Swati Dayal is cofounder and executive director of
Sagoon.com, a Delaware incorporated social network and ecommerce platform with offices in Washington DC and Delhi. The company has managed a colorful history in the short span of its existence which includes a mini-IPO live on its website to raise 20 million dollars.
Life must be harried since the day Swati became a cofounder and assumed duties of running daily operations. But she doesn’t complain too much about. In fact she relishes each moment.
How does it feel to single-handedly run a business?It’s challenging and at the same time fun too. When you are the captain of the ship, you have to oversee each and every task to ensure its smooth sailing. It’s the same running a business single-handedly. I have to look into product development, designing, marketing, public relations and finance. In turn this translates into an immense learning for me. I learn new things and it is one of the most satisfying aspects of leading the team from different dimensions.
At times it may be overwhelming because you just can’t say no or ignore any task because you are connected to the business by sense of responsibility, on the flip side it gives me oodles of positive energy to keep moving on.
How passionate are you about your business?
My passion reflects in the fact that from someone who only had knowledge of the web and mobile design, I have evolved into someone who also possesses in-depth knowledge about different facets of coding and development, online and offline marketing and finance. I call myself Swati Sagoon; Sagoon is the surname I have chosen for myself and my family often teases me saying that I am married to Sagoon. Well, this is how I express my love towards a business I started.
I want Sagoon to be there even when I am not there anymore. It’s something that the global audience needs; it’s the healing potion to the ill-effects posed by a range of social sites.
When do you find time to rest, sleep and relax?
Since I’m handling things single-handedly, I can’t afford to have a fixed sleeping time. If there is something important coming up tomorrow and that requires me to work all day and night, I do so. I’m fully flexible when it comes to working.
Hard work doesn’t mean zero challenges. What are the challenges you face?The one challenge I often come across is scouring the right candidates for Sagoon and persuading them to join us. Candidates find it risky to join a startup but when we explain to them the immense learning and benefits they will have during their tenure, most of them get on board.
The other challenge I face is people in our country often underestimate women. They either try to be very, very kind thinking we are always in need of help or they ignore us. I fight both types of people every other day and enjoy the moments when I win. I think men and women are equal; the opportunities are the same for men as well as women. One issue here maybe that women who seek equality with men lack the same ambition and drive.
Ladies, new heights of success awaits us. It’s time we make our own identity.
BW Reporters
Regina is a reporter for BW Businessworld. In her previous assignments, she has worked with Independent television Network as a news anchor and reporter in Sri Lanka
