It took Samanta Bahl an engineering degree, an MBA, multiple roles in finance, real estate private equity, corporate strategy and community building, and motherhood to reach a point where she’s taken the leap and has built a brand that’s not just close to her heart but the need of the hour.
At first glance, Samanta’s entrepreneurial venture, Nirvi Care, a community for moms, might seem like one of the many online spaces out there, but it’ll take you barely a minute to know what an enormous gap it fills. Dedicated to helping women rejoin the workforce after delivering a baby, Nirvi talks about everything from dealing with postpartum health to how corporates and family members can be more sensitive towards the needs of a new mum.
I sat down with her for a chat about her learnings as an entrepreneur in her ’30s, her plans for Nirvi Care and her personal growth in the last few years. Excerpts.
Ainee Nizami Ahmedi: How’s the day looking like today? What have you been doing?
Samanta Bahl: The day is looking packed! I start early as my kids go to school. I take 20 minutes for my first cup of coffee in silence and drop off my younger one. I’m back home and ready to start the day by 8:45 am. I spend the next 2-3 hours looking at content for two weeks ahead, talking to women in my target audience and deepening my understanding of what they need. My daughter’s pick-up is at 12:45, after which we eat lunch together, and I resume everything I am doing by 2 pm—right about now—with a cup of tea.
Ainee: Sounds like a well-planned day. Tell us about your career journey so far.
Samanta: I started my career in a fairly traditional way. I did Engineering, which I did not like at all, but it prepared me for life. It was literally the school of hard knocks. Following my undergrad, I wanted to work in finance. I was lucky to get a business analyst opportunity, which then led me to a stint with a real estate private equity fund. At the fund, I was the only female analyst—there were no female partners and very few women I could seek inspiration from. This was the start point in my interest in why women were shut out of certain careers.
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I then did my MBA in Singapore, and it was life-changing. I met a bunch of inspirational women and also enjoyed the academic experience. This was followed by a stint in a private equity fund in London (again characterised by low female representation) and a move back to India. Once back, I decided I wanted to work in corporate strategy as I enjoyed being involved in an organisation’s operational and functional aspects. I found a role in corporate strategy with an MNC real estate consulting firm, where I spent about four years. I learnt a lot about initiatives that could be game-changing for women at work even though I was not working in HR/ Diversity. I took a break to have my second baby, at which point I wanted to scratch the itch around better representation and opportunities for women at work. I joined Kool Kanya, a community for women between the ages of 18-30, where I put together upskilling programs and focused on B2B alliances for the organisation.
Ainee: You started Nirvi Care recently. What has that experience been like? What do you love about being an entrepreneur in your late ’30s?
Samanta: This experience is literally the biggest leap of faith I have taken. I am entirely bootstrapped, so obviously, a ton of financial planning has gone into this. I have always loved working in Multi X roles which involve tasks around multiple functions—so I think I have been an entrepreneur in training for a while! Starting up is humbling because no one owes you anything. It’s deepened my sense of gratitude as people take the time to hear me out.
I am so grateful to have got this journey only in my late ’30s. I am making more frugal financial decisions and have faith in the journey. I don’t get over-excited when a piece of content goes crazy, nor do I get upset to see fewer likes. I am also at a stage where I understand the online/offline balance and want to see how I can achieve scale in both spaces. I feel I may have missed these nuances five years ago.
Ainee: You are a mother yourself. How have your own experiences inspired Nirvi Care?
Samanta: My experiences and those that I observed in women in my family were the start point for the idea. At some point, I noticed that nobody was really asking mom (me included) how I felt and if I was okay. It became about how adorable the baby was, who they looked like and how lucky I was to have a child of a particular gender.
As an example, no one checked on how feeding was going. If the baby was crying, I was told I should feed more, and it was a failure on my part. I had my first child in winter and the site of the epidural hurt for three months. The solution I received was to wear a belt and get on with it. I continued to have health issues after the birth of my first child and, as a result, stayed on bed rest to a large degree with my second baby. I feel addressing what I had felt postpartum and taking the time to take care of my health would have definitely led to a better outcome for me. I also felt very strongly that the mental load I was dealing with led to burnout, which was partly the reason I quit corporate life to have my second child.
I think communities, family and friends forget that the mom is also new to caring for a life and that her body and mind need as much attention as the baby.
Ainee: What is going to be your focus point for Nirvi Care?
Samanta: Education, awareness and building a culture of prioritising self-care for a mom through access to the proper professional guidance. Nirvi will also focus on how to educate families on what a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional postpartum needs are outside of the 45-day traditional confinement period.
Ainee: What are the top three ways corporates and families can be more sensitive to a woman’s needs post-pregnancy?
Samanta: Just listen! A large part of the problem is a lack of empathy, giving the impression that having and caring for a baby is par for the course. Being dismissive can increase the woman’s risk of physical or mental health complications later in life.
