In Focus: Namita Kapoor

Like I've said before, there are so many amazing women doing amazing things--I love profiling their diversity of talent and interests here on the blog.

Meet Namita Kapoor--a Bay Area native and visual artist whose work has been internationally exhibited and who has a show opening this Saturday in San Francisco. If you are in the area, check it out.

What is your first memory of being artistic?

It would have to be preschool. We had these big easels and large size brushes. I remember the brushes being hard to hold, the smell of the tempera. Every time I smell tempera paint I think back to my childhood.

Have your parents been supportive of your artistic ventures?

My parents are extremely supportive of my artistic ventures. I feel so fortunate to have parents that not only appreciate art, but are artists themselves. My mother is an incredible singer and an Indian Martha Stuart. I don't know anyone who can cook, entertain and throw a party like my mother! My father is an excellent photographer and more recently an architect, designing his own house, (a contemporary piece of art rather). As a family we traveled all over the world and everywhere we went my parents brought back a piece of art so I learned to appreciate art and craft from a very young age. They encouraged me to be creative and enrolled me in art, music and dance classes. I have been active in the arts ever since.

What do you think about the phenomenon of so many South Asians being a lawyer AND an artist; a doctor AND a musician. Culturally, there are so many explanations for this--did you ever go that route? Do you think it's possible to be successful via such a route?

I think this often happens because of the cultural need for stability in South Asian culture. I personally have never gone this route. In fact you could say that I have always gone in the extreme opposite. I started dancing professionally at the age of 18. From Broadway to small dance companies I have made my living performing, teaching and painting all the while. While I realize that one could deem this insane and extremely unpractical, I have always taken a lot of pride in the fact that I have chose an unconventional route. I would like to be an example and inspiration to other South Asians that it is indeed very possible. It takes copious amounts of dedication, and it sure isn't easy, but it is possible.

I also think it depends on what level of success you hope to achieve as an artist. If it is enough for a lawyer to enjoy stability in their job and practice painting as a hobby or a creative outlet then that's great. I admire people who appreciate and make time for creativity while also working demanding jobs. However, I personally believe it is a full time job to create work that pushes boundaries and challenges the status quo. For me, its a 24 hour/ seven days a week practice in the conceptual and physical act of creating art. I simply don't have time for anything else.

What are your major artistic influences?

Dance and mythology play a huge role in my work. Back in High School I made up this quote that sums up the influences in my life: "Art is music to the eyes, music is dance to the ears, and dance is art to the soul." I think this still rings true. I am a jazz and tap dancer and I work with a lot of musicians. The rhythm and the movement influence the way I compose my artwork. In addition, although I do not actively practice Hinduism, I consider myself to be deeply spiritual. The religion for me is the art practice. It brings me closer to consciousness and has an amazing ability to transcend time. I'll get to my studio and work the whole day without even realizing the hours passed. I love that.

I just finished a book ("Atlas of Unknowns") in which the protagonist often floats above herself as if writing her autobiography, and these words come to mind: "At this moment, I found myself at a crossroads." Do you have any moments like that?

All the time. If you get the chance you should go on the TED website and listen to Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity. She talks exactly about this and brings her own unique perspective. I would describe it, but its best to listen/watch. In fact I'm going to post you the link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Describe the process of creating one of your pieces.

The process is usually very organic although as of late it is becoming more conceptual. In the beginning of this work I used to do a lot of collage from Indian spiritual posters and coming books. I would just cut and paste and play with the imagery by abstracting it in and around paint. Now I am turning to screen printing as a means to abstract this imagery further, play with scale and create multiples of the same image. Usually though I have an image I want to work with or a piece of fabric or symbol from Indian mythology. From there I create one of those mind maps where I write down related imagery or things that come to mind when I think of this symbol/design/image. The process unfolds from there and I add/subtract content until I feel the piece is complete. Sometimes the ideas are so simple while other times I sit for days/weeks/months on end in an effort to resolve the image I decided to use. Those pieces are usually the monsters from which something new emerges and I become a better artist because of it.

