Q. Tell us about yourself, what inspired you to become an entrepreneur.
I hail from a Feudal Rajput family located in a small town Shukulbazar, where girls are empowered but the avenues to explore their potential are limited. My Amma (grandmother), the pristine lady of her times was the best example for this, who attended the school in Princely India, till 5th standard. She used to share her accounts of schooling from seeing Gandhi Ji in her school to the perks of being a royal girl who would discreetly relish Paan(betel nut) en route to school.
Newspapers piled up on her table along with magazines and radio were quite a familiar site for us, it was her influence which led our parents to take some extra miles in pursuit of our education. My brother and sister were sent to big cities for schooling as the younger one and homesick, I remained with the family, pursued my studies with zeal but my school couldn’t provide transport facility in the suburb, defying the social norms. I commuted 80 kms a day to attend school in a chauffeur-driven luxury car. I know the struggle of not having access to good schooling within our territory.
Soon after I got married m Father-in-law gave me a chance to try my stint at SJS Public School, Gauriganj. In conjunction, I have started Priyanka Singh Foundation for the same cause. Sharing the workspace with my husband was a transient phase for me. The inspiration was a shared vision to provide the best possible resources to the students of remote areas to have access to education within our limited resources.
Q. What is your business about and in what ways it is contributing to society?
I won’t it call it my business, in the first place as it is a shared commitment of SJS group to impart quality education in the rural parts of U.P. This comes with an affirmation to bring about a robust change in the society by nurturing the children and creating equal opportunities for every girl child in the area to have access to school, as I know the hardships and the societal stigmas attached to it.
I firmly believe the social system of our country during yesteryears and, today is quite changed but the robust impact can be brought through educating our younger generations, In defiance with the old practices of inequity, it’s our onus to be a good provider while constantly keeping a tab that equal opportunities are created and they reach the weakest section of the society not only through schooling but by creating job opportunities as well.
Apart from following the educational paradigms, we believe in creating one rather. To make our students confident and self-reliant we take them to excursions and inter-school events held on state and national level, so they become acquainted with the competitive world that awaits them outside the cocooned walls of our school!
Q. What was the most challenging part of your journey till now? How did you overcome those challenges?
I found myself in a job with no job description at all! A new entrant into the nexus, sharing the workspace with a family member and getting acquainted with the work culture was quite complex as the grapevine expands in such a system, so does the communication gap. I was surrounded by the people who believed they can do my job well. In the times of despondency, it’s the family that matters gradually those people joined us as the same.
I learnt the nitty-gritty of the system from my husband; we still work together, learn together and have our share of arguments as well. As, I am a mother to a toddler, now we share equal responsibilities that made me liberated enough to secure a degree from Harvard Business School in Entrepreneurship
He helps me to carve out a niche for myself, in my ways, as I don’t go by any rule book.
Q. If you are given with a magic wand with three wishes to be granted, what will be your those three wishes?
To make this world a happy place.
To make people realize the value of their words.
To be a face in the crowd.
Q. What is the part of your life experience you would alter if you had the chance to?
I take life as it comes, am in total allegiance to the Almighty.
Q. So how do you balance your personal and professional life?
Being a hands-on mother, my priority is to balance all the work be it professional or personal depending upon the nature of the call. My mother has sacrificed many things for the upkeep of our family business whilst being good at studies and vocals; she keeps on instigating me to maintain the equilibrium between work and family for the smooth functioning of the business.
Q. Is there any person who has mentored/supported/inspired you in your business and how?
My Mother is the guiding force and my Husband is the guiding light, which shows me the path and keeps me grounded at the workplace.
Q. Is personal branding important in your profession? What have you done to position yourself?
‘A mistake, committed for a few generations, becomes a tradition‘.
The eastern part of U.P is still the citadel of patriarchal customs, people find it difficult to deal with a lady sitting at the hem on an institution, and those subservient ones would often end up calling you ‘sir’ instead! This may-hem needs to be changed with branding, by giving women employees top positions. The branding of the institution as a whole is important which adds to our goodwill.
Q. What is your USP which makes it unique & different from other Business in similar domains?
‘You are as good as your last mistake‘
Keeping the functioning of the school in alignment with the new technologies and trends, a zest to compete and the willingness to accept the failure as a lesson, this marks our USP. Honesty and integrity are the lifeblood of our organisation.
Quickies :
- Your favourite food: Khichdi
- Your Favourite book: Gone with the wind
- You spend your leisure time by: Reading books and walking in the woods
- Favourite holiday destination: Ladakh
- The ideal person: My Mother
- Your Strength: My Son
- Favourite web series Downtown Abbey
- Favourite Sport Basketball
Q. Your message for women entrepreneurs or those aspiring to be the startup owners.
An ordinary experience on a given normal day may become the catalyst of your life! Follow your instincts and choose your calling wisely. There is nothing in this world called’ free lunch’, you have to earn it. Break the glass ceiling, there is no substitute for hard work, it pays off!
Q. One word that defines you?
Rustic
Pl. follow Priyanka Singh Foundation on https://www.facebook.com/forthosewhomatter/
https://www.facebook.com/erstwhile.flavia
You can write to her on priyankasinghfoundation@gmail.com
