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 Sheetal Dhodapkar, entrepreneur and owner of Pune based, interior designing firm, DesignInt, took up her passion in this field after graduating in electronics and armed with a Diploma in interior designing. Setting up her own venture was never in mind. She gained experience over seven years by working under architects and designers (some of them being entrepreneurs), including freelancing for contractors in Mumbai and Pune. The fact that standard designs and specific materials were used on projects, which were monotonous in nature, convinced her to start on her own. Her true calling came when she grabbed an opportunity to work on an under construction 1,800 sq.ft. flat. When her designs were refused to be executed by many designers and architects, she took up the challenge and executed the project in one month!
Her love for creativity and innovation led to the inception of her own firm, DesignInt in 2005. The company customises interior designing work for residential and commercial spaces, from designing to execution, all under one roof. The firm's main focus is to connect people to their space.
Financing was a major hurdle while starting her venture. However, thanks to a very supportive family, Sheetal was able to fulfill her dreams. Being an entrepreneur has its own challenges. Her ability to execute an entire project was contested by clients who would only hand over a part of a designing project. Financial failures, workforce issues, supplier problems, adoption of new technology, concerns of statutory compliances and competition were all part of her entrepreneurial journey. However, patience and her 'never give up' attitude has paid off as today, clients have come back for more of her work!
Sheetal had the opportunity to be a part of the Goldman Sachs-ISB Women Entrepreneurs Programme in 2010 where she developed the insights to understand her business and acquire skills to market her concept and network. Mentoring helped her develop a proper system to operate in a field which is unorganised.
According to Sheetal, as a woman entrepreneur, when work becomes a priority, personal life gets impacted. If you can manage stress and not compromise on your health - exercising, a good attitude and meditation, will take you a long way. Narayan Murthy's concept of Client First is what inspires her to move ahead in life coupled with her hard working nature and dedication. Her projects are regularly featured in magazines like Homify, Floma and in Yug Designs publication of residential and commercial designs. Going forward she plans to set up branches in other cities like Nasik, Aurangabad and Nagpur and to set up a manufacturing unit for customized readymade furniture.
Please check out her venture on www.designint.in
All the best for your future endeavours, Sheetal!
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