From Model to Mogul: Pritika Swarup on Building a Beauty Brand, Facing “No’s,” & Redefining Wellness

Have you ever wondered how a young founder turns rejection into resilience—and transforms centuries-old traditions into a modern beauty movement? In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Pritika Swarup—international model, Ivy League graduate, global ambassador for Operation Smile, and founder/CEO of the award-winning beauty brand Prakti—for a candid conversation about identity, perseverance, and purpose. Pritika opens up about growing up between cultures, being scouted at Disney World at 17, balancing a modeling career with Columbia University, and why she launched a company inspired by her mother’s Ayurvedic teachings. She shares the reality of rejection as a young female founder, the lessons learned working with L’Oréal and Estée Lauder experts, and how to turn a “no” into fuel for finding the “yes.” If you’ve ever doubted yourself, faced rejection, or wondered how to align culture, wellness, and business, this conversation will inspire you to embrace your voice, trust your gut, and be fearless in your pursuits. In this interview, you’ll learn: Why rejection is never final—and how to reframe “no” as a stepping stone to “yes” How Ayurvedic traditions and holistic wellness shaped Prakti’s mission The balancing act of modeling, Ivy League studies, and starting a company in your 20s The pivotal role of mentors, family, and support systems in entrepreneurship How Operation Smile changes lives with a $240 surgery—and why it’s central to Pritika’s purpose Daily rituals to stay grounded, confident, and present as a founder 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this episode, we discuss: 0:00 Intro 1:47 Growing up in Virginia & navigating identity 2:42 Early influence of Ayurvedic practices from her mom 4:13 The Dosha Quiz: personalizing beauty & wellness 5:41 Being scouted at Disney World at 17 & moving to New York 8:08 Balancing modeling, Columbia University, and Operation Smile 11:17 The Path to Founding Prakti Beauty 16:45   Integrating Western and Eastern Medicine 18:57 Lessons from mentors at L’Oréal & Estée Lauder 21:22 Dealing with Rejection and Finding Success 23:07 Support Systems and Self Belief 24:19 Overcoming Rejection and Perserverance 27:01 Empowerment through Holistic Beauty 28:01 Operation Smile’s mission & $240 life-changing surgeries 34:14 Navigating Business Challenges 36:28 Staying Grounded: Journaling, Meditation, and Taking Action 45:17 Trusting Your Gut and Final Thoughts Episode Resources: https://praktibeauty.com/ https://www.operationsmile.org/ https://www.instagram.com/pritikaswarup/ https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation/ https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality. This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement – a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices