Meet our featured beauty with brains Alpana Srivastava, a multi-talented entrepreneur based in Sydney, Australia. Her positivity, success, zest for life and empathetic personality makes her an inspiration to many. She is the owner and chief editor of the hugely successful women’s magazine Sakhi Online (https://www.facebook.com/www.sakhi.online/). She also runs a luxury candles business Sakhi Candles (https://www.facebook.com/sakhicandles/) and is the co-founder of Women In Business (https://www.facebook.com/womenInBusinessWIB/)

a networking and marketing platform for women entrepreneurs and professionals. She is a self-made woman who has proved that with hard work, dedication and the correct attitude, you can definitely reach the peak of success.

Here is an interview with her.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Your dreams, hobbies, aspirations etc.

I am originally from India and migrated to Australia in 2003. Initially I started my career in the beauty industry and later started a home based candle making business. In the year 2016, I started my dream venture as an editor of Sakhi.Online magazine and am also one of the founders of Women in Business. I am wife to my talented IT professional hubby Dilip, my other half, and a mother of two handsome boys.

My hobbies are socializing, meeting new people, gathering knowledge about the world, fashion and watching TV.

2. Who or what inspires you?

I always admire talented people. I am easily impressed by people who energize me with positive attitude. When a group of people come together because they like something, believe in something, support something or want to create positive change, I am inspired and want to be part of something great as well.

3. What does women empowerment mean to you?

To me, women empowerment means to know what I’m doing is what’s right for myself and being supported. I find it empowering to try something new and make it your own.

4. You run a very successful women’s magazine. Can you tell us how you started it and how you have built it up over the years?

I started Sakhi.Online magazine in 20016 as a way to connect with the Indian Community in Australia with talent, beauty, fashion, recipes tips and businesses. My aim is to inform, inspire, and encourage women to reach their full potential.

I don’t know what exactly inspired me to start this platform. Initially, I wanted to engage with various personalities to understand their perspective on culture, society, & their own journey. I’m always looking for new things to share with my readers that would benefit them and help them towards a simple, easy and fulfilling life!

I’ve met many brilliant and wonderful personalities throughout this journey and have built a wonderful relationship with them.

I love trying new things and sharing them with my readers! If you have an idea for a collaboration, please contact me at editor@sakhi.online so we can discuss the best way to showcase your product or service.

You guys make this an amazing experience. And I thank you for reading, commenting, and being a part of the community here.

Meet our featured little beauty with brains, 9 year old Mahi Sahasrabuddhe, based in Sydney, Australia. She is wise, mature and talented beyond her age and her rap song on girl power is creating quite a buzz. Here is an interview with her.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Your hobbies, dreams, aspirations etc

First of all, I love to read. Reading is the first thing I do once I come home from school. I feel that reading is a great exercise for the brain. It makes anybody’s imagination go wild. Secondly, I love to draw. I don’t take drawing lessons but, I watch drawing tutorial videos on YouTube and try to self learn. I also think that drawing is a great creative way to exercise my brain. I love to write stories and poems. I am working on my own book. I feel that writing a book is a good way to get better at my writing skills. It’s challenging but, I am still determined to finish writing this book.

2. Your rap song on girl power is becoming extremely popular. Who or what was the inspiration behind it?

Many things and people have inspired me to write this rap. The first thing that inspired me was a character from the book “Harry Potter” and this character is Hermione Granger. Even if she had non-magic parents she was the smartest witch in Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. This taught me that efforts and hard work can do wonders. The second person who inspired me was the author of Harry Potter, J. K Rowlings. She wrote such a wonderful series but she had struggled a lot in her life. But, she still didn’t lose hope. And also most importantly my mom. She is a hard worker who never gives up.She has taught me that you should never give up and you should always do what you feel is right.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to be many things. I have a dream to be a scientist, a public speaker, and a rapper. Scientist because I love to read about stars, planets, and outer space. Public speaker and rapper because I want to talk and communicate different ideas to the world.

4. These days age doesn’t matter. Even someone as young as you can do their bit towards women empowerment, the environment etc. what are your thoughts on that?

