A Shining North Star
A dynamic personality who is optimistic, extremely emphatic, hardworking, driven to solve challenges, and someone who doesn’t fear anything, Susmitha Lakkakula has dabbled in various businesses in last six years. Holding a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from BITS Pilani and an MBA from IIM Calcutta, she specializes in fields like TV serials, IT, and Fashiontech. During her pregnancy, she saw a huge gap in the market for organized and interactive interfaces for fashion design, fashion styling, online personalized orders, and fulfilment. Hence germinated an idea of launching CloudTailor, a personalized solution for fashion and tailoring services for women. In an exclusive interview with Corporate Citizen, she talks about her work philosophy and how she maintains work-life balance.
"I love dancing and it teaches great life lessons. The most important thing it teaches you is that you cannot master anything in a day and that you need to learn the basics"
- Susmitha Lakkakula
Corporate Citizen: How do you set out your priorities to keep your work and personal life balanced?
Susmitha Lakkakula
Susmitha Lakkakula: I am a mother of two, a wife, and an entrepreneur. Juggling between personal life and work life can be challenging, especially when you are developing a business. But I still do a few things to manage a balance. I plan not just my day but my week to optimize efficiency, draw boundaries whenever required, be present in the moment, and prioritize what’s absolutely necessary at that given moment. However, this business is my baby as well, and when you have a supportive partner who is also in the same business as you, we pretty much manage our family and work together.
CC: While on the move, what helps you the most in maintaining calm and peace?
I’m not just a business founder, but I play many roles. I’m a daughter, a wife, a daughter-in-law, and a mother of two. While I’m on the move, there is not just work but even personal life to manage. And I’m not going to shy away from the truth that a few days get extremely busy, but at the end of the day, when I see my kids with the brightest smile and the purest form of love, I instantly feel calm and at peace.
CC: What keeps you fit and healthy?
Being fit and healthy should be important for everything. I cannot drag myself to the gym; however, I walk a lot. I take most of my morning meetings while I’m on the go. I love dancing as well, and the joy doubles up because sometimes I dance with my daughter. Apart from that, I do yoga on a regular basis. The one thing I never compromise on is my eating habits. I’m very mindful of what I eat and I keep it as healthy as possible.
CC: How do you like to rejuvenate, recharge and de-stress?
As I have mentioned earlier, I play multiple roles, and sometimes my day gets busier than usual. But stress is not a part of my life, my personality is generally a calm personality who is driven to find solutions to problems instead of being stressed about them. But my simple mechanism to rejuvenate and recharge is my children. They are one of my biggest supporters and strengths, and at the end of the day, when I look at them, I feel energized instantly.
CC: Five tips that work the best for you to maintain a work-life balance.
- Maintain a daily routine
- Manage your time efficiently and plan your day beforehand
- Delegate and trust your subordinates with their tasks
- Set boundaries
- Take out one hour for yourself on a daily basis and do an activity that gives you joy
CC: Do you play any game which helps you in your work?
Not sports, but I’m going to say dancing. I love dancing and it teaches great life lessons. The most important thing it teaches you is that you cannot master anything in a day and that you need to learn the basics. Other things that it teaches are being disciplined, the importance of team work, being determined and that happiness comes from within.
CC: What is the secret of your success?
It’s a simple formula: always have a bigger picture, a vision of your dream. But to achieve it, break that down into smaller pieces and achieve it one step at a time.
CC: How has your journey been? How did you cope up with challenges?
The journey has been a refreshing, cherishing, and challenging one. I come from a tech background, and I had to understand this industry and make a difference. I have personally visited customers and understood their needs and challenges, learned about tailoring, and more. I have come a long way, and it feels good to see the company grow and reach where it is now, but we still have a long way to go.
CC: What is your philosophy of work?
It is about being a north star for not just your immediate subordinates but everyone in the company, which means you need to have clarity of thought and conviction in what you do. It is the leader who usually sets the tone and vibe of the organization. I believe in giving people freedom and opportunities. Another thing I believe is that everyone in the organization is aware that one should not be scared to make mistakes as one learns from every mistake.
CC: What message would you like to give to youngsters on Time Management?
The one piece of advice I would give today’s youngsters is to be disciplined. Discipline is very important in all aspects of life. One should have a routine for everything they do and the desire to learn new things, whether professional or personal, because it is now critical to be skilled in areas other than the one in which they specialize.
CC: What dreams remain to be fulfilled?
It is said that one should never stop dreaming, and I’m one of them. But I believe in realistic dreams - dreams that can turn into reality. I come from a background where the first priority is always being an engineer backed up by a good job. I never thought that I would be the founder of a company, but after moving from a full-time job to launching my second start-up, I have come a long way. And my current dream is to make CloudTailor the first stop for personalized fashion for women.
CC: Where do we see you 10 years from now?
When COVID hit, I decided that I’m going to live in the moment. Having said that, I always want to stay ahead of the curve and reinvent myself. 10 years from now, I want CloudTailor to be a brand with such a strong recall that when you think of tailoring services for women, you think of CloudTailor. I also want to make a real difference in the world and in people’s lives.