Welcome to our section where we bring you stories and conversations with inspirational women. These women have changed lives and given back to the community in their own way. Today, Dipti Tandon, Co-Founder CoffeeMug.ai shares her story.
The person who set up phenomenal online companies like Jeevansathi and Magicbricks is now working on another startup, Coffeemug.ai. All three have a common thread — bringing the right people together, whether it’s about finding a life partner or a dream home. And now she is directing all her energy on another matchmaking venture, that uses AI to create and democratise the possibilities of networking. 3 decades and 3 startups later, she’s still working with an ambitious drive to make a difference in people’s lives.
In this insightful conversation, Dipti talks to us about what keeps her going after three decades of startups, building a career in the online world, the evolving world of matchmaking. She shares how her father and early managers have influenced her approach towards her career and a lot more.
Timeline Of The Video
0:00 – Introduction
1:01 – Level of professional satisfaction
2:19 – Building career in the online world
“…If he can do it, why can’t I? This looks interesting. I know nothing about it but knowing nothing was never a barrier. Call it hungry, foolish, young, whatever, I believed one could learn, and you could just set it up. That’s how Jeevansathi journey began. I could see a successful job journey; I could see really sad attempts at getting the print matrimonial ads online and saw some rocking dating sites in the US.”
5:05 – Shifting from Jeevansathi to Magicbricks
9:19 – Evolving world of matchmaking
12:24 – Inspiration behind CoffeeMug.ai
18:14 – Lessons she carried from one business to another
22:18 – Influences that shaped her career approach
“…As a risk-taker, my father has been my biggest influencer. He was responsible for many non-traditional choices I made from my very early days. I was brought up in an environment where I was taught to be fearless and be equal, it doesn’t matter if you fail. Failure is fine. You can always come back and start all over again.”
26:46 – How has your experience been as a woman?
30:10 – Rapid fire
30:37 – A significant moment in her life
“…It was 15 late nights of preparing a presentation of why after a takeover the company should be doing what it was doing before. I found it wasteful that I still have to ideate for it, and secondly, I realized I was possibly the tiniest cog in the wheel. Thought simply was if you have to slog, do it for yourself where you don’t justify your presence. Also, you cannot be a cog, you’ve got to be a fulcrum.”
31:45 – Three online startups she admires
35:40 – Three Indian women she looks up to
36:50 – Five wardrobe staples
37:26 – A message to the audience
Listen to the podcast.
All images used are the sole property of Dipti Tandon and cannot be used without prior permission.
