The Channel 46

Self-Starter: Shahnaz Husain On Being The Pioneer Of Ayurvedic Beauty In India

1. What prompted the idea for an Ayurvedic beauty brand?

My journey has been full of ups and downs and I have enjoyed every bit of it. In my experience, I have found that Ayurveda beauty solutions not only fix the ailment that one might be suffering from, but they also strengthen your system and make it resilient against other ailments as well.

2. When you were starting out, what was the moment that felt big in terms of a milestone?

I’ve achieved many milestones throughout my entrepreneurial journey but getting the Padma Shri Award in 2006 is one that stands out the most. It serves as a reminder of my work for popularising Ayurveda in India and all over the world and motivates me to deliver nothing but the best to my loyal customers.

3. What are the challenges of being a female entrepreneur in India?

I think entrepreneurship is one of those career choices where anyone would face challenges. However, indeed, our setup is still highly patriarchal – especially in the rural areas – and girls often do not get exposure to many opportunities. However, the government is doing its part in encouraging female entrepreneurs by launching supportive policies and schemes.

4. As one of the biggest success stories for hair-care brands, what’s the advice you’d give to people who want to take the entrepreneurial path in this space?

I’d say forget about the people who tell you that it cannot be done and just do it. You may have to go through several phases of trial and error, but if you’re willing to persevere, you will eventually find success.

5. What’s the lesson in digital; what are the platforms that seem to have worked for you when building your empire?

I think my brand was pretty well established before we approached the digital platforms because they just didn’t exist back in the day. However, I’ve noticed that platforms like Instagram and Facebook are great to interact with new, young people who rely more on social media to find out what they need for their beauty regimen.

The Channel 46

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