As part of our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the ecosystem, we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur Shilpi Goel for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. Shilpi is a passionate entrepreneur, leader and interior designer. She is the Founder of Interiors with Shilpi Goel. Let’s learn more about her background, her inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shilpi:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey, please;
Coming from a small town I did not have many options but I was always very passionate & positive towards life. Since childhood, I have had a keen interest in creative stuff like painting, sketching, project making etc. I have always found solace in paintings & even before I started with interior designing I used to express myself with paintings at different points in time.
It’s a different story that due to lack of awareness, as usually happens, instead of pursuing the passion I enrolled for B.tech. & then MBA but these professional courses helped me in understanding many software & entrepreneurial skills. In B Tech I studied Engineering drawings which helped in better visualization of any drawing.
Doing a job was never my cup of tea, so I decided to get married to settle my personal life first then after a couple of years I wanted to focus on my professional life.
During this period I discovered that decorating or doing small changes in my house makes me very happy and I decided to go ahead in the same field. My husband, family & friends are all motivated to follow my passion.”
I think I had found my calling then I enrolled for an Interior designing diploma course. Luckily I started working on actual sites (Thanks to my family & friends who gave me such an opportunity) along with the course.
The appreciation from the completed sites motivated me further to continue my journey with full strength.”
What made you passionate about interior designing?
I don’t know where to start and where to end, I just love each and everything about this field. It’s really magical how just the flow of lines, colours, materials can express different emotions.
I feel that each & every corner of any space should have a story & if the same is expressed properly it really becomes pleasing. Helping my clients to find happiness & tranquillity in their dream home gives me great joy.”
It’s a very creative field & also a mode to bring happiness into someone’s life. A home is a place which people cherish for years and when you are able to turn the dreams of clients into reality is a true blessing.
‘Interiors with Shilpi Goel’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving with the help of your startup?
I think the name of a person or a business has a deep impact. Shilpi is derived from Sanskrit and it means an artisan.
I couldn’t think of anything more relevant to express my commitment towards my work.”
As per me, there is a solution to each and every issue in life, so with this belief, I always try to come up with an idea that serves the client’s needs and yet completes the décor. I try to keep my designs that are practical and easy to maintain.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I always try to put a higher benchmark and then chase it. Once I achieve something I set a new goal for myself. So I always feel that I have the biggest competitor within me that keeps me pushing to move forward.
In life every path has challenges so why not follow the path that you enjoy & love to walk through.
Being financially independent gives a great boost to my self-esteem, dignity and treating others with ethical principles is my drive to work in this field. It is important to understand people are shaped by their experiences and circumstances.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My life revolves around my pillars; my husband and my son Arnav.
My son always feels so proud when I get appreciated for my work, he shares the same with his teachers and peer group. My husband is also into the construction industry and has deep practical knowledge, he helps me through when I am stuck in some technical issues & has been my anchor.”
On top of all this the admiration & trust which I receive on social media further boost my energy daily. Their love has kept me smiling, shining, and warm. Both my family and my friends have also been very supportive.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are a few:
1- Being positive & confident
2 – Always being resourceful
3 – Creative & able to visualize things fast.
4 – Ability to take risks & venture into uncharted territories.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
Firstly listening to the needs of your client & understanding their emotions is very important otherwise thoughts cannot find their solutions. Also fun is the most vital aspect of taking part in anything, and yet one of the hardest to achieve.
Secondly, with the deep knowledge about the updated trends, materials & availability I try to give different options that are best suited to the client’s needs.
Also while designing I try to involve all the sense organs to give a complete feel. Music, lighting, touch & feel has a major role to take designing to the next level.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My motivation comes from my son’s belief that his mother is the best. This belief always pushes me to work hard and always makes him proud. Music for me acts as a vitamin and keeps my energy level up all through.
The motivation to work hard and practice comes from the desire to master my skill to keep learning something new, and my genuine enjoyment for my purpose. I never set boundaries in life & the sky’s the limit.
I also follow & read works by people I admire, with their deep knowledge on various subjects and how they take their life is very inspiring. Also I like meeting & talking to people with good IQ, it’s motivating & a very good way of learning.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I will say it straight that there are many factors but if you really have to have the key elements then to me these are the ones:
a) Accepting & Loving myself.
b) Resourcefulness
c) Curiosity
d) Patience
e) Positive Attitude
f) Cheerful
g) Fighter
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Firstly believe in yourself & follow your passion then only you can give your best. You should be able to identify the key skills, personality traits & available resources to succeed in any field.
Career decisions require a long view of what comes after and a good understanding of personal skills and ambitions. Make informed choices and build a professional life that empowers your lifestyle.
There is so much to be shared, but this conversation limits how much I can communicate on this platform. Students and young professionals regularly reach out to me on Instagram with their specific queries.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
