At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this, we invited Sulekha Chandra for an exclusive interview with us. She is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Coach, Mentor, Speaker, Corporate Trainer, and Change Enabler. Sulekha is the Founder and CEO of Gyan Paradise. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sulekha:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please.
I hail from the land of Shardha Peeth, the learning centre, Srinagar (Capital of Kashmir J&K). Born and brought up in Srinagar, we migrated to Jammu and other parts of India in the year 1990 (due to terrorism). I completed higher secondary from Jammu and then moved to Mumbai (Dutta Meghe College of Engg).
As the fate had it, I was infected by Cerebral Malaria towards the end of 2nd year of Computer Engg and landed up in a paralytic challenge for over 3 years. Confused and uncertain about my future, my father convinced me to take up correspondence BCom studies from Jam-mu University as there was no hope of returning to Mumbai to complete my engg studies. I have successfully completed BCom with the help of my family members and scribe.
Since I was feeling the pinch of not being able to pursue computer science, I applied for BCA through IGNOU.
As my health progressed, we shifted to Delhi for advanced treatment. Thereon I got introduced to the BPO boom and I joined Daksh IBM e-services and worked with projects like Amazon, Sprint, and Intuit. I had the opportunity to learn about game-based training interventions, uncompromised quality in customer service, voice, email and chat mode services, team building, reward systems and much more.”
Those days the selection criteria were quite strict as a lot of emphasis was on impromptu speaking over random topics. Later I worked with Convergys India Services in Technical Support of the Citibank project and Equinox Global Services in Technical Support.
This phase was interesting which got me interested in HR operations but to get entry in Human Resource functions, an MBA in HR with two years of prior experience was the criteria. After marriage, I shifted to Bangalore and joined India’s largest BTL company Wings Group of Companies. While I pursued MBA in HR, I headed the HR division, and our clients were ICICI, Canon, CBRE, Jones Lang, Interfacflor, Saffola, Himalaya, Sherkhan and several others. The diversity of interaction with the Business Heads of these companies forced me to think on my feet and learn Business Development/ Relationship Management.
Later, we shifted back to Delhi/Gurgaon, and I joined Alcatel Lucent Network Management Services as a Generalist/Administrator. Here my Vendor Management skills were boasted as I was coordinating 71 locations from the head office of Gurgaon. My last regular corporate experience concluded with Intuit India Services Delhi which enriched me with Sales and Negotiation skills.
With uncertain movements to different places, we landed back to Mumbai and that’s when having my own enterprise which I can run from any location with flexibility of time and effort started ruling my mind. While my son was small, I took opportunities of Saturday and Sunday to attend free workshops across Mumbai with regards to coaching, book writing, TED events etc. In my close interactions with youth, home makers and professionals, I received feedback that I could well deal with different emotional states and my counsel was valued.”
The exposure to events and people from diverse industries and backgrounds helped me strengthen my networking skills and soon I found contacts who trained me in training delivery approaches and later I joined a Business Coach who guided me further.
I further thought of professional certification and that’s how Emotional Intelligence certification helped. It empowered me personally and professionally in many ways. Diving deeper led me to take up a PhD in the subject.
I also discovered that writing could take us to places and generate clarity. I learned how to weave inspiring stories based on real-life incidents. I feel delighted to look back at the number of articles I have written and 9 books that I have contributed as a co-author.
With accumulated experience and motivation, I gained confidence to start my own venture called Gyan Paradise. In March 2024, it will complete 7 years of inception.”
Through Gyan Paradise, we are on a mission to create emotionally intelligent individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations. We have positively impacted 37000 people so far.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
> Flexibility of time
> Creativity
> Innovation
> Collaboration.
‘Gyan Paradise’ 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?
I believe that services like training, coaching, research & consulting, counselling, speaking, and writing books are all about spreading Gyan and when we think of paradise, rich diversity of elements of nature like flowers, mountains and rivers make their way through our minds. In simple terms paradise is all about richness in nature, diversity, and joy and spreading Gyan involves just that, hence the name ‘Gyan Paradise’.
I was 19 years old when suddenly the health challenge created a grave emotional turmoil in my life and my mind was least prepared to accept it. Fast forward, in my various networking interactions with students and professionals, I realized that developing a mindset which can act as a shield while dealing with contingencies of life and behavioural issues in various settings, is of paramount importance.
I realized that empathy is the key to dive deeper into the emotional issues that people face and that’s how I started sharing my journey with students and individuals and started encouraging them to sail through emotional challenges that arise because of contingent situations, undesired family scenarios, stress, health issues, studies, or goals, professional targets, and expectations of others.”
Emotional Intelligence and Neuroscience studies gave me better clarity about how our brain works and how developing different EI competencies can help us better strategize our ‘Think-Act-Feel’ process in any situation and yield desired results. I resolved to provide professional services in this field. I am certified in the EI and Emotional Skills Assessment Process (ESAP by EI Consortium USA) and currently am pursuing PhD in Emotional Intelligence in Entrepreneurship.
