“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.

Anushka Gupta is the co-founder of MyMuse. India’s first bedroom essentials brand, MyMuse is on a mission to make intimacy easy, approachable, and fun for Indians everywhere.

What is your wellness philosophy?

I believe wellness comes from balance. It shouldn’t be taken as a buzzword, or an added pressure on yourself. And it doesn’t necessarily mean drinking chia smoothies everyday or going on yoga retreats. Wellness comes from simple things that you can personally incorporate into your daily routine that bring you a sense of peace, wellbeing and balance. For me, that means things as simple as: taking 15 minutes out of my day to meditate (could be morning or evening, depending on what my day looks like), working out 2-3 times a week (even just going for a walk is great), a quick stretch after hunching on my laptop all day, and avoiding screens 30 minutes before sleep and after waking up.

Your success mantra?

I believe true success comes from respecting and uplifting those around you. Becoming an entrepreneur and suddenly having to manage large teams has taught me many things, the most important of which is that you can’t do everything yourself. Success comes from building successful teams, which means empowering those you work with to do their very best, while rallying them around a shared vision and mission.

A lesson you learned from making a mistake?

Since starting MyMuse, we’ve made many small mistakes that come from learning as you go. The biggest takeaway I’ve had from this is that things don’t need to be perfect in order for you to put them out into the world. The OCD perfectionist in me had to be overruled, in order to recognise the importance of testing things in real time and collecting feedback from users. The most important thing an entrepreneur can do is not be afraid to fail, and fail quickly.

Any piece of advice for all the women out there?

Don’t let your self-doubt hold you back. As women, many of us have ingrained self-doubt that has been subconsciously built up over the years. Most often, the only thing stopping you from doing something is that voice inside your head. Change your self-talk from negative to positive, and remind yourself each day that you deserve every opportunity that comes your way, and you have the power inside you to achieve anything you set your mind to.

What has been your biggest pride as a doyenne?

I think the best part about being a woman in today’s age, is how uplifting women are around you. I’ve been blessed to have amazing female friends, relatives, and role models who inspire me every day.