Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once quoted~ ‘Leaders are not born, they're made’. Characterizing this verb, Namrata Rupani, Head- Brand & Design Practice at Strategic Growth Advisors (SGA), is one such professional who worked her way up to become an acknowledgeable leader. Her life and professional journey have been shaped by a diverse range of experiences and passions. Born and raised in Delhi, having pursued her education in dentistry, she qualified as a dentist from CDC, Ludhiana. Alongside her dental practice in Hyderabad, she also traced her love for design, brands, and photography, teaching herself the intricacies of these fields. Over the past two decades, she has nurtured these interests, establishing multiple businesses that reflect my personality and expertise. She has also approached each opportunity with equal enthusiasm and commitment to excellence, whether it's dentistry, design, branding, or photography. This amalgamation of professional pursuits has allowed her to unlock her potential and create a fulfilling and multifaceted career. Let’s get to know her through the exclusive excerpt of WE magazine.

Delineate your prior industry experience. Also, how has your prior experience enabled you to become a better business leader today?

Led strongly by my unconventional thinking, have been an entrepreneurrunning diverse businesses for 15+ years now.

I mostly go by my gut feeling and thus relish success. I believe that if you can transfer your passion to a bunch of excited young professionals and guide them, together we can create a thriving business. As an entrepreneur, I believe solely in‘people’ and ‘quality of our service’. For me, these two factors are the biggest transformers of any service business. I have always strived to maintain the highest quality of service, and this has kept my businesses growing steadily.

My approach to business is not just about the bottom line, but also about making a positive impact on people's lives. By nurturing my team and encouraging them to explore their potential, I have been able to create a culture that fosters creativity, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. To me, this is the true essence of entrepreneurship.

Introduce us to Strategic Growth Advisors. Tell us about the various responsibilities you shoulder as the company’s Head- Brand & Design Practice.

SGA is a 13-year-old consulting company, renowned as India's premier Investor Relations Practice, with an award-winning Corporate Reporting Practice, and a thriving Public Relations Practice. In 2020, I joined SGA as a partner to establish the Brand & Design Practice, which has since then transformed into a unique and comprehensive service provider. Our platform offers clients financial consulting, communications consulting, and design consulting, all under one roof. This approach enables us to provide streamlined and effective communication solutions, reducing redundancies that would otherwise be time-consuming.

I am responsible for the overall management of the firm as a part of the supervisory board. Also, I am responsible to grow the Brand & Design Practice steadily. We offer a bouquet of services ranging from Rebranding Solutions to Corporate AV, Coffee Table Books to Online Reputation Management under this Practice.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of being a business leader in today’sever-changing business climate? What steps do you undertake to overcome the roadblocks?

As a business leader today, I believe that motivating people is the most challenging aspect of effectively running a business. The needs and wants of the new generation have evolved significantly over the course of my career. Individuals have more psychological and emotional needs that leaders must address to keep them engaged &motivated.

"Women, You Can Do Everything That You Can Think Of. Don’t Let Anybody Tell You Otherwise. Believe And Work Towards It"

At our organization, we believe in empowerment as the key to motivating our team. Rather than giving direction and expecting people to follow blindly, we’re encouraging them to participate. By transferring ownership of tasks to them, we’vefostered in them a sense of pride and accountability, which is vital for today's workforce.

Tell us about the top three milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey.

Firstly, becoming an entrepreneur, and taking the leap to start my own business was a defining career moment. Being able to create something from scratch, build a team, and see my vision come to life has been a truly fulfilling experience.

Secondly, conceptualizing and executing a Dental Practice and a Branding Studio under the same brand and premise and running it successfully. This was a unique and challenging opportunity that required me to leverage my expertise in dentistry and branding simultaneously. Combining two vastly different services under one roof was an innovative approach, and it proved to be successful. It required a lot of coordination, planning, and execution, but seeing the satisfied clients and the growing business made it all worth it.

Lastly, the opportunity to be a TEDx speaker and talk about capturing life through moments and photography was an incredible honor. It gave me a platform to share my passion and insights with a wider audience. It was a surreal experience to see my message resonate with people and to receive positive feedback from the audience.

These three milestones have taught me the importance of taking risks, being innovative, and pursuing my passions. I look forward to achieving many more milestones and perceiving the opportunities that lie ahead.

In your opinion what defines you as a leader? What has been your mantra for success?

As a leader, I define myself by my adaptability and my skill in bringing together teams from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Whether it's managing my diverse businesses or working with colleagues from different industries, I am committed to creating a culture of collaboration and inclusivity that encourages everyone to bring their best ideas to the table.

My mantra for success is simple- follow your curiosity, think creatively, and embrace change. I believe that the key to staying ahead in today's fast-paced world is to remain open to new opportunities and to always be willing to take risks. There is always something new that life throws at you, are we willing to take it, is the question.

Namrata Rupani, Head- Brand & Design Practice, Strategic Growth Advisors

With a graduate in Dentistry from Christian Dental College, Ludhiana; a fellowship in Aesthetic Dentistry, Germany; and Diploma in Pediatric Surgery, she is also passionate about brands and designing, hence leading Strategic Growth Advisors as a recognized branding & designing leader. Fearless Photographer and Telangana state award are some accolades for her achievement.