Business pioneers creating notable impact in human resources

1 www.businessconnectindia.in|Vol - 6 Special Edition October 2023|INDIA

2
www.businessconnectindia.in|Vol - 6 Special Edition October 2023|INDIA

5
Kajal Dobhal
Kajal@businessconnectindia.in
Business Connect Magazine is renowned for featuring entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and visionaries who have significantly
impacted their communities, respective industries, and the local economy. We are thrilled to announce that Business
Connect Magazine is back with another exciting edition– “The Most Influential Business Leader in the Staffing and
Recruitment Industry 2023”, providing the knowledge, insight, concepts, creativity, and inner thoughts of top HR experts,
thought leaders, and innovators.
These professionals are recognized in the Staffing and Employment category for their thought-provoking, progressive
approach to recruitment and for turning outside-the-box ideas into reality. Their commitment to innovative solutions and
continuous growth potential has resulted in the launch of numerous unique business environments.
The entrepreneurial spirit of these progressive business leaders allows them to recognize opportunities when others only
see barriers fostering the expansion of businesses and the community as a whole.
At the forefront of all the stories featured in the edition, we have highlighted the inspiring tale of a visionary and seasoned
industry leader in human resources, Yogita Tulsiani, and her brainchild, iXceed Solutions, a leading provider of technological
and digital solutions., Yogita formed iXceed in 2017 with the vision of enhancing the human ecosystem through hiring
solutions. She is a prominent thought leader in the field and brings an insightful mind to the table when it comes to
imparting knowledge, insights, and concepts that every HR professional should have a look at. Please take the time to read
the complete story based on the discussion with her to gain insight into the variety of subjects on which she has provided
her thoughtful observations. Also, we greatly value your input in terms of helping us understand the value we are providing
to our devoted readers. Additionally, we want to sincerely congratulate all of the recognized leaders for their outstanding
accomplishments and efforts.
Last but not least, as let’s embark on this journey to explore the dynamic world of human resources, we encourage you to
join us in applauding these incredible business leaders and keeping a close eye on their progress.
BUSINESS PIONEERS – CREATING NOTABLE
IMPACT IN HUMAN RESOURCES
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Vol - 6|Special Edition|October 2023
Editorial Team
Kajal Dobhal | Sugandh Bahl | Dr. Amit Mishra | Avishek Singh | Kriti Anand | Sanjay Maurya
Business Head
ASHISH KUMAR
Senior Marketing Manager
Sonia Tiwari
Senior Relationship Manager
Reshmi Mishra
Corporate Team
Satyam Singh | Sunny Pathak | Asha Dudeja | Pradeep Pandey | Reetu Chauhan | Komal Verma
Sudha Gupta | Vikash Kumar | Kazim Barati | Rahul Kumar | Abhishek Mishra| Vijender Saroj
Karan Sharma | Kavita Tiwari |Sanyam Bhayana| Jasmine Kaur| Suful Bhattacharjee | Deepali Kalra
Co-ordinator (Business Connect-Clients)
Anita Kumari | Priyanka Gupta
Data Research & Analysis
Anita Yadav | Mukul Kumar | Sachin Banga | Gunjan Chaurasiya | Hitesh Kumar | Adarsh Pathak|
Prince Banga | Diksha Singhal | Aditya Thakur | Nupur Sharma | Brahmdeo Kumar | Meera Bhardwaj|
Raj Sharma | Akansha Kumari | Aashish Kumar | Nikita Chouadhary
Finance Team
Gaurav Singhal | Jyoti
Creative Director
ASHUTOSH OJHA
Creative Team
Rajat Pathak | Pawan Yadav | Vishant Saroj | Vandana Gusain
Legal Affairs
Mukesh Kumar
Human Resources
Nivedita Basu
Digital Marketing Manager
Anurag Tiwari | Simran

7
Page No.
Contents
Table
of10
SUCCESS STORY
16
CULTURE
28
HEALTH
36
46 CONVATO
A
versatile & dynamic professional with a sustained passion to help businesses reach their growth potential, Vandana
Tolani, CEO & Founder, Convanto is one such inspiring women leader who has been developing an eagle’s eye for
spotting opportunities in industries that are set for long term growth in the Indian economic context. An adept strategic
planner with a proven history of mentoring Business start-ups, identifying new growth avenues, developing innovative
strategies, and building high-performing teams. Her core area of work is Fundraising for early-stage start-ups across sectors and
industry sub-verticals.
Her brand, Convanto comes under the Top 10 Women Entrepreneur Brands along with Nykaa. Vandana has also been awarded
as the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth. With over 21 years of rich experience in International and Domestic Business Advisory
& Fund Raising, she has closed 165 investments in more than 35 countries. This month she has been recognized one of the Top 10
Women Leaders in Wealth Management 2021 and has participated in 160+ talks.
Vandana Tolani,
Leading Convanto With 21 Years Of Rich Experience In
International And Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising
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CONVANTO, A BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK FIRM
Convanto started 7 years ago, in Gurgaon, Haryana. Convanto is
a portmanteau of the words “Consultant Vandana Tolani”. It is
a boutique investment bank firm with a range of services aimed
at enabling young start-ups - it provides them with services such
as Fund Raising, Marketing & Growth Advisory, GTM Strategic
Advisory, and value-added services such as building Investor
Presentations and Financial Models.
Convanto advises small, medium, and large enterprises on raising
capital, finding their product-market fit, and implementing a
successful go-to-market strategy, branding strategy, and brand
positioning. Unlike traditional consulting firms, the firm has
proven its operational expertise in bringing money, creating value,
and driving growth to help you maximize your results.
THE INSPIRING STORY
Coming back to India after 15 years was not easy, but Vandana
was determined to move on in her journey. She set up Convanto 7
years ago, a boutique investment bank. Determination is a quality
that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is
difficult. She had to believe in herself and not others, and at one
point she even had no support but I was still firm on my decisions.
The day I stopped listening to negativity from many people I
found out that I was skillful, talented, and was doing things in
the right manner which was why I succeeded, not mere luck.
When many doors closed many others opened, and it felt like
God himself was by my side. I think looking for more solutions
and fewer problems, and staying positive and happy, helped me
overcome my roadblocks. Ultimately, we always have to help
ourselves as someone won’t always rescue us, and not giving up
easily always helped me. As a woman, The banks consider us less
credit-worthy and discourage us as borrowers on the belief that
we can at any time leave their business.
Vandana Tolani
CEO & Founder
ZARINE MANCHANDA
20
STARFIRE DIAMOND JEWELLERY
30
TECHNOLOGY
44
40 CONCORD TALENT HUNT
38 BY THE GRAM LLP
iXceed
Solutions
Yogita Tulsiani
Director & Co-founder
6

9

iXceed
Solutions
Staffing is an essential requirement for every organization.
The lack of skilled labour may trigger any organisation’s
vital assets, like cash, materials, and machinery, to fail.
There is a pressing demand for dedicated players who can
leverage their in-depth knowledge and experience to serve as
“strategic business partners” for organisations by taking care
of their entire human resource needs and enabling growth for
them. This will help companies gain a competitive edge and
stay at the forefront of their market.
iXceed Solutions, a pioneering talent and digital solutions
provider , has been hailed as a leader in the recruitment
space for offering comprehensive talent solutions, enterprise
services, and digital solutions, as well as specializing in
hiring for all positions both horizontally and vertically across
a variety of industry verticals.
Yogita Tulsiani, a visionary and seasoned industry leader,
decided to embrace her profound expertise from nearly a
decade in business development and strategy consulting with
Fortune 100 organizations in diverse sectors, cutting across
continents, to establish the innovative enterprise iXceed
Solutions in 2018. Ms. Tulsiani co-founded the organisation
with the creative vision of enhancing the human ecosystem by
offering cutting-edge talent solutions and supporting clients
in making the most of their brands. The company started off
by operating out of its London headquarters, but it shortly
established itself as an internationally recognized brand in
the staffing and recruitment industry.
COVER
STORY
A Yogita
Tulsiani Led
End–to–
end Talent
and Digital
Solution
Company,
Creating
Value for both
Clients and
Candidates
The Woman at a Helm
With a profound experience of one and a half decades, Yogita Tulsiani, the Co-founder, has been leading iXceed as Director. Her
expertise spans a strong track record as an accomplished leader in business development and strategy across a range of industries
in the UK, USA, Europe, and APAC. She possessed significant positions in the information technology, telecom, retail, and financial
services sectors before founding iXceed, where she developed ingenious business solutions to lower costs, increase business agility,
and use artificial intelligence/ML for competitive advantage.
Yogita Tulsiani
Director & Co-founder
10
Pooja | Business Connect

