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 Anupama Tilak is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pune based Fluent Services Private Limited, which was founded in 2004. An electronics engineering graduate from Pune University she has worked in Japan and Australia. Anupama has been associated with various assignments related to the Japanese language since 1999. She visited Japan on a scholarship from the Japanese Government and has been teaching Japanese at various institutes in Pune.
After returning to India, she was at the crossroads of choosing a path between switching to software or exploring options with the newly acquired Japanese language skills, since MNCs were coming to India in a big way then. Choosing the option to explore opportunities in Japanese, she continued with strengthening her language skills at the Indo Japanese Association, Pune. This was where she met her future partner in business, Mugdha Chandakkar. Together they decided to take up Japanese language translations which gave birth to Fluent Services.
Starting with a two people team, offering only Japanese language translations, Fluent Services now has an all-women team of more than 25. Her company offers not only translations in almost all foreign and Indian regional languages but also corporate language training, interpretation services and spoken language training.
In recognition of their efforts, both directors were honoured with various awards like the Sakaal-Mitcon Maharashtra Udyogini gold medal in 2009, the Maratha Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) - "Ramabai Joshi" Award for women entrepreneur 2012, along with other nominations. Anupama has successfully completed the "Certificate program in Management for Women Entrepreneurs" conducted by the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.
Being a first generation entrepreneur, all aspects of doing business were very new to Anupama. Right from business planning to execution, technical aspects, financial aspects, customer interaction, business expansion and other matters were all challenges. Every day was a day of learning! The early days also involved operational fights right from getting permissions, bad net connectivity, power outages and so on.
According to Anupama, when you embark upon your journey as an entrepreneur, it can get challenging. The support from your family proves to be a very important aspect at this time. Over the years, the attitude of the society in general towards working women has become positive. But more than anyone else, women themselves want to 'be perfect' at all roles, whether that of a homemaker or and that of an entrepreneur which can be a tightrope walk. For working women, though there is no reason for it, there is somehow a feeling of guilt for not being physically present at all times be it at the workplace or home. It is important to try and get over this feeling since you are not ignoring any of your duties.
Anupama is an avid traveler and feels that this has broadened her outlook towards life. She has a tilt towards fitness and enjoys running, cycling and going to the gym. The much needed 'me' time helps her to contemplate upon issues and find solutions. With a firm belief in the adage, 'healthy body, healthy mind,' she and her partner promote various events related to fitness.
Since she chose a career path that was different from her basic engineering studies and has made it a success, Anupama feels that if you believe in yourself and are willing to move out of your comfort zone, nothing is impossible. She dreams of empowering more women by this different career option and also helps by providing them an opportunity to work flexible hours. Many Japanese companies are establishing their foothold in India and with the Make in India initiative, she looks forward to expanding her business horizons.
To know more, please visit Anupama's website, http://www.fluentindia.com
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