Of course, I agree that age doesn’t matter at all! Whether you are 9 or 90 you can make a difference. I had an idea, I wrote it, performed and shared it on YouTube. This proves that no matter how old we are we can find a way to do what we desire. My parents have taught me that I should always try my best in whatever I do. Even now at their age, I watch them learning new things, trying, failing, but never giving up. I have lots to learn but I am ready to learn. I believe all have the right to choose what we want, to give our opinions and we don’t have to like a certain thing just because we are a certain age or gender. Like I don’t prefer dresses and I am not a fan of pink colour and I feel that’s fine.

Do check out her rap song on YouTube:

Meet our featured beauty with brains Maria Mucciarone, manager at ‘The Salt Room’ (Perth). Here is an interview with her.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Is there any special incident or experience that you would like to share with us?

I first met Kat from the salt room when she bought something I had advertised on FaceBook Marketplace. I had at that time been at home and ill with Crohn’s Disease since about 2016. Kat asked me to come to her Salt Room to see if it would help. It did, I ended up volunteering to pay for my treatments until a position came up. I have not looked back. Where I could barely walk let alone function before – the salt helped me get rid of much of the infection and has allowed me to return to work, eat better, feel better, and I am almost back to my pre Crohn’s days. Crohn’s never really goes away however I am in remission and my doctor is amazed!!

2. Can you explain to us about what you do and what is salt therapy?

Our grandparents may have been on to something when they used to say the salty sea air was good for our lungs. Salt Therapy, one of the oldest therapies on earth, is currently undergoing tremendous growth with Salt Rooms springing up around the world. Holistic, drug free, and natural, Salt Therapy promotes better breathing, healthier skin, sounder sleep, improved physical fitness, endurance and overall wellness.

A natural cleanser and disinfectant for the body, Salt Therapy is especially good for respiratory (cold and flu, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, hay fever) and skin (eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis) conditions, as well as reducing anxiety and calming the senses.

As you breathe, minerals in the salt are absorbed by the skin and air passages. This helps clear pollens, viruses, toxins, and other pollutants from the body. Negatively charged ionized salt and trace minerals present, naturally draw toxins and impurities from the body reducing inflammation and clearing the lungs and airways. Salt is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antihistamine and antimicrobial – it covers off on everything.

The therapy is also a natural way to help deal with and manage stress, depression and anxiety. Negative ions generated, calm and relax the nerves by promoting abundant oxygen levels in the blood, normalizing breathing and decreasing blood pressure, resulting in relaxation, calmness and better sleep.

Regular Salt Therapy will help strengthen the immune system by improving the function of the cilia in your respiratory tract, protecting lungs from irritation and inflammation, leading to less instances of respiratory illnesses including colds and flu, hay-fever and other bronchial ailments.

When you visit the Salt Room be prepared to relax and step off the planet. The Salt Room atmosphere with its’ dimmed lights and peaceful music provides a serene environment for you to enjoy time to yourself and rest your mind for an uninterrupted 45 minutes. And for the little ones our Indoor Beach is sure to please.

3. What is your advice to women who want to or have just started a healing/ wellness business?

Remember you are helping people. If you keep helping and are coming from the right place in your heart – then everything will work itself out. You might not get rich in a hurry, but the satisfaction of helping and doing the right thing is far more gratifying.

 

Feel free to check out her website:

www.thesaltroomperth.com.au

 

Jealousy/ negativity normally stems from an inferiority complex and low self-esteem. People become jealous of you when they feel that they aren’t as good as you or can’t have/ achieve what you have/ achieved.

Here are some tips to deal with jealousy/ negativity.

1. Tell yourself it’s them not you.

Take a breath and remind yourself that it’s not you who has a problem, it’s them. People’s jealousy and negativity are based on their own underlying issues and sadness. You can try to disarm them by making a positive comment or giving them a compliment. If that doesn’t help, then it’s best to ignore and avoid.

2. Don’t tell them about your goals and plans.

Don’t ever tell jealous and negative people about the goals and plans you are currently working on. They may try to mock and de-motivate you. They might even use your plans to try and copy and out-do you. So keep your plans to yourself and keep working on your goals without sharing them with jealous people.

