“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” ~ Virginia Woolf. On this International Women’s Day, GlobalSpa recognizes and celebrates the women in the industry as we delve into their success mantra they follow, mistakes that have helped them grow, and of course, their WELLNESS philosophy.

An educationist turned entrepreneur, Anuja Joshi is the CEO & Co-founder of Interflora and is focussed on integrating learnings about the complexities of the Indian gifting and weddings market to make Interflora India a formidable brand that is synonymous with tasteful décor and gifting in the country.

What is your wellness philosophy?

Wellness, for me, is being mindful of your emotional and physical wellbeing in a holistic way. Mindfulness manifests in starting my day with a warm glass of water with a dash of honey, moderate exercising, and spending time with myself before I dive into my day. Throughout the day, I ensure that I have healthy, wholesome home-cooked meals, as much as possible. The idea is to eat a full nutritious meal at the right time. At the end of the day, spending quality time with family and children also gives me an innate sense of joy. Last but not the least, never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. I attempt to stick to a routine when it comes to a sleep schedule.

Your success mantra?

Success comes with the power to dream big & persistence. I never lost sight of what I seeked to achieve and have been working relentlessly to push the boundaries. A vision coupled with relentless hard work is what will finally yield results. Once you have a goal, research until you’re familiar with the vein of the industry and explore trends to know exactly what the customer wants. Because when determination meets thorough knowledge, fireworks are waiting to happen.

A lesson you learned from making a mistake?

I say this time and again, there are no mistakes. Just learning curves that leave you with an urge to raise the bar. So be it my personal or professional life, when problems arose, I tried to identify the opportunity in it. To grow. To be better. And by doing this, I tried to create an environment for my team and myself, where drawbacks aren’t frowned upon. Instead, they become your stepping stones to success.

Any piece of advice for all the women out there?

Being a woman entrepreneur in India is no easy feat. With prying eyes and constant judgment, your leadership is questioned time and again, leaving you with self-doubt.

When I started my journey, a lot of people were unsettled by my ambition. Some would even ask me to call my husband and consult him on the bigger decisions. To add to that, I was a working mom. A woman who had big dreams but also the responsibility of two kids.

But even though others saw that as a setback, it was my strength. And this very vigor enabled me to stand tall against biases and stereotypes, helping me pave the way to a future where women stood their own ground and left their mark on society.

So, to all the women out there, remember to deal with criticism constructively and focus on your inner voice. You already have the power within, all you have to do is harness it.

What has been your biggest pride as a doyenne?

Interflora, most definitely. It’s been my true North and given me the purpose of being a part of something greater. When the team and I started out, there were endless complications. No infrastructure, no supply chain and a true logistical nightmare. But we rose above it all, expanded to over 25+ cities and elevated the brand to what it is today – India’s Flower Experts.

And when budding women entrepreneurs reach out to me, of course, I feel humbled but it’s also a matter of pride to see them achieve new heights. Their passion for excellence and mission statement to break stereotypes makes me wonder if we’re finally in a new era that supports ambitious women. And I can’t wait for the future to unfold.