Your new show is called Karma Chromatic: What does it mean?

Well..according to Merriam:

Karma: : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence

Chromatic: of or relating to color or color phenomena or sensations

Once you see the work I think you'll see how it fits together. I also love the way it floats of my tongue when I say it.

What's the last great book you read? Last great movie you saw? Favorite book of all time? Favorite movie?

Last Great Book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. He says it takes 10,000 hours to become a genius of something. I think I plugged 1,000 in the last few months for this show! At least it feels like it. I also just reread "Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. It makes me laugh out loud.

Last Great Movie: Why do I always go blank on this question! Hmm..let's go with the first that come to mind: Amelie/In the Mood for love or any Kieslowski film for the foreign section, Can't Buy Me Love (for the cheesy 80's classic), Vertigo ( your standard classic Hitchcock) and the ending dance sequence in American in Paris (how can you not love Gene Kelly).

What part of India are you from? Do you have family in India? Do you travel back?

My mom's side of the family is from Mumbai and my dad's UP/Delhi. I still have family in both places and love going back. I would like to apply for a grant to go out there and work with local craft artists to collaborate on a large piece. I am currently writing that proposal in my mind.

Word association:

-Masala: yes please.
-Jhumpa Lahiri: Unaccustomed Earth is on my next book list.
-Bollywood: I still can't believe I danced in a fountain 8 days a week in Bombay Dreams...
-Arranged marriage: if it works for you.
-Dada: very important reference. also the name of my Aunt in Florida.
-de Kooning: who were his models??
-McDonalds: There are cow legs and french fries in one of my paintings in the show-tell me if you can spot them!

For more information on Namita, check out her site. And, again, if you are in the Bay Area, visit her show.

In Focus: Lisa Raja, Iniam Boutique

You know that girl? The one who is effortlessly stylish? Who walks around town looking like really great light is always following her, has children who eat vegetables, knows people to call if she wants to make a custom dress? Yea. That one. Even she has nothing on Lisa Raja, the chic mother of two and owner of Iniam, an upscale clothing boutique in Oakland, California.

Iniam--Lisa's maiden name spelled backwards--is a one-stop destination for fabulous contemporary style. Lisa's well-edited selection of on-trend labels makes you feel like you are getting the best choices of everything that is available in department stores and online, with the added bonus of some seriously sophisticated customer service. Lisa and her staff will tell you when the coat you loved on the mannequin isn't doing justice to your curves, or that the skinny jeans you picked might be a little bit too skinny. She also will somehow magically produce the perfect shoes, necklace, earrings to go with absolutely anything you show her--and she will always, always keep your price-point in mind.

To boot, the girl is an amazing mother. She somehow manages to full-time parent her 2 1/2 year old, nurse her 4 month old round-the-clock, and run Iniam--from the buying, to the storefront, to the finances--full time.

In the interest of full disclosure, Lisa is a good friend of mine. I am still trying to figure out how she has that good lighting wherever she goes (and how she got her 2 1/2 year old to eat vegetables, for that matter...). One day she will let me in on her secrets.

So many women talk about opening a boutique: How did you actually make it happen?

I had been itching for so long to do it. It had taken ears for me to finally quit my job and take the plunge. I wasn't scared of the risk, it was just finding the right time to do it. My dad was my biggest supporter and really gave me the extra boost to go for it.

It's an untraditional career, especially for an Indian. Did you meet resistance from your family?

My parents never pushed me to do any particular career. I'm sure they would have loved it if I had become a doctor but they wanted us to pick careers we were happy about. At my University, fashion design was under the school of natural science. Taking chemistry classes was a requirement because we were expected to learn the chemical makeup of the textiles. Of course that scared me off--and I didn't pursue what I should have. It took ten years for things to come full circle for me.

What's the hardest thing about being a boutique owner?

I know it seems so glamorous on the outside and I wouldn't trade it for a minute. But all the budgeting and financial work can become very tedious. It's the biggest part of the business; running and analyzing reports is a huge part of my work.

And the best thing about being a boutique owner?

