Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.

In this week’s session, we have Foxtale founder Romita Mazumdar.

Back in the lockdown year - 2020, MazumdaRomita Mazumdarr recognized her passion for consumer internet and building businesses which led her to venture out on her entrepreneurial journey with the founding of Foxtale, a women-centric D2C skincare brand.

A UCLA graduate and a former Investment Banker at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, San Francisco; later a VC investor for growth-stage investments at A91 Partners; Mazumdar comes with vast market insight and business acumen. In 2019, she moved to her roots to expand BofAML’s technology practice in India. She has worked with companies like Rebel and Zoomcar, during which she expanded her understanding of the Indian consumer tech space which also helped her build a good network. Recently, Mazumdar has been recognized for her fantastic entrepreneurial work by Forbes India 30 under 30 as well as Forbes Asia 30 under 30 in 2023.

Working at A91 Partners allowed Mazumdar to test her sense of business development and inculcate the growth mindset of an entrepreneur. Her work involved understanding the skincare market. During this time she observed that repeat rates are really low irrespective of the size of the company. Mazumdar had recognized this pain point facing the Indian skincare market that pushed her to launch her own D2C Skincare brand focusing especially targeted towards the Indian skin type.

So, without further ado, here it goes…

.    Your mantra for Life

Happiness is a choice!

.    A book you are currently reading?

How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp

.    Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic?

For me fitness has always meant physical, mental and emotional. The most important thing during pandemic was to compartmentalize for me. I ensured that my work place, unwinding place and the place to sleep were completely different rooms. In addition, I followed a routine which included an hour to hour and a half of workout and I stuck to the times allotted. While a routine over the weekday was holy grail, I also ensured I am enjoying my weekend either through outside food, a lot of binge watching and quality time with family. While our world had restricted us to the boundaries of home, ensuring that my mind continues to follow a routine and be rewarded for the same became critical to a holistic fitness journey during the pandemic.

.    Your comfort food?

Cauliflower and chicken curry

.    When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going?

The superpower is more vested in our good than we ourselves. We have a limited view of life, so if we don’t get what we want, its because there is something better in store for us. All we should do is work hard towards it – no matter how many times it may seem it is not working out.

.    Your guilty pleasure?

Rasgulla

.    When was the last time you tried something new?

Yesterday

.    A Life lesson you learnt the hard way?

Everything personal is professional and everything professional is personal

.    What gets you excited about life?

Growing – becoming a better version of whatever hat I am dawning

.    What's on top of your bucket list?

Getting 80 per cent of my users to repurchase my product after first use; spending substantial time deep sea diving!

.    If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Confidence should be driven by how you see yourself, not how the world sees you

.    One thing you would most like to change about the world?

Increase access to quality education

.    An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times?

Yoga

.    What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

Knowing I have given my 100 per cent and that there is something better ahead! I just need to have faith and continue putting in that 100 per cent

.    Your go-to stress buster?

My two pets – Poppy and Bozo