[quote style=”boxed”]You must genuinely care for people. The people around you will make your company successful. Nothing is more valuable than that.[/quote]
Ena has more than 15 years of experience in media and marketing. She is passionate about bringing value to the Indian diaspora. With her leadership skills, she has successfully launched the U.S. presence of multiple Indian companies. While hosting Tech Biz TV on IPTV, she has brought the success stories of many Silicon Valley titans to U.S. viewers.
What are you working on right now?
Producing a half-hour TV talk show called WomenNow that inspires women to live into their full potential. The show provides women with a platform to learn from others and discover ways to live more fulfilling lives.
Where did the idea for WomenNow come from?
Being in media, I always realized the power it has to change peoples lives. It is a strong vehicle that can influence a large number of people. There is no program on TV in the U.S. that addresses women’s issues, particularly the issues of immigrant women whose lives are far more complex, as they are trying to balance their cultural and ethnic backgrounds with the mainstream culture, while raising successful families in the U.S. and striking a perfect work-life balance. What this show aims to do is bridge that gap.
What does your typical day look like?
I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and drop off the kids at school. I do yoga until 9:00 and then start my work day. I pick up the kids at 3:00 and take them around to various activities. We get home by 5:00. I work until dinnertime and get dinner ready. By 9:30 p.m. I make the kids go to bed. Then I finish up rest of my work late at night. Weekends are very hectic with lots of social engagements.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I discuss them first with my team. Invariably, there are a few members who jump at my ideas and offer processes to figure out the viability of those ideas. Then we work hard to make it happen. My ideas mostly come from offering solutions to existing problems that most women have, therefore success is inevitable, as someone always benefits from them. I must admit all ideas require a lot of perseverance. It is never easy.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Accomplishments always excite me, in any shape or form. I love to follow the stories of successful people and companies.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I always enjoy whatever I do. But looking back, I can say the toughest job (not necessarily the worst) I had was selling water purifiers at residences in India. I had to carry around a heavy machine that served as a demo. It was tough to get into people’s kitchens to give demos on weekends. I would see everyone enjoying their weekends, while I was working hard. It surely made me a tough worker; that was the learning component.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Work-wise, I would start my company a lot sooner. I feel I delayed it far too long.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
There are many things I want to recommend, but since you asked me to narrow it down to one thing, I will say that you must genuinely care for people. The people around you will make your company successful. Nothing is more valuable than that.
What is one problem you encountered as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Handling people. When you care for them, you overcome this problem.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Organizing theme parties just for kids. There is a huge market to entertain kids so that parents can get a break, particularly on weekends.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
I am quite happy with the way things are in the world. I know there is suffering, but that is inevitable and is simply the ecosystem. You need the dark to understand the goodness of light. It is all perfectly balanced out. However, one thing that truly hurts me is the slaving of young girls–the trafficking of sex. I talk to many organizations and help them spread awareness to stop it. There are many opportunities in the world today, and if one really looks around, one can find them and improve the lives of others.
Tell us a secret.
I am a very open person with very few secrets, but one thing I haven’t told many people is that I love shopping.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
- Google. I get all information from it.
- Wikipedia is great for detail-related tasks.
- The dictionary. I enjoy researching the meanings of words.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, to understand how square pegs in round holes makes sense.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
- Me for WomenNow
- Obama for courage
- David Letterman for humor
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
My best friend always makes me laugh. The last time she did, she was describing a cruise incident to me.
Who is your hero?
Oprah and Obama.
What inspires you?
Success.
Do you believe love happens only once in your lifetime?
No, it happens many times.
Connect:
Ena Sarkar on Facebook: Ena Sarkar
WomenNow TV’s website:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.