The Power sector is an enabler for the holistic development of society because it plays a vital role in the economic growth and human development of any particular country. With the idea of contributing to the development of society, Star Energy Pvt. Ltd. (SREPL) led by Geetanjali Pandey, came into being and today, it has become a prominent name in diversified business activities catering to the major needs of Power Distribution Utilities throughout India and abroad.

The journey from a Graduate Trainee to the Director of the company, Gitanjali Pandey Agnihotri proved her leadership skill and she is a true definition of doing hard work and putting effort. She has been associated with Star Rising Energy for more than 12 years now and her passion for team building, introducing & implementing cutting-edge technologies, and cost effective measures have enabled the expansion of her company on a global scale.

Gitanjali Pandey Agnihotri engages in an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

Take us through your early educational & professional background.

Talking about my educational journey, I have done electrical engineering, MBA, and certified course in export-imports, and NLP which complemented my engineering and technical ability, by adding business and financial management and Psychology to my already existing skill set.

I started my professional career by joining SREPL as a Graduate Trainee where I was highly appreciated for my hard work & efforts, and thus constantly promoted every year. I undertook and successfully completed various major projects for the companies like NRL, L&T, ABB, Angelique International, Godrej & Boyce, Aster, and various governmental organizations.

What motivated you to foray into Star Rising Energy & tell us about the underlying idea behind the company.

The boost in the power sector and a lot of technological advancements were the motivation behind the establishment of this company and expanding our business and its reach became our primary objective. The company is now a key player in the domain of Manufacturing of Electrical safety products and has entered into the infrastructure development field as an EPC Contractor.

The idea behind the company is to serve and cater to its distinguished customer-base, while simultaneously developing and diversifying our products and services.

Tell us about the roles and responsibilities you shoulder including the challenges you face at your position & how do you overcome those challenges?

Taking significant strategic and operational decisions, managing overall business development, procurement, developing & executing strategies, maintaining high social responsibility, assessing risks, delegating tasks, and driving profitability are among my major responsibilities as the Director.

Breaking the persistent gender stereotypes in an industry like Power Sector has always been the biggest challenge, and to overcome this, women in leadership roles have to push through both internal and external barriers, express with conviction, and enact strong leadership to succeed in their arena. There are certain unique challenges that only female leaders in a position of authority encounter, but in fact, they motivate me to aim higher and work harder.

"Find your calling and then every single day of work will give you immense joy and satisfaction"

What has been your most remarkable achievement so far & what is the driving force behind your success as a business leader?

During the time of COVID-19, my expertise in planning, procurement, execution, commercial, and technical aspects of the Power sector enable me to analyze business opportunities for growth, innovate and align business strategies, and enhance business development with a corporate culture of transparency and accountability are the remarkable achievements. My Parent’s ( Late Ram Chandra Pandey & Kanti Devi ) blessing and their dreams, Inspiration from my Siblings ( Bro Ganesh , Ramesh, Sis Pushpanjali ), Vision from my mentor who is our company MD Mr. Vinod Bargoti and full support giving from my husband Saurabh & my daughter Amayra is the driving force behind my success as a business leader.

My father is my inspiration for becoming an entrepreneur as he raised me to be like him, to try to leave a significant mark in this world. He taught me that we only have one go-round in this life and we should aspire to make a difference, no matter what field of interest I eventually pursued. He just believed in living a passionate life. I’m following in his footsteps because I want the flexibility and freedom to live as I please.

How do you oversee the Indian Power Sector evolving & what is your vision for the company’s growth going forward? What advice you would like to give young women & girls who are aspiring to become business leaders in the future?

Innovations in electrical equipment, rising investments in energy-efficient infrastructure, and favorable government initiatives will drive the growth of the Power Sector, which is undergoing a significant change that is re-defining the industry outlook and the sustained economic growth continues to raise the demand for electricity and electrical products.

My first and foremost advice to young women who wish to be business leaders would be to do something that you truly believe in and are passionate about, be it art, architecture, or engineering.

Do market research, know your audience, understand the power of a business plan, build a strong network, and by surrounding yourself with professionals, hard-working, and committed people who will take your business to great success.

Lastly, it is important to be prepared to adapt to every possibility, and technological change because you never know, when a pandemic might happen.

Gitanjali Pandey Agnihotri, Director, Star Rising Energy

Having working experience of more than 12 years with Star Rising Energy. Gitanjali has specialized in Micro and Macro management and undertook various successful projects for the companies like NRL, L&T, and many.