I aim to be a prominent social researcher, entrepreneur, and change maker in the long term. Navigating the overlap between purpose and profit, I want to start and scale my own social enterprise business. I want to excel in finding solutions that can impact people’s lives and be a catalyst for positive change.
Heet Ghodasara
Profile
Heet Ghodasara
10/19/2020
Introduce yourself:
Hi, I am Heet Ghodasara from Gujarat, India. As a 22 year, old, I recently graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I am a social entrepreneurship researcher & scholar. I have worked with several social incubators, think tanks, and nonprofits while working for my family business in the sectors of agro-commodities, real estate, and FMCG.
How do you define success?
Success for me is having a growth mindset and being able to reassess your vision of success when you fail. It is important to get exposed to people, ideas, cultures, and realities that you are not exposed to yet. Success is getting out of your comfort zone and being committed to your passion. To be successful, you need people to invest and believe in you.
What are your goals/dreams, and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I aim to be a prominent social researcher, entrepreneur, and change maker in the long term. Navigating the overlap between purpose and profit, I want to start and scale my own social enterprise business. I want to excel in finding solutions that can impact people’s lives and be a catalyst for positive change.
What motivates you?
I should have a tremendous thirst for life while realizing that this moment exists only now and won’t come again. Stories of people motivate me and teach me to appreciate the beauty of imperfection as an opportunity for growth.
What is something that you do (a habit or daily practice) that you believe helps you achieve your goals or be productive?
I continue to network aggressively and make use of every opportunity that comes my way. I ensure that if I do something, I do it well. I never settle and get too comfortable. I keep pushing myself and set targets to achieve my goals. It is always crucial for me to express my gratitude.
Who is your inspiration, and why?
Social entrepreneurship is where the heart of Gandhi meets the mind of Henry Ford. Therefore they both inspire me to see the importance of both the financial and the social bottom line to bring about positive social change.
Life motto or favorite quote?
“He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
Anything else you want to share? Perhaps a project you’re currently working on or something valuable that you learned from experience?
My vulnerability to experience deep social causes first-hand led me to embark on Jagriti Yatra, the world’s longest 15-day train journey in the company of five hundred change-makers passionate about building a better world through social enterprise. I visited rural towns eight thousand kilometers across India and gained a rich understanding of social issues embedded in rural communities. Throughout this journey, I learned that social entrepreneurs are leaders who have the audacity to go back to the communities in need and put service above self in their communities. The trip was a lesson in embracing ambiguity, instilling risk-taking, and questioning the status quo.
Currently, I am working with my family business, getting research papers published, starting my own social enterprise startup (SOCIALLECT), conducting campaigns with youth to increase awareness about social entrepreneurship, and being involved with nonprofits as a strategy advisor.
READ MORE ABOUT HEET'S SOCIAL ENTREPRISE STARTUP HERE