Is it terrible to say the clothes?! Ha! That is definitely a perk, but the best thing, at this point of my life ,is the flexibility it has offered me and my children. It's because of Iniam that I am able to be with my kids as much as I am. Beyond that I have met and made friends with so many talented and wonderful people! With all the ups and downs, this has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can only hope it continues to remain so.

What about your children makes you laugh?

What doesn't make me laugh? I have two boys. The eldest is 2 1/2 and pretty much everything he does makes me laugh. The latest segment in his comedy act goes like this: “Mumma, let’s talk about it! If you do poo poo in the potty, you get ice cream?” My second child is 4 months and is just sweet and cuddly. It's nice because the oldest won't sit still for a second.

What's your favorite family ritual?

Saturday mornings. My husband and I get coffees, my eldest grabs a chocolate milk, and we all head to Noah's for bagels. Simple, but great.

Most frazzled mom moment?

Oh my god, are there moms out there that have non-frazzled moments?? All of mine are frazzled.

What do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about?

I often wonder and hope that I'm raising my kids right. There are so many books and methods on how to raise kids. Before I had my children, I thought about all the things I would and would not do so that they would grow up "perfect." There are so many things to think about: Organic versus non-organic, daycare versus Montessori, time out versus spaking. The list could go on forever I pray that I will make the right decisions in raising them...

Do you worry about raising your kids to be "Indian" or with "Indian values"?

I never really thought about it as two separate things. I want my kids to refer to being Indian because of their Indian values. I am already a diluted version of my parents and their history/heritage. My kids will be far more diluted. It's not enough for me to say I am Indian because of being born into a family who's grandparents and forefathers came from India. I feel that today in the multicultural country we live in it's those values, tradition, religion that really allow us to refer to ourselves as "Indian."

How do you try to inject Indian culture into your kids' lives?

I guess every little bit helps. I make every effort to teach them about religion and prayers. I sing them Indian lullabies, we eat Indian food, and between the grandparents and my husband and I, we try speaking in as much Hindi and Gujarati as possible. I will make every effort to celebrate holidays such as Diwali etc. I must say that here in the Bay Area, I have found to it to be very difficult to give them the culture I had growing up. Of course my mother was the conduit for Indian religion and culture in our home when I was growing up, but there were also so many mundirs and social Indian functions and gatherings. On top of that, we traveled back to India every summer to see family. It is something that I often worry and wonder about.

What do you wish you had done before you had kids?

I really wish my husband and I had more time to travel. We took on a lot of big projects right after we got married and flew right through the "honeymoon" stage. I wish we enjoyed being more carefee. I wouldn't trade my kids for anything but I would have loved to have had more time with my husband, just exploring the world.

What's your:

-Guilty pleasure?

Dessert. Multiple times a day!

-Ideal get-away?

Ideally I would like to visit one of those health farms in India where ou eat fruits all day and then enjoy yoga/meditation, body massages, scalp massages and body wraps. In between all the pampering I would sleep or read.

-Favorite clothing item?

Right now I'm obsessed with my Gryphon trench coat. It has a faux fur trim. It has been cold and gloomy in the Bay--the perfect excuse to wear it all the time.

-Chocolate or cheese?

Please, both.

What's the biggest mistake women make when buying new clothes?

I often hear my friends and customers say they bought something because they got a great deal on it. It wasn't necessarily something thy loved or that filled a void in their wardrobe. Those items usually end up buried in teh back of their closet.

Any specific issues you see in Indian women and how we dress?

In general, I feel that Indian women don't take as many risks with their style. we tend to stay a bit more conservative.

Do you have 5 key pieces?

1. SKINNY JEANS

2. TUNICS

3. WHITE BLOUSE/WHITE TSHIRT

4. BLACK WIDE LEG PANTS

5. LONG DRESS

6. BONUS – JEWELRY. LONG LAYERING NECKLACES AND I LOVE FUN COCKTAIL RINGS

Where to scrimp and where to splurge in this economy?

In my opinion, if you spend a little extra on a nice handbag and shoes you can fudge everything in between.

