Preserving the environment is a social responsibility for all and environmental engineering is the answer to delve deeper into the solutions for all industry types. Owning up to social responsibility and being the lightbearer of change is a much-needed step for the hour that calls for a collective initiative. Srestha Chatterjee, MD & CEO of Kohsa Analytics is driven by the motto  “To make a difference & change the way communities run”. The company is driven by an enthusiastic team that never deters from challenges, led by a strong leader who overcame all the obstacles that came her way.  Srestha works in synchronization with all the processes involved, from taking a project to the final execution. She feels if the leader is closely involved with the teams, the people feel more connected and motivated to perform. Srestha has been through some rough patches yet emerged victorious, stumbling & learning along the way. Below is the highlight from our interaction with Srestha where she takes us through her inspiring journey behind building the company and the takeaway lessons she wishes to impart to all.

What are some important features of your expertise as a facilitator of sustainable development and green  energy development?

Kohsa Analytics is the one of the few firms in India that deals with the advanced mechanics of environmental engineering. The primary USP would be that we are not limited to a certain scope. Another major USP that differentiates Kosha from its contemporaries is that it actively deals with both installation and maintenance, thus ensuring end-to-end client satisfaction.

"I have seen the bottom of the barrel & i know it gets better if you never give up. Preparedness is the key to all the upcoming challenges that will occur at some point in your life"

Take us through your early educational journey and your prior industry experience. What motivated you to establish Kohsa Analytics?

Ever since I was young, I had my way with every luxury a child could ask for. I was born with a silver spoon in a well-to-do family and the future seemed bright as I was to inherit my father’s business. I went to Symbiosis for graduation & later indulged with my agriculture start-up to help farmers. I hit rock bottom when a financial crisis arrived and my family lost all the money. I had to start Kohs  for our survival in a do-or-die situation. It was all an impulsive decision to choose Kolkata over Bengaluru for operations & luckily, it was the best decision as now Kohsa operates across India from Kolkata. Although, the thought behind Kohsa was imbibed when I was young & I saw my father filtering polluted water into clean water. That’s when I knew, I would do something for the environment when I grow up.

Tell us about the various roles & responsibilities that you shoulder as the MD & CEO of Kohsa Analytics and the challenges that you encounter as an entrepreneur.

As the MD & CEO of Kohsa, I feel that it is my responsibility to nourish the company for its growth. I have a young team that is a mix of freshers and experienced professionals that is the absolute force behind the company. My job is also to boost the morale of my employees & never let the hunger die. We are so desperate for opportunities that we clamp on every opportunity and take the challenge. At an early stage in your career, I think it is necessary to constantly take on challenges and not be picky when comes to opportunities.

This will add to more diversity and challenge our limits. Most clients come to us with complex challenges & that rather encourages us to put our best foot forward for delivery. As a young team, we are enthusiasts that take the core of the company by heart – the environment. We have always been passionate about the environment and that seeds in what we do. From building solutions to assisting our clients in the implementation of those, the team works together in fine-tuning toward the unified goal of preserving the environment.

What would your advice be to young women & girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

My advice to young girls and future entrepreneurs out there is  Never Be Too Comfortable. When we get too comfortable with the facilities or the privileges we have, we create a zone for ourselves that constantly deters up to take up challenges. This is something  that is never a good sign when you are early on in your career. This motto is deeply rooted within my own set of personal experiences. If someone would have given me the same advice in the prime of my career, I would have achieved much more than what I did today. I would have possibly built the company back then and taken up the challenges & learned from them, instead of having to do things because I had to. This is not for all women. It is for all who wish to achieve something in life and is afraid to step out of their comfort zone. If you are not prepared for the storm, you will get blown away by it.

Srestha Chatterjee, MD & CEO, Kohsa Analytics

srestha has a ba in business studies and media studies from symbiosis international university & is a young age entrepreneur driving her team with a passion for a collective cause the environment she is proud of herself & her team for have buildkohsa as the go-to solution for environmental engineering.