TEDx Talks - "Too YOUNG to Lead ? From self doubts to self made" | Vartika Chandani | TEDxSAGEUniversityWomen
Vartika Chandani, at 25, recounts her experience of starting a wedding planning business at 19. Despite fears of public speaking and being underestimated due to her age and gender, she pursued her passion for helping people plan their dream weddings. Initially, she faced struggles, rejections, and doubts, but her passion drove her to create an Instagram page for her business, even without clients or experience. After nine months of perseverance, she secured her first client, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.
Chandani discusses the challenges of being a young woman in the industry, including having to prove her worth and facing skepticism from clients. She initially underpriced her services, believing she was too young to charge more. Over time, she learned to assert her value and not let others dictate her worth. Despite periods without clients, she emphasizes the importance of self-kindness and maintaining identity beyond work. Her journey highlights the significance of taking risks, learning from experiences, and having a supportive network. Chandani encourages others to start leading without waiting for the perfect moment, as confidence builds along the way.
Key Points:
- Start pursuing your passion early, even if you lack experience or clients.
- Overcome fears by confronting them directly, as Vartika did with public speaking.
- Don't let others dictate your worth; assert your value confidently.
- Maintain a balance between work and personal identity to avoid burnout.
- Take the first step towards leadership without waiting for perfect conditions.
Details:
1. 🎬 From Audience to Speaker: A Dream Realized
- Experiencing a journey from being an audience member watching TEDex on a phone since school days to becoming a speaker on the same platform demonstrates significant personal growth and achievement.
- The transition from viewer to speaker highlights the realization of a dream and serves as an inspiring example of achieving one’s goals.
- This moment of speaking at TEDex is described as both great and overwhelming, indicating the emotional and personal significance of the accomplishment.
2. 🚀 Founding Diwara Weddings at 19
- Vartika Chandani founded Diwara Weddings at the age of 19, showcasing early leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in the competitive wedding planning industry.
- Now at 25, she continues to lead as both founder and wedding planner, balancing business operations with creative planning responsibilities.
- Initial challenges included establishing credibility in a mature market and managing limited resources, which were overcome through innovative marketing and exceptional client service.
- The company has achieved significant milestones, including a 50% increase in client bookings year-over-year and expansion into new service offerings.
- The wedding planning industry was competitive at the time of founding, requiring strategic differentiation and a strong value proposition to attract clients.
3. 😱 Overcoming Public Speaking Fears
- The speaker, once terrified of public speaking since childhood, now shares their first experience speaking on stage, emphasizing the power of confronting fears directly.
- Facing fears proactively, rather than waiting for life to force you into uncomfortable situations, is highlighted as a key strategy.
- The speaker suggests practicing in front of a mirror or with friends to build confidence gradually.
- Engaging in breathing exercises before speaking can help manage anxiety and improve performance.
4. 🎓 Early Dreams and Career Planning
- The speaker reflects on the innate desire to help others from childhood, even if it did not align with traditional career paths like medicine or engineering.
- Traits such as emotional intelligence and compassion were evident early on, setting the groundwork for future career aspirations despite not excelling in academics or sports.
- By ninth grade, a decision was made to pursue a career as a wedding planner, showcasing a clear focus on organizing and helping people achieve their dream weddings.
- The transition from a general desire to help to the specific career choice of wedding planning was driven by a passion for event organization and personal fulfillment.
5. 📱 Launching a Wedding Business on Instagram
- The speaker moved to Mumbai to pursue a degree in event management, leveraging internships and freelance projects to gain experience.
- Despite feeling inexperienced and not the smartest, passion drove the speaker to take action without waiting for perfect conditions.
- At 19, the speaker launched an Instagram page for a wedding business without clients, experience, or initial content.
6. 📞 Waiting for the First Client: A 9-Month Journey
- The speaker waited 9 months to secure their first client, highlighting the persistence required in building a business.
- The journey involved multiple struggles and rejections, emphasizing the importance of resilience.
- The speaker's age (19 years old) was a barrier to gaining trust in the wedding industry.
- The emotional impact of waiting and facing rejections was significant, yet the speaker continued to send proposals.
- Upon receiving the first client inquiry, the speaker experienced panic and desperation, showing the high stakes of securing initial business.
- Despite the emotional challenges, the speaker employed specific strategies, such as consistently sending out proposals and networking within the industry, to increase exposure and trust.
- The breakthrough came when the speaker personalized their approach, leading to the first successful client interaction.
- This experience underscores the critical nature of persistence, adaptability, and strategic personalization in client acquisition.
7. 👩💼 Challenges of Being a Young Woman Entrepreneur
- Young women entrepreneurs often encounter biases related to their age and gender, necessitating continuous efforts to prove their competence in professional settings such as meetings and negotiations.
- Initial reactions from clients frequently involve surprise or skepticism, reflecting an industry bias against young women in leadership roles.
- To overcome these challenges, young women entrepreneurs can focus on building strong personal brands, leveraging mentorship opportunities, and showcasing consistent results to gradually change perceptions.
- Providing specific examples, such as how certain young women have successfully navigated these biases, can offer valuable insights and inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
- Understanding the broader industry context and networking within supportive communities can also play a crucial role in overcoming these hurdles.
8. 👠 Navigating Industry Expectations and Self-Worth
- Women in the industry often face the challenge of altering their appearance, such as wearing uncomfortable attire, to be taken seriously. This expectation can lead to discomfort and a lack of authenticity in professional settings.
- There is a prevalent issue of undervaluing oneself by accepting lower pay due to external perceptions of inexperience. This often results in working harder for lesser compensation, which can affect long-term career growth and financial stability.
- Reflecting on these experiences highlights the importance of maintaining self-worth and confidence. Women should be encouraged to advocate for fair compensation and challenge industry norms that undermine their value.
- Practical strategies include seeking mentorship and support networks, engaging in assertive communication training, and leveraging negotiation skills to ensure fair treatment and compensation.
9. 🔄 Building a Recognized Brand from Scratch
9.1. Overcoming Leadership Challenges and Building Confidence
9.2. Achieving Brand Recognition and Trust
10. 🛑 Facing Burnout and Rediscovering Identity
- Despite having years of success in building a company from scratch, I faced an 8-month period with no clients, leads, or work, illustrating the volatility that can happen even after apparent stability.
- My identity was completely intertwined with my business, leading to severe burnout as I worked excessively without maintaining any social life or engaging in personal hobbies.
- This challenging period sparked a personal crisis, compelling me to confront the profound question of my identity beyond professional achievements.
- To cope, I began exploring new hobbies, reconnecting with old friends, and setting boundaries between work and personal life, which was instrumental in rediscovering my sense of self.
11. 📚 Lessons from Experience and Support Systems
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-kindness during challenging times in business, suggesting that maintaining kindness towards oneself is crucial amidst chaos and pressure.
- A key insight is drawn from Matthew McConaughey's book 'Greenlights', highlighting the value of experience over perfection. The speaker prefers to be an 'experienced C' rather than an 'ignorant A', indicating a preference for practical learning and risk-taking over theoretical perfection.
- The speaker acknowledges the significance of learning from mistakes and taking risks, illustrating that entrepreneurship involves continuous learning rather than having everything figured out from the start.
- Unwavering support from family and friends is identified as a critical factor in the speaker's journey, emphasizing that success is not a solo endeavor. This support helped them through rejection, struggles, and self-doubt.
12. 👣 The Journey Continues: Encouragement to Start
- Confidence develops through action, not before starting.
- The world needs more people willing to take the first step.
- Don't wait to feel prepared; start leading today.