Great Synergy fusing marriage and work

It is not often these days that a college romance fructifies into wedlock. Corporate Citizen unlocks the story of love that has culminated into marriage, for we believe in the stability of a relationship and family unit. We bring to you real-life romances that got sealed in marriage

From being partners at home to sharing a workspace, Nivriti Rohatgi Kapur and Arjun Kapur are a dream team, having a like-minded vision and mission in life. Though they had different careers paths, Nivriti was in advertising and Arjun was in the Information Technology sector-after a while it made sense to join forces to harness their passion and ambition. In a marriage, you're committing to a life together, and being in business together takes it a step further, they say. Married for 11 years, they share the secrets of their successful business partnership and marriage

It's common to hear people dedicated to their profession say they are 'married to their work'. However, Arjun Kapur and Nivriti Rohatgi Kapur have actually fused their marriage with their work. Married for 11 years, the couple who co-founded Artisan Palate, a gourmet sugar and salt startup, fondly talk about what helps them better navigate through the dynamics of making it all work. Their lives offer a sneak peek into a new world of couple preneurs.

Stronger together

"We love to work with each other as it brings out the best in us. We have great synergy and there is healthy competition between us. Most of all we love to get into a conference room and brainstorm ideas. Then, we delegate the tasks amongst us and the team and compete to finish and super-achieve the goals set. It has been a great journey," says Arjun, Nivriti's doting husband.

For Nivriti, who is the CEO of Artisan Palate, deciding roles and delegating responsibilities based on their individual abilities and interests ensure that they are complementing each other's talents and bridging any potential gaps. "Agreeing upon what we are working towards keeps both of us on track for success," she adds.

Best part of working together

During times of uncertainty and adversity, crisis and change and the most pressure-packed moments in their lives, it is Arjun's ability to keep calm and show more composure than ever before that Nivriti is in awe of. "He knows how not to wear his emotions on his sleeves. He doesn't yell or is overly animated when times get tough. He has such emotional self-control that even his body language does not give him away. That's what I admire most about him," she gushes.

Nivriti's drive to continue to push Arjun and set him up for success and help him achieve his milestones and much more is what he finds admirable in her. He says, "In fact, she helps me super-achieve my targets. I always go the extra mile for her." They both are always so happy when Arjun does something that exceeds Nivriti's extremely high expectations.

And is working with your spouse easier? "We have an understanding with each other and using a tone that is empathetic and respectful, which helps," states Arjun.

Also, a shared career is as strong as our personal relationship, says Nivriti. "So putting in the time and effort to build a strong emotional foundation dictates our success. Also if you appreciate each other there is always respect," she adds.

We love to work with each other as it brings out the best in us. We have great synergy and there is healthy competition between us Most of all we love to get into a conference room and brainstorm ideas

-Arjun

Jab we met

Artisan Palate products

The couple met in October 2006 on a pleasant evening at the Panchsheel Club in Delhi. They were introduced by their respective sisters who were good friends. Both hit it off instantly and there's been no looking back. The couple who are now blessed with a healthy eight-year-old son named Dev Harish Kapur still radiates the same kind of glow and happiness much like the time they first met. Nivriti even now remembers every moment of their first rendezvous. Arjun, who was at once smitten by Nivriti's beautiful large black eyes, says, "It was magical to look into Nivriti's eyes, her happy go lucky attitude... we immediately felt at ease with each other."

Early life experiences

Arjun was born in Singapore and completed his schooling from St Columba's School in Delhi in 1995. He then pursued his BE in Mechanical Engineering from BIT, Mesra, Jharkhand. After graduating in 1999, he worked in IT for four years with Tata Infotech and Unisys Corp in Minnesota, USA. He says, "When I passed out in 1999, the IT sector was at its peak and I was recruited on campus by Tata Infotech. I believe those were the golden years to work for an Indian IT firm," says Arjun with a glint in his eye.

Coming from a humble engineering school in Ranchi Jharkhand, working in Unisys Corp on an assignment from Tata Infotech (Now TCS) was an eye opener for Arjun. "The experience taught me how to manage people effectively and what all is wrong in the Indian corporation structure. The sheer appreciation for a minor achievement on the job was amazing to experience. I wanted to work for this culture and that is why I wanted to do my MBA from the US just to learn how to manage employees and not work as robots as some corporates in India expect their employees to be," he adds.

In 2003, he enrolled for an MBA at the George Washington University in Washington DC for which he received full-tuition scholarship as a George Washington Scholar. "It was a wonderful experience as a George Washington University alumnus. Although an MBA degree is very strenuous and the workload is unimaginable, I have managed to make amazing friends from around the world. I had the opportunity to have a chat and interact with many renowned authors and businessmen like Steven Covey and Warren Buffet to name a few," he adds.

Arjun even interned at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC. After coming back to India armed with an MBA, Arjun ran his family- owned business.

Born in Delhi, Nivriti completed her higher secondary from Modern School, Barakhamba Road. "I graduated in psychology from Jesus & Mary College, Delhi University and then did my post graduation in Advertising & Marketing from Amity University," says the 36-year-old.

She began her career in advertising with Grey Worldwide and then worked in marketing with HT Media and Times Business Solutions from 2004-2011. After which, she took a career break to raise her infant son.

