Self-Belief Can Change Your Life | Chandni Kapadia | TEDxManSagarLake

Summary

Dr. Chandni Kapadia shares her inspiring journey from a shy, introverted girl to a successful professional. Hailing from a conservative background, she defied family expectations to study in the US, work at JCPenney, and eventually head Calvin Klein. Her story highlights the power of self-belief and determination, overcoming struggles in both personal and professional life, and the importance of empathy and support from loved ones.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Dr. Chandni Kapadia's journey from a shy, introverted girl to a successful woman was fueled by self-belief and determination.
• 🏠 She faced cultural and familial pressures as the 'black sheep' in a traditional Gujarati family that expected her to follow a conventional path.
• 🛫 Dr. Kapadia's ambition was to study in the US, which was an unconventional choice for women in her family, but she pursued it despite the resistance.
• 🎓 At the age of 16, she moved to New York to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), taking on a part-time job in a fashion house to learn the industry.
• 💼 She worked hard to make her presence felt, which led to a significant opportunity to assist in a major event and subsequently a full-time position at JCPenney at 17.
• 💰 Financial struggles in New York taught her to live frugally, walking long distances and surviving on minimal food, which she views as a valuable experience.
• 🎯 Her dream to work for Calvin Klein came true after 11 years and nine months, demonstrating the power of manifestation and self-belief.
• 📚 After proving herself in the US and UK, Dr. Kapadia was given the opportunity to head Debenhams' expansion into India, despite initial skepticism.
• 🤝 She emphasizes the importance of empathy and treating people well, as social connections are crucial for personal and professional growth.
• 🏆 Despite setbacks and failures, Dr. Kapadia has learned from them and used them as stepping stones to come back stronger.
• 📈 Her success story has changed the perceptions of those around her, but she remains grounded and committed to those who supported her through thick and thin.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Chandni Kapadia and what is her main topic of discussion in the transcript?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia is the speaker in the transcript, and her main topic is how self-belief can change one's life, as illustrated by her personal success story.

What was Dr. Chandni Kapadia's family background and how did it influence her early life?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia comes from a traditional, conservative Gujarati background where girls were typically educated only up to graduation and then expected to marry and start a family. This influenced her early life by creating a contrast to her aspirations for a career.

What was the initial job Dr. Chandni Kapadia took up in the fashion house while studying at FIT?

Initially, Dr. Chandni Kapadia worked part-time at a fashion house where she mainly ran errands and made tea or coffee for her seniors.

How did Dr. Chandni Kapadia's first opportunity at the fashion house come about?

Her first opportunity came after she made an effort to learn and make her presence felt in front of her boss, which eventually led to her being given the chance to assist in a significant event for the company.

At what age did Dr. Chandni Kapadia receive a full-time position at JCPenney?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia was offered a full-time position at JCPenney at the age of 17.

What challenges did Dr. Chandni Kapadia face while living in New York City?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia faced financial struggles, living frugally, walking long distances to save money, and eating only what she could afford, like a slice of pizza and Coke.

What was Dr. Chandni Kapadia's dream job before going to the U.S. and did she eventually achieve it?

Her dream job was to work for Calvin Klein, and she achieved it by heading the company after 11 years and nine months.

What was the significant role of Dr. Chandni Kapadia's father in her life?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia's father played a significant role as a constant support throughout her struggles, embodying the saying that behind every successful woman is a supportive man.

How did Dr. Chandni Kapadia's career evolve after her initial success in the U.S.?

After her success in the U.S., Dr. Chandni Kapadia pursued her master's degree in England, worked at Debenhams, and eventually was asked to head the opening of stores in India.

What challenges did Dr. Chandni Kapadia face when she moved to India to head Debenhams' stores?

In India, she faced skepticism from her team and associates who doubted her experience and knowledge of the Indian market, considering her as a foreigner despite her Indian origin.

What personal achievements did Dr. Chandni Kapadia mention in her journey?

