Leadership is one of the fundamental characteristics of a great business leader. Not only does it enable one to successfully manage people & projects, but also facilitates the growth of the team, department, or organization one is heading. One such seasoned business leader is Ritika Sinha, Managing Partner, IKONNECT CITIZENS. A thoughtful leader armed with an appetite to explore different industries, Ritika never shies away from taking up challenges.

She believes her educational journey spread across Dubai and India has been a vital catalyst for promoting personal and professional progress as it provided her with the right knowledge as well as specific skill sets required in today's highly competitive business environment. The astute business leader is today a renowned name in Dubai’s immigration market as she grew Ikonnect to its current stature.

In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur Magazine, Ritika Sinha, Managing Partner, Ikonnect Citizens walks us through her professional journey and the company's unique traits.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of Ikonnect Citizens. What Are Some Important Features About Your Expertise As A Business Leader That You Want Us To Highlight Through The Article?

Ikonnect Citizens is a market leader in services such as Citizenship - by - Investment, Second Passports, and Residency-by-Investment. We specialize in providing families, individuals, and investors with the best and most accelerated citizenship by investment and permanent residency programs tailored to their personal needs, all with simple and transparent processes and a focus on maximizing return on investment.

To build Ikonnect into the market leader it is today, I’ve spent over 20 years working in multiple industries and shifting careers to learn new skills & gain unique experiences. Over the last two decades, I’ve come to the realization that nothing is impossible if your goals and visions are aligned. My goal was to work in diverse industries to face unique challenges and gain new perspectives from each job role and industry. Doing so has helped me strengthen my vision as a leader and made me better prepared for future challenges in the dynamic world of business.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey & Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table.

After finishing high school in the UAE, I went on to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University, followed by an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management in Delhi. Education, for me, has been a vital catalyst for promoting personal and professional progress because it provides one with knowledge as well as specific skills required in today's environment. Obviously, in order to make the best use of formal education, one should seek out reallife experiences such as internships, jobs, and business initiatives. I began my career in banking and held senior positions before transitioning to building global B2B matchmaking platforms in the form of conferences and boardroom sessions. Following a successful career as a banker and MICE professional, I discovered my true love and potential in the immigration market. I've been leading and growing Ikonnect into a market leader in Second Passport and Citizenship/Residency by Investment services since then.

What Motivated You To Establish Ikonnect Citizens? Tell Us About The Underlying Idea Behind The Company And Its Unique Features.

Ikonnect Citizens began as an extension of Smart Zone, a company formation and business setup specialist founded by my brother, Varoon Sinha, in 2010. Over time, received few inquiries for second passports/residency, and after observing the increasing demand and business potential for this service, we decided to divide the company into two distinct service providers and merge them under one umbrella, known as SZG Corporate Services.

Ikonnect Citizens was founded in 2017, and since then, we've onboarded numerous seasoned industry professionals and created a competent team of immigration specialists. Ikonnect has evolved into a boutique firm that provides premium services to HNIs and UHNIs seeking to invest in second citizenship or residency. We have assisted over 500 families in obtaining citizenship or residency within the timeframes specified. We keep customers at the heart of everything we do and place utmost emphasis on customer satisfaction, as we firmly believe that, 'one happy customer brings the next one'.

The Need For A Second Passport:

The global economy has changed significantly ever since the pandemic happened, which has led HNI’s to realize the benefits of having a second passport since it gives them mobility across the world. This freedom of movement helps them find business opportunities in other regions as a means to recover from the pandemic’s devastating implications and also to broaden their current reach and expand in other markets. Besides mobility, Second Citizenship also offers other benefits like Finance & Tax Management, Family Security, Better Quality of Life, and many.

Throw Some Light On The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Shoulder As The Managing Partner At Ikonnect Citizens? What Is Your Primary Focus Area In Your Current Role?

As the Managing Partner at IKONNECT, I overlook the entire business growth as a whole. There are a variety of functions that work in unison, which collectively contribute to any company’s success. While I maintain a bird's-eye view of the entire company’s performance, my primary functions include operations, marketing & business development. These functions consist of sub-segments such as people management, business development, customer service, strategic alliances, learning & development, and more. As a leader, it’s important to be proactive instead of reactive. That’s why, it’s also my job to foresee and mitigate any challenges that may arise in the near future- whether they impact the company directly or indirectly.

What Are Some Of The Most Pressing Business Challenges That You Face In Your Current Role & How Do You Mitigate These Challenges?

In my current role, I deal with challenges that fall under two different yet interconnected aspects - namely, Industry & Leadership. The industry aspect includes challenges such as rising competition & the battle for differentiation, whereas the leadership aspect includes ensuring synergy between our stakeholders, team members, and clients. While rising competition comes with its set of challenges, it’s an excellent catalyst for driving higher quality, better value and, I believe in the concept of healthy competition as it pushes the business and the management to improve themselves exponentially.

From a leadership point of view, honing effectiveness, developing employees, and growing the business are some of the key challenges that impact any business, including ours, and as a leader, it’s my responsibility and actions that determine the outcome of these challenges. So, in order to mitigate them, I work on both intrinsic and extrinsic improvements such as self-development, implementation of growth frameworks within the company and organizing regular training programs for our team. We also work on strengthening our differentiation by specializing in our target segments to build ourselves as a trustworthy brand.

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?

Throughout my professional career, which has spanned over 20 years, I’ve received various performance-related accolades and recognitions, which I consider being significantly important milestones. From being awarded the Best Revenue Generator for three years in a row, to being recognized as the Best Event Producer within my first year in a different industry, there have been quite a few victories that I’m proud of. I attribute my professional success to the strong ethics and principles I had developed early on.

Identifying opportunities, setting actionable goals, building resilience, staying focused under tough circumstances, and being empathetic are some of the central tenets that have helped me succeed as a leader. I believe in the Japanese concept of 'kaizen', which translates to continuous improvement, and this philosophy has helped me advocate for improvement within my personal and professional life. If you sum up everything, it’s about the passion you have for your business, and mine lies in helping people immigrate to their dream destinations, which has been the key driving force that pushes me to strive harder and explore avenues for growth.

Drawing From Your Experience As A Successful Business Leader, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women & Girls Who Also Aspire To Become Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs In The Future?

Dream fearlessly and never be intimidated by the size of your ambition. Follow the concept of 'Shoshin’ which means to foster a beginner's mindset and have an attitude of openness. Your entrepreneurial spirit may at times be challenged by your family, friends, and society, in general, but it’s sacrosanct that you stay steadfast with your vision. There are no shortcuts to success and you have to put in the time & energy required to build your empire, one business at a time. It also helps to be part of a community of like-minded and goal-oriented women who will support your business and your entrepreneurial spirit. There will be times when you’ll feel the imposter syndrome seeping in, and it’s normal.

What’s essential is to muster the courage and confidence you need to keep going. If you’re planning to start your own business, make efforts to stay well-informed about the industry you’re getting into. Understand the risks involved, do your research, document your learnings, and try to build a differentiating factor about your venture. Moreover, in today’s digitally connected world, it’s helpful to be socially visible, so don’t forget to have an online presence where you share valuable insights about your business & industry as a whole. After all, it’s about your unique journey and the path you take to create an identity for yourself. Most importantly, take the first step because nothing is possible without it.