When in doubt, put on a___________.

DRESS. It's a complete outfit. You don't have to worry about coordinating pieces. Throw it on and you're done. Especially if it's a solid color dress--then you can keep reinventing it with heels, boots or flats. Add some sensational jewelry and change the dress from a day to night look. Most importantly: Learn how to dress for your body.

What are the trends for this season you're most excited about:

1. METALLICS - Add a little something to anything you wear.

2. NUDE COLOR PALETTE – I find clothing in the natural/nude tones soft and romantic.

3. SHEER FABRICS – The best way to feel sexy without having to have it all out there.

4. BLACK ON WHITE PRINT – What's not to like about black & white!

5. GREAT ACCESSORIES –A girl can never have enough. It's the easiest way to change your look without changing your outfit.

What's in your purse right now?

*wallet
*makeup bag
*checkbook
*half eaten banana
*tangerine
*1 unused breast pad (glamorous!)
*pen
*headband
*3 hair clips and 2 rubberbands

What's something somebody who met you now would be surprised to learn about you before you were married/a mom?

Now that I am a mom, it's hard to do things on a whim. Everything has to have a plan and even then I seem to be late or a little off the mark. Before I was married, I had this inclination to move away from my home in Houston. I traveled and studied away from home, but I always came back to Houston. I needed to leave so I could spread my wings so of speak. So I did. I packed my bags and shipped my car to San Francisco. The crazy thing was I didn't have a job and I didn't have friends to lean on. I stayed with a friend of a friend and 5 days later I found a room on craigslist . I took a bunch of temporary jobs till I found a real one. A few months later I met my husband and BAM...here I am.

If you could have one magical power what would it be?

I wish I had fairy dust to sprinkle on my kids so that they would both sleep through the night AND in their own beds!

If you weren't a boutique owner, what would you be doing?

I would definitely be in this field somewhere and would love to do some combination of the following:

1.Design and produce a clothing line.
2.Freelance as a consultant that helped young retail businesses thrive.
3.Manage a boutique that had 3 to5 stores in which I would do the buying/merchandising.

What's new for Iniam in 2009?

Obviously we are aware of the economy and we understand that everyone is tightening pursestrings. We hope to continue helping our customers feel confident and taken care of, within their budgets. We've also re-launched our website and our blog--we would love to hear from your readers, and are always happy to answer any style questions or dilemmas!

Iniam is located at 5902 College Avenue, in Oakland, California. Lisa is happy to field any questions you guys have on all things style so feel free to ask her about everything from skinny jeans to how to find that perfect mom-on-the-go outfit in the comments section, or on the iniam blog.

In Focus: Dr. Susan Taylor, Rx for Brown Skin

I am always looking for the "perfect" skincare regime. I've talked about it before: One of the things that most aggravates me is the "one size fits all" approach to skincare and makeup--obviously different skin-tones require different treatments.

For years I've been consistently amazed that nobody has developed a powerful, scientifically-backed line of skincare specifically for South Asian skin. Which is why I was so intrigued to learn about Dr. Susan Taylor's line of products, Rx for Brown Skin. Released in 2007, the product line is the first-ever skin care line for women of color, scientifically formulated by a dermatologist. Although it is not only for South Asians, it was formulated with South Asians in mind.

Dr. Taylor's resume is impressive: Harvard-trained, featured as a medical expert in numerous magazines, newspapers and national news programs such as the Today Show and Good Morning America, Founding Director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, board member of the American Academy of Dermatology, former president of the Skin of Color Society.

And while all of that is fine and good and great--what really matters is this: Her products work. I have been using her "Bright and Even" line of products for a month now and I am hooked. I hope this goes without saying but I would never, never recommend a product that I haven't personally tried and fallen in love with.

Here's my interview with Dr. Taylor. Like I said last week in introducing the "In Focus" feature, there are so many South Asian women doing so many amazing things and I am psyched to get to profile them--while Dr. Taylor isn't South Asian herself, she is creating amazing products for us nonetheless. Feel free to leaver her any questions in the comments section. Rx for Brown Skin is available through Dr. Taylor's website, as well as at Sephora.

