On June 17, 2022, Social Lens hosted Richa Gupta; Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Labhya Foundation, Susmita Kandadai; Co-Founder of Pencilbricks Foundation, and Anurag Hoon; CEO and Co-Founder of Manzil Mysitics for the second edition of the Founder’s Table. The event was moderated by Vijaya Balaji; Founder and CEO of Social Lens and it witnessed a rather riveting conversation centered around the panelist’s inspiring entrepreneurial journeys.
The Founder’s Table was conceptualised with the purpose of providing a platform to the stories of entrepreneurs and highlighting their resilience and the challenges they face as they navigate the difficult and sometimes grueling path to driving meaningful social change. We were joined by participants from various walks of life such as aspiring founders, sectoral experts, development practitioners, and young students determined to creating a positive social impact.
As the founders began recalling what kickstarted their entrepreneurial endeavor, what rung true for each of them was the desire to bring about positive change. Inspite of their diverse backgrounds and different life experiences, the founders agreed that the success of their organisations depended on two objectives. One was to identify and cater to the pressing challenges in society and the other was to have constant determination in pursuing their vision.
The candour with which our founders spoke about the trials they endured showed the audience that entrepreneurship is a dynamic process that requires you to keep adapting as you go. As Susmita Kandadai puts it, ‘You accomplish one challenge and you have another one to address, the challenges will not end at any cost…an entrepreneur is never prepared’.
While navigating along the journey of learning and unlearning as they built their organization, our founders recollected the several moments of doubt and uncertainty they faced. But what kept them steadfast on their journey was an ecosystem of support, both personal and professional. Anurag Hoon while talking about his journey highlighted his sheer stubbornness for his vision and how he never lost sight of what he truly wanted to achieve.
The conversation concluded with a key reflection on prioritising one’s wellbeing. As the founder’s journey is filled with constant rigour and sacrifices, it becomes essential to take a step back and prioritise your well-being as a founder.
We extend our gratitude to each founder for candidly sharing their experiences and inspiring us. We hope that this conversation has inspired our participants to pursue their aspirations.
“Being authentic is entrepreneurial, telling people how I feel is entrepreneurial, being able to look at the details beyond what is obvious is entrepreneurial- as a young person this was very empowering but it also fasts tracks you to your deepest, darkest places.”
Richa Gupta, Labhya Foundation