iXceed’s services have over the years supported 200+ organizations in
developing and launching 450+ projects, products, and services across
various geographic segments, keeping its hawk eyes on talent and
connecting it with golden opportunities for multinationals within the
staffing industry.
Yogita’s Journey: Ushering a New Era in the Staffing
Landscape
In academics, Yogita did her schooling at Holy Child School and went on
to study engineering at the esteemed Delhi Institute of Technology, which
is now known as NSIT. She later completed her MBA at Hyderabad’s
renowned Indian School of Business (ISB).
It was not an easy decision for her to become the first woman in her
family to start her own business after more than ten years of job stability.
However, she managed to succeed in her endeavor. Yogita now serves
as the director of IXCEED. Yogita’s present position as Director at iXceed
is the culmination of a number of previous jobs in her career, when she
executed global expansions and experienced exponential revenue growth.
“One challenge I encountered was the fact that I did not really have a
background in the recruitment industry or know the business dynamics,
but I still selected this pathway as I wanted to make a difference in society”,
the leading lady revealed when asked about her key obstacle.
Bundled with Top-notch Services and Solutions
With decades of expertise serving clients with their talent needs and
initiatives involving digital transformation by enhancing their knowledge,
iXceed offers an extensive spectrum of services that address all facets of a
business.
The company offers top-notch end-to-end recruitment services to top-
tier and mid-tier IT enterprises and managed talent solutions across the
entire spectrum of technologies eg : , identity and access management,
data management and analytics, SAP services, and plethora of new -gen
technologies .
Industry Evolutions Over the Years
ThemarketforITskillswasseverelydeficient.Peoplewerenotbeingplaced
in the proper positions for their abilities and skill sets. After observing this
situation, Yogita decided to build valuable partnerships with companies
and candidates by offering effective talent solutionsleveraging artificial
intelligence .
Yogita’s Take on ‘Being a Woman Leader’: Major
Struggles
“I’ve received judgment and criticism for my decisions, such as the
statement that married women with children should not truly strive
to pursue entrepreneurship. They would advise me to concentrate on
assisting my husband in pursuing his entrepreneurial aspirations ”, stated
Yogita, sharing her experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a
woman.
She further highlighted the following points as the primary obstacles
women leaders face:
• Lack of support for female entrepreneurs
• Female business owners are perceived as being less capable than
their male counterparts.
• Perceived bias within the venture finance community is a concern.
• Generally speaking, women are more risk-aware than men and are
more cautious when beginning or growing a firm.
• Society believes women possess low entrepreneurial skills.
• Women have additional responsibilities for the home and children,
and young children require a great deal of care during their
formative years.
• It’s like walking an invisible line to balance a career and a family.
Yogita has always been
an ambitious individual
who strived to do her
best in everything she
did, whether it was in
school, extracurricular
activities, or her
employment. As a result,
she has received countless
prizes and distinctions
throughout her academic
and professional career.
She is the recipient
of the “Female Tech
Entrepreneur of the Year
2022” award from the
SME UK Enterprise Awards,
the “Extraordinaire:
Change Makers” Award
at the 6th Brand Vision
Summit 2022 Award
Ceremony, recognition
as “Ace Women Leaders
to Watch in 2022,” and
the “Entrepreneur of the
Year 2022” Gold Award
from one of the most
prestigious Titan Business
Awards in the category
“Recruitment.”
Established on a foundation of
innovation, iXceed has grown into
a trusted name that works with
international businesses to accelerate
their growth by offering best-in-class
services with a combined force of
technology and talent.
iXceed:
At
a
Glance
The Clientele and
Corporate Ethos
Numerous well-known
brands have chosen iXceed
to design and outsource the
best recruitment systems for
their businesses. Some of
the notable names include
Oracle,, HCL, Infosys,
NIIT, the Global Research
Council, Coforge, and
AsenTech, to name a few.
Customer-centricity is at the
core of the company. They
partner with multinational
corporations to boost their
growth by offering top-
notch services. They are
constantly coming up with
new, innovative methods
to use cutting-edge
technology and toolkits
to strengthen processes
and better serve clients.
Their AI-based recruitment
solutions offer enterprises
and candidates the best-in-
class user experiences.
Powered by the
Latest Technologies
iXceed relies on AI and ML-
powered talent solutions,
which are changing the
way the industry perceives
talent solutions, to set itself
apart from competitors. The
company takes advantage
of off-shore advantages
while fully adhering to local
legislation. The foundation
of its success is its extensive
local expertise , cumulative
years of knowledge and
usage of AI. Additionally,
the RPO solution employs
strict procedures that give
its clients crucial benefits.
In addition, iXceed uses
a reliable and effective
process to create solutions
for the recruitment
industry. This assures that
the businesses are the
forefront of the innovation
curve by leveraging expert
talent capital
12

Fulfilling Growth through R&D
In an ever-changing industry, research and development (R&D) are essential to expansion. Ms. Tulsiani highlights how
important R&D is to keeping a business on the cutting edge. Using AI-based talent solutions, which are revolutionizing the
way the industry views recruitment and streamlining the entire process and robust delivery, they were able to launch new
lines of business focused on digital solutions, take advantage of cutting-edge technology like AI and ML to build sustainable
businesses, and introduce new product lines.
Nurturing an Innovative and Friendly Work Culture
Being a company focused on innovation, iXceed aspires to implement the most up-to-date technological tools to improve
production, increase efficiency, and create resilient processes. The management makes sure that everyone has equal
opportunity, and it also provides awards and possibilities for advancement based on production and the accomplishment of
goals rather than a person’s position in the hierarchy.
Every thought or idea is respected equally here, and employees are free to approach management with any problems thanks
to the open-door policy. Employee experience is valued equally to client-centricity at iXceed.
Guiding with Compassion
and Empathy
Yogita focuses on creating a better
ecosystem for employees to boost their
growth and add value to themselves.
Sharing her insights on leadership, the
inspiring lady said,
“Leadership should be
approachable and connected
to the grass-roots level.”
She looks up to Indira Nooyi as her role
model and gets a lot of inspiration from
her. Additionally, Yogita’s mother , Mrs
Mala and her little daughter Devanshi
, have been her biggest motivation.
Yogita’s mother had faced a lot of
hardships in life, bringing her up due
to the circumstances they were in. She
constantly encouraged herto be resilient,
have faith in her own abilities Her
mother taught her how to pursue her
objectives with tenacity.
Her daughter has been a constant source of
motivation for Yogita . Devanshi looks up to her
mom as her hero and Yogita wants to ensure to
live up to her daughter’s expectations
Sharing her key message for people who look up to her, Yogita stated:
• Don’t be afraid of challenges. Failure is a part of success.
• Don’t be satisfied with stories about how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.
Yogita’s Insights on Women’s
Entrepreneurship
Women entrepreneurs today are unquestionably significant.
It is thought that when more women work in enterprises,
more value and influence are generated in the community as
a whole. In this situation, it is crucial to encourage women
to participate more frequently in industries like business
that are dominated by men. This will increase the economic
value of the planet and alter the thinking of financial lenders.
Female business owners have a significant economic
impact. Women who start their own enterprises create new
jobs for themselves and others, as well as provide society
with various answers to organizational, management, and
business problems. A new value is contrived.
Better throughput is another benefit of having more women
in business. Long-term relationships are more likely to be
formed and maintained by women. They possess more
effective networking, communication, and organizing
abilities.
The Roadmap: To Be a Global Leader in
the Future
For the upcoming two years, iXceed has established a
clear strategic direction and ambitious plans. This includes
growing in new regions, such as the Middle East and the US,
as well as fostering the development of two new service lines,
such as digital marketing and enterprise services, which will
result in a 40% increase in revenueYOY and become the
preferred employer throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific.
while also growing in the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
The company has recently begun operating in the Middle
East and Southeast Asian regions as well. Additionally,
management is very concerned with improving the working
environment for employees so they may advance their
careers and contribute value to themselves, as well as
looking into new opportunities to forge fruitful connections
for businesses and people by providing efficient talent
solutions and maintaining their commitment to connecting
talent with global opportunities.
The Proudest Milestones and Recognitions
Since its inception, iXceed has grown to be the
recruiter of choice for some of the most prestigious
brands all over the world with its exclusive range of
recruitment services. Further, it has accomplished
numerous awards and recognitions over the years. A
few of them are listed below:
• Recognized as one of the “5 Most Promising HR Tech
Startups” by a reputable publication in 2021 for using
technology to transform recruitment firms
• Recognized as one of the “Top 5 HR Tech Startups
Empowering Talent Recruitment” by a reputable
magazine in 2021
• List among the ‘Hottest HR Tech Startups’
revolutionizing the hiring game using technology in
2021 by a renowned publishing brand
• Awarded as the ‘Most Admired Global Indians’ by
Passion Vista, 2022
• Honoured as the ‘CEO of the Year 2021’ by The CEO
Story
• Recognized as ‘Top 4 Women Leaders Technology
Pioneers of 2021’ by PinkVilla
• Honoured among the ‘10 Most Influential Business
Women Revamping the Future, 2021’ (by a renowned
publication)
• Giving Back to the Community
• “Giving back to society and country is very important”,
said Yogita. “In order to secure societal improvement,
we should give back. Take action and create sustainable
environmental solutions. As the company’s founder, I
firmly believe in doing my part to improve the world,”
the magnificent woman shared. iXceed has been running
several great social well-fare activities, like –
• Undertaking initiatives to sponsor education for
underprivileged kids in India
• Contributing to organizations dedicated to the cause of
safeguarding children from domestic abuseFunding a
charity for deaf children
• Donating to many charities for the current COVID crisis
in India
Attributes and Advice for New
Entrants
Success depends on grit and dedication. While hard work is
expected, smart work is crucial. Yogita last shared a famous
quote by an ancient poet:
It’s your road and yours
alone; others may walk it
with you, but no one can
walk it for you.
14