Am glad to share that Emotional Intelligence has been recognized as an essential 21st-century skill by the Association of Indian Universities. EI is relevant across domains and is responsible for 67% of the abilities deemed necessary for superior performance. People equipped with EI skills display better health status and a joyful state of mind.
It helps people in developing competencies necessary for superior performance like developing exceptional leadership skills, self-confidence, self-control, empathy, assertive language, interpersonal skills, social skills and relationship management skills, mindfulness, resilience and much more. Not only that, EI accounts for one-third of the financial performance by organizations.
What does your company specialise in?
We specialize in Research and Consultancy services in Emotional Intelligence across domains.
Our services include:
1. Research insights into all areas of soft skills and how EI makes it better.
2. Research articles for companies, institutions, and professionals
3. Coaching
4. Corporate Training
5. Youth Mentoring
6. Entrepreneurship Mentoring
7. Professional Speaking
8. Writing Research-based books.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Inherently, I love adventures in decision-making. Uncertainty drives me to obtain clarity.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My elder sister Manju Chandra. Her words are magical, “Ye din bhi nahi rahenge” means this too shall pass. Time is not here to stay.
With this awareness, it’s easier to cultivate patience and work better one day at a time. She is a highly empathetic individual with great research skills and comes with lot of diverse experience having travelled to 14 countries and covered the length and breadth of India.
She volunteers for a lot of social causes and her contribution inspires me and motivates me. She is running a venture called Dreemen Creatives where she coaches the teens of today and creates leaders for tomorrow.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
I read and write a lot.
1. I make a mind map of skills and then find out which skill feeds another. For example, good reading skills can fuel writing skills which in turn can feed speaking skills.
2. I take conscious steps to network online, offline and attend different conferences or networking events. It allows you to sense the feedback of people for your presence and the value you add and therefore work on improvements.
3. Cultivating research skills has been of immense help in obtaining authentic information and thereby building authentic content.
4. Gaining financial and legal literacy as cross-disciplinary knowledge has immensely contributed to my effective decision-making.
5. Contribution to other people’s worthy ventures selflessly whenever approached, is always a great source of satisfaction and enrichment.
6. I respect every opportunity whether paid or pro bono. For me, every interaction is a door to new learning.
7. Always practice my learnings and gratitude and always give credit to the people who are resourceful in my growth.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Firstly, I firmly believe that ‘it’s better to sweat more in training and bleed less in war’ which means setting high standards for self by learning and discipline (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) so that when the opportunity to execute arises, the prowess of execution must speak for itself.
Secondly, ‘little progress everyday adds up to big results’ which means don’t overwhelm yourself with the amount of work, rather apply a modular approach so that success is sure.
Thirdly, ‘rest is best’ which means our brain helps us to recover fast when it is given proper rest. It enhances memory, retention, and efficiency.
Fourthly, find the right mentors and coaches who can become catalysts for your growth. Their guidance and expertise will give you the right direction and momentum.
Finally, practice gratitude and stay connected to your spirituality.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
My personal experience is commensurate with the saying that ‘if you don’t have what you love then love what you have’. Initially, I wanted to make a career in fine arts or sports. I worked as a Radio Jockey for two years, performed several theatre shows, worked with Doordarshan also for a brief duration and also been a state-level runner.
My father didn’t allow me to continue with any of these as the political conditions in our state were highly volatile, nothing worked in our favour and student suicides were on the rise. My next choice was medicine but that also didn’t work out and I opted for engineering finally and came to Mumbai. My thoughts of making a career as an actor were hidden in my mind somewhere but as luck had it, I landed up in a paralytic state for three years and rest is history.
All I was left with was my intellectual stimulation and I did build a fabulous career out of it. I again did hit the stage but this time as an entrepreneur, speaker, trainer and author. I worked hard over my emotions to make it big the other way around.
Hence, my advice to students and young professionals is that life is an attractive secret box, the secrets might unfold in unpredictable ways with no clear direction, but God has bestowed us with conscience and intuition. They are the secret keys that will help you to navigate the complex map of life. It will help you to re-route, the path might seem longer, but it is definitely going to bring you to a unique desirable destination and the process will fill you with renewed self-confidence.
I made lifelong incredible friends who became my incredible threads of love and support only after I left engineering college. My story of resilience is itself the lesson. Choose to live come what may and keep working to shine through whatever you have.
Last but not least, what are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
1. To be the best, bond with the best.
2. Be a learner and practice your learnings.
3. Accept deadlines, challenges and adversities, they bring out the best in you.
I’m glad to share my latest Research based book titled ‘Leadership Excellence: Cognitive and Emotional Competencies that Matter’ launched in the illustrious presence of His Excellency Hon Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhanker ji at IIPA New Delhi. To order a copy please write to: [email protected]
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.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
