From Misfit to Fashion Maven | Vishakha Bhaskkar | TEDxIIFTDelhi | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A college misfit transforms into a successful entrepreneur through adversity and self-discovery.

Key Insights

• 🥺 Adversity can lead to self-discovery and unexpected career paths.
• 🥺 Embracing uniqueness and addressing societal norms can lead to entrepreneurial success.
• ↩️ Learning from setbacks and pivoting skills can turn challenges into opportunities.
• 🤳 Persistence, self-belief, and adaptability are crucial for entrepreneurial success.
• ℹ️ Trusting intuition, acquiring diverse skills, and seeking inspiration from various sources are essential for growth.
• 🥺 Overcoming obstacles and embracing unconventional paths can lead to fulfilling entrepreneurial journeys.
• 😀 Success often involves taking risks, learning from failures, and staying resilient in the face of adversity.

Transcript

foreign [Applause] and I'm an entrepreneur well I don't know how the entrepreneurship happened but there's a story which I would love to share with you guys today so I've done economics honors from srcc and when I entered the college I had my whole life planned I said okay economics honors from srcc then MBA from either I am a b or c get married by... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's initial life plan change during her first year of college?

The speaker's life plan changed when she realized her grades were lower compared to her friends, leading her to question her conventional path and feel like a misfit in college.

Q: What inspired the speaker to start her blog about size-inclusive fashion?

A backhanded compliment about her dressing for her size inspired the speaker to start a blog to connect with women facing similar issues and promote size-inclusive fashion.

Q: How did the speaker manage to keep her brand afloat during the challenges of COVID-19?

Despite challenges during COVID-19, the speaker focused on learning performance marketing, which eventually led to a successful sales campaign generating 15 lakhs in two weeks, ensuring her brand's survival.

Q: What key lesson did the speaker learn from her entrepreneurial journey?

The speaker learned to trust her gut instinct, acquire new skills, self-love, and persistence while dreaming big and aiming for success.

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares her personal journey as an entrepreneur and how she built a successful fashion brand despite facing challenges and feeling like a misfit. She talks about the inflection points in her life that changed everything for her and the realization that her calling was in fashion. She also discusses the importance of listening to your gut feeling and continuously learning and improving your skills as an entrepreneur.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's life trajectory change during her first year of college?

The speaker entered college with the belief that life would be easy after 12th grade, but her illusion was shattered when she scored only 62% in her first semester exams, while her friends scored between 85% to 95%. This realization made her feel like a misfit and wonder if she was at the wrong place.

Q: What was the inflection point in the speaker's life that led to her becoming an entrepreneur?

The speaker started failing subjects in her second year of college and wanted to drop out, but that wasn't an option. Instead, she started writing a blog called "Love Them Curves" which focused on mid-size and plus-size fashion. The blog gained popularity and within a year, she was featured in top publications and even appeared on a live show. This experience made her realize that working on her blog felt like her true calling.

Q: Why did the speaker decide not to sit for placements in her third year of college?

The speaker made the decision not to sit for placements in her third year despite it being the norm at her college. Although her parents and others thought she was crazy, she knew that she wanted to pursue her passion for fashion and believed in following her gut feeling.

Q: How did the speaker learn about the fashion industry and gain experience?

After graduating from college and clearing a few back exams, the speaker found a job with a startup that created content around various topics, including fashion. Although the pay was low compared to her friends, she loved the job. She then worked with different designers in Delhi and Mumbai, learning about the nitty-gritties of making clothes and gaining valuable experience.

Q: Why did the speaker start a size-inclusive fashion brand?

The speaker hated the word "despite" that often accompanied compliments. People would say she looked pretty or dressed well "despite" her size. She realized that many women faced similar issues and felt like outcasts because they couldn't find the right fits for their size. This inspired her to create a brand that catered to women who felt like misfits when it came to their size and weight.

Q: How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the speaker's brand?

The pandemic created uncertainty for the brand, and they struggled to figure out how to pay salaries and keep the business afloat. They decided to donate for COVID-19 relief and ran a small campaign. To their surprise, they generated sales of 15 lakhs in two weeks. This experience made the speaker realize the power of performance marketing, which she had been learning during the pandemic.

Q: What challenges did the speaker face while running her fashion brand?

The speaker faced challenges such as a website vanishing with no backup of data, running out of funds, and contemplating shutting down the brand multiple times. However, something always redirected them and kept them going.

Q: How did the speaker's brand get funded?

In January, the speaker's brand got funded through Shark Tank India, marking a new beginning for them.

Q: What advice does the speaker give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

The speaker emphasizes that there is no one way to achieve success, but there is often a gut feeling guiding you. She encourages entrepreneurs to trust that voice and listen closely to it. She also advises starting with what you know and continuously building on your skills. Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of self-love, perseverance, and dreaming big.

Q: What is the overall message of the video?

The speaker's story highlights the importance of following your passion, listening to your instincts, and continuously learning and growing as an entrepreneur. Despite facing challenges and feeling like a misfit, she built a successful brand by embracing her unique perspective and catering to a niche market. The video encourages viewers to trust their instincts, believe in their abilities, and dream big.

Takeaways

In this inspiring video, the speaker shares her entrepreneurial journey and the lessons she learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of listening to your gut feeling, continuously learning and improving your skills, and believing in yourself. Despite facing challenges and feeling like a misfit, the speaker built a successful fashion brand that caters to women who feel like outcasts in the fashion industry. Her story serves as a reminder that there is no one way to achieve success and that perseverance, self-love, and dreaming big are essential for reaching your goals.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• From planning a conventional life path to failing and feeling like a misfit in college, the speaker found her passion in fashion.

• Starting a blog about size-inclusive fashion led to recognition in various publications and TV shows, sparking her entrepreneurial journey.

• Overcoming challenges during COVID-19, learning performance marketing, and securing funding on Shark Tank India marked her entrepreneurial success.