SUCCESS STORY OF
SUGAR COSMETICS
16

19

Zarine Manchanda
Regional Director at BRICS CCI
A
s a young woman blessed with movie star beauty, Zarine Manchanda is probably not considered the prototypical
CEO. Indeed, she is the rarest of the rare, with a personal USP that helps explain her meteoric rise in the past years
to the top levels of Indian media, philanthropy, business, trade and commerce, and fashion.
Zarine has become a media sensation by being profiled over 20 times in major publications in 2021 and 2022, and she earned
the rarest distinction of being covered by both leading business/political magazines such as Forbes, Fortune, Economic
Times and India Today for her successes as an award-winning young woman CEO/philanthropist, and also glamour/
lifestyle magazines such as Femina, Hello India, Robb Report and Vogue due to her beauty and fashion style sense.
Consider this: Zarine’s unique and wide-ranging credentials include being a respected award-winning philanthropist and
social activist as CEO of the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a prolific Mumbai-based charity NGO that has administered
200 donation programs of food, clothing and other essentials to Mumbai’s poorest residents since its inception in 2019. Due
to her outstanding charity work and in recognition of her inspirations, Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, Zarine has been
labelled as “Princess of the Poor”, poised to be the “Mother of Millions” by the Times Group’s Femina magazine in their
commemorative issue celebrating International Women’s Day in March 2021.
With all these successes showcasing a uniquely empowered woman and role model, Zarine has appeared on the cover of
FEMINA magazine; was separately named one of the “Fabulous 50 Women” by Femina in 2020; was named one of India
Today’s “45 Most Influential Indians” commemorating their 45th-anniversary edition in 2020. She also appeared in Forbes
magazine multiple times as a renowned game-changer and icon of inspiration.
Zarine received awards from Economic Times for her multiple business expansion and received an award from the Times
of India as a Young Philanthropist in January 2021.
In December 2021, Zarine Manchanda received the Nelson Mandela Peace Award which conferred a doctorate degree to
Dr Zarine Manchanda.
Beauty, Brain & Benevolence
ZARINE
MANCHANDA
Kajal Dobhal | Business Connect
20

22
Also in 2021, Zarine received two National Awards for her charity work, one of which was
conferred by the Governor of Maharashtra.
These successes have broadened Zarine’s
appeal to other sectors. In December
2021, she was named Regional Director
in Mumbai for the BRICS Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, which fulfils
important economic and trade policy
objectives for India through its alignment
with BRICS country members (Brazil,
Russia, India, China, South Africa).
Zarine’s movie-star beauty and
glamourous aura have launched her
as a model, brand ambassador and
twice a showstopper at Mumbai’s most
prestigious fashion galas, the Bombay
Times Fashion Week.
It’s no wonder that Zarine’s profile
in India’s Robb Report - whose
subscribers are the country’s most
affluent jet setters - was titled “Seven
Star Wonder”, labelling Zarine as
India’s new brand ambassador for all
things luxurious.
Zarine is also is an award-winning entrepreneur who has successfully launched
businesses in various sectors, most notably as the founder of Zarine Manchanda
Café, India’s first 7-star café in Mumbai. Additionally, she has launched other
businesses bearing her name in interior design, and film production, as well as
a 7-star premium security service company and a 7-star cloud kitchen food
delivery service, for which she has been felicitated as a young entrepreneur in
multiple business expansion.
Zarine Manchanda’s background is as
unique as she is. She was born and raised
in a prominent political family near
Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, the
daughter of a Minister and successful
businessman, near the home of the Dalai
Lama.
Following university, she moved to
Mumbai to pursue her dream of becoming
an actress.
Experiencing challenges breaking into the
glamour industry; her struggle led Zarine
to make a dramatic, life-changing career
shift.
Wanting to build her own political base,
Zarine established a charitable NGO, The
Zarine Manchanda Foundation Aarey
Colony, Mumbai, in 2019. In two years and
despite COVID-related lockdowns, the
Foundation administered approximately
200 food and clothing donation programs
in Aarey Colony and Andheri and is
a top-rated, respected Foundation in
Mumbai favoured by Mumbai’s Charity
Commissioner’s Office.
Zarine made another bold move,
venturing into the hospitality industry
by opening a luxurious Café in Mumbai,
Zarine Manchanda Café.
ZMC offers gourmet and organic fare. The
menu includes healthy sandwiches on
freshly baked slices of bread, nutritious
salads, savoury portions of pasta and
Maggi-inspirednoodles,flavourfulIndian
rolls, and other delicious dishes. We also
offer a wide range of breakfast and snack
items such as fresh croissants, pastries,
muffins, and chocolate sweets. Plus, we
feature a wide array of speciality teas and
coffees, fruit or chocolate smoothies, and
colourful tasty mocktails.
ZMC’s slogan is “Delicious, Luxurious,
Spiritual Charm.” Zarine elucidates, “Our
USP stands out in two important areas.
We are a luxurious, 7-star café and all the
décor, installations and accessories are of
the highest quality. This includes

