional love. Without them, I wouldn’t have trodden on the path to my spiritual growth nor known what it is like to live a life that is authentic and intentional. We share our struggles with open hearts and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. I am so grateful to have them as my wisdom teachers and for their company, where I can continually feel safe, heard, and validated. As Isadora James says, “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life”. I couldn’t agree more.”
Dr Aparna Chari Sundar, Certified KonMari Consultant and Positive Parenting Coach, Global Mindful Journey
4. Connection in community – our powerful Launchpad network
“The women that inspire me the most are those in the Launchpad community, which was founded by Chris Edwards. It is truly the kindest and most supportive community for all entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur can be challenging, and at times, it can get lonely, but being part of this community has given me a platform to hear other female entrepreneurs’ journeys of how they have overcome their challenges which allows me to learn and grow from their experience and knowledge. It also inspires me to persevere with my dreams of being the best Mental and Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner in the world. On tough days, I remember the stories of their challenges and how far they have come, which gets me through the day. Each and every one of these powerful women has their own unique talents, and I learn from every one of them!”
Sophie Leung, Women’s Core Confidence Coach, www.sophieleung.co
5. A force of inspiration – keeping the focus on family
“In an ever-changing world, one constant factor as an entrepreneur is the ability to work towards your vision by keeping those that inspire you close by. My mother and children are what inspire me every single day to move closer to my vision.
At a young age, I was introduced to numerous cultures and lavish fashions by my mother, who shares the same flair for fashion as me. She is a major force when it comes to pulling inspiration from our Indian heritage and from the French aesthetics that dominate Mauritius, where our family is from. Hence, my unique upbringing helps bring a fresh perspective on my children’s partywear.
My mother also inspires me to celebrate all big and small successes and special occasions, which has become my brand mission. I see the importance to inspire families to celebrate life and live happily, something I also share with my children.”
Roomila Chandra, Founder of Tacheri
6. Respecting our elders – paying homage to my trailblazing Nani
“Growing up in India as a young woman wasn’t always the easiest, but being surrounded by hard-working, principled, strong women who fought the system to pave the way for their daughters was always looked upon with so much veneration. The stories of our grandmums and aunties always left us in awe of how they did, what they did, at a time when women lived under the shadow of men.
The strongest women I have met have been in my family, like my biggest inspiration, my Nani (grandmum). It was a tradition to spend Summer vacations at my Nani’s house. Now to give you some context, my Nani is a trailblazer, born in a family of strong women! In a time when education for women was frowned upon, she completed both her bachelor’s & master’s degrees because she believed that access to education is as much of a woman’s right as it is a man’s. I am going to share this one story involving my Nani that changed my life forever!
As a kid, I had a bad habit of sucking my thumb as a pacifier, which stayed with me for 10 years of my life! Needless to say, my parents tried everything to get me out of this horrid habit which was beginning to affect my jaw structure. I had plasters on my thumbs, chilli paste, but nothing worked. One summer vacation, something magical happened, and I returned home, having ended this for good. No one knows what happened except my Nani.
I can never forget what she said to me, “Kriti, you’re beautiful and a smart little girl. I know you want to be like Aishwarya Rai (former Indian beauty queen), a beauty with brains, travelling the world, working on your big ideas, and making your mark. But we all have this one nagging thing that stops us from achieving greatness; for you, it’s this. Today you decide which path you’d like to choose.” Her words stopped me in my tracks; no one had ever painted such a picture for me. She manifested this great life for me. What she said hit my 10-year-old self in such a deep way I changed for the better in many ways.
Now I am no Aishwarya Rai, but I am proud of where I have come with her constant support and reminders to settle for nothing less, always eyes on the prize!”.
Kriti Gupta, Founder and CEO, Nimbu
7. Learning lessons from inspiring leaders
“My former boss at my last corporate job is not an average kind of leader. Her impact on my life went beyond just professional development. She was a true inspiration and mentor to me, both in and out of the workplace.
As a mother, she understood the difficulties of juggling family and a career. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, I would head to her office, and she would offer her pearls of wisdom. I still hear her voice echoing in my head when she said: “Women always need to work at least double as hard as men”. Unfortunately, I believe this is a reality that still holds true to this day.
When I visited her in Germany a few months ago, she took me on a wild ride through the city in search of a new home. We were cruising down the streets in her car, and she would stop random people and ask if they were willing to sell their houses. It was a bold and unconventional approach, but she believes that connections with people are what matters most in life. And you know what? She’s right! My former boss taught me that it’s not always about following the norm or doing what is expected.”
Dana Wolf, Feng Shui and KonMari Consultant, Anjia Living
Who inspires you? Get in touch and let us know!
