“Why do we fall, Bruce? It’s so that we can learn to get up again.”
An insightful statement from the hugely popular “Batman Begins”, that Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl seemed to understand very early on.
There’s an irrefutable satisfaction in hearing stories of perseverance that end in success. A universally felt empathy that develops when you read about an individual’s hardship and a shared sense of achievement when they reach their goal. I felt a similar connect when I heard Kunal Bahl, Co-Founder and CEO of Snapdeal.com speak about his journey at an event organised by INK.
Kunal’s story is a relatable one, a boy who worked hard to get into the IITs but couldn’t make the final cut. Then, getting admitted to one of the best business schools in the world, he worked hard at Wharton Business School and got a job with Microsoft, but couldn’t pursue it due to a visa problem. Returning to India, he was faced with a choice – find a job or create one?
The answer to this question is different for each individual of course but when you hear Kunal say with a sparkle in his eyes, “Ever since I was small, I had this ‘keeda’, that I want to do something…,” you know what route he chose.
Through the interview, I learnt how strong a role intrinsic belief and passion play in charting your own path. How each stumble helps you know the road better, and how a coupon book business, started by two 23-year-old best friends, can become a $6.5 billion-dollar valued company. Valuations are for VCs, but what is truly heartwarming is to see the impact Snapdeal has had on small businesses and vendors; exposing many to a volume of customers that was previously unimaginable.
Told with simplicity and sincerity, [envoke_twitter_link]Kunal Bahl’s story is that dash of positivity you need on a cold winter day![/envoke_twitter_link]
This post is a part of a tech and entrepreneurship series by Youth Ki Awaaz, in collaboration with INK. This series aims to highlight unheard stories of individuals who had the courage to follow their dreams, and their journeys of success and failure. Watch more videos from INK here, and if you want to share the story of an inspiring entrepreneur, submit here.
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