The Success Story of Komal Ahuja



Teacher, Businesswoman & Author





Location



Jaipur, India





Kid/s



Pranav





Industry



Hydrolics & Pneumatics





Website



Ahujagroup.in




In conversation with Komal Ahuja



1. Tell us a bit about yourself and about your current profession. What were you doing before you started out on your own?



I was a home maker, happily married and a mother of one before I started on my own. Now I am the C.E.O of my company, a corporate trainer and an author.





2. When did you start your company? Where? And what motivated you to start it? What was your initial investment?



My husband started this business seven years before I joined him in Jaipur. We were the pioneers in the world of maintenance, repair and operations in the city. Once my son grew up and I just got sick of sitting at home, I did a whole lot of courses to train myself from sales, marketing, entrepreneurship development, Tally, Basics of Pneumatics etc. and joined him.






3. What have been your achievements, accolades and upturns in your career?



My biggest achievement is that I joined an industry which had absolutely no women at any level from a literature, service class background I plunged head on into an industrial set up. All they spoke about was the Pascal law of physics, working temperatures, pressures, automation, quality circles. Even terms like credit and debit were alien to me but I learnt everything and I learnt it fast. My latest achievement is that I have authored a book Love, No Matter What. Two worlds ours and that of the Transgender come together to raise a child.





4. Any downturns, Unusual circumstances, hardships, you have had to face in your profession/business?



Acceptance of a woman in our field was my biggest challenge. Until yesterday I took a call and the man on the other end insisted that he wanted to talk to a man. He needed some technical clarification regarding a certain product, when I insisted that I will do the needful, he banged the phone down on me. After working for almost 10 years now people who don’t know me still wonder if I am capable and when I speak with confidence they are shocked. Good it makes me smile.





5. How do you balance your personal and professional life? How many kids do you have? What are your usual activities with them?



Pranav has recently left for college but when he was around and now when he comes back to balance home, business, your child and guests is a quite challenging. I have got quite use to it now though. There are times when I feel like a tightrope walker walking precariously on a rope with a stick in my hand, one mistake and I fall and the worst is I cannot forget to smile. The show must go on always.





6. How do you spend your “Alone” time. Any hobbies, activities, groups you are associated with.



I love the outdoors. I am a part of this group called the Jaipur walkers. We walk every now and then for long stretches in and around jaipur. When I am free I write. It consumes me totally and I am happy always.





7. Were you working before having children? Have things changed in the way you work today after having children?



I was not working before I had my son. I got married at 22. I use to come home running feeling guilty like hell earlier but as he grew up I told myself that I have given him my best and will continue to do so but now I need to follow my passions too. Now it’s not so bad. He is still my first priority but I never forget myself because of anyone or anything.





8. Do you receive understanding from your family as a business woman? If not, how did tackle such situations.



Over the years they have got completely use to it. My mom in law says yeh beti nahi hai beta hai. Each time they invite someone over they check with me. Initially things were difficult but if you keep at it things fall in line. What you want, wants you too! Moreover, I have amazing domestic help. I keep them pampered and happy so that I can work, while they take care of my house.





9. What would you recommend to other mothers who want to venture out on their own?



I would definitely. Being a homemaker is wonderful but we really need to venture out. When the children grow up and don’t need you as much trust me it’s a vacuum only work can fill in your life. We need to be happy always and for that we need to be busy, really busy. Do whatever makes you happy and go for it.





10. What do you have in the pipeline for your company’s future development?



We are now an e commerce website. We are looking forward to the New Year with renewed energy and higher targets. We have also started a foundation called the ahuja foundation which runs a course called B.O.T.A business orientation training for the ex-servicemen. We train them to start their own business and also enable them to seek jobs in the industry. We are doing a good job and plan to continue doing so both commercially and socially.





11. What/Who has been your inspiration?



No inspiration. We just conceive a plan and jump head on into it ,we keep jumping all the pit falls that come our way, nine out of the 10 times we succeed. As far as writing is concerned God tells me what to write. The stories just flow out of me.





12. Did you always know that you would be doing what you are doing today?



No, never! My dad was in the police. I had done a three year course in French language, I wanted to work at an embassy. Chote sapne the but then I got married in a business class family, I had to belong and not just belong be happy too, so I just picked whatever came my way, gave it my best, here I am happy as ever.





13. What’s the secret to your being a SuperMomPreneur? And what’s the best compliment you have received about your career or being a self-professional.



I take care of myself physically. I exercise daily,look and feel good ,adds to my confidence. Compliments are a whole lot of them but one that I receive all the time. “Tum itna kuch kaise kar leti ho?





DO you know a super-mom-preneur? Please tell us more about her.








send >



Worldwide Network



www.supermompreneurs.com