Chinu Kala

Hunger kept me going until I built my 100cr brand, Rubans.

The first day that I left my parents’ home, with only 300 rupees in my pocket, I couldn’t really decide how I must eat and survive that day or the days to come.

It was that hunger that I think about now while Rubans Accessories has grown to be an EBIDTA-positive business with 30% repeat customers. On most days, I feel humbled at the blessings I have received over the years, on top of my hard work and perseverance.

I have in my kitty a few actionable tips to keep your hunger for growth going,

1. Think of three new challenges you want to pick up each quarter.
2. Keep track of your north star and navigate your life according to the goals.
2. Compete with yourself always and do more than you did the last time.
3. Make vivid 2-years and 5-year goals, and stick with them as much as you can.
4. Always believe in your gut; it will guide you to the best places in the long run.

But most importantly, stay hungry and stay your favourite. :)

A supportive partner is an integral part of an entrepreneur's success journey.

Though the above statement holds true for both men and women, it is more relevant to women entrepreneurs.

A prevalent belief is that women should do everything:

✨balancing business responsibilities,

✨household chores, and

✨emotional challenges,

without relying on anyone.

However, statistics and testimonials of successful women entrepreneurs show that having a supportive partner can

⚡significantly alleviate guilt,

⚡offer emotional support during ups and downs, and

⚡improve work-life balance

Ultimately, this will enhance their entrepreneurial success.

So, rather than perpetuating the belief that #womenentrepreneurs should independently manage everything, I suggest that they recognise and emphasise the importance of a supportive partner in their voyage.

In my journey of building Rubans Accessories, my husband Amit Kala was the wind beneath my wings, who supported me in every way possible to achieve my dreams. I’m truly grateful to have a partner like him - in life and in business.

What is your perspective on the significance of a supportive companion in the success of a female entrepreneur?

#entrepreneurship #supportsystem #RubansAccessories

Heartfelt Note from Cannes

As I walked the red carpet at Cannes, a wave of emotions swept over me. This moment is not just about glitz and glamour; it's a profound symbol of a journey filled with struggles, tears, and unyielding hope.

This is a victory for every dreamer, every struggler, every person who dares to believe in their dreams despite the odds. I call this journey “a big Indian dream“ because it's a testament to what we can achieve when we refuse to give up on ourselves.

There was a time when I had nothing, when the future seemed bleak and uncertain. The challenges were many, the nights were long, and the path was often lonely.

But even in those darkest moments, I held onto one thing: my self-belief. It was this belief that fueled my spirit, turning obstacles into opportunities and pain into power.

To anyone out there who feels like giving up: hold on. Believe in yourself, even when it feels impossible. Your #dreams are worth fighting for.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Together, we've proven that dreams do come true.

Thank you FICCI, Ministry Of Information & Broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and Leena Jaisani for this opportunity.

#Cannes #RubansAccessories

75% of the workforce at Rubans Accessories consists of women.

With a majority of my workforce being women and me being an entrepreneur, business owner, and a woman myself, I want to share my thoughts on period leaves.

In my opinion, there are already very few women in key roles like CEOs and leadership positions; all these extra policies are going to undo a lot of the hard work that went into bringing women to the top.

Given such a scenario, I feel we need

✨a culture where women are seen as valuable contributors

✨policies that encourage women to keep working

✨policies that give women opportunities rather than make them look like liabilities.

Maternity leave, paid period leave, additional leaves - I mean, when will a woman prove herself at the workplace if all these are strewn all over?

Of course, if there’s a genuine medical need, I’m all for it but demanding it as an entitlement is what l would avoid.

Given the fact that today remote work is the norm, and companies have embraced the flexibility, instead of just pushing for paid leave, why not look into work-from-home policies during period days?

I think it's a win-win for everyone involved.

Businesses and policymakers should work together to create an environment where such flexibility is embraced without a second thought.

Let's bring women to the fore, by making flexible policies a part of the workplace game!