Dr. Chandni Kapadia mentioned earning 11 gold medals in her state while pursuing a law degree and becoming a practicing lawyer, in addition to her roles as a brand consultant, management consultant, and educationalist.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Journey of Self-Belief and Success

Dr. Chandni Kapadia shares her inspiring story of transformation from a shy, introverted girl to a successful woman, emphasizing the power of self-belief. She recounts her struggles as the 'black sheep' of her conservative Gujarati family, who disapproved of her desire for a career. Despite their traditional views, she pursued her dreams to study in the US and work in the fashion industry. Her determination led her to work part-time at a fashion house while studying, eventually earning a full-time position at JCPenney at the age of 17. Dr. Kapadia's narrative highlights her frugal lifestyle in New York, her passion for making it on her own, and her ultimate achievement of heading Calvin Klein after 11 years and nine months, illustrating the importance of seizing opportunities and believing in one's dreams.

05:02

🌱 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth

In the second paragraph, Dr. Kapadia discusses the challenges she faced when she moved to India to head stores for Debenhams. She talks about the skepticism from her team and the struggle to earn respect in a new cultural context. Despite the difficulties, she fought for her place and learned from her failures, becoming a better person in the process. Her father's support was a constant in her life, and she stresses the importance of empathy and kindness in both personal and professional relationships. Dr. Kapadia reflects on her journey from a young fashion designer to various roles, including a brand consultant, management consultant, practicing lawyer, and now an educator. She shares a poem that encapsulates her experiences and expresses her gratitude for the support she received along the way, promising to continue striving for more milestones.

Keywords

💡Self-belief

Self-belief is the confidence and conviction in one's own abilities and potential to achieve goals. In the video, Dr. Chandni Kapadia emphasizes the power of self-belief as a driving force in her journey from being an introverted girl to a successful woman. It is a central theme as she credits her achievements to her unwavering belief in herself, especially when faced with societal and familial pressures.

💡Black sheep

The term 'black sheep' refers to a member of a family or group who is considered an outcast or nonconformist. In the context of the video, Dr. Kapadia describes herself as the 'black sheep' of her family due to her unconventional aspirations for a career at a time when her family expected her to follow traditional roles. This term is used to illustrate the conflict between her personal ambitions and familial expectations.

💡Traditional background

A traditional background typically refers to a cultural or familial context that adheres to long-standing customs and practices. Dr. Kapadia mentions her Gujarati conservative background, where the expectation was for girls to be educated only up to graduation and then to marry and start a family. This background is contrasted with her own aspirations, highlighting the challenges she faced in pursuing a different path.

💡Manifestation

Manifestation is the process of making something happen or become visible through one's thoughts and actions. In the video, Dr. Kapadia speaks about the manifestation of her dreams, particularly her desire to work for Calvin Klein, which she achieved after 11 years and nine months. This concept is tied to her belief in the power of self-belief and determination in realizing one's goals.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities are chances or situations that present themselves and can be taken advantage of to achieve success. Dr. Kapadia recounts how she seized the opportunity to assist her boss in a significant event, which led to her being offered a full-time position at JCPenney at the age of 17. The video uses this keyword to underscore the importance of recognizing and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise.

💡Struggles

Struggles refer to the difficulties and challenges one faces in life. Throughout the video, Dr. Kapadia shares her struggles, such as living frugally in New York, dealing with skepticism from her peers in India, and balancing work and education. These struggles are integral to her narrative, showing resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

💡Respect

Respect is the regard and consideration given to someone based on their qualities or achievements. Dr. Kapadia had to earn respect from her teams in India, where she faced skepticism due to her age and perceived lack of experience in the local context. The video highlights the importance of gaining respect as a measure of one's professional success and acceptance.