3. Set boundaries

Don’t think that you have to continue to listen to a jealous and hateful person. Set boundaries to distance yourself from such people and make a mental time limit of how long you will engage with a jealous/ negative person, then make some excuse like ‘I have to check on something’ or ‘I have some work to do’ and end the conversation.

4. Be yourself and be positive

No matter how people behave with you, keep being you and doing what you are doing. Keep continuing your life as you are leading it and don’t change to suit others or try to placate them. Stay positive.

Meet our featured beauty with brains Kristy Lee, a HR professional and health coach based in Newcastle, Australia. Here is an interview with her.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a busy mum of 2 healthy beautiful girls 7 & 13. I work full time in HR and have recently turned my new found health and weight loss into an amazing business mentoring & supporting many people through their Gut Health journey. 

2. What are your goals in life?

My biggest goal is to teach my girls to be KIND, to always pay that kindness forward. To show them that we as women can achieve great things if we find something to be passionate about. 

3. Have you achieved them? 

I am certainly on my way to achieving great things with mentoring. Being a Social Marketer and promoting CLEAN LIVING & GUT HEALTH leaves me waking up revived and excited for each new day.

Meet our featured beauty with brains Mala Kanwar, a Businesswoman and Project Management professional based in Sydney, Australia. She holds MBA in International Business and Strategic Management from University of Technology, Sydney. Mala works full time with NSW Government, and juggles multiple roles on a given day – a professional, a businesswoman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a friend and more.

Here is her story.

“I’m Mala, I’m the face behind this little biz Velvet along with my very stylish mother in law. I have 2 little guys – 6 year old and 2.5 year old, their daddy, their granddaddy and 1 furry canine Cavoodle.

I’m definitely outnumbered in this house so I make up for the lack of girly-ness by selling dresses! These dresses are channel to my own inner Madame Macron. Don them on and you instantly feel that lift in the way you walk and talk! I share this passion with my mother in law. Doing what we love doing we are a mother in law – daughter in law duo. We are like two beads on a string. We love the same man and we both share panache for styling women. A passion that turned into a business a while ago has dressed many lovely ladies over the last four plus years. We keep getting recommendations and our client’s word of mouth makes us very proud! It helps us do what we love doing.

Velvet initially started for the girls of the house and close friends. The word spread fast and we kept our first ever Velvet sell-out event 4 years ago and there has been no looking back since! Along the way we’ve made many wonderful friends and created our own ever growing velvet family.”

Here is an interview with her.

1. Do you have the secret mantra that you work with when recommending your clients what to choose?

Over the years helping women with different body shapes, I’ve decoded the style principles that apply to and empower women of different age, shape, style, lifestyle or occupation. Whether you are petite or plus size we help you find your own personal style. I personally don’t believe in rules or trends. I simply believe getting dressed should be easier and more joyful everyday activity. So if I may use Marie Kondo’s words here “Does this spark joy?” if it does then wear it with your heart on your sleeve. Velvet’s mantra is “Be inspired, Be Bold, Be the new you!”

2. How do you juggle so many roles in your everyday life?

At least once a week I am asked that magic question “How do you juggle it all?” I usually shrug my shoulders and smile while saying something like “I have no idea, you just do!” Like so many of the women (and men) around me I am ‘juggling’ many aspects to my life- mother, wife, friend, daughter, daughter-in-law, business owner, and professional. Between my husband, in-laws, friends and colleagues there is an amazing village who all play a part, make it possible and I couldn’t do it any other way. I prefer surrounding myself with positive, kind and trusted core who add so much to my life. Life is so short and those closest to us need our support, love and care too so why not fill your days with people who will hold you up rather than pull you back down. My very own village helps me every single day to provide for everyone I love, and I’m indebted to all of them and they know who they are.

3. As a business woman and as a mom is there ever self-doubt?

When it comes to being a mum, running a business and everything else in between, I have come to conclude that believing in yourself is an absolute key. In business, particularly as an entrepreneur, you have to back yourself even when you are not quite sure if you should! I have found the same with motherhood. It is hard (but fun!) and tiresome (but rewarding too) and I have found myself questioning regularly whether I am doing enough or the right thing for my family. In those moments of self-doubt I stop, take a few deep breaths and remind myself that as long as I am doing my best in that moment, that is all I can do. We must believe in ourselves before we can expect anyone else to. So next time you questioning your worth, stop, breath and remind yourself that your best is all you can do.

