In this podcast episode, Ashna Mankotia, a former product manager and current content creator, delves into her transition from working in tech to establishing her apparel brand, Bazaar Customs. Laid off just before her 30th birthday, Ashana took it as an opportunity to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.

During the conversation, she talks about her community-building endeavor, Saffron, which she opted not to scale into a million-dollar business to maintain its true communal essence. Ashana candidly shares her experiences of the identity shift from a corporate role to an entrepreneur, the financial preparation involved, and the challenges she faced while starting a clothing brand. She also reflects on her self-discovery journey in India, a country she left as a child, and the nuanced feelings of what her life might have been like had she grown up there. The podcast aims to provide insights into the realities of leaving a stable job to build something independently and advises on balancing one's passion with practical considerations.

📲 Connect with Ashna:

TikTok: @ohmygoshna

Instagram: @ohmygoshna

📲 Stay Up to Date with the Show:

Host Instagram: @maggieindata

Podcast Instagram: @thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast

Podcast YouTube: @thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Identity Crisis and Entrepreneurial Guilt

02:36 The Reality of Content Creation

06:54 The Layoff Experience

09:31 Financial Preparedness and Taking the Leap

12:58 The Struggle of Self-Identification

14:45 The Saffron Community: Passion vs. Business

18:31 Scaling to a Million Dollar Business

19:10 The Value of True Community

22:42 Launching a Clothing Brand: Bazaar

24:46 Self-Discovery and Cultural Reflection

28:24 Challenges of Starting a Physical Product Business

32:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

36:53 Redefining Success and Flexibility

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