The Digital Dream
MALINI AGARWAL AND NOWSHAD RIZWANULLAH, FOUNDERS, MISSMALINI, LIFESTYLE BLOG
While blogger Malini Agarwal, founder and creative director at MissMalini Entertainment, has reached near celebrity status on the digital front, the social media jedi credits her husband and CEO of the company, Nowshad Rizwanullah for her monumental rise. “He takes pride and joy in my success and doesn’t resent that as the face of the brand I take away most of the limelight,” says Agarwal, adding, “This is pure team effort. It takes a strong, open-minded man to think like that.” The couple met in Mumbai in 2007 when Rizwanullah worked at Mahindra & Mahindra as a business development and export strategist and Agarwal was a popular RJ on Radio One. In 2008, he completed his MBA at Harvard Business School, while Malini pursued her blog as a hobby.
She shares, “After a two-year long distance relationship we decided to get married and Nowshad moved back to Mumbai to support our digital dreams.” In 2011, they secured angel funding and he jumped in full-time.
The two insist that couples can work together only if both of them love what they do, since it can turn into a 24/7 job. Being an introvert works in Rizwanullah’s favour, “When your partner easily outshines you, it’s a nobrainer to ride her coat tails to success. Malini’s super human ability to connect with people is what gave me the courage to risk everything and jump into this venture with her,” he adds. Their mutual respect encourages them to put in equal effort in the relationship, both at home and at work.
Make it work
“Try to find a common fun activity outside work such as cooking, travelling, yoga or even watching Netflix.” The couple advises never to take work arguments home; leave the heated discussions at office even if you have to force yourself to calm down.