Provide the support she needs to take time for her wellness. Step in to care for the baby (or provide a wellness leave), so she can take a day to prioritise herself. Connect her to professionals. Age-old wisdom is great, but today we do not have the time and energy to follow the pace of nuskhas, and in smaller families, it may not be possible. There is no substitute for empathetic, professional guidance.
Ainee: What’s a day in your life like? What gets you out of bed, and what keeps you motivated?
Samanta: A day in my life is very full! I like some intervals to be dedicated to my kids, so I need to prioritise and be super disciplined. I generally balance work and kid duties. I like to take 20 minutes in the morning for a cup of coffee and 10 minutes for myself at night when I pray and do some form of skincare. Weekends are a balance; I try to work when the kids are asleep or at an activity and make time for a good meal or park day. I try and walk at least 6000 steps for exercise, regardless of whether I exercise regularly.
My kids get me out of bed, as does the excitement of what I need to do for Nirvi. As we are very small at the moment, I feel like I am hitting a milestone every hour! I am most motivated by the DM’s and messages I get—women saying I needed to hear that or thank you for saying this.
Ainee: And what about the bad days–the struggles? What are some significant challenges, and how do you deal with them?
Samanta: There’s a ton of struggle! But again, one of the advantages of being an entrepreneur in the late ’30s is that nothing throws you too off centre. Like all working women with kids, I sometimes struggle to find balance and time out for myself. Everything will happen at once–flooding outside school, an important call, some other commitment. I also go into overthinking mode on some days—the content, the associations, reaching mom communities effectively! I am having a bad day when I double book my calendar.
On such days, I take time out. I stop whatever I am doing and step out. Either walk, drive around with a takeaway coffee or watch an old Bollywood film for 10 minutes. I also connect to the freelance team I work with, a girlfriend, and most often my sister, parents, or my husband and say I want to vent. It usually feels much better!
Ainee: On days when people are not in your corner, where do you find your strength to keep going?
Samanta: The top entrepreneurship lesson is having your own corner, your own back. When I shared the idea of Nirvi with a few people I am close to, the feedback I got was mixed. Sometimes a proposed association or vendor will stare at me as though I have not thought this through. This is why they say only start up what you are passionate about. You may not have the largest market, but you can make a big impact. That’s the thought that keeps me going. I also want my kids to know their mom works and has something outside of them that she gives a 100% to. Spirituality is important to me; it helps me reset!
Ainee: How does following your passion spill out in other areas of your life? Do you feel happier, more driven, and more satisfied?
Samanta: Definitely. It’s difficult for moms to retain a sense of their individuality and remember what drives them. I am horrible company when I am not taking the time to pursue my passion (and yes, I am generally passionate about what I do). Having a goal and a passion helps centre me and gives me a sense of purpose. I firmly believe that I am better in relationships and other areas of my life when I am in touch with my goals.
Ainee: What are the three things you love about yourself?
Samanta: I love that I am generally a happy person, particularly in the face of things not going to plan. I’ll cry, moan and vent, but at some point, I just decide to get on with life. I love that I am motivated by goals and am increasingly okay with achieving these sustainably (personal and professional) and consistently. I love that I am learning to conserve my energy–particularly with relationships. I decide what deserves 100% and give it that.
Ainee: If someone came to you for advice on feeling lost in their career post-pregnancy and struggling to put themselves first, what would you tell them?
Samanta: I would tell them to start small. With a career, go back to something you are comfortable with. An ex-employer, an old skill set and start there. When you take something up, be present—give it a dedicated time of day and discipline. Consistency gives better results than motivation.
Do the same with self-care. Take 15 minutes a day to cook something you like, have your cup of chai or coffee in peace, speak to a friend or crank up the music. Self-care does not need to be time-consuming or expensive. If you are not disciplined and consistent with self-care, it will not happen.
If you have a professional goal that you would like to achieve, give it one more quarter than you would have pre-baby. Break it down into achievable nuggets.
And finally, communicate. Tell your family, bosses, ex-employers, girlfriends and network what you need. It will not make you less competent!
Ainee: What does the year ahead look like for you. What are your professional and personal plans?
Samanta: The year will start full steam once my older kid is back at school! Professionally, I am aiming to take Nirvi to mom communities, online and offline. I imagine a space where no one feels like a lesser mom when sharing your struggles, where families and employers start empathising with the mom herself. I hope I can trigger a conversation in the right spaces, in earnest. I focus on taking the conversation through various online and offline events and meetups to 5000 moms and help at least 50% of those women get the physical or mental health guidance they need.
Personally, I would like to start a yoga practice regularly and learn Chess so I can play with my son! I also plan to continue mentoring young women on navigating their careers and higher studies.
All images used with prior permission
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