Over the last few decades, the world has seen a significant increase in the number of female entrepreneurs. Women are now breaking into almost every business and industry thanks to their entrepreneurial ability. “In Business, it is essential to be aware of what is happening in your industry, what your competition is up to, and which way your clients are looking. If you don't find the right table to be at, build one of your own. Never compromise your ambitions or sacrifice your dreams. Live it up!”, says Priya M Nair, Founder of Zwag. She began her career as a Technical Writer at Tata Consultancy Services and has progressed to become a Partner and CEO of Doukani, a B2B e-commerce platform in the UAE.

Priya is also a co-author of ‘Formula-G: Scale your Startup to a Growth Machine’ which is a starter kit for startups, and has been branded as the #1 best seller in its category on Amazon.ae. In an exclusive interview, Priya shares her early experience and expertise, some of the major challenges she has faced so far and how she overcome them, and much more.

What Are Some Important Features Of Your Expertise As A Business Leader That You Want Us To Highlight Through The Article?

Adventure and Passion: My desire to create something amazing with goals beyond financial gain is at the heart of my entrepreneurial path. I've always tried to see the big picture. The entire process of brainstorming, discovering the big idea, putting the concept together, developing the strategy, and overcoming obstacles along the road gives me a great deal of satisfaction & joy.

Strategic Management: Strategic management and leadership are my areas of study. However, it is evident that having a strategic mindset and the capacity to develop a plan that is future-proof go beyond merely having theoretical knowledge. Even though it was in a completely different field, my past work required developing winning tactics.

Ethical innovation: Data, blockchain technology advancements, the ramifications of the metaverse and NFTs, biometrics, the use of personal data, and data sovereignty are just a few of the fascinating things that surround us today. I insist on considering the ethical implications of how innovation is employed and how each stakeholder in my company ecosystem is influenced by it because incorporating innovation into processes and technology is essential to every component of my strategy. My business choices are constantly subject to an ‘ethics’ review.

What Motivated You To Found Zwag? Tell Us About The Underlying Idea Behind The Company And Some Of Its Most Unique Features.

Zwag is a revolutionary software for Generation Z, the first of its type in the GCC. We are creating a community just for Gen Zers between the ages of 16 and 26. I can't say much because it's still a startup and is operating discreetly. But I can guarantee that the Zwag will revolutionize how Gen Z connects with their peers, shops, earns money, learns, and explores.

"I am driven by my passion to empower everyone that crosses my path, be that clients, employees or my personal connections"

The necessity to provide safer online environments for this youthful demographic, who are digital natives with mobile and virtual lives, is how the idea was born. The community will be centered on anti-bullying, data privacy, fraud prevention, and anti-hate policies. We also want to directly employ Gen Zers through Zwag, and we plan to have 40 percent of them in important roles throughout our organization. It will be a product created by and for Generation Z.

What Are The Various Responsibilities You Shoulder As The Founder Of The Company? What Are Your Primary Focus Areas In Terms Of Leading Zwag?

At the moment, I'm concentrating on getting the product development and business model right, while setting the right tone for the company's culture and vision. We need brand and industry partners who share our enthusiasm and mission for this project for it to succeed. A top focus is creating a team of Gen Zers who will be essential to developing the Zwag community and app. In addition, I'm setting up a virtual advisory board and getting ready to raise pre-seed money.

In Your Opinion What Are Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved Throughout Your Professional Journey?

What has been the driving force behind your success as a business leader? Winning multi-million-dollar projects at the engineering firm has been a significant milestone. Taking on the role of Partner & CEO of Doukani, a B2B e-commerce platform in the UAE, and conquering the difficulties that came with it is another. I am motivated by my expertise with trends and my capacity to provide ideas that can help a company succeed.

How Do You Envision Zwag's Future Growth?

Zwag is quite ambitious and the possibilities are endless. The potential for expansion in terms of scalability and diversity is enormous with the proper partners and money. Zwag can diversify from an online platform into retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, fashion and cosmetics brands, the education and skills development industry, and NFT trading, among other things. It has the opportunity to expand into countries outside of the UAE because Gen Z is a growing consumer category throughout the GCC and the rest of the world.

Priya M Nair, Founder, Zwag & CEO, Doukani

Priya was born in Kerala in a modest middle-class family. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from India, a master's degree in journalism and mass communication, and an MBA in Strategic Management and Leadership from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK Post-education, I began working at Tata Consultancy Services as a technical writer in 2004. After getting married, I started working in the IT division of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. After that, I moved to the American engineering firm AECOM in 2010. When I departed in 2021, I climbed the corporate ladder from a Specification Writer to the Regional Lead of the Bids Team.