💡Failures

Failures are instances of not achieving the desired outcome or falling short of expectations. Dr. Kapadia acknowledges that along with her successes, she has also experienced failures, which have taught her valuable lessons and helped her to come back stronger. The video uses the concept of failures to illustrate the growth and learning that can occur from setbacks.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the video, Dr. Kapadia stresses the importance of having empathy and being kind to people, regardless of one's own success or position. This concept is presented as a key principle in maintaining positive relationships and contributing to a supportive social environment.

💡Success

Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Dr. Kapadia's story is a narrative of success, from overcoming initial challenges to achieving her career goals and gaining recognition in various fields. The video uses the term to highlight the transformative power of hard work, self-belief, and perseverance.

💡Mentor

A mentor is a trusted advisor or teacher who helps guide and support someone's development. In the video, Dr. Kapadia mentions her mentor, SRI Sudhir Nana, who has been a significant figure in her journey. The concept of mentorship is portrayed as a valuable resource in personal and professional growth.

Highlights

Dr Chandni Kapadia shares her journey from a shy introverted girl to a successful woman, emphasizing the power of self-belief to change one's life.

Raised in a traditional Gujarati conservative family, Chandni faced opposition from relatives who doubted her career aspirations.

Despite societal expectations, Chandni was determined to make a name for herself and break barriers for women in her family.

At 16, she moved to New York to study at FIT, taking on a part-time job at a fashion house and working her way up.

Chandni's hard work paid off when she was offered a full-time position at JCPenney at just 17 years old.

She lived frugally in New York, walking long distances and eating cheap food to support herself without relying on her parents.

Chandni's dream of working for Calvin Klein came true 11 years later when she became the head of the brand.

After proving herself in the US and UK, Chandni faced new challenges when she was tasked with heading Debenhams' expansion into India.

In India, she struggled to gain respect from her team and faced skepticism about her experience and age.

Chandni fought for her place and ultimately won the respect of her colleagues, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

She believes in the importance of empathy and treating people well, as we are all social beings who need support in life.

Despite setbacks and failures, Chandni has learned valuable lessons and emerged as a better person.

Her father has been a constant source of support throughout her struggles, embodying the saying that behind every successful woman is a supportive man.

Chandni's success has changed the perceptions of people around her, but she remains grounded and true to herself.

She has faced naysayers and doubters, but her achievements have ultimately won them over and changed their attitudes.

Chandni's journey has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, from being a fashion designer to a brand consultant, management consultant, practicing lawyer, and now an educationalist.

She has no regrets and takes pride in living life on her own terms, with the support of her mentor and those who stood by her through thick and thin.

Chandni concludes her talk with a short poem, reflecting on her journey and expressing gratitude for the support she has received.

Transcripts

hello everyone

this is Dr Chandni kapadia very happy to

be here

today I'm going to talk about how

self-belief can change your life

my success story

from this chubby shy introverted little

girl that the woman to the woman that

you see today

has not been an easy one

and I would not have reached here had it

not been for my passion well how many of

you have been the black sheep of your

family

I was the black sheep of my family

my relatives told my parents you know

she's going to bring shame to your name

why because I wanted to have a career

at a time when my family wouldn't even

think about it they wouldn't even dream

about it I came from this traditional

Gujarati conservative background

for them girls were educated only up to

graduation and then they were married

and then they had to have a child or

whatever they wanted to do

but they had to leave their parents uh

house

and here I was

since the very beginning

I knew that I had to make a name for

myself

I had to go where no one no girl child

from my family had gone

I wanted to go to the US and I wanted to

study

so after a lot of convincing and

arguments with my parents they finally

relented as they always do all parents

do

I was on my way at the age of 16 to the

Big Apple to study at fit

in the first couple of months I picked

up this job a part-time job with this

huge fashion house because I was

studying full-time

and initially in my company all I was

doing was running errands and making tea

or coffee for my seniors

I tried my best

to learn something to learn

merchandising that was my subject and I

really tried hard to make my presence

felt in front of my boss

and oh boy I finally succeeded because

he gave me this opportunity to assist

him in this humongous event that was a

huge Prestige thing for the company

I was given this opportunity so I backed

it with both my arms opportunities don't

come very often and when they come you

should just grab them and that's exactly

what I did I aced at what I was set to

do

and so much so that my boss called me in

and he offered me a full-time position

at JCPenney at the age of 17.

