Welcome to our section on Real Women—where we bring you stories of and conversations with real women who inspire us, who have changed lives and given back to the community. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce Shefali Vijaywargiya—Brand Manager of Asia’s largest dairy beverage brand Amul Kool & listed in Forbes India 30 Under 30 (2021) and this week’s #FSChangemakers. Watch the fun session on Shefali making it in sales as a young woman, helping launch a tricky product for Asia’s largest dairy beverage brand, facing challenges head on & “connecting dots looking backward”.
Adarsh: Hello Shefali! Congratulations on your Forbes India feature. I’m sure our audience would love to hear about you & what you’re currently doing.
Shefali: I’ve been working as a Brand Manager with Amul Kool for the past 5 years. On a personal front, I’m just a simple girl from a business class family in Jaipur, where education was of utmost importance. I completed engineering after which I joined IRMA, Anand and then Amul Kool.
Adarsh: So, how does the recognition feel? Is it overwhelming or is it a “yes, I deserve it” feeling?
Shefali: The Forbes India recognition means a lot. I’m definitely overwhelmed & really happy to make it to the list. But I also understand that it comes with a lot of responsibilities. Everyone around me now expects me to continue to do better & make them proud.
Adarsh: Speaking of which, please tell our viewers about the incredible story of the launch of the diced cheese, which led to the feature.
Shefali: Well, honestly speaking, only the Forbes India jury can tell why I was featured! Coming to the story, as a fresher & young woman, sales was a tough role, especially in Gujarat where people have high business acumen. But coming from a business family, I often observed my father dealing, negotiating & building rapport with his clients. This real-life experience, along with my studies, has really stayed with me. I ensured that I knew everything about Amul & then met the right people to build rapport with. I never approached them with the sole intention of getting short-term business, but for building long-lasting business relationships. This helped me gain their trust. There was no strategy per se but I took the right approach with sincerity & commitment and dealt with challenges head on.
All images used are the sole property of Shefali Vijaywargia and cannot be used without prior permission
