Deepti Sharma on Staying Focused on a Mission, Why You Need to Collect Failures, and How to Benefit From Your Critics

LEAVE YOUR MARK EPISODE 53

Deepti Sharma is a champion for the underrepresented. As the CEO and Founder of FoodtoEat; Deepti is simultaneously building a community-minded catering concierge service that connects immigrant women and minority-owned food vendors to growth opportunities, while also teaching corporations to use their purchasing power wisely. But, she's not stopping there. With social campaigns like "I Made Your Food," she infuses heart, soul, and storytelling into the food industry. Deepti is also a Co-Founder of Bikky, a platform solving customer engagement for restaurants.

As a mother and small business owner, Deepti comes from a political background and is passionate about policies that support mothers and entrepreneurs. She has served on the Board for the Business Center for New Americans, a non-profit that encourages immigrant entrepreneurship by supplying micro-loans and financial education. 

As a first-generation Indian-American, born and raised in Flushing, she's also a proud resident running for New York City Council to represent Queens' 24th District. Deepti is determined to do what it takes to build stronger communities for all. 

Deepti is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnae. She has been featured on Forbes' 'Millennials on a Mission' list and writes about how companies can modernize motherhood in the workplace. Deepti also mentors female entrepreneurs as part of the NYC Mayor's WE NYC Initiative.

In this episode, you will learn why focusing on building community and your core mission will always steer your business in the right direction, how Deepti leverages her critics to her advantage, and how she uses her failures to shape strategy.

Also in this episode:

1. How to be underrepresented in tech and still succeed
2. How she was one of the first people to innovate in the food truck business
3. How she thinks about "the pivot" and facilitates change within her own company's strategy
4. Why storytelling is a key component to her success
5. How she tackled feeling like she was never good enough
6. Why parenting can make you a better leader and worker
7. The importance of trusting your team
8. Why you shouldn't be attached to people, places, and things, but rather the mission
9. How often to take stock in your business before you say it's time to shift gears
10. Why you shouldn't wait to start your business, but instead do your research, get your MVP (most viable product), and get it out there

Listen to Deepti's story and advice on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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