Q&A WITH SMEETHA GHOSH-JORGENSEN
QWhat AOneare the biggest lessons you have learnt so far since launching the venture?
of the lessons I am still learning is that when your skin is in the game, it is completely different to what you are used to in your corporate life. The sense of ownership is just tremendous in many ways. This is my baby and the decisions I make are responsible for driving the business forward. That realisation alone is exhilarating and daunting at the same time.
The second lesson that I have learnt is that you simply cannot know everything before you start a business. You just have to dive in at the deep end and learn how to swim along the way and be ready to adapt to changes.
What are some of the things that you wish you could have done differently?
Until now, nothing with regards to Periscope. I wish I had started my own business a bit earlier in my life, though.
What new skills have you learnt since starting the business?
I am learning new things every day and I will continue to do so. For now, a lot of it is focused around product development, customer acquisition and retention strategies, as well as building a new team from the ground up.
Which other start-up do you wish you could have started?
So many. There are some great examples of global and Middle Eastern companies that have been founded by women. A couple that come to mind are ClassPass and Mumzworld.
Your advice for entrepreneurs struggling to launch their own venture?
I am an optimist by nature, so I would say whatever challenges one is facing, there is always a way out. As entrepreneurs, we just have to be resilient. The biggest thing for me is really listen to and understand the customer and audience. With so many marketing technology tools at our disposal these days, it has become much easier. The more personalised experience your brand can provide, the more likely the customer is going to stick by your side.
Has Covid-19 affected your business in any way?
Covid-19 has hastened the digital evolution in the Mena region. Screen times have more than doubled and online learning and internet safety for children are at the forefront of parents’ minds. Covid-19 has accelerated the growth of a lot of companies in this space. If anything, we have to launch our app sooner than later as we have so much to offer.