Journey of Ayushi Gudwani - Owner of FableStreet
👨‍💻StartupTalkers
In an exclusive interaction with StartupTalky, Ayushi Gudwani - the Founder & CEO of FableStreet gets candid about her early life, interests, career & startup challenges.
Ayushi Gudwani has been a work-wear consumer for years and went through the predicament of finding great pieces to wear to the office. She always found it hard to find styles that fit well and are comfortable and long-lasting. That triggered her thoughts and she ended up co-founding FableStreet. It started with a vision to make women feel confident and comfortable by addressing their work-wear needs.
Tell us about your early life, interests and hobbies.
How's your everyday work-life looks like?
Tell us about your job responsibilities. How they have changed over time?
What challenges did FableStreet face?
Tell us about your superpowers.
Which online tools do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?
What has impacted you most in your career?
How's your workspace setup look like?
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you get a chance to start your career again, what would you do differently this time?
Frequently Added Questions - FAQs
Tell us about your early life, interests and hobbies.
I was born and raised in New Delhi in a typical Indian family, with a strong focus on academics. I was a topper throughout my high school and undergraduate. After the completion of my engineering from NSIT (Delhi), I went to pursue MBA from IIM Calcutta where I was awarded a silver medalist. Post that, I joined McKinsey & Company in 2008, before venturing out to start FableStreet in 2016. So I have geeky typical engineering + MBA background, not very exciting! Personally, I am an optimistic person as well as a dreamer and executioner. I derive my energy from people around me and rely heavily on my teams and family. My hobbies and interests include a fitness regimen, travelling, music and indulging in Thai food once in a while.
Vidhi Punamiya
How's your everyday work-life looks like?
Being an entrepreneur is fulfilling but chaotic. It means having a never-ending workload that just seems to pile up like Jenga. I usually wake up at 6 am and start the day with a nice cup of tea and newspaper. Then, I make a to-do list of the agenda I need to take care of that day as well as the week, which is then passed on to my team. I also spend some time on my phone to check how the previous day's sales are doing and resolve any urgent issues that need attention.
My teammates know how much I love going to the office on workdays and meeting them and engaging with them on a day-to-day basis, be it to discuss work or simply share a laugh. A typical workday would consist of team or one-on-one meetings, problem-solving, focusing on product development, etc. And to find balance in life, I spend time with my family, read books and chill on Netflix.
Tell us about your job responsibilities. How they have changed over time?
As a Solopreneur, the first couple of years, in terms of job responsibilities, were different than they are now. I managed operations, oversaw the hiring process and pushed myself to learn every aspect of the business. But all that has eased over time, as the team grows and expands.
My core responsibilities include solving the problems to ensure that we are on the right track, thinking through a strategic lens for the business, focusing on team health to build capabilities, boost morale and support them professionally and personally, networking and building partnerships and looking at opportunities for future funding and growth. Lastly, I also make a mental note to be prepared every day to face and solve any last-minute fire-fighting circumstances that may occur in any of the teammates, no matter how big or small.
What challenges did FableStreet face?
As a business owner and strategist, one is always experimenting with new things - it is a continuous trial and error process. We need to understand and accept the fact that 1 out of 3 ideas will work in any set-up/venture. Eventually, counting each and every setback is exhausting and also takes the joy out of working on your ideas. So, whatever I am working on, I give my best shot. One day at a time - that's the only mindset I function with.
Tell us about your superpowers.
Tenacity, multitasking, passion, a strong belief in my business idea and knowledge of my target audience and competition along with strong people skills, emotional quotient and understanding of what drives people. I believe these are the super-strengths that I'm managing till today.
Which online tools do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?
Even though I like being connected to people and my teams, I am not a big gadget freak and do not use multiple tools/apps. I follow the traditional method of making to-do lists either on paper or Google sheets/ Excel sheets for tracking and planning of daily work. I prefer one-on-one discussions and team huddles to operate my business. Lately, Zoom and Google Hangouts have been helpful for remote team discussions.
Yash Taneja
What has impacted you most in your career?
My previous work experience at McKinsey & Company and the people I worked with, in terms of leadership skills, problem-solving, aspirations and vision are a big part of who I am today. They have shaped me into the person I am today. Working with such inspiring people helped me learn what leadership means and how to care for individuals and teams.
I saw people genuinely care about my professional growth and that is something I would like to give back to my organization. I also learned how to dream big and act small with no end to visioning - that if you can’t solve the problem, no one else can. At a personal level, it has been my family and the values they have given me, had shaped my views and how I lead my life.
How's your workspace setup look like?
We have an open seating arrangement at work to ensure open communication, approachability and quick problem-solving within the teams. I am usually placed between my team and that's how I like to work when I am in the office.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I have got is that people are your biggest asset. As an employer, you need to make sure that you genuinely do right by them. From a business point of view, it would be to think big, act small and conserve cash. This is something that holds true everywhere.
If you get a chance to start your career again, what would you do differently this time?
I would like to achieve a B-school degree from abroad, primarily in the USA. The reason being that the quality of schools and education is fairly different there. I love my alma mater (IIM Calcutta) and had an opportunity to spend some time at UCLA Anderson School of Management and I absolutely loved that.
Frequently Added Questions - FAQs
What is FableStreet?
FableStreet is a premium work-wear brand for women that helps women to find tailor-fit clothes on all body types.
Who is Ayushi Gudwani?
Ayushi Gudwani is the Founder and CEO of FableStreet.
Who is the owner of FableStreet?
Ayushi Gudwani is the owner of FableStreet.
Is FableStreet available online?
Yes, you can get FableStreet clothing from their own website or other e-commerce sites such as Myntra, Ajio & Nykaa.
What is the FableStreet funding to date?
FableStreet has raised a total of $2.9M in funding over 2 rounds.
What is the USP of FableStreet?
The USP of the FableStreet includes a proprietary and R&D-backed tailored Fit algorithm which gives a great fit with just 3 body measurements. The company offers a "My Style, Your Fit" solution to address the problem of women across shape and size.
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