25
all the crockery and cutlery. Zarine
Manchanda Interiors designed the
space and I specifically had the
vision to be the Founder of the
7-star café experience in India.
How did Zarine end up
being the Founder of India’s
7-star café experience?
Zarine says, “I spent a lot
of time in Delhi growing up
due to my father’s work. I
was always in awe at the
luxuriousness of the 5-star
hotels and the exclusive
shopping enclaves that
provided an ideal ambience
for its visitors. When I moved
to Mumbai, I was surprised
that such a sprawling and
cosmopolitan city did not
really have any luxury cafes
cum coffee bars except for
the 5-star hotels. So, I set out
to make the first, and ZMC
proudly is known even in
prestigious media outlets as
India’s first 7-star café.”
In addition to its sophisticated and
elegant décor, the Café’s other USP
is its “Spiritual Charm.” Zarine
explains, “I also envisioned a
space offering its patrons ‘Spiritual
Charm’. ZMC has a beautiful
collection of Tibetan Bells from
Dharamsala on display, and each
time my staff brings food or drink to
a patron’s table, we ring a bell and
provide a blessing. Our patrons love this
experience!”
Were there challenges that Zarine
experienced along the way? Indeed, there
were. “Obviously, COVID and the various
restrictions/lockdowns that have been
consistently imposed the past 18 months
have been the biggest challenge. We
opened during COVID restrictions but I
was determined to be the first 7-star café.
Our patio is exactly at the bottom stairway
to one of the Versova station metro stops
but it has not been open one single day
in the 18 months and we expected a huge
“grab and go” business from metro riders.
There were weeks when we were closed
entirely, and months when we had to
operate on limited hours and capacities.
Our beautiful patio has been closed for
months and it was very popular for the late-
night crowd that is the time period when
we did our best business. Still, we have
always had a loyal customer base from day
one as I know Mumbaikars have a zest for
life and still wanted a unique venue to enjoy
whenever they were not house-bound,”
claims Zarine.
ZMC was always able to attract
customers from the beginning
because of its USP of luxury and
spiritual charm. As per Zarine, “I
knew many film professionals and
other producers and directors in
Bollywood and they all love ZMC.
I knew I would attract that A-list
crowd. Even though I am proud to
have a 7-star café, I did not want
to make the café only a haven for
the rich and privileged. I wanted
to make sure all Mumbaikars could
enjoy the café. When I lowered
prices on some fares months after
opening, it seemed to do the trick,
as it improved our customer count
and sales.
What’s next for ZMC? Zarine is
planning a larger flagship café in
the Bandra area and is currently
looking at possible locations. In
addition, she explains that we get
calls and inquiries all the time about
franchising ZMC in other Indian
cities and even globally. We have
a careful but ambitious expansion
strategy in place and we will grow
ZMC so that it is a premium brand all
over India and the world.”
With these successes, and still committed to her dream of being an actress, Zarine opened a production house, Zarine Manchanda
Productions that will soon start producing international crossover content through its association with Los Angeles-based Lotus
Entertainment Group.
Zarine will feature as “Zara”, the lead in a film titled #Me
Too Meets Aarey, directed by National Award-Winning
director Arunaraje Patil, to be shot in 2022. The film is in
the supernatural horror genre and is set in Mumbai’s Aarey
Colony – known as Mumbai’s most beautiful and pristine
locationbutalsoitsmosthauntedplace.Asthenamesuggests,
the story’s centrepiece is an unfortunate “Me Too” incident;
that leads Zarine’s character into a fascinating journey deep
in the Aarey forest where spirits come alive.
And most recently, Zarine launched her Premium Security
Agency and “Heavenly Flavours” Cloud Kitchen, bringing
her six companies to her growing empire. She reveals, “The
Security Agency and Cloud Kitchen work hand-in-hand.
Large gatherings such as private parties, and film sets need
security, and frequently the host also wants appealing food
options. This means that many times we get double bookings
for guards and bouncers, plus food delivery orders.” And
of course, keeping with the Spiritual Charm USP, the cloud
kitchen chefs ring Tibetan Bells to bless the food before it is
delivered.
Zarine explains her unique and bold New Age vision this
way, “Of course business success is about maximizing profit
and minimizing loss. I will let the numbers will speak for
themselves. My focus is to create a vision and a blueprint
that always is about good karmas and good intentions, about
doing God’s will here on earth I train my staff the same way,
whether they are café employees or security staff or my chefs.
They are there to serve our clients and customers, to give
them an enriching experience. When we keep this in mind,
I believe success follows us because God notices all and he
is proud when he sees compassion, benevolence – and I’m
certain he smiles every time the Tibetan Bells are ringing!”
And so it seems the Sky is the Limit for Zarine Manchanda
and her New Age business USP of luxury and spiritual
charm. Her successes in business and philanthropic charity
work point the way toward a future that is sure to include
politics.
Zarine conveys, “I am blessed to have the DNA of
my father, who was a dynamic and charismatic
political figure in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
As a child, I used to watch the long queue of
constituents come to our home; my papa would
greet them one by one, and I could see the
positive effect this had upon the constituents he
loved,” Zarine goes on to say, “My own political
DNA will be different and unique to my own
personality as a young woman, but of course, it is
guided and shaped by my father. I count this as
another blessing I have experienced in my life to
have such strong political DNA, and every time I
count a blessing, it energizes me to give back, to
serve others in the same manner as I witnessed
again and again from my father. His inspiration
is like the ringing of the Tibetan Bells for me every
day.”

27
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29
CULTURE
Over the past few years, diversity and inclusion in the workplace have always been hot topics. It should
be because a diverse workforce (in age, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and gender) has
the ability to bring diverse viewpoints and perspectives to the organization, these elements can aid you
to produce great products and great new ways to cater to consumers. But it cannot be possible without
inclusion (collaborative, supportive, and respectful environment). Many types of research have shown
that there is an inherent link between diversity and inclusion. Many strong companies value D&I
policy, so do you. Having such kind culture make employees feel more secure and confident. In that
case, they can perform better.
Here I have given 4 tips to drive diversity and inclusion at your workstation.
SECURE BUY-IN FORM LEADERS
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi once said, “Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have
landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach
the organization.” This is entirely true for driving diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It isn’t
enough for any company to have policies in place if they are not being made law. Tone and retheme
of activity come from those most visible. So, diversity and inclusion must be led from the top and
then lived by all through the organization. A meaningful step towards the right direction makes
changes. Leaders run the culture and buy-in from the senior
staff can ensure a greater chance of adoption. A great team
also requires a leader. A leader, who understands team
perspectives, creates a sense among team members that
they belong to this place and works to develop a deep sense
of alignment and camaraderie. This kind of culture stretches
beyond a “diversity quota” in the recruitment strategy
and needs to be grown from leadership. The perception;
diversity and inclusion are embedded in each aspect of the
organization is important for its overall success.
DISCUSS YOUR DIVERSITY POLICY OFTEN AND
CLEARLY
Many companies start their diversity and inclusion policy
with a perfect plan. But when it comes to discussion, most
organizations get stumbled. In order to sustain the policy
D&I, often communication is imperative for success. Also,
do not forget to follow-through with the plan. The diversity
policy makes the base of your organization commitment and
posture. It should be consistently promoted; otherwise, it lips
the service. Ensure it isn’t just on your web page or in siloed
company folders. Put the contents on newsletters, and social
media, even use official email to demonstrate that you not
only talk the talk. Similarly, that having leader commitment
supports the effort, so does your often conversation. It should
be followed in two- ways, first by encouraging feedback
from your employees and others communicating regularly.
PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION
In order to proactively demonstrate your commitment to
diversity & inclusion, you have to organize training for this
policy. It will equip your teams with a deep understanding
and practical skills to make sure a more inclusive workforce.
As vital as getting a leader to buy in is, each and every team
member also need to recognize their key role to support the
culture. Andit shouldstart with educatingteammembers.So,
whether it’s learning about special rights in the workplace,
how to ease implicit bias from interview panels, or even had
experiences of marginalized groups, these are all vital pieces
of information in the cause. Now the question is, what is the
best way to learn? There is a lot of free and paid training
program available on the internet pick best one.
ENHANCE THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED
Your workplace can switch into a breeding ground for
microaggressions toward underrepresented groups. In that
case, it is difficult for those minorities who work at your
place they unsure enough to raise a voice. So, it is crucial
to learn how to disturb department and space, privilege,
and power. Changes you will be experiencing when you
become an effective ally for others. Look around the offices
and meetings. Note down on your diary, who isn’t there,
and raise this issue. To not let the workplace be a breeding
ground, one should be able to bring their best self so that
everyone can work and feel comfortable to contribute.
Moreover, establish resource groups is another great key to
make your team member’s voices heard.
to Drive Diversity
and Inclusion
at Your Workplace
Tips

