Gurugram-based mom turned entrepreneur earned Rs.1200 per day, today she is the co-founder of a successful unicorn

Success doesn’t always come easy, nor does it follow a predictable path. While most people would expect an IITian or an IIM alumnus to be the one behind successful startups, sometimes, it starts with a quiet hustle, a small paycheck, and a dream no one else really sees in the beginning.

The most unexpected success stories are often based upon relentless hard work, quiet sacrifices, and an unshakable belief in building something meaningful.One such story is that of a woman from Gurugram, who went from earning ₹1,200 a day to co-founding a unicorn.

The woman behind one of the most successful unicorns in India

From a modest start in Gurugram, Ghazal Alagh has become one of India's most inspiring entrepreneurial success stories, especially for those who come from a middle-class background.

According to Opinionated India, she was born on September 2, 1988. She pursued a BCA from Panjab University, then expanded her creative horizons with a summer course in art and design at the New York Academy of Art. These unique steps set her apart from the more typical IIT/IIM trajectories common in India's startup circles.

She earned only Rs.1200 per day as her first salary

Her first professional role was as a corporate trainer at NIIT, Chandigarh in 2008, teaching software tools like Oracle, SQL, and J2ME.

Reflecting on her early days, she said in a X post, “My first income was modest, earning Rs 1,200 per day as a weekend corporate trainer. I recall the joy of taking my mom shopping and sharing a memorable dinner”.

In 2012, Ghazal ventured into entrepreneurship with Dietexpert.com, a niche platform offering custom diet plans. Although the venture didn’t last, it set the stage for something much bigger.

Today, she is the co-founder of one of the flourishing unicorns of India

In 2016, motivated by becoming parents to a baby boy born with eczema, and the difficulty of finding toxin-free baby products in India, Ghazal and her husband Varun Alagh founded Honasa Consumer Pvt.

Ltd., with Mamaearth as their flagship brand. Starting with just ₹25 lakhs the company rapidly grew into a huge brand.

Success tips from Gazal Alagh

Ghazal Alagh shared a powerful message on her Instagram account about the real meaning of success, emphasizing that there are no shortcuts when it comes to achieving your goals. Speaking about her own mindset, she said, “Success ka koi shortcut nahi hai, hard work karna padta hai, tapasya karni padti hai but usske alawa ek attitude hota hai jo aapka perspective hi change hojata hai.

Tab aapko realise hota hai how to deal with the goods and bads of life.

The attitude should be that even if I don’t know it, I will learn how to do it. Attitude shouldn’t be like I don’t know this. Our attitude defines a lot about us.”

She posted the quote with a thought-provoking caption that read, “Unpopular opinion – Success is less about fame & money, more about the mindset. Life mei kuch bhi karne ke lie time, energy, hardwork lagta hai.

Nothing comes easy and without failures. What is success for you, let me know your definition in the comments below #success #hardwork #money #failure.”Her honest and heartfelt opinion on success deeply inspired her followers, especially aspiring entrepreneurs. The comments section was quickly flooded with admiration. One user commented, “This is so inspiring, I truly look up to her a lot. She is the best.” Another added, “Wow, this is so so true, whatever she says is the best and I resonate with her.” Someone else wrote, “I love this, she is so amazing.”On the professional front, Ghazal Alagh is best known for her role as a judge on the first season of Shark Tank India, where she gained wide recognition for her entrepreneurial journey and insights.