4. Tell us more about your business, what kind of dresses do you sell, what is your USP?

At Velvet we stock brands like Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ivanka Trump, Cynthia Rowley, Tahiri and more. People ask me – why Velvet when they can go out and buy from big retail stores. My reason is –each dress at velvet is unique, and these flattering dresses are exclusive, hand-picked and offer sharp silhouette & classic colours making impact with structured shapes & clean lines, making an impact à la mode! All the dresses are genuine designer dresses and are sourced directly from USA keeping our prices low, and we love to pass on the savings to our customers. All these dresses are under $95. So that’s our biggest USP competing with the retail giants J

5. If you could choose any one female celebrity to dress up, who would it be and why?

I’d rather dress an everyday woman than a celebrity.

I’d love to provide guidance and honest feedback regarding finding her dream dresses/outfits. I’ll provide styling tips for easier joyful everyday dressing and help create looks to add to her wardrobe, tailored to different occasions, figure and taste in line with Velvet’s mantra – “Be inspired, Be Bold, Be the new you!”

Feel free to check out her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/velvet.dresses.au/

Meet our featured beauty with brains, Harinder Kaur. She is the owner of the Harman Foundation Charity Organisation. Here is an interview with her:

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you started the Harman Foundation.

My name is Harinder Kaur. I am an Educationist, social counselor and registered Sikh Chaplain. I am passionate and compassionate, working as an education coordinator for Justice since 1993. I am a mother of three including Harman, wife, and most importantly a survivor.

In 2012 I lost one of my beloved children Harman in a tragic accident; he was the purest of souls and had the biggest of hearts. Through this tragic event we as a family and friends decided to continue his legacy through the founding of the Harman foundation.

2. You are doing a lot to help the less fortunate. What inspires you and motivates you to keep going?

It’s the smile and appreciation on people’s faces that gets me every time, the feeling that you have done something even though may not be big, it’s all about contribution to the community. I feel that this country has given a lot to my family and myself in ways you cannot imagine therefore, I want to give back to those that are in need or need support. I feel that we as a member of society should also adopt that charitable model as a united and diverse community and help those in need like Australia has gifted to us.

Just being able to be there for those that are in need that’s a reward in itself.

The more I indulge into this kind of field, I find that we can do a lot for people in our community. I feel that I haven’t done enough, it is imperative to reach out and encourage others to help towards volunteering to organisations that assist those that are in need.

3. What are the foundation’s goals? Have you achieved them?

Our main aim is to grow further across NSW especially those in remote areas and eventually reach out to other states through our support lines. We also want to strengthen our relationships and collaborate with other organisations both government and non-government sectors to achieve better outcomes.

Yes and no.

Yes because we are working with more than 25 organisations, NGOs and government agencies and continue on a regular basis and develop these other relationships as well.

No, as we are a young organisation that has a lot more room to grow. In each and every aspect, I also believe that no matter how old anything is, it is never too old to learn and evolve.

4. What is a typical day in your life like?

I like to wake up before sunrise, do my prayers, this helps me summon that inner strength through my passions to power on and do as much as possible within the day to help those that are in need. Helping others around me and developing the Harmon foundation in its growth sets an example to others to offer their helping hands towards building a more united community.