31
INCEPTION AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE
COMPANY
The Starfire Diamond Jewellery
was incepted in 2012 in Brisbane,
Australia. The brand is a synergy
between remarkable design and
exceptional quality. The company uses
natural diamonds, precious gemstones
and metals to create beautiful
designs. As a result, the one-of-a-kind
jewellery boutique comes up with
unique one-off designs for the clients.
The showroom comprises of good-
experienced and skilful diamond
graders, gemologists and jewellery
designers. The team is always willing
to design and create beautiful pieces
as per the client’s choice and they take
proper care of what would go really
well with the client. The Brisbane’s
top destination for designer diamond
jewellery, aims at going beyond the
customer’s expectations and also to
serve the person all days.
Coming back to Shweta’s hard work,
it could be said that the journey had
begun long before 2012 and Starfire
was started as a result of her hard
work and passion. She was always
fanatical about diamonds even when
she had her wholesale diamond
business and jewellery designing. In
today’s date, Shweta states, “I believe
that sourcing beautiful stones and
creating stunning designs is the best
way to showcase your love, passion
and connection with yourself or your
loved one.” She feels jewellery in itself
tells stories and creates a connection
with a person, his memories and his
soul.
Her jewellery speaks loudly about
the same and with this approach, she
has designed an array of products. To
quote a few, you could have a look at-
STARFIRE SIGNATURE
The brand is known for its lavish
designs and unique diamond stones.
They have a long list of their best-
loved designs which are prepared
very scrupulously.
T
he immense beauty and the
inner fire of the diamond
have made this very precious
gem, gathering applauds for
centuries. When designed by the most
skilled designers to form jewellery,
it’s like adding another feather to its
cap and its magnetism enhances much
more. This is what Starfire Diamond
Jewellery does!
Based in Brisbane and built on
the concept of trust, expertise and
experience, this brand is now an
elite brand of Australia. Founded
by Shweta Khan, Starfire is known
for exceptional customer service
and high quality of craftsmanship
in its jewellery. The personification
of positive thoughts and passion,
Shweta ensures all this and sees to it
that nothing stops her. Her confidence
in herself and passion to create
something unique for her clients
lifelong, have qualified her to be a part
of our upcoming edition The 10 Most
Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs to
Watch Globally 2021.
Shweta Khan
Founder & Owner
ENSURING EXPERTISE AND TRUST
SIGNATURE DIAMOND DROP
EARRINGS
As far as Signature Diamond
Drop Earrings are concerned, the
firm is quite confident that these
would definitely leave a beautiful
impression on the others. Modern
studs are what are supposed to be
reinventing the customer’s look,
according to Starfire Diamond
Jewellery.
STARFIRE TIMELESS
This is what the brand calls ageless
collection. To be more specific, this
collection showcases classic pieces
like classic ring, which is forever in
style. In the words of Starfire, their
Timeless Collection couples elegance
and their signature passion for the
exceptional diamond stones.
STARFIRE CONSTELLATION
Now, you must be wondering what
this is! Actually, this brings out
the natural beauty of gemstones.
According to Starfire- Vibrant colours
at play refract the light and add a
touch of colour to one’s life with
exquisitely hued rubies, emeralds,
sapphires and aquamarines.
STARFIRE LUX
Starfire boasts about this by using the
words ‘Luxurious’ and ‘Glamorous’.
This features high-end pieces with
brilliant diamonds and unique
designs as an impact of which, these
empower you with their daring
energy.
TWELVE-MONTH WARRANTY ON EACH
JEWELLERY PIECE OF DIAMOND
As soon as you purchase jewellery
from them, you are considered a
valued member of Starfire’s family.
They ensure you are offered a
warranty of twelve months from
them/manufacturer. This is meant
for each jewellery piece and lifetime
care too. Starfire asks customers to
put on their jewellery with comfort
because the company would ensure
polishing, repairing and servicing of
the jewellery always.
WOMEN SHOULD BE TREATED
EQUALLY AS MEN
The days are gone when it was a real
challenge for a woman entrepreneur
to establish herself! Shweta is of
the same opinion. Shweta affirms,
“As business is conducted through
technology or the internet to a great
extent, the one sitting on the other
end, is hardly aware of the gender
of the person. Therefore, things are
becoming easier and gradually,
discrimination between men and
women is also going away. Advance
in technology is challenging gender
discrimination a lot. However, story-
telling and write-ups appreciating
an entrepreneur who is a woman, is
always an effective way to inspire
other women. Moreover, treating
women equally as men should be
followed.”
JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOUTH OF
THE LUMINARY
Shweta feels having good mentors
and role models, is an additional
benefit in the achievement of
your goal. She says, “I have been
fortunate enough to have such
mentors around me. First of all, I am
independent since the age of 13. It
was at this age that my journey to
Australia began. With my parents
staying in Fiji till my high school
studies, I was with my elder sister
who as a guardian, took care of
me and became a great mentor for
me. My parents gave me the best
education possible and therefore,
I learnt values and to be self-
dependent. After pursuing B.Com in
finance and accounting, I was on the
way to become an accountant but the
passion for entrepreneurship didn’t
allow me to do so.
It was my first leap of self-confidence
that I resigned from my first job as
a graduate tax accountant. I opted
to become a diamond wholesaler
at that time and that was done in
partnership with an Indian firm
planning to start their business in
Australia.
Shweta, is not only a business woman
but also a wife and a mother of two
boys. Her boys have further fueled
her determination to succeed and
leave a legacy.
I did an intensive course in diamond
grading with my wholesale business
which taught me how to grade
diamonds, giving me the confidence
and tools to sell. The first three years
in any new business is tough but
once you learn how to grow with the
times, you can not only survive but
also excel.”
Shweta adds she has learnt a lot
about herself after experiencing tough
times and that is the reason why she
is a strong person today.
MY FATHER MY INSPIRATION
Shweta’s father has always been
a great source of her inspiration.
He never feared of anything and
challenged himself always to do
more business.
Smita Kumar | Business Connect

33
NEVER FOLLOWED THE MARKET
The 43-year-old confident entrepreneur
says that she never followed what the
market wanted. She created a market
for her jewellery pieces. Her vision is
to create amazing diamond and gem
jewellery which captures the fire within
one, resonates with the person and
empowers with its innate beauty.
CONFLICT-FREE DIAMOND
Starfire believes in offering you with
conflict-free diamond and also certified
with GIA international grading. Here,
what contributes a lot is Shweta’s
specialized training and experience in
diamonds.
LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THE KIND OF
WORK CULTURE
Her business has a workforce of
women who are also mothers and
although they are all passionate like
Shweta. They understand the need to
be there for one another. A good leader
need not to dictate but rather learn
to be more compassionate of another
person’s plight. I am grateful for the
support I have from my team and them
for each other.
Shweta knows that motivated work
force would always follow a motivated
leader. She states, “Being the head, the
vision to be successful shall never be
forgotten and the same shall be instilled
in the team members. Encouragement,
rewards and celebrating every success
together are all very important.” This
proves how well she enjoys staying
involved in motivating her team.
CONTINUE WITH YOUR AIMS
Shweta believes in never stopping
and continue having aims. She
asserts, “I want to see another
store for my brand and of course,
a greater online presence in few
upcoming years.”
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE
ENTREPRENEUR
Shweta has been seen appearing
in a local magazine as one of the
women to watch in 2020. In 2017,
Starfire served as host to ‘Business
in Heels Fundraiser’ which was
a networking event for women
entrepreneurs to meet like-minded
individuals. Her brand has been
affiliated with Queensland Ballet
and she is also a proud supporter
of Freelancing Gems. That’s a
business that advocates jobs for
women and women equality in the
workforce.
She is a brand ambassador of
many women networking groups
too. Also, her support has been
recognized many times, in
charities empowering women
under the aegis of Women’s
Network Australia. She is an
active member. Her company is a
major sponsor of an annual event
‘Women In Fashion’.
AN INSPIRING MESSAGE FOR YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND READERS
Shweta speaks her mind, “Just have faith in yourself and follow your instincts like I did.
Do not let fear stop you and get surrounded by positive people. Anything will change
into a possibility.”

