“I didn’t grow up with big dreams. I followed a conventional path, engineering, then a master’s in the UK. Soon after, I was managing multimillion dollar businesses.
But everything shifted during a work trip to Italy, where I overheard a conversation about workplace appraisals and how only a few were truly recognised. That moment sparked something in me. I began exploring the deeper dynamics of recognition and value.
At the time, I was part of the London Olympics delivery team, undergoing extensive training including media handling. That’s when I realised everyone has a personal brand, whether they know it or not. Curious to learn more and create impact, I pursued specialised training and equipped myself with a technical skill set (including a certification in image consulting and image management) to transform people and businesses into powerful brands.
It changed my perspective completely!
In 2014, I returned to Chennai and founded my branding company, Elegans. At Elegans, our philosophy is inspired by the intricate art of Origami, where transformation is achieved with precision and grace, without compromising the essence of the original. I built a creative studio where brands are folded like Origami—carefully, meaningfully, and with soul. In a world filled with noise, we chose elegance as our loudest statement.
Starting out wasn’t easy. While I had the technical skill set, I struggled to articulate our services and outcomes. But over time, I learned to communicate better. Our first big break came when we worked with stand-up comedian Alexander Babu, followed by other artists, business leaders, and even politicians.
We expanded our services to help businesses transform their products and services into global brands, working with clients in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the US. Additionally, I serve as a mentor at the Tamil Nadu Entrepreneurship Development Institute, specialising in branding and go-to-market strategies.
Eventually, we grew into a fully integrated creative agency, handling everything from ideation to logo design to full-scale commercial campaigns for multinational companies. One of our most meaningful projects was “Maid to Model” where we helped our house help become a model, even earning her a magazine feature and a couple of brand endorsements.
Today, we’ve moved into a larger space, a studio for product shoots, podcasts and more. We’ve also expanded into the UK market.
My journey hasn’t been easy but it’s been deeply fulfilling – fuelled by the discipline I inherited from my parents and the constant support of my family. My kids are my strongest cheerleaders and greatest critics, even giving me some of the most amazing ideas and taglines along the way.
I may not come from a business background, but I’ve built one. When you start to look within yourself and ignite the fire in your heart, life will find its way to you!”