 #womeninbusiness #rubansaccessories

What’s common between entrepreneurs and mothers?

While building Rubans Accessories as a #mompreneur, I have realised that building a #startup and nurturing a child are more similar than we realise.

Both the roles require one to be

✨resilient, yet patient

✨stern, yet caring and nurturing

✨on one’s toes all the time, yet slowing enough to pay attention to detail

✨adaptable to unexpected challenges, yet not losing sight of the goal and vision

✨resilient to overcome setbacks and keep moving forward, yet carrying lessons of the past along.

With so much in common between entrepreneurship and motherhood, it’s no wonder that some of the most successful entrepreneurs today are moms, who’re wonderfully balancing their work and family!

A huge shoutout to these real-life wonder women out there!

Go, mompreneurs!💪

#entrepreneurship #RubansAccessories

Aarnah, my daughter, is the biggest blessing of my life, here's why!

Growing up, my mother worked abroad. 
I only saw my mother for 45 days a year.

I skipped the part of life where a mother checks your forehead for a fever, or asks if you’ve eaten your dinner, or just holds you because you had a bad day.

I went straight from being a child to being a survivor.

So, when I became a mother, my instinct was to teach my daughter how to be a warrior.

But kids don’t just learn from your strength. They read your soul.

My daughter knows I run a massive brand. 
She knows I am constantly fighting the market.

But somehow, in her pure, innocent way, she also sees the 15-year-old girl hiding behind the CEO title.

The duality of our relationship is the most beautiful shock of my life.

In the morning, I am her mother.
But in the evening? The roles completely reverse.

When I sit on the couch with a headache after a brutal boardroom fight, she doesn't demand my attention or throw tantrums because I was busy all day.

She quietly walks up, pulls a blanket over my legs, and asks, "Mumma, did you drink enough water today?"

Sometimes, out of nowhere, she will just hug me and say, "You are working very hard, Mumma. You should rest."

She does these tiny, innocent things without anyone telling her to.

And every single time she does, she is literally reaching back in time & mothering the lonely, terrified 15-year-old girl at the railway station who just wanted someone to ask if she was okay.

We talk so much about the sacrifices mothers make for their children.

But we don't talk enough about how the pure, unfiltered love of your own child can reach into your past, and completely heal the exact spots where the world broke you.

I thought I was just building a child's future.
I had no idea she was fixing my past.

Has your child ever done something so small, yet it completely healed a part of your inner child?

Founders, a 20-year-old with a laptop is now a bigger threat to you than a 40-year-old CEO with a Harvard degree.

Shark Tank India Season 5 featured a "Campus Special” edition.

They are hunting for college kids building empires from their dorm rooms.

As a 7th-grade dropout who used to cry outside college gates because I couldn't afford to step inside... watching this is the ultimate cultural victory.

For decades, Indian colleges were just Employee Factories.

You went in, kept your head down, memorized an outdated syllabus, and spent your 4th year begging a corporate HR for a "safe" job.

You were trained to take orders. Never to take risks.
Not anymore.

This new Shark Tank edition proves exactly how the DNA of Bharat’s youth has mutated.

They aren't using their dorm rooms just to study for exams. They are using them as incubators.

They aren't using the college Wi-Fi to watch movies. They are using it to build P&L statements.

They aren't waiting for a piece of paper to validate their intelligence.
They are taking their raw, unpolished Zidd straight to the national stage.

Do you realize how beautiful this shift is?

We are finally raising a generation that doesn't want to patiently climb the corporate ladder.

They want to own the building.

They are Karmath enough to know that a failed startup at 20 teaches you more about real business than a textbook at 25.

We used to export our sharpest brains to Silicon Valley.

Today, those brains are sitting in tier-2 cities, calculating unit economics, and building the next Unicorn.

To every 20-year-old applying for this season:
You are doing exactly what my generation was too scared to even dream of.

Don't wait for graduation. 
The market is ready for your fire.

If you had the chance to pitch a business in college, what would your startup have been?