Building Dreams Together

The entrepreneurial spirit is what binds and propels this dynamic young couple with big dreams and a relentless drive. Over to Neha Joshi and Aneesh Gulgule on what it takes to build their respective companies as well as a home with a rock-solid foundation

“I always wanted a partner who is intelligent, driven and wants to make something of her life. Neha is all that and more”

- Aneesh

Married for little over a year, neither Neha nor Aneesh batted an eyelid at the prospect of spending the recent pandemic induced lockdown with their extended family including cousins, grandparents, parents and nephew. To them, it made perfect sense to pool resources and synergies to take on a never before challenge. “During the lockdown, we lived together, cooked and cleaned together, revved up each other’s spirits and watched out for each other. It wasn’t easy, but the learnings were many. After all, that’s what families are for. If you want to live in isolation, why to marry?” queries Neha.

A refreshing departure from Gen Z’s never- ending quest for space and more space. But the living arrangements were entirely in keeping with the couple’s core mantra to keep it all together, be it at work or at home.

There’s little doubt that the pandemic has been hard on everyone, most especially the self-employed. But this duo is inherently positive, calm and forward thinking. “Coming from a third-generation entrepreneurial background I am prepared for the rough and tumble of business, and frankly, so is Aneesh,” she says.

While Neha, a mass communication and literature post graduate runs Shout it Out Media, an ad agency with over a hundred clients across ten countries, Aneesh, an engineer by training, runs Black Box Performance, an automobile company engaged in engine tuning, performance upgrades for luxury vehicles, motorsport and also consultancy in electric vehicles development.

Meanwhile, the roll call of their joint enterprises reads thus: Maktao Public Relations and the Democratic Times a digital newspaper they run together. Then there’s Candid & Co., a photography company engaged in all sorts of photography from food to wedding to fashion. Last but not the least is Acaryas Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the upliftment of needy children through education.

“We know and understand each other well thanks to our long-standing friendship”

- Neha

The Mantras Of Marriage

• Trust
• Mutual respect
• Helping each other chase dreams
• Communication

Neha Joshi and Aneesh Gulgule

Back to the beginning

This love story was first scripted at Pune’s Springdale Sinhgad school where Aneesh and Neha studied two years apart. “Given the age difference, we really didn’t hang out together. But I knew both him and his family through our common friend Ishan. Years later, we once again happened to have the same common circle and that’s how we got to meet each other afresh,” says Neha.

Nevertheless, the relationship took its time progressing. “Truth be told, it took us both time to appreciate the other given how different we both are. I am outgoing and extroverted, whereas he is a man of few words,” she says.

But gradually, the conversation began to flow especially during Aneesh’s stint as an engineer in Oman. That’s when they began to discuss dreams, hopes and found a deeper connection. So when Aneesh proposed to her, Neha did not take a moment to agree. The families were delighted, they had seen it coming: after all, the two hung out together a lot. It helped that Neha had spent considerable time with Aneesh’s parents and shared a comfortable bond with the two of them. Plus, both sets of parents trusted the kids’ judgment considering how well-educated and well-travelled they both were. Nevertheless, they consulted an astrologer for the most opportune time to fix the nuptials. “The pandit gave us a marriage date that was a long time away, almost three years to the day. We used the time to solidify what we already shared. The comfort level we share today is all thanks to the amount of time we have taken to know each other as pals,” she says.

“I always wanted a partner who is intelligent, driven and wants to make something of her life,” expresses Aneesh. “Neha is all that and more. She also happens to be level-headed and multi-faceted and gives me valuable advice on running my business.”

The duo work together in a compact office space which not only allows them to spend quality time together but also enables them to help each other out: she takes care of marketing for Black Box Performance, while he is in charge with the finance of her ad agency. “At times it is hard to keep work and marriage separate given how passionate we are about what we do. But I do know many people who would be happy to spend as much time together as we do,” says Aneesh.

From strength to strength

Quality time apart from work would include travel and eating out. “Sure, both these particular hobbies have taken a backseat currently, but one day soon,” she says. Meanwhile, given that they have been married for about a year, what as per them, would constitute the building blocks of a marriage? “Trust, friendship and looking out for family,” says Aneesh. On the other hand, Neha simply has one point to make. “Togetherness,” she says. “This includes family and friends as well.”

So how do they manage fights? “Honestly speaking, we haven’t had any major fights since we got married. Like I said, we know and understand each other well thanks to our long-standing friendship,” she says. Whatever arguments that do crop up are typically centered around work. “We have different ways of doing things and so differences arise. The trick is to convince the other of one’s viewpoint at the correct time. There are times when we are both right in our own way and it helps to appreciate a diverse point of view,” he says.

Like every young couple, they have had ‘The’ talk, with regard to starting a family. “See, there’s something called biology. It never does to delay having kids endlessly. We’d rather go with the flow and let things happen when they are meant to,” says Neha.

Who better than a little one to share big dreams with?