S1/Ep9 Bhawana Chitkara On Leaving Corporate, Growing Slowly, & Navigating Empathy As A Woman-Led Business Owner

Our life journeys can sometimes lead us down paths we never expected, especially when it comes to our careers. After spending 20 years in the corporate banking industry, Bhawana never imagined that her next venture would be entrepreneurship. But (as they say) — if something is meant for you, it won’t pass you by. Eight years later, Bhawana’s beautiful lifestyle boutique in Massachusetts lives (and thrives!) on. Bhawana joins Ewelina on the show to share her inspiring career journey, what led her to starting a brick-and-mortar boutique on Cape Cod, what it means to lead a business with empathy and emotion, the unexpected joys of building a loyal community and so much more.Episode Details 0:00 Introduction13:42 Who is Bhawana and FabVilla15:42 The influence that Bhawana’s Indian culture and heritage plays in her life and her business 17:49 How Bhawana integrates the notion of home into her business and store 21:53 How Bhawana got the idea to start her business, walk away from the corporate world of banking, and open up her own retail store on the Cape 31:08 How Bhawana embraced the momentum in starting her store and leveraged it for growth33:52 What surprised Bhawana in running her retail business 38:37 Leading a woman-led business — how to navigate empathy and take emotions out of business44:36 How Bhawana navigated the fear of growth in her business when relocating her store to a bigger location47:36 How Bhawana’s brick and mortar store not only survived, but thrived during the pandemic and how she received support from her customers55:21 What helps Bhawana makes difficult decisions for her business, especially in those moments when she knows she’s going to be faced with personal challenges57:48 Why organic growth over instant growth is important and how to apply your energy in the right places in business1:00:10 Why passion and drive are critical components to being an entrepreneur1:03:10 What purpose means to Bhawana 1:05:25 The words of wisdom Bhawana would share with anyone navigating fears around starting a personal venture1:08:01 What home means to Bhawana1:09:23 How to connect with BhawanaConnect with BhawanaWebsite: fabvilla.netInstagram: @fabvillamashpeeCheck out the full video podcast edition each Tuesday on YouTube, 9am EST and subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! Your support means everything and we deeply appreciate it❣️ Connect with studio domkaWebsite⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠Book A 30-Minute Open House Call⁠⁠Download Our Free Home Pillars Workbook⁠