Girl Power Talk
Interview with Rachita, CEO & Founder of Girl Power Talk
Could You Give Me A Little More Background On Yourself?
My name is Rachita Sharma. I am the CEO and co-founder of Girl Power Talk. As a technology entrepreneur, financial literacy advocate, and gender rights activist, I am dedicated to becoming a voice for those who don’t have one on social issues adversely impacting women in India. I find inspiration in Mother Teresa’s wisdom: “None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”
I am relentlessly passionate about fostering an entrepreneurial culture for tomorrow’s leaders that rewards integrity and innovation. India is a country with a disproportionately large young population. Naturally, this presents both advantages and disadvantages. Regretfully, the demographic dividend results in bright young adults struggling to find meaningful work opportunities. Because they are so quickly replaceable, few graduates receive offers from an entrepreneurial culture or one that invests in their personal development. We hire, nurture, and help these young people to build confidence and interpersonal skills. We collaborate to discuss and then implement their creative ideas. We change one person at a time. This is the true mission of Girl Power Talk. My life is dedicated to changing the trajectory and opportunity set for the brightest young minds in India.
What Are You Most Proud Of In Life?
I am humbled every time that I hear from one of our team members how much they feel blessed to be a part of Girl Power Talk. I believe in giving without remembering and receiving without forgetting. The opportunity to change lives for the better is something I cherish. This sense of purpose keeps me flying out of bed every morning the second I get up. There is so much positive energy from this latticework of friendships we are building. I vividly remember my colleague, Tina Chawla, sharing how much I have impacted her life and helped her live her dreams. To quote her, she said - “I was a different person before meeting you. I had no stage confidence, forget about every trying public speaking. I have evolved beyond my imagination. Today, I conducted a seminar in my university with Girl Power Talk, which I never had the confidence to imagine. This is just not a company I work for. Girl Power Talk is my dream. It's my family and the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. I am so fortunate to have a mentor in you and want to share the same opportunity with young girls in India and then eventually the world.”
I now realize that my vision to integrate purpose with my entrepreneurial passion is my greatest achievement to date. I hope my journey inspires other young women and men to not settle for a job and follow the purpose in their hearts. I was also recently recognized as '100 Inspirational Women of 2021' and received the ‘Indian Achiever’s Award’ for inspiring social contributions.
This video shares some real-life experiences of lives I have impacted personally and through Girl Power Talk:
What Are You Passionate About?
I have always been passionate about serving disadvantaged communities and uplifting women. My life’s mission is to be an agent of change by providing young women more opportunities and a better path for achieving their full potential. The sense of integrating how we give back to our society at large within the fabric of Girl Power Talk is what excites me. As such, how I spend my time must directly or indirectly result in contributions that improve the lives of those who receive less opportunity than I was afforded. I always envisioned having an organization that can help women gain confidence and knowledge while also creating meaningful jobs that help us build an honest company. It is exciting to work for both purpose and profit. We must also consciously share our story to inspire others that it is possible to do good in the world and still make money.
What Is Your Favorite Quote?
Amongst many, I would like to highlight two:
“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”
“There are more things that frighten us than injure us, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
What Makes You Feel Confident?
The sense of purpose. Knowing how I choose to spend my time through Girl Power Talk impacts lives and brings a change.
What Advice Would You Give To Your Younger Self
I will strongly advise my younger self not to be caught in the web of gender roles. It's frustrating how much these have truly limited our capacity to grow and learn. I will also tell younger Rachita to support as many women as possible who cross your path and be a synergistic force for uplifting others by example. I would encourage myself to start earlier with a conscious bias to identify women leaders, mentors, and mentees. Don’t follow the traditional path society wishes for you. Develop a growth mindset and devote as much time as you can to becoming a better communicator.
