Her journey began as a corporate professional, transitioned into the academic sector, and ultimately led her to become an accidental entrepreneur, turning unexpected challenges into remarkable succes
about anooja
the versatile professional
Her Story
The Journey of a INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONAL
The Start of Her
Professional Journey
Anooja Bashir embarked on her professional journey as a Civil Engineer, dedicating over a decade to the corporate sector in Dubai. Fueled by an unwavering passion for growth and learning, she later returned to India to pursue her M.Tech from CUSAT, further enhancing her expertise and expanding her horizons.
Journey into Academia
Soon after, she embarked on a career in academia as an Assistant Professor. Immersing herself deeply in the education system, beyond the traditional role of a teacher, she identified significant gaps in the development and evolution of educational practices. Recognizing that engineering students were not adequately equipped to face real-world corporate challenges, she felt a strong drive to initiate change. This realization became a defining moment in her professional journey, inspiring her to establish a finishing curriculum LIKES, a platform dedicated to bridging this gap and empowering students with the essential skills needed for career success.
Dreams aren't easier
Although the idea held great potential, it never reached the implementation stage. This setback ultimately led to the failure of her entrepreneurial journey, pushing her back into the corporate world. The challenges intensified with significant financial losses, requiring her to rebuild her career from the ground up once again.
And she took the leap of faith
Driven by her unwavering passion for creating impactful business solutions, Ms. Anooja collaborated with industry experts to transform Ourea into a MarTech powerhouse, a comprehensive solution for corporate needs. However, in 2018, operating remotely posed unforeseen challenges, resulting in the unfortunate failure of her second startup. Despite this setback, her determination remained steadfast.
The Emergence
Like a modern-day Phoenix, she rose from setbacks, assembling a stronger team with robust IT support. In 2018, she established a solid foundation for Ourea as a prominent 360º Business Management Firm. However, the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 brought yet another major challenge. This time, she turned adversity into opportunity, mastering the art of resilience and innovation. Armed with certifications in Strategic Marketing from Wharton and Brand Strategy from IIM Bangalore, she reinvented herself as a Brandpreneur, transforming Ourea into a powerful brand-building firm poised for growth and success.
The New Horizons
In 2020, Anooja and Vinod co-founded FlexiCloud, combining their expertise to create a powerful managed cloud hosting platform. With Vinod’s background as a tech consultant and Anooja’s strategic vision, they developed a solution designed to provide SMEs, MSMEs, and enterprises with a seamless and efficient cloud hosting experience.
Finding Balance
Anooja’s impact extends beyond her entrepreneurial journey; she is also the visionary behind Anooja Initiatives, a platform dedicated to social change. Through this initiative, she has led numerous impactful campaigns, including providing meals for 100 people, organizing medical camps for underserved communities, and actively contributing to the welfare of those in need. Her commitment to creating a positive social impact reflects her belief in blending purpose with entrepreneurship. She also founded NEED Global Foundation, a DEI platform to help women, LGBTQ, and differently abled people.
A Visionary Leader Shaping Startups and Inspiring Change
Leveraging her entrepreneurial expertise and brand-building skills, Anooja and Vinod joined Binu Mathew in co-founding PokketCFO. As a dedicated startup mentor, she guides over 45+ incubators across India and actively invests in promising ventures as an Angel Investor. A seasoned speaker, Anooja has graced both national and international platforms, including being a 5-time TEDx speaker, Josh Talks speaker, and a contributor at Toastmasters. Her inspiring journey has been featured in major media outlets such as The Economic Times, ZEE Business, BW Business World, Times Now, and Asianet. Additionally, her appearance on the 1% Club podcast with Finance with Sherin gained widespread recognition, further enhancing her influence as a powerful brand figure.
And Today,
There She Is…
Featured on New York
Times Square
Ms. Anooja Bashir stands as a distinguished entrepreneur whose remarkable journey has earned her a coveted feature on New York Times Square Billboard, a testament to her exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and impactful contributions to the business ecosystem.
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