Lakshmi Francis, Founder & CEO at Digibeezsy Media is a highly-motivated, dynamic creative professional with experience in building digital marketing strategies for small-sized businesses and also helping home-based businesses, to increase their sales & brand presence. After an exciting career spanning 16+ years with IT organizations like Cognizant, Scope International, Inautix Technologies, etc., Lakshmi realized her passion for creating content on digital platforms. This led to her exploring avenues of delivering digital marketing services for small and medium businesses. For the past  4+years, Lakshmi has been engaged in driving digital marketing programs for clients from various industries like hospitality, fashion, information technology, real estate, and so on.

Lakshmi Francis adds "Digibeezsy Media is one of the fastest-growing Pune-based organizations, specializing in digital marketing with the added benefit of web development. Any medium or small business wishing to establish an online digital presence or develop a website can count us for a variety of services such as web creation, web optimization, social media management, marketing strategies, and moreover the contract duration”. In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur Magazine Lakshmi talks more about the unique traits of Digibeezsy Media and walks us through her professional journey as well.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey And Preceding Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table. What Compelled You To Go It Alone In The Realm Of Digital Marketing?

In the year 2000, I received my Master's Degree in Computer Applications from Madras University. For the past 15 years, I've worked for companies like Cognizant, Scope International, Inautix Technologies, and others in the field of information technology. I decided to work alone while on sabbatical because I'd always wanted to do something on my own, on my own terms, and in my own way. I chose to attempt a different area of work and discovered my affinity for creating content for digital platforms. I wanted to get into into the content management and creative work. In my quest to become a Digital Marketer, I completed the Executive Development Program in Digital Marketing at XLRI Jamshedpur in 2018. Initially, I worked as a freelancer, and then more work began to come in. Then I decided to take it a step further and run it as a dedicated digital marketing firm.

Tell Us About The Various Roles And Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Digibeezsy Media As The Founder & CEO.

I'm a pretty hands-on person who enjoys doing things in a creative way. I thoroughly immerse myself in the client's shoes, learning about their pain points, challenges, and accomplishments, as well as what they hope to gain by working and partnering with us. Then do a lot of brainstorming and deliver exactly what they're looking for. I truly believe in collaboration rather than just operating a business. I believe in empathizing with clients, knowing their true needs and pain points, and making the process more collaborative. The organization's fundamental pillar is comprised of all of the ties we have established thus far. Instead of being the boss, an agency head, or a creative head, I always follow the philosophy of working cooperatively with people, developing relationships, and being a part of their success narrative.

In Your Opinion What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Professional Success?

I attribute whatever I'm doing in my sole discretion is a result of what I've learned in my corporate life. Over the years, I've worked with a variety of clients in many domains, handling clients, answering queries and providing support. Information Technology and Digital Marketing are two distinct domains with distinct offerings, but I believe the motto that one pursues is one of comprehension. There is a fundamental understanding of the pain points and the proposal of solutions that would assist them in seeing the breakthrough in terms of revenue or positioning branding. I believe it is all the same underlying principles that industries are following.

“I always follow the philosophy of working cooperatively with people, developing relationships, and being a part of their success narrative.”

What Have Been Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved Over The Years?

One of the significant achievements has been the formation of a well-structured team over the last year last 2 years. I believe I would classify it as a huge success, despite the fact that it began as a quite turbulent year in 2020. The team has greatly aided us in streamlining our processes and gaining clarity on the client. When people join together and work for something, the team naturally comes into play since we now have very clear roles and duties in place. For me, it is unquestionably a watershed moment that I feel I've reached through the years. Because today, I am not working alone on this; I have individuals who have taken ownership and are assisting me in putting a lot of things in place. And they've been kind of assisting in acquiring more clients and, improving the client relationships, putting a lot of things in place that I didn't think was achievable.

As A Successful Business Leader, What Advice Would You Present To Young Women And Girls Who Aspire To Follow In Your Footsteps And Become Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs?

I believe there should be no compromise on hard work, and there is no substitute for it in whichever industry you are in. Then follow your aspirations; if you have to accomplish something, keep chasing it and don't give up. In the last four years, there were a couple of times where I failed, in fact, there was more failure than success but I never give up but always stood even stronger. Finally, gender is not a barrier, women can do everything on the planet and there is no limitation to it.

Quick Facts

Educational Qualification- Masters Degree in Computer Applications from Madras University and complet-ed the Executive Development Pro-gram in Digital Marketing from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Services provided by Firm- Web Design and Development, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing & Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, Content Marketing, E-mail Marketing Headquarter- Pune.