I grew into a fearless warrior, with a little help from life

Stories of Role Models

What do you get out of being an entrepreneur? The hours are long. Uncertainty abounds. You earn less than what your job paid. I can tell you what I got.

After BCA I wanted to be in a marketing role instead of tech so I had opted for a MBA. I did my MBA in marketing from CMRIT.

During placements, I got hired by a HR consultancy and that would have meant a career as a HR executive.

I took a risk and opted out soon after. Then, I found a sales job on my own. I was soon reaching out to college authorities, pitching our ed-tech offerings. It made me happy.

Over the next 2 years I changed jobs twice and learned the ropes of B-B sales. Life showed me managed services and I embraced the domain with full gusto.

I was good at what I did and got an opportunity to interview with Cisco for a similar role. A day later, I had the offer.

I thrived in Cisco, hitting all my targets.

Our super-boss for the team was in town and after my presentation commented in passing about the fire in my belly. 'People like you, are employment creators!', he had said, as he admired my entrepreneurial get-go.

I took it to heart. Literally. 

I come from a family where we needed my monthly salary and yet, I jumped in to take another risk. I quit the well paying comfort of a Cisco job and started my own company. His words ringing in my ears.

Magneton Technologies Pvt Ltd was born as a web development firm. Projects came by word of mouth. They were executed by seniors and juniors from CMRIT, who were between - and sometimes without :) - jobs. All friends!

Mukesh - my colleague - was a pillar of support and ever ready to say Yes to all my adventures. 

Shivsagar Devpunje - Brother supported me in delivery of projects and conducting on campus training while sister Sarika Devpunje  helped me in Business development.

Together, we grew us to a private limited company and took on more and more work. Overseas clients - Yes! Trainings - Yes!

Along the way, Mukesh and I got married. 

An inter-caste couple, our world revolved around our work. My daughter also came along. 

When she was 10 months old, she and I lost Mukesh in a road accident. My world came tumbling apart.

It was my work colleagues who rallied by me. 

They carried on working with me absent, even when salaries became a question mark. They completed pending projects, cajoling me to come back. 

Knowing they needed me, I knew I could not sit and feel sorry for myself. I started again.

Some things I had to pick up afresh. Earlier, Mukesh had handled all things numbers related. 

We added new services. Conducting tech interviews. Bridging skills gaps for new hires. I threw ​​myself into my work.

Often, I would bring my daughter to meetings, as I juggled life and work. Customers were so understanding too. Sometimes even dropping me home after a late evening of meetings. 

Most of my work began to come from repeat business. Things began to look up again.

This year our turnover  passed 2 cr but more than that, most of the Diwali wishes that came to me unsolicited were from customers and colleagues.

A few years ago, I had left a high paying job. Life had put me through an ordeal. Yet, it was a gift from the Gods. I could now take on anything else, life would throw at me.

Life grew me into a fearless warrior. A successful one at that.