Better an apologetic oops, rather than a lifetime of aching ‘what ifs’.
“This is a journey, not a destination,” says Ragini Varma and it’s a mantra she’s lived by ever
since she left home at 16 with nothing but ambition and an unshakable will to be financially
independent. From Delhi to Mumbai, Mysore to Bangalore, her path has been anything but
conventional. What began as a personal blog during a time when blogging in India was virtually
unheard of became a launchpad into the world of tech, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Ragini never planned to be the Chief Business Officer of a tech company. She joined because
she loved fashion and took on the role of a social media consultant. But one step led to another fueled by her relentless growth mindset and her belief that no task is too small and she
climbed every rung with grit and grace. “I’ll always figure it out,” she says, and so she does, time
and again.
Challenges? Many. From being labeled “too aggressive” to juggling the high-stakes world of
business with the vulnerable joys of motherhood, Ragini has faced them all. Even in the most
intense moments like being in labour she found strength by focusing on what she loves. “I
asked my husband to talk to me about work,” she laughs. “Strange, but it helped.”
Her confidence isn’t accidental it’s cultivated. “Imposter syndrome fades when you realise no
one has it all figured out,” she says. Her go-to remedy? A swipe of red lipstick, sneakers, and
this mantra: If anyone can do this, it’s you.
Today, she balances it all C-suite meetings, toddler hugs, workout reps, and offline
weekends. “I tell my daughter why I work she’s two, and she now calls her playschool her
‘office’,” Ragini shares proudly.
To young women unsure of where to begin, Ragini’s advice is bold: “Fear is your compass. Pull
up your own chair. Speak before anyone offers you the mic. Better an unapologetic ‘oops’ than
a lifetime of aching ‘what-ifs.’”
Success, to her, is more than titles, it’s sipping chai at home, laughter with loved ones, and
peace at the end of a purpose-driven day.
Ragini Varma is not just building a career. She’s building a life on her own terms and showing
women everywhere that they can, too.
