The middle-class backgrounds and high-flying lucrative jobs didn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams of launching successful business ventures. These three first-generation entrepreneurs show how passion, commitment and hard work can be a winning combination.
Kalyani Kulkarni
Founder and CEO, PeerLogic Systems, Pune
Her career graph followed that of most young academics-oriented people—after pursuing engineering in Pune, Kalyani Kulkarni moved to the United States for high education and worked as a telecommunication system developer in Boston, Massachusetts. She returned to India to rejoin her family in the year 2005 and was instantly hired by a Pune-based software product developer. While working with the company, the thought of entrepreneurship crept in. “There were a lot of things that I could do better and differently, and thus help customers and employees – something my existing organization could not do,” she recollects. The real question was: “If I should spend time convincing others to adopt value-added changes or do it myself for my clients through my own enterprise.” With the support and encouragement from her parents, she took the plunge and incorporated PeerLogic Systems in April 2013. “Like with every small organization, I faced two key challenges: finding a client who is willing to pay the right fees and hiring skilled professionals from larger organizations, who come with higher expectations,” says Kulkarni.
Over the last decade, the company has overcome these and many more challenges to establish itself as a niche player in the telecoms application development sector. “While setting up your own business, one has to make bigger compromises - more so on the
financial and family time fronts. I am glad that my husband and daughter didn’t mind it,” she quips.
Swati Sahasrabudhe, Co-founder and Director, WSC Media and Entertainment (Why Stay Calm!), Mumbai
Mumbai, the city of dreams, offers countless career opportunities and Swati Sahasrabudhe made the most of them. Raised in a middle-class family, her parents encouraged her to explore various career paths. From performing at major fashion and cricket events to working as a call center professional, Sahasrabudhe’s diverse experiences shaped her professional journey. She ventured into content writing for websites and magazines, while earning degrees in science, journalism, and public relations. Her passion for journalism, rooted in her love for writing, a skill inherited from her father, led her to the media industry. “I’ve been fortunate to work with the top corporates and agencies,” says Sahasrabudhe. “The various roles I took made me overcome newer challenges. This helped me excel in client acquisition and business development, fast-tracking my career journey,” she says.
Having worked with leading corporate houses such as IBM, DDB Mudra, Percept, Havas Media – HUL and Dentsu, Aegis Media among others, Sahasrabudhe was at the peak of her career when the world came to a standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Back then in 2020, a few friends, who are now my partners, planted the idea of starting our own agency. At first, I was hesitant, but after a few early wins, my doubts quickly turned into full-blown conviction,” she says.
Today, WSC (Why Stay Calm!), akin to its name, has created a niche for itself, offering a combined suite of movie marketing, digital PR, events, influencer marketing and celebrity endorsements. The agency counts big-ticket projects such as brand alliances for Pushpa 2,
Sahyadri Hospitals digital movie production with Anil Kapoor, influencer campaigns with Mrunal Thakur, Jim Sorab and other to name a few.
“Being a woman entrepreneur comes with its fair share of challenges, but luckily, I don’t face them alone. With the unwavering support of my husband, I am able to push through. I’m truly grateful to his constant backing – I couldn’t do it without him!” says Sahasrabudhe.
Mona Pandit, co-founder, RESHMONA Pharmaceuticals, Pune
Born and raised in Pune, Mona Pandit comes from a family of doctors, with Ayurveda deeply embedded in her roots. Her father, late Dr. Satish Pandit, was a passionate Ayurvedic doctor who firmly believed in the healing power of Ayurvedic herbs. His extensive research led to the creation of a unique skincare formulation, which he transformed into brand RESHMONA, a name inspired by his daughters, Reshma and Mona.
Mona developed an early interest in Ayurveda under her father’s guidance, she pursued a successful career in media and public relations. She held leadership roles at top firms like Genesis Burson-Marsteller and Ketchum Sampark, helping clients build their brand reputation. However, her deep-seated passion for Ayurveda eventually made her leave a high-profile job to reimagine RESHMONA for the modern world. She rebranded it as RESHMONA VEDIC, an Ayurvedic skincare, haircare, and personal care brand. The brand blends tradition with innovation, carrying forward her father’s legacy in a meaningful way. “My father dedicated his life to mastering this ancient science, and his knowledge is my guiding force. Through RESHMONA VEDIC, I’m trying to bridge the gap between traditional and modern skincare formulations. In a world dominated by chemical-laden products, I would like to restore the faith in nature’s ability to enhance true beauty,” she says.
Mona doesn’t have a formal training or education in Ayurveda or pharmacy, but her passion for the business drove her to immerse herself in this field. She spent countless hours in the laboratory, learning the intricacies of skincare formulations, market dynamics, and regulatory requirements. “Right after starting this venture in 2018, I faced an immense personal loss; my father’s death left me feel directionless. But his vision, values, and unwavering belief in my potential became my guiding light. RESHMONA VEDIC is not just a brand today—it is a dream fulfilled and a tribute to my father’s spirit,” says Mona.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. “Our society often fails to take women entrepreneurs seriously. People misguide them, the funding is limited and there is a general discouragement from people around. But instead of holding me back, these challenges fuelled my determination and reinforced my belief in my vision,” she says confidently.
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