?I love to cook but I like to do it on my own time and within my own rules. I like the creativity, because it?s an art, and having people over to cook for really pleases me. But as a Mother, honestly it?s harder. Because kids are picky, husbands can be pickier and then if you’re cooking for yourself in addition to having a full-time job, it?s really exhausting,? said Manisha Sethi Varma, Entrepreneur and Food Tech Innovator.
Food intersects with everything. Including culture, identity, and most importantly, health. Manisha always loved food. But she was in a leadership role and grew frustrated with the dinner scramble. So, she found a better way and realized she could solve this problem for others. Then decided to leap into entrepreneurship.
Career change and starting a business, after corporate life can be freeing and fulfilling, yet terrifying. But you can honor your big ideas, and dreams, in ways that align with your values and lifestyle.
Apply Your Gifts to an Unmet Need
Manisha said, ?When I worked in corporate, I was that exhausted Mother. So, I created a WhatsApp group with four or five neighborhood cooks that would prepare great home cooked meals for me. We had to go and pick them up, but they really worked for us because the food spoke to my background and was more nourishing. Also, I spent significantly less money than having a private chef come to my home. So, I added a few friends to my WhatsApp group, and eventually, it became 50 different friends"
Stay Open to Challenges That Interest You
Many of us from immigrant families are eager to introduce the food we grew up with to our own kids. But the effort to make it happen daily can feel impractical. So, Manisha was thrilled to discover home cooks who made authentic dishes from her native India. ?I kept grooming that WhatsApp channel and decided although I started it for myself, the need was far greater than me. There were other people who would like to know great cooks who can prepare meals that speak to their backgrounds and dietary needs"
Lock Down Your ?Why?
Manisha said, ?There comes a time in life where something brings you back to what you consider your mission. And for me, this is that. I wanted to go back to my roots. And my greatest inspiration was my own Mother who started an Indian restaurant when she came to the United States with very little business or culinary industry knowledge"
Many women pursue the freedom of entrepreneurship yet, face hurdles, to get the financial and operational support they need. Especially women of color when breaking into the capital- and labor-intensive food industry. ?I wanted to make it easier for other culinary entrepreneurs, from diverse backgrounds, to enter the field. And support them through my forte, which happens to be technology" She used her engineering skills to replace the WhatsApp group with her own software. Then she recruited cooks from a range of cultures, who were eager to earn money without managing the order and delivery logistics.
Manage the Fear That Comes with Career Change
Before launching her business, Manisha spent two decades with the same employer. ?I had a wonderful career. But once the itch to solve this problem was in the back of my mind, I knew that if I didn?t pursue it, I couldn’t be fully there for my employer. And I?d probably be even less present for my children and family. So, I needed to make some hard decisions because life is uncertain. But it’s also not that long. I’m in my 40s so I started this intense entrepreneurship journey at a later stage in life. And I?m always questioning that. But I also have ?a ha? moments that tell me I’m onto something"
Build Your Village and Seek Advice
Manisha launched during the pandemic and faced pendulum swings in the economy. She began serving families and later expanded to include business catering. Finding the right formula to grow a business can be stressful. So, I asked how she cares for herself. She?said, ?Having an inner circle of entrepreneurs, especially women who are in the stage that I am, has been extremely beneficial. We give a lot of advice that to each other. And sometimes, when I’m having a crappy day or I have ?XYZ? things I still have to do for my children, hearing the hard stories really helps"
Set Boundaries for Yourself and Others
If you?re goal oriented by nature, or necessity, it can be tempting to spend every moment working. But it?s not sustainable. Manisha said, ?It’s taken me some time but I’m okay with going slower and not running towards my goal. So, there are times I will say ?no? to conference calls. Or decide, ?today I cannot do anything for my company because I need to do things for myself or my family" And learning to say no was hard. Because when you?re trying to grow your business, you want it to be successful. But it can’t come at the cost of mental health" Amen!
Prioritize Your Health
Manisha said, ?After we had our second child, I was slightly overweight, but I had really never been athletic before. So, at that stage, I needed to take time out for myself and prove to myself, that I can be an athlete in my own way" Many of us were taught ?good? work equals ?hard? work but exhaustion does not lead to career success.
Manisha maintains movement as part of her self-care routine. ?I still go on long jogs and exercise six or seven days a week because that’s an endorphin release for me. And it’s good for my mental sanity. I also listen to the Calm app for meditation. And if I’m driving a long distance, I take time to listen to podcasts"
And Positivity
Every founder will need to do things they haven?t done before. But digital learning is very accessible, and podcasts expand the options for self-help. Manisha described her favorites as ?the self-love? podcasts. ?I love listening to Robin Sharma, and Guy Raz? This is How I Built This because I love entrepreneurship stories that end in success"
Managing a business requires energy and it helps to stay inspired. She added, ?I need to hear a lot of motivational messages and tend to stay away from negative news, because it burdens me far more than it did earlier in my life. So, if there?s something that’s extremely disturbing, I’ll turn off the radio or listen to something else. I also choose movies very carefully. I took my daughter to see the Barbie movie and loved it because there were so many positive messages"
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Many thanks to the talented Manisha Sethi Varma!
Check out her company’s website that connects diners to a network of home cooks. And follow Manisha?s great adventure on?LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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About Manisha:
Manisha Sethi Varma is the CEO and Founder of WhoozCooking. She’s a seasoned professional with integrated background in technology and food. After a Bachelor?s degree in Information and Computer Systems from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Telecommunications from Boston University, Manisha worked as product developer and engineering manager, specializing in information security, technology risk management, infrastructure, product and operations, and management.
With over 20 years of experience, Manisha learned how to successfully start and manager her own online platform. Her technological background provides her with skill and finesse to deal with daily operations and back-end growth.
Manisha?s exposure to the food industry comes from her early years. Her family owns a well-reputed Indian restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA. She has also helped family own and manage two food franchises in Boston, MA.
Looking for ways to solve for how restrictive the food industry can be, Manisha always wanted to contribute to the community. She decided she could empower people, help people share their love for food and culture with others, and earn money, by lowering the barriers of entry. She has adeptly combined giving back to the community with scope of profitable business growth. As Manisha says, ?if we eat local and support our own communities, we can all prosper"
