30 Best Business Leaders of the Year 2019 30 Best Business Leaders of the Year 2019 | Page 75

for us, difficulties were of the same
level too. We had to face challenges
which no one else had experienced
in the market but instead of
worrying about these challenges we
decided to embrace them and let
them guide us, and hence managed
to rise above it all. I consider this
my greatest fear yet my greatest
asset.
What were the biggest
initial hurdles to building
your business and how did
you overcome them?
I think the pet industry is in a very
nascent stage in India. One of the
biggest initial hurdles to building
our brand was the lack of awareness
in the market. We initially spent a
lot of time educating pet owners
and pet parents on the importance
of pet healthcare by placing a high
emphasis on the same through
our communication strategy. We
also have a series of workshops,
events and fun activities lined up
to educate pet parents about the
importance of pet healthcare across
India this year.
What’s the best thing that
happened to you recently?
Either at work or outside of
it!
Our altruistic deeds are grabbing
the attention of everyone from
different walks of life. Within a
short span of time, we have created
a positive image in the minds of
people. This is certainly inspiring
for us and we will continue to help
as many animals as possible.
What would you say was
the single most influential
factor in your business’
success?
At Wiggles, our motto is to stop
selling and start helping and
I believe this goes a long way.
Our compassionate, loving, and
benevolent approach towards
animals is something we do straight
from our hearts as we take care of
your furry buddy as our own.
What other business leaders
do you look up to, and why?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is someone I
truly look up to. She indeed defines
true leadership, especially in the
face of hardship and adversity.
If you had one piece of
advice to someone just
starting out, what would it
be?
Be fierce, be tenacious! It takes all
colours to make the rainbow. If you
want your brand to be a ‘rainbow’
you must be ready to face all the
colours of life.
What do you think is the
most memorable moment in
your career?
The convergence of my professional
and personal goals! I am an
ardent animal-lover and founding
Wiggles has been an exhilarating
experience for me. Wiggles is
exactly what was missing in the pet
healthcare market and we want
to revolutionize and re-define pet
healthcare like never before.
If not a business leader what
else you wish to be?
Well, I think being an entrepreneur
runs in my blood and that is
exactly where I’d see myself today,
tomorrow and always.
What do you hope to
accomplish in the long run?
We started Wiggles with the
objective of making every pet
healthier and happier in India. With
our range of innovative, easy-to-
use pet-care products and services,
this certainly is achievable. We also
do our bit for stray animals each
month by conducting vaccination
drives. The response has truly been
phenomenal and we aim to expand
our customer base across all
Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities in India.
SR
“We are out on a
mission to make
pets healthier and
happier across
India with the aim
to be the first and
only D2C monthly
subscription brand
in the preventive pet
healthcare space.”
Anushka Iyer: An
Aspiring Entrepreneur
Anushka Iyer is the Founder
of Wiggles.in. An ardent animal
lover, she is passionate about
making a mark in the world
of business through social
entrepreneurship. Ms. Iyer is a
multipotentialite. She is a quick and
innovative thinker who is known
to come up with totally out-of-the-
box ideations backed by superb
execution skills.
Ms. Iyer is currently pursuing
International Business
Management from the Rennes
School of Business in France. She is
a team player who has tremendous
leadership abilities. Besides
passion for business management,
her arsenal includes determination,
perseverance backed by a focused
commitment to deliver results.