35

Start eating food that has vitamins and minerals, which includes fruits & vegetables, a source of protein and whole grains. In the beginning, it might
feel hard to change your eating habits but being focused on small changes, will help you to walk on the path to improve
your health. Opt for foods that have a naturally low-calorie count with good nutritive value.
To live a healthy life, it is necessary to have
a fit body and for that a healthy diet is really important.
Having low-calorie foods for
a healthy body with good nutrition is one of the
key steps to a healthy life.
Nowadays, people are into bad eating with the consumption
of junks and a lot of oily and spicy foods,
forgetting how harmful it can be for their body.
It is still not late! Try to attain a healthy body by keeping a
balanced diet.
Here is a list of 5 Low-Calorie Foods for
A Healthy Body that will help you to maintain a healthy weight and promote
overall health & wellbeing.
LEAFY VEGETABLES
Green leafy vegetables are most common among
those people who are health-conscious. These are
some of the best low-calorie foods for a healthy
body that delivers a lot of minerals, vitamins and
phytonutrients and they are considered the most
nutritious. One of the best green leafy vegetables
for people who are into weight loss is Spinach,
as it is packed with nutrition like Vitamin C, iron,
magnesium, calcium and protein. It also slows
digestion and keeps you feel full.
LENTILS
These tiny little beans that come in brown, red, black,
and green varieties are rich in a high level of protein
and fibre. Lentils are good for boosting health as they
have a plentiful source of folic acid and potassium
that helps support your heart health. Lentils are best
consumed as normal daal or as a vegetable soup,
which has a very low-calorie count and the macros
are good for a balanced diet.
CITRUS
The bright, refreshing, colourful, fragrant and juicy
citrus fruits are the best low-calories food for a
healthy body that is not just delicious but are also
rich in multiple nutrients like Vitamin C and Dietary
fibre that keeps your appetite in control. Citrus
fruits such as Lemons, Oranges, Mandarins, Limes,
and Pomelos etc. are consumed for their numerous
nutrients like Flavonoids, which are plant-based
nutrients and Dietary fibre, which is a type of
complex carbohydrate that is found in plant foods.
OATS
A steaming bowl of freshly cooked oats drenched
in milk is the healthiest breakfast you could ever
have. Oats are rich in soluble fibres, which help in
lowering cholesterol levels. This is considered as one
superfood that can easily fit itself to suit your needs,
which will boost your energy levels and will help
you lead a healthy lifestyle.
GOURDS
The family of gourds have Ridge Gourd (Turai),
Bitter Gourds (Karela), Bottle Gourds (Lauki), and
Pointed Gourd (Parval) etc. they are packed in a
whole lot of nutrients. Gourds are high on nutrition,
great for diabetics, aids digestion and boost weight
loss. Gourds can be consumed in vegetable form,
juice, or even it can be made in as a healthy smoothie
by adding apples and spinach to it. Gourds are
amazing to strengthen the immune systems and it
contains anti-ageing properties, which boosts skin
health.
Consumption of a wide variety of
filing foods with a lot of proteins
and fibre will help you fight cravings
and when the above mentioned
low-calorie foods for a healthy body
are paired with maintaining
an active lifestyle, it keeps you feel
satisfied.
HEALTH
36

39
Brimming with innovation and creativity,
Aaliya Amrin, Eman Batliwalla, and Danisha
Kohli are unique in the landscape of digital with
their shape-shifting work in the field of content
creation.
They are the ‘creative masterminds’ of By The
Gram LLP (BTG), a content studio and the go-to
partner for content needs of clients ranging from
fashion, beauty, lifestyle & film globally.
Incorporated on 23 January 2021, BTG is a
strategy-driven company that lives at the
intersection of creativity & tech. The core
motivation behind the inception of the company
was to invent a new-age solution for new-age
requirements, different from traditional ad
agencies or marketing firms. Besides, the focus
areas also include adding substance to a brand’s
identity, doing meaningful story-telling, and
creating strategies for brands that straddle
purpose & profit.
AALIYA AMRIN,
EMAN BATLIWALLA & DANISHA KOHLI
The Young, Creative, Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs Renovating
the Landscape of Content Creation
Eman Batliwalla
Partner
In a world where your
voice is your command, facial
recognition is your ID, finances
are at your fingerprint, and
you tell your lives with emojis
- why should your content be
any different? BTG is here to
inspire and enable you. We’re
unclassified in a cluttered
agency landscape. We build
interfaces where humans can
touch technology”, shared one of
the leading women of the firm.
EXCLUSIVE SERVICE PORTFOLIO
BTG designs smarter ways to use simple things and even
simpler ways to use smart things. As far as the dream is
concerned, it is to create the narrative, one that talks back. As a
brand, you don’t have to choose between purpose and profit.
Here is a list of the major services to support you to do both:
• Identity
• Content Development
• Visual Direction
• Social Media Management
THE INSPIRING JOURNEY
By The Gram LLP is a company helmed by three
female co-founders. What started as a tiny start-
up in their living rooms in Mumbai very soon
expanded across Hong Kong, New York, London,
Dubai, and so on. They now service clients globally
having a back-end team of thirty full-time employees.
Their beginning collided with the rise of streaming
platforms in India, but today sees a different picture.
BTG is the go-to partner for clients like Netflix India,
Dharma, Tiger Baby, etc.
Moreover, the BTG team got the opportunity to work
with some of the best clients, a lot of whom happens
to be women creatives. They get to learn and be
inspired by them every single day.
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF BTG
The largest impact has been the shift the team has created
in a market like Mumbai specifically. They reinvented
the wheel of content, the way it’s produced, and the way
it’s being served. We have begun to witness short-form
content production companies everywhere, whereas that
wasn’t the case three years ago. Clients are now more
aware than ever and they demand meaningful short-form
content, produced sustainably without long billable ad
agency hours, and receive custom-fit solutions.
‘SMART WORKING’ IS THE KEY
The biggest audience today; Gen-Z was born surrounded
by technology, which makes them and social media
marketing a natural fit for each other. BTG is a strategy-
driven company that lives at the intersection of creativity
& technology. And the technology part is ‘working smart’.
This has been the key to a lot of their success.
LEADERSHIP STYLE
In a largely remote world, the trio has learned about
technology completely to keep them connected and
collaborative, especially since a large part of their work
is so creative. They are also a lateral structure with very
little hierarchy which they do believe has been working for
them.
A FOCUSED AND ENTHUSIASTIC WORKFORCE
The work BTG does often fuels them in ways that they
never expected. Each project is a brainchild that they see
through to the finish line. There’s immense gratification to
be gained at the end of the process which they do attribute
to having a focused and enthusiastic team.
ROADMAP AHEAD
Ever-evolving, and consistently reinventing the wheel.
TIP FOR ASPIRANTS
Think big picture!
Aaliya Amrin
Partner
Danisha Kohli
Partner
Puja Bhardwaj | Business Connect

