Every goal is achievable if we have enough inspiration. In fact, inspiration is a potent catalyst so essential for human achievement that all the challenges, obstacles, and hurdles in our path do not matter.
Our stimulus ignites a fire within our spirit that not only keeps us on our toes but also propels and compels us to achieve our aim and accomplish our dreams. It enables us to turn seemingly insurmountable obstacles into the very opportunities that can guide us to our success. When we are stirred, we find the motivation, determination, and creative urge needed to overcome challenges and persevere through setbacks.
Inspiration is the bedrock of every successful entrepreneurial story, including Seema Chaturvedi’s. In Women World India’s latest discovery, she emerged as the most inspiring Indian woman from Dubai. She is the National Sales Manager of a Global Credit Card Sales Team at Group of Companies.
A Self-Made Global Leader
Seema’s journey is unique and serves as a source of motivation for many women. She began her career at the age of 18 when most young people were enjoying their college life. Seema sought to challenge herself, learn new skills, and grow as an individual, never wanting to be dependent on anyone. Starting as a Tele-Sales Executive, she embraced new challenges and responsibilities, which helped her gain confidence in her abilities. She believes that being independent does not equate to isolation; rather, it involves finding a balance that allows one to contribute to relationships while maintaining a strong sense of self.
Seema has always been passionate about influencing others and driving meaningful change. Her motivation stems from the opportunity to make a positive difference, which was a key factor in her pursuit of leadership roles. She inspires and motivates those around her to achieve their best, encouraging her team and helping them stay engaged and committed to their objectives.
According to Seema, “A good leader doesn’t just lead a team by distributing tasks; a good leader trains and grooms their team to become future leaders.” This perspective highlights the importance of nurturing talent within the organization. Effective leaders are dedicated to personal and professional growth, seeking feedback, reflecting on their experiences, and striving to enhance their leadership skills continuously.
An Open Mind Thirsty of Knowledge
Emerging as one of Dubai’s inspirational women, Seema shares the guiding philosophy behind her success. It is staying curious and committed to learning, she says, adding that the world evolves rapidly and keeping an open mind and a thirst for knowledge, which is helping her to adapt and innovate by surrounding herself with supportive mentors, collaborators, and peers. “They can offer guidance, feedback, and opportunities I might not find on my own,” she adds.
By embracing challenges and seeing setbacks as stepping stones, she unlocks her ability to learn, adapt, and succeed. The growth mindset allows her to break free from self-imposed limitations and take charge of her personal and professional growth.
True success is not just about personal achievements but also about lifting others as you rise. Supporting and empowering those around you creates a positive impact and builds a legacy.
An Endless Pursuit of Constant Improvement
It is essential to stay agile and innovative in a constantly changing business environment to meet client needs. To do this, Seema regularly gathers insights on industry trends and client preferences. This helps anticipate changes and adjust strategies proactively. Encourage new ideas within the team. Provide opportunities for brainstorming and be open to unconventional solutions.
Seema says that gathering and analyzing client feedback can be achieved through surveys, direct conversations, or monitoring engagement metrics. This method enables ongoing development and rapid responsiveness to changes. It helps in real-time project and strategy adjustments according to evolving demands. Regularly invest in the team’s professional development to keep them updated with the latest industry trends and knowledge. This approach not only boosts their skills but also fosters innovation within the company.
Cultivate relationships with industry leaders, peers, and other relevant parties. Working together and networking can offer fresh ideas and pave the way for new opportunities and understanding.
The Most Accomplished Team Leader
Often recognized as an inspirational force behind her achievements, Seema sheds light on her leadership and team-building approach. She says that empowering team members by giving them the autonomy to make decisions and trust their expertise not only fosters a sense of ownership but also encourages innovation and creativity. She prioritizes open and transparent communication, adding, “I always love to hear their ideas, feedback, and concerns & work on that accordingly.”
Investing in the growth and development of team members is important. Seema provides opportunities for learning and skill-building, whether through training programs, mentorship, or challenging projects. “Sometimes I sit with them for tea and talk to them about their personal lives to get to know them more; that helps me understand their life goals, too,” she says.
Seema recognizes their hard work and success, which helps maintain motivation and reinforces a positive work environment. She provides growth opportunities as a reward, which keeps them going. She embraces change and encourages her team to adopt a growth mindset. Being adaptable in the face of challenges and viewing setbacks as opportunities for learning can drive continuous improvement.
Fostering Solutions that Exceed Expectations
The essence of entrepreneurship lies in bringing innovation and advancements to the niche one is working in. To balance customer expectations with user experience, Seema thoroughly investigates the market to grasp her customers’ needs and preferences. This involves studying her competitors, keeping up with industry trends, and gathering direct feedback from her target audience. “I aim to tailor our products or services to meet these expectations, ensuring they are both practical and attainable,” she adds.
Furthermore, she identifies and articulates the desired outcomes for customer satisfaction and user experience. Setting specific goals and metrics to track her progress towards these outcomes is also a part of her routine. She continuously monitors and refines her approach based on the data collected from these metrics.
“By setting realistic expectations with our customers about what our product or service can deliver,” says Seema. Transparency about capabilities, limitations, and timelines helps manage customer expectations and build trust.
A Long-Term Focus
Creating value for customers can increase the brand’s reputation, profits, and long-term success. Providing valuable goods and services can increase customers’ confidence and trust in the company’s offerings. Customers who feel they’ve made a good purchase are more likely to buy from you again and share their positive experience with others, believes Seema. “Taking the time to learn what benefits our customers value helps us improve our product, increase sales, and encourage customer loyalty.”
