Shabia Ravi Walia: Founder and Owner, Wild Earth

1. What is your philosophy of efficient leadership in a corporate setting?Lead by example, Have faith in your people, Take calculated risks, Credit needs to be shared, mistakes need to be owned. A good leader puts his/her team first, self second.

2. Given the chance, how would you redefine woman entrepreneurship?

By making it gender agnostic. Entrepreneurship or the spirit of it is gender independent. The passion to create something, the fear of failure, the pride of success are independent of whether you are a man or woman. We need equal opportunities for both genders, equal receptivity towards both kinds of entrepreneurs and leaders, equal support for both and a healthy dialogue irrespective of their gender. The brand should speak for itself not the gender of the founder. Neither should it carry their gender as a medal or a deterrent. The more we women entrepreneurs shirk off the need to be segregated as women entrepreneurs, the more equal the playing field we can create for ourselves.

3. What is Wild Earth all about?

We create beautiful, handmade bath and body products based on the principles of Ayurveda and from the best of ingredients from nature. We are free of all harsh chemicals, nasties and cruelty too. Whilst nurturing you we also nurture the very nature that nurtures us by being very aware of doing least damage while creating our products.

4. What are your organization’s vision and core values?

Our core values are transparency, honesty and sustainability.

Our vision is to create a trustworthy natural brand that’s sustainable in nature and loved by people for its quality and affordability. Great products always need not be expensive.

5. What would you choose between following your passion and being practical? Why?

I think passion and practicality need to move hand in hand. At times you have to let passion carry you forward, at times practicality. If you just fly on the wings of passion always, you will run out of resources soon whereas its also the fuel that creates magic so being totally practical at all times at the risk of killing your passion is not advised too. I think the stage of entrepreneurship you are at, determines what rules – passion or practicality. At early stages of entrepreneurship when you are creating a product, its passion and idealism. As you grow, enter markets, taste reality, practicality sets in. A healthy mix of both is key.