Meenu Gupta: An intercontinental journey in entrepreneurship, podcasting and marriage

(March 27, 2024) Entrepreneur, podcast host, author, and meditation trainer- Meenu Gupta wears multiple hats. In her 28-year career, she spent 12 years with the Italian Trade Commission of the Government of Italy as a trade analyst, managing product development programmes between Italy and India, and leading over 100 international delegations alongside other sectorial and trade promotion initiatives. Now, as the CEO of her start-up Vedas Shaakha, Meenu represents European organisations and trade bodies in India, assisting in marketing their products and services.

The businesswoman who shuttles between Germany and India is also the author of two books, contributes to international journals and dives deep into the lives of her guests in her podcast, ‘Between the East and the West’.

The podcast recently announced a collaboration with the Germany-based international civil society group ‘Democracy without Borders’. “This collaboration aims to explore the concept of global citizenship with international guests on my podcast, who are from different walks of life working in different parts of the world. In my podcast, I invite (a range of guests from) monks to Hollywood directors to Ambassadors, entrepreneurs and people who just defy labels,” Meenu tells Global Indian. “From diversity, culture, inclusion, conflict, war, global citizenship to understanding and peace, my podcast dives deep.”

An advocate for intercultural connections, the entrepreneur and author serves on the editorial board of ‘Curiously Intercultural,’ a digital platform of SIETAR Europa, a global intercultural organisation.

From a trade analyst to entrepreneur 

“Setting up my own company after the experience of working at the Italian Trade Commission was a natural transition for me,” tells Meenu. “Working in the Italian government laid the foundation of all the future steps because of the numerous sectors I handled and the exposure to the top echelons of the corporate and government sectors in India and in Italy,” she adds.

Her work encompassed strategizing implementation of multiple programmes. “Till date I have had the opportunity to lead over 100 international delegations, build bridges between continents, set up companies and projects from scratch and sit on multiple boards,” she shares.

In her role, Meenu was granted full autonomy to strategize and manage funds. One of the projects she oversaw was in the gold sector, working with a Gold Consortium in Italy. The project involved establishing a consortium company in collaboration with ace marketing professional Ivano Micheletti from Arezzo, Italy. “It held significant meaning for me,’ she shares. Emphasising the trust placed in her by the Italian partners, she mentions, “They bestowed upon me something immensely valuable – their trust. They allowed me to lead the setup of the entire structure, from vision to implementation. Serving on the board of that company proved to be an exhilarating journey, filled with challenges and joys, and facilitated my transition to a businesswoman seamlessly.”

Venturing into entrepreneurship with Vedas Shaakha

Meenu became an entrepreneur with Vedas Shaakha in 2007. “It was a time when ‘start-ups’ was not really a buzzword as it is today,” she remarks.

Talking about the name that she chose for her startup, she mentions, “I named it after my late mother ‘Veda’. She and her memories have been a constant source of inspiration for me even to this day. Her character, qualities and wisdom are unmatched in my eyes.” 

Starting a new venture in India was a challenge in those times but Meenu believes that challenges and opportunities go hand in hand. “If there is a vision, there is a way.”

Over the years, she has handled a variety of projects, ranging from the security sector where women were not commonly found to areas such as solar energy, fashion, food, and more. It has been an interesting journey for her. She vividly recalls numerous meetings where she was not only the only woman present but also often the youngest person in the room. However, such situations were ordinary for her. “Interestingly, I never encountered gender bias,’” she says. ‘Whether it was at the largest prison in Asia or the grandest fashion shows in Italy, I often found myself representing India as the sole woman.

Between the East and the West

Meenu’s podcast series features individuals who have traversed continents in both their professional endeavours and personal relationships. “These are individuals who have opted for unconventional paths and accumulated valuable experiences along the way,” Meenu remarks. They share their insights, motivations, learnings, wisdom, challenges, and achievements offering a glimpse of the contrasting yet harmonious aspects found in different continents.

“I have had the opportunity of a heart-to-heart chat with these amazing people who have humbled me with their honesty and courage,” she mentions. 

‘Between the East and the West’ was launched in 2022 and boasts of 30 streamed episodes so far. Meenu started the podcast to complement a book which is slated to be released this year. “The book is about my journey and experiences of straddling continents while the podcast brings out the journeys of other people,” she mentions. “Putting the podcast project together from scratch has been an immensely fulfilling journey. It required all my skills that I had the opportunity to hone over the years.” 

Enjoying multiculturalism at home 

“My husband is Dutch but has lived in Germany since he was a child. My son was born in Germany,” says Meenu. She describes meeting her husband as a “classic love story.” He was the blonde, blue-eyed stranger she met on a flight to Italy. At the time, he was returning to Germany from his first visit to India, while she was enroute Italy for a presentation, with a layover in Germany. As luck would have it, they were seated beside each other on the plane, and talked non-stop through the journey. A few months later, they were engaged, and they married shortly thereafter. 

When they had met, his company was planning to expand into India but soon after their engagement, the plan was changed. In response, she made the decision to cater to her European clients in the Indian market, establishing bases in both Germany and India so that she can enjoy both her worlds – her marriage and her business. 

In the realm of spirituality and multitasking 

Meenu believes in the powers of meditation and is also a meditation trainer. Talking about the many roles that she handles, Meenu says. “My belief is that we are spiritual beings living an earthly existence. I am just exploring and letting the different sides of myself get the air, breathe and grow. When one wishes to do something, they find the time.”

She aspires to excel in every aspect of her life. “We all have different facets. It depends upon which facets we nourish, hone and allow to breathe. I love what I do and I do what I love. Most importantly, the doing stems from my way of being. Be your best and you will automatically do your best,” she signs off with a piece of advice.

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