41
T
he legendary author Helen Keller once said, “Life is
either a daring adventure or nothing at all”. While
this adage interprets various aspects of life, the most
credible and inspiring reflection is leadership, particularly
female leadership. Across time and physiology, women have
stood out to be vigorous and benevolent leaders. They are
the epitome of multi-dimensional skillsets, managing home
and pursuing dreams simultaneously. Working mothers, in
particular, provide a good example not only for society but
also for their children. The internet is sprawling with stories
of such women, and they are from all kinds of segments.
Standing among them is Preeti Phuskele, a seasoned
entrepreneur who has shown splendid leadership while
becoming the backbone of her family. She is the founder of
two workforce solutions provider - Concord Talent Hunt
& Pinacolish expertise in hiring critical technical positions
of engineering and automation companies. Furthermore,
she has edited many books, which are available in libraries
around the world and written numerous papers on
Economics and Finance.
EMBARKING ON HER TURNAROUND JOURNEY
Turning into a fully-fledged entrepreneur from a professor
in MBA College in Pune was a pure roller-coster Preeti.
While she planned for a sabbatical for child care, fate had
something else in store. An unforeseen financial crisis,
followed by her husband’s untimely death and his losses
in business, forced her to take the helm of Concord Talent
Hunt. What made this transition more acerbic - is she had to
rear two children without any financial or family support.
But, that didn’t shake her will or deviated her focus. Despite
not having any strong network or experience in the HR
space, her interest in learning and admirable hard work
kept her going. She found her first breakthrough in her very “
PREETI
PHUSKELE
AN IDEAL EXAMPLE OF
HARDWORK WITH UNYEILDING
STRIVE TO GROW
first assignment from a renowned automation MNC. The success
of this project helped Concord Talent Hunt rapidly ascent through
the automation sector and gave it an edge over peers. Furthermore,
this helped Preeti understand the need for a competent staffing
Company for technical recruitment. Since then, Concord built
its stronghold around technical hiring, including Automation,
automotive and engineering companies across Pune and further
delved into IT Sectors.
But with the innovation surge in recruitment space, Preeti realised
the need for outsourcing solutions. The mayhem of COVID-19
further made this the immediate reason. Since the last year, the job
market is in distress; and global companies are seeking recruitment
partners for offshore projects. Thus, Preeti incorporated her
brainchild, Pinacolish. Born amid chaos, the Company works on a
candid mission – address the hiring challenges due to COVID -19.
Managing resources working in India without having physical
offices in the country is a significant challenge for Global IT Firms.
Mobility of staff is also drastically curtailed considering pandemic
and challenges at the personal front. Pinacolish caters to these
challenges with skilled resources. Although the client is responsible
for managing the resources, Piancolish ensures all candidates have
the required IT skillsets, as per the client’s preferences.
A GLIMPSE AT HER ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES
Concord Talent Hunt has grown into an avid firm for churning
and delivering the best talent. With a focus on recruitment, training
and retention, it has developed a portfolio consisting of Contract
and permanent staffing, Executive search and Selection, Flexible
Resourcing and Employee Development through training, coaching
and mentoring. It has a customized suite of HR consulting solutions
drawn upon the client’s framework that focuses on increasing
productivity and improves access to opportunities. The provided
services are closely monitored - from the beginning to the end and
further provided support if required. They specialize in crafting a
customized
“Our end-to-end HR solutions are tailor-made to suit every
unique business need and designed to be cost-efficient”,
says Preeti.
Indranil Roy | Business Connect
“
Its team on board is adept, and they ensure the solutions
are compliant, professional and qualified. Concord Talent
Hunt primarily works with Engineering, Automotive and
Automation Manufacturers. , and its results-oriented services
boost business efficiency and employee performance. With
end-to-end solutions ensuring complete customer satisfaction,
CONCORD TALENT HUNT stands as a “Partner of choice”. Its
assurance built around seasoned expertise and technology helps
the Company deliver innovative, practical and cost-effective
solutions.
Leveraging upon its sister concern’s technical competency,
Pinacolish offers innovative business optimization solutions,
which includes Permanent Hiring, Software Projects,
Augmented Staff Services & Outsourcing, Management
Consultancy – Training, Organization Development, Marketing
and Sales Consultancy, Insights & Analytics, Digital Marketing,
and Financial & Accounting Support. With such a diverse
portfolio, Pinacolish ensures holistic development while keeping
companies off the stress of seeking different agencies. A detailed
consultancy also provided to guarantee that every element of
the process is operating at peak efficiency. Staff augmentation
and outsourcing have evolved as two flexible strategies for
completing projects for offshore companies. And the scenario
propels the need for Pinacolish, for it is a single umbrella for
companies seeking application development across diverse
technology verticals.
DISTINGUISHABLE FACTORS
The industry has gone through simultaneous transformations
over the last few years. And it has raised the demand for
committed service providers. Although this creates an
emergence of big players and MNCs, as well as shared service
centres, staffing players are still counted for skilled and
competitive hiring for R & D centres. Complete outsourcing
often takes down consistency and quality, while shared service
centres have their own challenges in terms of overheads. In such
a scenario, recruitment firms sourcing for technical positions
will have an advantage and better visibility amongst clients
opting for niche skillset with a prescribed background. Upon
this understanding, Concord Talent Hunt focuses on recruiting
for niche positions, senior roles and specific positions for R&D
Preeti Phuskele
Founder & CEO
sections of engineering companies. Her involvement further
propels confidence amongst clients. She and the staff on board
are continually learning about various sectors of automation
and heavy engineering, and it reflects on their deliveries.
“The learning curve helps in gaining client’s confidence,
boost productivity and acquiring new clients through
references”,
opines the founder.
A CULTURE OF GROWTH AND MATURATION
Preeti’s journey to be in the pantheon of leaders is quite
stirring as challenges we an integral part of her growth. And
learning from them, she has built an inspirational culture at her
Companies. She believes that leadership requires more than
just academics - it requires a large part of inner-self. A proper
blend of attitude, compassion, decision making, risk-taking and
management skills not only makes a good leader but ensures a
prolific track. Preeti is well-imbibed with such qualities, which
gives her the ability to nurture a young and energetic ecosystem.
The collaboration contributes to overall professionalism and
growth of every individual with independent decision making,
management skills, multitasking capability and ability to seek
new trends. Very soon, the team is aiming to bring AI-Powered
solutions for better optimization.
Preeti’s interest in learning further helped her cope up with
uncertainties and market challenges. Digitisation is influencing
the face of every industry; hence, Preeti is working on generating
more productivity through their digital marketing. Pinacolish
is also a pillar of support for every woman entrepreneur.
The Company is helping emerging women to strategise their
businesses and cope-up with challenges in marketing, brand
building and statutory requirements.

43

45
Nowadays, when you ask people about AI (Artificial
Intelligence), they will start picturing some science
fiction-inspired images of the machine-dominant futures.
After all, we all are influenced by Hollywood movies
like Robot, Interstellar, and more. For them, AI is just a
concept, but in reality, AI has already become part of our
lives. We are using AI every day. For example, Alexa or Siri,
you know the capabilities, right? But this isn’t the end of
AI. Today, AI has made business more efficient. Let’s deep
dive to know about it.
5 EXCITING AI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
HOW THEY CAN AFFECT YOU
HERE ARE THE FIVE EXCITING AI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
FACIAL EXPRESSION DECODING
In our daily life interactions, we use tons of
nonverbal cues, including facial
expressions, intonations, gestures, and
posture, to convey our emotions and feelings.
For us, it has always been an easy task to
decode people’s emotions and understand
what individuals are trying to say. But
intelligence technology can do the same
now. According to nature.com, Researchers
have used an ML Algorithm to decipher
the seemingly inscrutable facial expressions
of laboratory mice. While companies like
Emotient and Affectiva are developing AI
algorithms to read and decode people’s faces.
Imagine being able to read your customer’s
feelings as they use your product or service.
Or Being able to target ads to individuals
when they make a sad or angry face. This will
be the future of the business to consumers
interaction.
VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Increasing popularity in the business world has pushed the AI Virtual assistant toward rapid innovation and development. As employees
and employers struggle to effectively work remotely. While giant tech companies are giving their efforts toward a multitude
of changes in AI assistants. In its digital assistant and AI voice assistant forecast for 2016 to 2021, by 2021, approximately 47.6% of AI
virtual capable devices are estimated to be used in Asia and Oceania, as per Ovum. The Virtual assistant like Amy or x.ai
has been seen as the most exciting and beneficial for entrepreneurs. Amy is an AI voice assistant that’s not just schedules meetings but
also interacts with your contacts like a human. The AI virtual assistant is a fantastic innovation, it is saving many hours in a week.
TECHNOLOGY
DEEP LEARNING
Deep learning is merely part of machine learning in
AI in which a device can learn to improve on its own
by examining computer algorithms.
This AI function imitates the workings of the human
brain in processing data for use in detecting objects,
identifying speech, translating language,
and giving results as per making a decision on its own.
A most interesting fact is, Deep learning doesn’t need
human supervision. Imagine,
what can possibly you do with it in your business?
You don’t need a translator to communicate
with foreign business clients, it can be used to
determine which ads to display to your
customers in real-time, you will have a self-driving
car, and many more you can do with it.
HEALTH MONITORS
As per OECD estimates, 20% of health expenditure is wasted worldwide. The United States Institute of medicine made research the figure
is more like 30%. Using both estimates, the top 15 countries by healthcare spend waste an average of between $1,100
(Approximately 80482.05 INR) and $1,700 (Approximately 124381.35 INR) pp/annum. That’s why many multinational tech and
start-ups are making more efforts to make the CEO of your own health as well as reduce the prices of healthcare. There are many ways AI
can empower in the medical sector, such as Guiding treatment choice, clinical trials optimization, and drug development,
empowering the patient. On the other hand, many AI devices are being developed, so that you can manage your health by yourself and, in
some cases, you can replace doctors and hospitals, with the combination of AI and personal smart monitors.
BUSINESS FORECASTING
AI-based devices are increasingly being to fill the
gap between quantitative and quotatives analysis of marketing
prospects. It has emerged that holds
considerable promise in helping, to improve the forecasting
process, including understanding the customer
pattern demands, employee’s turnover, distribution requirement,
cash flow, and many. Overall, AI-based application
helps make business forecasting both automatic and accurate.

