DR NAVNEET GILL

With all of the backlash that the hospitality industry has faced as a result of the pandemic, Navneet Gill, owner of Nini's Kitchen, a chain of dining restaurants in Gujarat, has not only ensured that her staff's needs are met, but she has also extended a helping hand to the helpless hungry citizens. This is when Gill took to social media to promote the "Feed Amdavad" project, urging individuals in need of food to participate. As word spread, many people began to visit. But because Gill's money was limited, she needed to come up with a plan. That's when she came up with the idea of dining bonds. "Dining bonds are a type of investment in a future dinner at Nini's Kitchen," she explains. So, for every INR 1,000 bond purchased, they issue a food coupon that may be redeemed later. This way, they will have the finances needed to keep the program going."

What is your favourite word?
Resilience. I would cry when everything goes wrong, but I would also do whatever it takes to make them right. Once you are in it, you are in it. In this entire journey, there have been many setbacks, but here we are.

What was the moment in your life that made you Blossom into the person you are today?
Consistent, persistent, and mindful involvement in daily life has been my secret. That attitude of never giving up and sticking with the dream has paid off in the long run. There was no plan B. We were so deep into it that we found our way up. From beginning a café where no one came in and employees kept quitting, to now having 5 outlets open and running, I think it is the determination to succeed that has paid off.

What would you want the young boys & girls to learn from your journey?
Don't be carried away by what you watch in films and television when it comes to starting up on your own. More than the glitz, work on the math behind it. Work on the WHY part. It is important to understand what is driving you. Whether it is money or fame or serving people or whatever it might be, just be clear in what you are doing and why you are doing it. When you work hard on your basics, the business will grow organically.