this was a huge milestone in my career I

was ecstatic so now I was working

full-time and I was studying part-time

little did I know that my struggles had

just begun

because all of us know what an expensive

city New York is

my parents were more than happy to

support me but I didn't want to do it I

didn't want to take their support

because I wanted to make it on my own

oh boy and that decision of mine

I lived extremely frugally

I would walk every day from work to

school came rain snow shine and it was

over 35 to 40 minutes walk

I would only eat a slice of pizza and

Coke because that was the only thing

that I could afford and it was the

cheapest 99 Cents 30 years ago

but I struggled

and I'm glad I did

you know when I went for my interview to

before I went to the US when I went to

the interview at the U.S consulate I was

asked this question

so why do you want to go to the U.S

and I was like because I wanted to work

for Calvin Klein

and voila 10 years down the line

11 years precisely 11 years and nine

months I went on to head Calvin Klein so

since then I've believed in the

manifestation of my dreams and my topic

what I'm saying self-belief

at the very early ages in life I knew

that I had to be the best version of

myself

so I went ahead I went back to England

I started pursuing my masters and

started working at Debenhams of course

I'd done a couple of jobs before I

started working at Debenhams but

Debenhams was my big break

after two years in Debenhams Debenhams

came to me

they said they were opening stores

in India and they wanted me to head it

for them

why because I knew the brand I wasn't a

fairly senior position so which benefit

than me right

and I thought well exactly I've proved

my medal in the U.S I've proved my medal

in the UK and now India should be a

piece of cake right

wrong boy was I in for a rude shock when

I came to India I had to struggle I had

to struggle not only to make my respect

to from the teams that I was given

also my fellow Associates thought I was

this Desi firang who knew nothing who

was here telling them what to do when

she did not have the experience in the

Indian scenario and when she was years

younger to them

I really really struggled and I fought

for my place

and I managed to win

I had to win because I had no other

choice

and I had to prove it to myself

along with my successes have come some

failures too

and these failures have to have taught

me how to come back as a better person

don't get me wrong I've cried days in

and days out

and with my struggles

there has only been one constant in my

life

and that is my father

they say behind every successful man

there is a woman I say behind every

successful woman there is a man in my

case my father

my struggles

carried on so much so that at a point I

had to actually enroll myself for a law

degree and I did and there I aced it to

I passed with flying colors with 11 gold

medals in my state but of course all was

not a bed of roses

I had a few setbacks in my personal life

too

but

whether it's your personal or

professional life I think one thing that

I've learned is always have empathy be

good to people on your way up be nice to

them because we are social beings we

need people in our life

I've made some mistakes that like I said

but I don't have any regrets I've lived

life on my own terms I've had naysayers

people who have completely written me

off and said ah what is she going to do

but trust me after my successes these

same people have come back to me they

want to be friends with me they want to

know me they want to host me

My Success has changed the people around

me

I'm still the same person and of course

I've become more grounded I had to be

right I had to be for the people who

stood by me through thick and thin I had

to be for the people who have been with

me all throughout I had to be for the

teens who have toiled with me with my

for my mentor SRI sudhir nanavatisa I

had to be there for all of these people

my journey from being a young fashion

designer to a brand consultant to a

Management Consultant and to a

practicing lawyer and now to an

educationalist

has been a journey full of ups and downs

highs and lows

it's been certainly been an exhilarating

ride

all right

that I would like to carry on as I have

many more Milestones to cover God

willing and many more miles to go

I've sung this journey of mine in a

short poem and here it goes

um

foreign

thank you very much see you on the other

side

[Applause]