47
Puja | Business Connect
A
versatile & dynamic professional with a sustained passion to help businesses reach their growth potential, Vandana
Tolani, CEO & Founder, Convanto is one such inspiring women leader who has been developing an eagle’s eye for
spotting opportunities in industries that are set for long term growth in the Indian economic context. An adept strategic
planner with a proven history of mentoring Business start-ups, identifying new growth avenues, developing innovative
strategies, and building high-performing teams. Her core area of work is Fundraising for early-stage start-ups across sectors and
industry sub-verticals.
Her brand, Convanto comes under the Top 10 Women Entrepreneur Brands along with Nykaa. Vandana has also been awarded
as the Top 10 Women Leaders in Wealth. With over 21 years of rich experience in International and Domestic Business Advisory
& Fund Raising, she has closed 165 investments in more than 35 countries. This month she has been recognized one of the Top 10
Women Leaders in Wealth Management 2021 and has participated in 160+ talks.
Vandana Tolani,
Leading Convanto With 21 Years Of Rich Experience In
International And Domestic Business Advisory & Fund Raising
CONVANTO, A BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK FIRM
Convanto started 7 years ago, in Gurgaon, Haryana. Convanto is
a portmanteau of the words “Consultant Vandana Tolani”. It is
a boutique investment bank firm with a range of services aimed
at enabling young start-ups - it provides them with services such
as Fund Raising, Marketing & Growth Advisory, GTM Strategic
Advisory, and value-added services such as building Investor
Presentations and Financial Models.
Convanto advises small, medium, and large enterprises on raising
capital, finding their product-market fit, and implementing a
successful go-to-market strategy, branding strategy, and brand
positioning. Unlike traditional consulting firms, the firm has
proven its operational expertise in bringing money, creating value,
and driving growth to help you maximize your results.
THE INSPIRING STORY
Coming back to India after 15 years was not easy, but Vandana
was determined to move on in her journey. She set up Convanto 7
years ago, a boutique investment bank. Determination is a quality
that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is
difficult. She had to believe in herself and not others, and at one
point she even had no support but I was still firm on my decisions.
The day I stopped listening to negativity from many people I
found out that I was skillful, talented, and was doing things in
the right manner which was why I succeeded, not mere luck.
When many doors closed many others opened, and it felt like
God himself was by my side. I think looking for more solutions
and fewer problems, and staying positive and happy, helped me
overcome my roadblocks. Ultimately, we always have to help
ourselves as someone won’t always rescue us, and not giving up
easily always helped me. As a woman, The banks consider us less
credit-worthy and discourage us as borrowers on the belief that
we can at any time leave their business.
Vandana Tolani
CEO & Founder
Given such a situation, women entrepreneurs
are bound to rely on their own savings, if any,
and loans from friends and relatives who are
expectedly meager and negligible. Thus, many
women enterprises fail due to the shortage of
finance. Another struggle we face is that Male
chauvinism is still the order of the day in India. The
Constitution of India speaks of equality between
sexes. But, in practice, women are looked upon as
able, i.e., weak in all respects. Women suffer from
male reservations about a woman’s role, ability, and
capacity and are treated accordingly.
MAINTAINING A FOCUSED WORKFORCE &
KEEPING EMPLOYEES CONTENT
Enthusiasm is an intense enjoyment or lively
interest in a certain thing with zest and a strong
belief that can be felt by those around you.
Vandana typically sets goals for her employees
some of which are
• turn barriers into possibilities and look at negative
behaviour and attitude as opportunities for change
• show respect for others opinions when a
disagreement arises, avoid telling someone that
they are wrong, and try seeing things from other
perspectives
• strive for excellence, exceed expectations by giving
everything utmost best.
Keeping your employees happy is important
for retention and it does not always require a
raise. Happy employees are more creative and
productive, they are also less likely to quit. Being
transparent and honest with your employees helps
them feel valued and respected. As an employer
saying thank you is a simple but effective way to
show your appreciation. The best benefit you can
provide to your employees is the opportunity to
make a difference through their work and help
guide the course of the company.
VANDANA’S TAKE ON WOMEN PARTICIPATION
IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORLD
The number of women-owned businesses increased
nearly 3,000% since 1972. Not only that but
between 2017 and 2018 women started an average
of 1,821 new businesses per day in the U.S. With
women now making up a whopping 40% of new
entrepreneurs, it’s clear that more women are
turning to entrepreneurship than ever before. But
why are so many women starting businesses?
TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY
The reality is that women are still the primary caregivers whether
we’re talking about children or aging parents. One research
study indicated that the primary reason American women start
businesses is to accommodate work to their family needs. Another
survey revealed that roughly 74% of women said flexibility is
more important than making the most money. Being your own
boss generally allows for more freedom than working for someone
else. This additional autonomy is especially helpful when the
family may be the number one priority. The ability to set your
own schedule also makes it easier to make time for exercise and
a healthy lifestyle—another reason why women are turning to
entrepreneurship. To charge what they are worth!
FROM THE FOUNDER’S DESK
I had my own Family Office in Singapore and Jakarta. I worked
as an Investment Banker & Advisor to Family Offices and Angel
investors in Jakarta, Indonesia, helping start-ups from diverse
backgrounds, from Fin-Tech and B2B Tech all the way to consumer
startups. I was raising funds for them & providing them with
a range of services just as Convanto does today. After 15 years
of staying in Singapore and Jakarta, I came back to India. I did
investments for a bit, and then returned to the advisory. That is
when Convanto was founded. Today Convanto is one of the most
well-known boutique investment banks in India and led by a
female founder.
Today, I am also a Venture Advisor with Loyal VC, the INSEAD-
led Canadian VC Fund, having a core portfolio of over 160
investments in more than 35 countries. I am also a Partner with
GSD Venture Studios, a Silicon Valley-based venture builder.
Over the years, I have arranged Funding for startups & growth-
stage companies in diverse sectors like EdTech, FinTech, Consumer
B2C & B2B, AgriTech, Health-tech, Food- tech, Disruptive &
DeepTech as well as non-tech sectors.
VISIONARY’S MESSAGE TO THE READERS
Every single person I know who is successful at what they do is
successful because they love doing it. Anything can be done, as
long as you truly believe it. Find something you love and do it
better than everyone else. Also, remember that you will never
be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You
will only be criticized by someone who is doing less, so always
remember that.

49

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