Interview with Indian Woman Entrepreneur, WomenNow TV Host
When most kids were hanging out and having a good time, Smitha Deepak was dreaming up business ideas. At 16, she started an art school that grew to have 100 students.
Originally from India, Smitha moved to the U.S. in 2002. Her strong professional drive has led to a multi-faceted career and life as an entrepreneur. Today, she is founder and CEO of The Green Creation, Inc., a certified organic clothing company for kids, a host for WomenNow TV, “America’s first South Asian TV Talk Show,” and model and brand ambassador for Northern California Cricket Association and several South Asian clothing brands. Above all, Smitha is a wife and proud mom of two kids.
Smitha Deepak (right) interviews author Dr. Fouzia Saeed for WomenNow TV.
Smitha attributes where she is today to always having mentors (she now mentors others), spending her spare time on opportunities she wants to pursue, confidence, blending her work and life together, and viewing challenges as opportunities.
“It’s the passion and obsession to achieve new heights,” Smitha said.
A big thanks to Smitha for answering questions about her path to success and career/business advice to other women:
What do you think are the keys to professional and business success for women in India?
SD: Staying committed, giving 100%, exhibiting honesty and integrity combined with education and smart thinking – that’s a good mix and I think appropriately balanced. Women in my country are very comfortable working hard and have been multitasking for generations. Through generations the quality of education and the access to it has only increased.
What is the greatest obstacle you have faced in achieving the success you desire? How do you overcome it?
SD: It’s never a single obstacle, there’s always more than one hurdle everywhere, and in everything we do. Now, if we want to look at it as an obstacle, that is a choice left to us.
Rather than staring at my obstacles or whining about it, I find a solution to jump over it, or sometimes use it to my advantage. For example, I have two kids. Rather than trying to look for a babysitter or thinking about where to leave the kids while I’m gone, I just involve my kids in everything I do. That way, we spend more time with each other, the kids learn a lot and of course I get done with my work as well.
What advice would you give young women who want to follow a similar career path as you?
SD: First, you need to know what your passion is and if you really want to pursue it. Then you need to know your expectations from it. Once you have that solid foundation framed in your mind, you’re ready to lay that foundation to reality. You just need to be confident, know the pluses and minuses, and thoroughly educate yourself about the industry. Once you’ve come that far, keep going with full force and never give up.
Here’s something that has helped me along the way: never compare yourself to others, men or women. Being a strong, independent woman doesn’t necessarily require that you be a die-hard feminist. Rather, it means learning to express who you are at your core, whether you are shy and soft-spoken or loud and assertive, without trying to fit a certain mold implied by your being a female. Be comfortable in your own skin, take care of yourself, feel beautiful and stay strong!