Most satisfying feeling is the customer feedback and the acceptance of our products especially, when we participate in farmers markets or exhibitions

- Nivriti

Looking back on their working relationship

It was in 2016 when Nivriti learned about the variety and benefits of authentic, unrefined speciality Himalayan pink salt and Demerara sugar. And that is when the couple decided to take a step back and re-evaluate what their dreams meant to them before deciding to throw their entire weight behind them. And thus was founded Artisan Palate.

"With consumers becoming more aware of all-natural products and remedies, we were convinced that others must be concerned about what was in their saltshakers too. To close this gap, we decided to launch Artisan Palate, where we could sell these unique flavourful and healthy products. We have great expectations of Artisan Palate becoming the first gourmet sugar and salt company in India that would make these unique, flavoursome yet healthy products easily available," says Nivriti. Arjun adds that all of their artisanal salts and sugar began with their philosophy that pure, natural products simply taste and feel better: no additives, no artificial flavours; 100% natural, made with only the best ingredients available.

Speaking about the benefits, the couple point that a daily dose of Himalayan salt can ensure proper flow of fluids in the body. "A good balance of minerals and hormones can help in improving your insulin sensitivity and prevent sudden blood sugar spikes," says Arjun, while adding that Himalayan Pink Salt, flushes out toxins, improves your energy and keeps you hydrated at all times.

Challenges in setting up Artisan Palate

Setting up Artisan Palate was easy and so was to get a commercial kitchen and register the company. The challenge was in sourcing the ingredients from reliable sources that are available 12 months a year and ensuring the ingredients are chemical-free and pesticide-free.

"To secure shelf space in the current organised retail market also known as modern retail is incredibly difficult," says Arjun, adding, "As our products fall in the new category, we also have to make consumers aware of how to use these products." Also, for a bootstrapped startup the focus is to keep the costs at a minimum. "We do have an operating profit margin which is very healthy. Once we increase our presence and advertising, we hope to maintain this margin," says Arjun.

Our parents and siblings helped us not only with their blessings but also financially and with networking. They have continued to be a great support and have been our driving source

- Arjun and Nivriti

Key to success and role of luck

Hard work, hard work, hard work, emphasises the couple. Since the launch, they participated in a lot of exhibitions, fairs and organic farmers market to make people aware of their products and how to use them. "Most satisfying feeling is the customer feedback and the acceptance of our products especially, when we participate in farmers markets or exhibitions. Many customers do come to us and give us their feedback on how they love our products and how they use them. You will be surprised to know that we learn from them most of the times of innovative ways to use the infused salts and sugars," says Nivriti.

Says Nivriti, "We think you make your own luck and it is only hard work and not luck that makes a startup work." The couple agrees that success is not so much the bottom line but the acceptance of the product. "Our biggest success is the high return rate of customers who after buying our product always return to buy more. We have for nearly three years put all the profits of Artisan Palate back into the company to make it grow," says Arjun.

Businesses fraught with risks

Most businesses go through ebbs and flows, was it easy for the couple to cope with such levels of anxiety? "Being from a garment export business family we do understand the ups and downs and the anxiety that comes with it but the goal is if you believe in your product and are sure of the quality you can ride the waves with ease," states Arjun.

So do they miss their jobs and the stability that comes with it? Both agree that all jobs have uncertainty and risks but the true satisfaction lies in getting your brand accepted in the market and that is remarkable. "To maintain quality is our true moto and to continue to provide our customers with the true experience of all-natural products," says Nivriti. Arjun says, "At times it is easier to sit in an air-conditioned office and work on a computer than to work in heat in an exhibition ground introducing our products to customers. But at the end of the day the feedback we get from most of our clients makes the manual hard work worth it."

Support from families

When it comes to receiving support from families, they both describe themselves as very fortunate. "Our parents and siblings helped us not only with their blessings but also financially and with networking. They have continued to be a great support and have been our driving source." When they took the plunge from the corporate, into a life of their own terms they did take advice from family and peers. "But the ultimate decision was when we both sat across the table and discussed our future," they say.

Relationship success

Respect and love and also appreciating each other's accomplishments is the couple's mantra to a successful relationship. "We support each other and stay attentive to each other's needs, and keep in mind that we are a couple above all," they both echo.

Take on parenting

While agreeing that parenting is incredibly challenging and rewarding, Nivriti says, "To be true we had no idea but with time it has become easier and made us wiser. We believe if we can raise our son with compassion and he grows up to respect and appreciate all the people around him our work is done.

Maintaining worklife balance

They maintain a balance in their family and social lives by taking time off from work and spending weekends with family and friends. For the couple, striving for an overall balance between their work and personal lives is very important. To get their creative juices flowing, they try to take vacations for at least three-four days every six months either in India or outside of India. Says Arjun, "We try balancing out particularly hectic stretches of putting in extra hours at work with relaxing getaways sans responsibilities by rewarding ourselves with holidays after busy seasons that ensure we don't fall into an 'all work, no play' kind of traps."

Favourite travel memory

"Our impromptu trip to Bali in 2010. We were booked for Thailand but due to unrest in Bangkok we had to cancel the trip and book a trip in only a couple of days for Bali, which we feel is the most beautiful and relaxed place," says Nivriti. Also their trip to Montreal, Canada was fantastic. "The city is known for its European charm and French Canadian cuisine", she adds.