5. Are there any major changes in Harman Foundation’s work?

Since its formation in 2013, the foundation has continued to evolve into a web of cost-free community support services, delivered by a committed group of volunteers, to address a range of individual and group needs, issues and concerns. This includes:

2013 to 2019

· Chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons etc. (30+ people a week in hospitals and prisons)

· 24 x 7 helpline (More than 6000 calls of needy people in the last 5 yrs)

· Direct counseling through professionals (Referrals , Telephone conferencing and direct one on one support groups )

· Setting up and provide welfare schemes and financial assistance through fundraising for various reasons which has resulted about $130,000 of funds raised to assist individuals in a crisis. (see below for intricacies of assistance)

· Collaboration and partnership with other organizations more than 25 Govt and NGOs

· Seminars and workshops (organized more than 70 seminars/workshops and 10 health expos)

· Free Food Services for the Homeless which allows HF to provide for 7000+ meals annually at Blacktown. 75-80 needy or homeless people are benefited

· Grief and Loss Program/ Funeral Assistance more than 25 families assisted

· Free meditation/ Yoga Classes four years free meditation classes every week 2015 to 2018

· Two yoga workshops( two days ) every year from the last 3 years

· Assists individuals affected by Domestic Violence (currently supporting 85+ women and men who suffer from DV)

· Establishment of a Safe Home Project/ Women’s Shelter- HER housing since July 2018

Feel free to check out their FB page

https://www.facebook.com/HarmanFoundation/

1. Tell us a bit about yourself – what you do, your hobbies, goals etc

 

I am a co-owner of a boutique and independent real estate and finance agency that provides property management, sales and mortgage services.  Our office is based in the Hills District of Sydney. We list, sell, rent throughout Sydney and can finance any type of purchase throughout Australia.

 

Prior to this, I was a marketing professional at some of Sydney’s leading Large Format and Sub Regional Shopping Centres such as Rouse Hill Town Centre, Chatswood Chase, Supa Centa Belrose & Supa Centa Caringbah.

 

My husband Gurdev and I together launched this agency a year and half ago named after our two boys – Paras & Baz.

 

Being a mortgage broker, he had a number of clients that had an unmet need of selling or renting out properties that they owned. This led to the formation of our real estate division and is the prime reason why our listings are throughout Sydney.

 

After graduating from UTS with Property Economics and electing to sub-major in photography, my hobbies are all things creative. Being a visual person, I admire everything that meets the eye and enjoy graphic design, videography and photography. All of the branding aspects that you’ll see within our business are personally crafted.

 

My goal is to share my knowledge and experience to the community and clients I serve whether it be property related or beyond.

 

From a business point of view, our goal is to build a first-class reputable brand where we provide a memorable customer experience and make clients for life.

 

 

2. Who or what inspires you?

 

Being an optimistic person, I am naturally drawn towards industry thought leaders that project positive energy and motivate you to always be learning and developing. On top of this list is the real estate coach – Tom Panos – who is the third most influential and engaging real estate based speaker in the world.

 

In addition to this, I am honoured to be mentored by Manos & Maria Findikakis, the founders of E-view Group – Australia’s first multi-brand real estate group and aspire to build our brand like these leading property agents in Australia: Lisa Novak from Novak Properties Dee Why, Marty Fox from White Fox Melbourne and Gavin Rubenstein from Ray White Double Bay/ Woollahra.

 

3. Can you give some success tips to women who want to start or have just started their own business?

 

My tips would be as below:

 

– Never underestimate your potential and surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you. For me, this is my family – especially my Husband who encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone and instilled confidence in me to become the person I am today. Being opposite in personality and interests, my husband and I complement each other and together we are a stronger force in business and in family life.

– Visualise your end goal as law of attraction states that the energy you draw or think about is what you are served in life.

– Follow a motivational speaker that inspires you and spend at least 30 mins a day on self-development. As they say, just like bathing, motivation doesn’t last and that’s why it is recommended daily.

 

4. What do you want to achieve in the next few years?

 

On a business front, I want to create an effective and efficient business unit that works together to help achieve our client’s property goals.

 

On a personal front, I would like to play an active part in the community by giving back and adding value to those that are less fortunate.

 

On a mindfulness front, I’d like to connect with and learn from authentic inspirational figures and pass on my learnings to my kids who can then continue the positive legacy.

Feel free to check out their Facebook page and website:

https://www.facebook.com/parasandbaz

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Meet our featured beauty with brains Aman Preet, a celebrity portrait artist based in Sydney, Australia.

