1. Something about you and your childhood.
My name is Manny Shah, and I am the CEO and Co-Founder of a successful digital marketing company – Rank My Business, that serves clients across four countries – Australia, US, UAE, and India. My husband, Kunal Shah, and I started this company eight years ago. We were both passionate about digital marketing and wanted to chase our dreams in this field to the fullest. I am happy to share that we have been able to expand and grow our business manifold in these years. However, our success wasn’t achieved overnight. It took years of hard work, persistence, and effort, and we have started to reap the rewards of all that we put in.
I believe that my upbringing played a vital role in shaping my personality and passion for entrepreneurship. I had a great childhood growing up in Mumbai, India. From a very young age, I saw my parents work hard to create the life they wanted. Their success fuelled my desire to make something of myself, to work tirelessly to achieve my dreams, and build a successful business. They were ahead of their time, and not only instilled in me a desire to learn new skills but also inspired me to become a confident person. This, combined with the great support system I had after marriage, paved the way for my entrepreneurial journey.
2. Describe your journey until now.
After completing my bachelor’s in computer engineering in 2006, I shifted base to Australia in 2008 with my husband. We started our digital marketing company with a few thousand dollars in initial startup capital and no prior experience in running a business.
We put in countless hours of hard work and sleepless nights to grow our business steadily over the years. We provided high-quality digital marketing services to our clients, and our dedication paid off. Today, we’ve grown our business multifold and have become self-made multi-millionaires in Australia.
One of the things that helped me achieve success is my willingness to take risks and embrace change. Starting a business is never easy, and it requires a lot of hard work, determination, and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing market. But, taking risks has paid off for me, and my company has grown beyond my wildest dreams.
I believe that success is not defined by how much money you make but by the obstacles you overcome to get there. I have faced many challenges throughout my entrepreneurial journey, but each obstacle has taught me valuable lessons along the way. Implementing these learnings has helped me grow my business further.
I am proud of what Kunal and I have achieved through our digital marketing company. Our passion for this field has taken us on a remarkable entrepreneurial journey. And we look forward to seeing what the future holds for us and our business.
3. Can you describe what influenced you to pursue a career as a digital marketer?
I have always been ambitious and driven, which led me to entrepreneurship where I could carve out my niche and make a name for myself. My decision to become a businesswoman was influenced by several factors:
Independence: I wanted to work for myself, charting my destiny and calling the shots. I embrace the belief that an entrepreneur is the master of their own fate.
Flexibility: Entrepreneurship offers the advantage of schedule flexibility, allowing me to balance work and family commitments effectively.
Building my own brand: Creating a business around my traits, knowledge, and aptitude has been fulfilling. I love using my creativity and resourcefulness to build something valuable.
Generating employment: With high unemployment rates, I feel responsible for creating job opportunities. Starting my own business has allowed me to employ people from diverse backgrounds.
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman?
Here are my thoughts.
Advantages:
Diversity: Having women on a leadership team provides diversity of opinion, experience, and perspective – that inspires a more holistic and creative approach for any business.
Better Relationships: Women are known to be more empathetic and patient, which is a good quality for building and maintaining relationships with clients, employees, and partners.
Increased Collaboration: Women are naturally collaborative and good at working in teams, which can enhance the company’s culture and lead to better teamwork and higher productivity.
Disadvantages:
Gender Bias and Discrimination: Women business owners often face gender discrimination due to unfair stereotypes about women’s leadership abilities – limiting their access to funding, networking, and mentorship.
Work-Life Balance: Balancing work, family, and other responsibilities can be challenging, especially if there is not enough support for working mothers.
Cultural Barriers: In some cultures, there is still a bias against women in leadership roles which may affect the growth and success of women-owned businesses.
Limited Access to Resources: Women-owned businesses might find it challenging to access credit, venture capital, and other business resources compared to their male counterparts.
While there are some unique challenges that women face in business, there are also several advantages that women bring to the table. It is important to recognize the obstacles that women business owners face and work towards creating a level playing field for all.
5. If not a digital marketing entrepreneur, what would you be?
Either a Nutritionist or a Lawyer.
6. Your hobbies?
One of my favorite hobbies is reading books. Reading is my escape from all the pressures of work and daily life. I love getting lost in a good book, whether it is a classic novel or a modern-day thriller.
Another hobby that brings me immense joy is traveling. I am an avid traveler, and I am always looking for new places to explore. Traveling allows me to immerse myself in different cultures, experience good cuisines (my most fav), and see the world with a different perspective.
Reading and traveling are not just hobbies but have become a way of life for me.
7. Your future plans?
As the CEO and Co-Founder of a successful digital marketing company, my focus is always on growth and innovation.
Our company has already expanded our presence in UAE and India, and in the future, we aim to grow the company in other regions as well. We plan to invest in new technologies, hire skilled professionals, and offer more diverse services to our clients.
In the years to come, I plan to continue expanding our business and giving back to the community through our latest initiative – our industry-ready digital marketing training institute called Edrupt, which empowers aspiring digital marketing aspirants to kickstart their careers in this field.
Our goal is to become a recognizable brand name and generate more employment opportunities in different countries.
In addition to expanding our business, we also want to make a positive impact on society and use our expertise to help those who want to break into the digital marketing industry.
Website: https://rankmybusiness.in/
