Rashi Agarwal on what being a mentor means

The Zypp Electric co-founder says she likes to be up to date with job trends I wake up early and start my day with exercise, then check business updates

focus on specific activities.

Men’s lifestyle brand XYXX, on the other hand, have an open office plan, with cabins and meeting rooms available for focused work, and a large sunlit terrace doubling up as a quiet zone. “Our flexi-work hours and work-fromhome policy enables people to break away and efficiently deliver on priority outcomes,” says Petal Gangurde, chief of brand and culture. The company also encourages 1- to 3-day team lockaways, which could be them working from a conference room treating it like a control room, a co-working space, or even a coffee shop or a restaurant. That time spent is focused on the task or the project at hand. It can take the form of an intensive brainstorm session or a workshop where the solution is collectively derived.

Gangurde has also been a follower of monk mode, using it for most of her 15-year professional career. “I use it as a tool for total life organization, especially after I became a mom. It is amazing to ruthlessly prioritize, block time for specific tasks and commit to eliminating distractions.” As a morning person, Gangurde gets a lot of writing done before she gets to the office. “The rest of the day is blocked off a day prior into one-hour blocks for focused brainstorming sessions on key areas that require problem solving. In my experience, teams that huddle and focus on one project at a time are as effective as a Swiss army knife,” she says. The last two hours of her day are for “firefighting”. Before this, she declines anyone who asks if she has 5-minutes because “that’s like a rabbit hole.” She believes monk mode has provided her with enhanced clarity, independence, and quality of life.

Workforce management platform Talent500 has provisions to create a productive work environment, including daily time blocks when everyone is encouraged to disconnect from digital communication and focus on critical tasks, no-Friday meetings, and encouraging employees to identify a problem area each quarter and convert it into a passion project. “By prioritizing monk mode, we are creating an environment that benefits not only employee productivity but also their well-being and job satisfaction,” says Saurabh Kale, head of people and culture.

Beyond organizational support, it boils down to individual resolve. “It isn’t easy to train the mind to concentrate on a single task, especially if you have been multitasking for ages, and social media, socialising or entertainment have become a necessary way of life,” says Radhika Vivek, senior partner at executive search firm Transearch India. “Working in monk mode needs to be for shorter time durations with exclusive attention to a subject or an activity concentrated in hours, and extending in bursts of time to a week or a few months.” This itself, she believes, if practised earnestly, can significantly improve mental clarity and productivity and reduce stress levels.

For those who practise it, there have been benefits that extend beyond productivity and the task at hand. “I value my time outside of work and make it a point to enjoy it. The work rituals have also helped me build and sustain self-care rituals and carve out time with family or friends,” says Balaji. For Arora, the focus and mindfulness has helped her to connect more meaningfully with work, and form deeper connections with those around her as one learns to focus undivided attention on conversations and personal connections. As with any practice, there will be challenges and she recommends being kind to yourself. “One can never be perfect. Some days you may be low or unmotivated. Give yourself a break and come back to it again.”

While travelling in Europe, Rashi Agarwal noticed the docked bicycle business model prevalent there, and calls it her eureka moment. She soon hit the drawing board with husband, Akash Gupta. After researching, and raising funds, they started a bicycle rental service in NCR in November 2017. However, Agarwal, 38, realised that their offering wasn’t feasible for Indian weather. They soon transitioned to electric vehicles (EVs) and laid the foundation for Zypp Electric that today works with e-commerce platforms on last mile delivery.

“EVs made a lot of sense for our business goals, allowing us to stay true to our sustainability objectives while addressing the mobility challenges in the Indian market,” says Gurugram-based Agarwal, co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Zypp Electric. They had launched a bike taxi service in November 2019, but had to rethink it after the pandemic in March 2020. It was then that they struck gold by redirecting their platform towards deliveries. “We identified opportunities to collaborate with e-commerce brands for their delivery needs. So, while our B2C operations took a significant hit, our B2B delivery services flourished. We started with 200 bikes, which expanded tenfold during the lockdown period,” she says.

Agarwal talks to Mint about mentorship and the importance of staying healthy.

Who do you consider your mentor?

I am fortunate to have the guidance and feedback of industry leaders who help me stay on the right track while building the business. My father and Akash are my key mentors.

What does being a mentor mean to you?

A mentor’s role is invaluable in guiding us along the right path. I have many colleagues working alongside me, building big things and achieving their goals. I make it a priority to be available to them, offer guidance whenever they encounter challenges.

What’s your morning schedule like?

I wake up around 4-5 am and start my day with exercise. Then I check key business updates, keeping myself informed about the latest trends and developments in the industry. Once our daughter, Aashra, is off to school, I prepare myself for the office.

What’s the one positive work routine you have developed during the pandemic?

Exercise and striking the right balance between work hustle and health were key aspects I explored.

Any book or podcast you would recommend about mentorship and growth?

One resource I highly recommend is Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. It offers invaluable insights into navigating challenges and maximizing opportunities. For those seeking practical advice, How I Built This podcast by Guy Raz is a must-listen.

Monday Motivation is a series in which business leaders and creative individuals discuss their mentors and their work ethic.