For Aman, art was a journey which started from the day she could first hold a pencil. Her journey started at the age of 3 as a mere hobby until the age of 11, when she entered her first art competition. She continued to do art as a passion up until year 12 when she decided to make it a career. In college she did a diploma in arts and a bachelors degree in fine arts. In 2007 she moved to Australia with her husband and 2 kids. Since she started working full time, she had to put her art journey on hold until 2016 when she started again after having her third kid. Being a mother meant working part-time, that is 9am-3pm (school time) and nights. That’s the only time she had to do her sketching. Each artwork takes up to 20 hours to create, depending on the amount of detail in it and what she is making. Her aim is to introduce the Indian culture to the new generation. She has done sketches of famous Indian celebrities such as Miss Universe 1994 and Actress Sushmita Sen, Singer Sonu Nigam, Poet and Film Director Gulzar, Actress Divya Dutta, Actress Diya Mirza, Actress Shabana Azmi, Actor Amrinder Gill and many others and have presented them with the drawings which they have appreciated a lot. She has participated in many art competitions and won several awards and prizes.

Feel free to check out her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/amanpreet1204/

Meet our featured beauty with brains Asima Sen, an eighty year old wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother based in Purulia, India. She is a truly inspirational woman who never gave up hope and courage despite facing many trials and tribulations in her life. She never let the problems in her life change her positive and cheerful nature and always tried to help others no matter how needy she herself was. Here is her story.

“I was born in 1937 at Pabna (which was a part of India at that time, then became a part of Pakistan, and is a part of Bangladesh now). My father was a landlord who owned acres of land there. I was one of seven siblings. Tragedy first struck our family when I was 8 years old. My 6 year old brother died from Typhoid as his illness was misdiagnosed as Malaria due to the lack of advanced medical facilities at that time. We siblings used to share a big room and have so much fun together. His passing left a void in my life which nothing seemed to be able to fill. I remember crying myself to sleep every night. It took me a few years to get used to life without him.

India gained independence from the British in 1947. My eldest sister who was 14 at that time was already married by then. I was 10 years old. India was divided into two countries – India and Pakistan. Pabna became part of Pakistan – a different country! We were told that we Hindus have to go back to India or we will be killed. My parents didn’t know where to go with five kids. My uncle (mother’s brother) used to live in Purulia, India. So my parents sent us kids to live with him while they themselves decided to stay back and brave the circumstances.

My uncle was a builder. He used to build train stations. I was one of hundreds of people living in his palatial mansion, as there were many relatives, employees, poor villagers etc living there. I felt lost in the crowd and felt lonely despite having so many people around. I had to work hard to earn my keep, had to help in cooking, housework etc. It took me time but I slowly got used to that life.

When I was 15, my uncle told us that he was moving to another town and couldn’t support us anymore. I was homeless once again. We siblings were separated and sent to live with different relatives. I was sent to live with my eldest sister and her family, who also lived in Purulia.

I got married when I was 17. It was an arranged marriage. I loved my husband and finally found the happiness I was looking for, after all these years. My first daughter was born a year after my marriage. After that I had three more daughters. My husband badly wanted a son but I couldn’t give him one. The doctor advised me against having any more children after my fourth daughter was born, as I had some health complications. Society started looking down on me as I couldn’t have any sons.

When my youngest daughter was 2 years old, my husband had tuberculosis. He couldn’t work for a long time. Our savings started dwindling and we lived hand to mouth. I didn’t know where the next meal was going to come from. We had to sell land and jewellery. I have always helped the less fortunate and continued doing so even in these difficult times. One of our tenants couldn’t pay rent for a few months as they were going through hard times too. I never pushed them for payment or asked them to leave, as I understood their situation.

When my eldest daughter was 23, she married a boy of her own choice. My son-in-law turned out to be a very nice and generous man who helped us a lot. Then within a few years my other daughters got married too.

When my youngest daughter was 15, she eloped with a boy. That was a big blow to our family. I was worried about her as well as worried about what would people say. But luckily they came back after a few days after getting married to each other. He turned out to be nice and she was really happy with him so I was happy for her.

I don’t have any regrets in life. Now, I consider myself lucky to have four daughters instead of sons. They all love me and look after me. I have five grandchildren and one great grandchild. I am grateful to both the positive and negative experiences of my life, as together they have made me who I am today.”