As a testament to her remarkable success, Seema highlights a transformative project that showcases her commitment to excellence and innovation. The top achievement of her career has been the transformation of her former department as National Sales Manager of a Credit Card Sales Team. When she took on the position, turnover was high, and the company’s cost-to-fill was skyrocketing. “They promoted me from a mid-level position and tasked me with improving Sales and recruitment. I set the goal of overachieving the set targets by the higher management,” reveals Seema.
Within six months, the team size doubled, and the company hired/promoted the new team leaders, which gave it the required growth. Seema adds, “A year later, we had met and exceeded the goals I set when I took on the position. Now we have one of the highest revenue-generating teams within the organization.”
A Resolute Team
To build and maintain a top-performing sales team in a highly competitive market, Seema always considers hiring the right people by Identifying the skills, experience, and traits that are crucial for success in the sales environment. She looks for candidates with a track record of achieving sales targets, resilience, and a strong work ethic. “We are using a combination of behavioural interviews, skills assessments, and real-world scenarios to evaluate candidates. Ensure they align with our company culture and values,” she informs.
Providing comprehensive training to the staff, developed an intensive onboarding program that covers their product or service, sales techniques, and company processes. This sets a strong foundation for new hires.
It is regularly updating her team on new products, industry trends, and advanced sales strategies. Encourage continuous learning. Using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to track interactions, manage leads, and analyze performance. This helps in streamlining processes and maintaining organization.
The Cornerstone of Business Success
Furthermore, fostering a culture of growth, skill development, and empowerment in the workforce is crucial for any organization’s success, says Seema, who leverages some key strategies:
- “I’m promoting continuous learning by regular training sessions online and offline, workshops, and courses that are relevant to employees’ roles and career aspirations.”
- Encouraging career development by helping the team to understand potential career paths within the organization and provide guidance on how to achieve their goals.
- Pairing employees with mentors who can offer advice, support, and knowledge sharing. Encouraging employees to take on new challenges and come out of their comfort zones.
- Recognize and reward efforts to learn and improve, “Even if the outcomes are not always perfect, we are celebrating our every month achievements as a team.”
- Ensuring the leaders are approachable and actively involved in supporting their teams.
- Implementing reward systems (Incentives and Boosters) that align with the company’s values and encourage desired behaviours and outcomes. “We are also promoting foreign trip contests for the teams from time to time.”
Trailblazing Triumphs Amidst Turbulences
Next, Seema states, “As a leader in Dubai’s corporate sector, I have faced numerous challenges.” She acknowledges that there were instances when sales numbers dropped drastically, and she had to manage the situation without placing additional pressure on her team. In her role, Seema is responsible for overseeing all team members and managing various work projects and tasks. At times, these daily responsibilities can become overwhelming and create pressure.
She specifically feels the strain when dealing with projects that have strict requirements and deadlines. To alleviate some of this pressure, Seema delegates tasks and breaks projects into smaller segments. Additionally, she finds that engaging in exercise, yoga, and other relaxing activities helps to reduce her personal stress.
Seema also has uncomfortable conversations with employees, such as laying off staff or discussing the company’s struggles. These situations challenge her ability to communicate delicately while remaining calm. She emphasizes the importance of keeping her team motivated and engaged, believing that “when my team members believe in the value they provide, they may feel more engaged with their work.”
Maintaining this motivation is a critical aspect of her leadership style. Seema understands that a good leader not only distributes tasks but also trains and grooms their team to become future leaders. Effective leaders are committed to personal and professional growth, seeking feedback, reflecting on their experiences, and striving to improve their leadership skills.
Devising Contingency Plans
The post-pandemic times have reshaped industries globally. In such a scenario, Seema’s contingency plans include continuous assessment of potential risks and their effects on the organization, encompassing health crises, economic downturns, technological disruptions, and geopolitical events. She has created and analyzed various scenarios to understand potential outcomes and prepare appropriate responses. She has continued investing in digital tools and technologies that enhance operational efficiency and resilience. She has developed a communication plan that includes protocols for internal and external communications during a crisis, says Seema. She adds, “I have implemented health and safety protocols that protect employees and reduce the risk of disruption, also encouraged a culture where employees are engaged and prepared to respond proactively to challenges.”
An Articulated Advice
Businesses are a way for world industry to enhance its efficiency and contribute to the global economy. In this regard, in her advice to the aspirants, especially women, wishing to embark upon their entrepreneurial endeavours, Seema says that one must clearly articulate what they want to achieve. “I do the same. Having a strong sense of purpose helps me stay motivated and focused, especially during tough times. Breaking down my vision into actionable goals and milestones. This will make my journey more manageable and provide me with a roadmap to follow.”
She always finds experienced mentors who offer guidance, support, and valuable insights. They help her navigate challenges and make informed decisions by connecting with other entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and potential customers. Networking can provide opportunities, resources, and support. She is keeping up with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. “Continuous learning will help us adapt and stay competitive,” she adds. Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life to avoid burnout. Make time for self-care and activities that rejuvenate you.
Looping in the Progressive Times
Envisioning her future clearly, Seema aspires to make a significant impact on Dubai’s business landscape by providing guidance and resources for entrepreneurs, including advice on business strategy, market trends, and technology adoption, offering personalized recommendations and insights based on individual needs, preferences, and behaviours, enhancing both personal and professional outcomes.
By contributing to thought leadership by sharing insights, research, and trends that shape the future of various industries and domains, promote collaborative learning and knowledge exchange among experts, practitioners, and learners to drive collective intelligence and innovation. “I will actively seek and integrate user feedback to refine and enhance services, ensuring they meet evolving needs and expectations,” she concludes.
