The world will always need a leader who will create paths for others to shine and succeed in life. There will always be the search for the visionary who will give back to society in a mindset to inspire for generations to come. Taking knowledge from everywhere and sharing back for the good is what humanity is all about. In the sphere of entrepreneurship, making a legacy for oneself comes from the drive to build something for others. Time teaches us key pointers on life but at the cost of roadblocks, failures and delayed gratification. Thinking of a product that will help women entrepreneurs amidst the monstrosity of life, is a matter of extreme appreciation.
That is why Business Outreach Magazine moved forward to collaborate with Pankaj Sen, founder of Familywala.
Pankaj Sen has over 25 years of industry experience under his belt. He has worked in sectors like FMCG, Telecom, Fintech, Digital Payments, Marketing, Sales, and Digital Marketing. As an industry leader, Pankaj Sen has worked with several brands, helping them with strategic business growth as well as serving as a distribution partner. It was around 2022 in Diwali, Pankaj Sen laid the foundation of Familywala eShop Private Limited. Interestingly, it was his children, Ayushi and Aditya, who inspired Pankaj to build Familywala. During the festive season, Pankaj’s children came across an elderly woman selling diyas and decorative pieces. The products were filled in a bamboo basket which was being carried on the head by this elderly woman. Age did not restrict this individual as this woman was focused on selling her products and making some money out of it. Picking up from this simple, yet strong business model of a good product equates to a loyal customer, Familywala was formed to empower a digital marketplace.
The ecosystem of Familywala is highly cognizant of integrating digital business literacy among women entrepreneurs, especially from underrepresented strata of society. Such an approach by Pankaj Sen screams volumes of innovation, community building and social responsibility. Pankaj wants these women entrepreneurs to have a fair chance of tapping the limitless online marketplace and showcase their products. The motive has been simple and that is to evolve the life of these women and give them an opportunity to grow in their business. More than a leader, we think of Pankaj Sen as a guide, who is open to collaboration and instilling purpose in the team of Familywala. Pankaj shares that there is nothing more rewarding than seeing happiness in the eyes of these daily hustlers of life.
When it comes to education, Pankaj Sen completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Electronics, which gave him a solid foundation in technical and analytical skills. Furthermore, he pursued an MBA with a dual major in Marketing and Human Resources Development (HRD) in 2000-2002. Pankaj has been appreciative of his educational journey which has provided him the skills and confidence to excel in a diverse set of industries throughout his distinguished career. With Familywala, Pankaj is revolutionizing marketing strategies to help the vendors be more visible to the customers. In any business, learning and upskilling is pivotal and this is whole-heartedly taken into account under the strategic growth of Familywala.
The company is currently focusing on growth and scalability with an estimated Rs. 50 lakh investment which will be crucial for enhancing the platform, on-boarding vendors and concentrating on market expansion. Familwala provides a wide range of products made by women entrepreneurs, including handmade crafts, clothing, accessories, and more. They aim to highlight the unique talents and creativity of these women, providing them with a digital storefront. Familwala’s current turnover stands at ₹100,000, shedding light on initial success. Some of the distinguished awards won by Familywala are Indian Glory Award and the Ek Naari recognition for their commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs.
Pankaj Sen received the Inspiring Leaders award from Anupam Mittal at an event organized by Times Applauds in Mumbai on August 25, 2024. The company collaborated with India Post for logistics and Worldline for digital payments, further indicating business scalability. Inspite of challenges like competition from big players and building trust from women entrepreneurs and vendors, Familywala seems to tick all boxes of an effective and efficient company. When we asked Pankaj Sen on his take on success he said, “Empowerment is the key to transformation. When we lift each other up, we create a future where everyone succeeds.”