What is your ethnic background?

I am African American--I'm actually a mixture of African, Delaware Indian, and Scottish.

How did you become interested in skincare?

During my 4th year of Harvard Medical School, I took a dermatology rotation and fell in love with the field of dermatology. Then while practicing dermatology in Philadelphia, I specifically became interested in skincare since so many of my patients were not happy with the products that were on the market and which they were using.

Your website explains the need for a specific regimen for brown skin--but what exactly is it about brown skin that makes its needs different from white or other skin?

Most notably it is the melanin pigment in brown skin that makes it different from white skin and hence, the need for different skin care. On one hand, melanin can protect brown skin from premature aging from sun exposure as well as from certain types of skin cancers. On the other hand, melanin can lead to troubling dark marks, discolorations and uneven skin tone. So for example, an ordinary acne pimple that resolves in 1 week can leave a dark mark that can last 1 year.

Are there particular ingredients in the skincare/makeup we see at department stores that don't work on us? Meaning, are we buying promises that will work on white skin but really do nothing for us? What are the ingredients we should look out for?

Today, most skin care companies have placed a heavy emphasis on products that speak to the anti-aging needs of the white population. Brown skin ages differently from white skin. We are less likely to develop fine lines and wrinkles, red blood vessels and sunspots and hence are less likely to need those products.

As you note on your blog, hyperpigmentation is of enormous concern to brown skinned ladies. What products from your line do you recommend?

I recommend the Rx for Brown Skin Power Pack which consists of Absolute Radiance Intensive Exfoliating Serum (designed to be used twice a week at bedtime) and Naturally Flawless Advanced Botanical Brightener (which is designed to be used twice a day). Naturally Flawless works 24/7 and contains 7 proven botanical brighteners, 4 potent antioxidants and 2 powerful hydrators. Absolute Radiance consists of a potent blend of alpha hydroxy acids and has been clinically proven to decrease dark marks in just 30 days.

Next to hyperpigmentation, the other biggest beauty issue I hear about in my cohort is under eye circles. We have all tried everything from Hylexin to the newest drug-store roller-ball applicators promising to banish our circles--nothing works. I think that most of the dark circles on Indians are genetic--would you agree? If this is the case, is it even worth trying to treat or is covering-up the only way to go? Do you have products in your arsenal to combat undereye circles and if so, how do they differ from the products in other lines?

In many women with brown skin, undereye circles are due to the combination of poor circulation of blood in the vessels under the eyes as well as too much melanin pigment. Circles can be a very, very difficult problem to treat. My Bright and Even Eye Cream contains technology to lighten the melanin induced dark marks and improve circulation.

Can you describe your entrepreneurial process for us? How did you come up with your line and how did it become what it is today?

Having a clear vision of the products that I wanted to create, believing that what I was doing would make a difference, working incredibly hard, not being fearful of failing and being guided by a higher power have brought me to where I am today. My partner and I formulated a business plan, I worked with chemists on the East and West Coast to formulate the ingredients and we met with several retailers to carry the product line.

Take us through a day in your life, from when you wake up in the morning till when you go to sleep at night.

Up at 6 am, check the weather on TV and then turn on CNN, shower and dress by 6:45 am. By 7 am my mother has comes over to help. I get my 2 daughters up (ages 12 and 16), feed everyone breakfast, walk the dog and drive the girls to school for an 8:15 am drop-off. Stop by Starbucks for coffee and drive downtown to the office (Society Hill Dermatology). During the drive I discuss Rx for Brown Skin business with my partner and formulate a to-do-list for the day. I see between 35-60 patients from 9 until 4. In between patients, I check in with the Rx office for any late breaking developments. After patients, I spend 2 hours on paperwork, conference calls, Rx work etc. I am home around 7, my housekeeper fixes dinner (thank God for Avril), we eat dinner, I might have a soccer or gymnastics drop off or pick up, I read the newspapers (New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Wall Street Journal) check homework, finish work and sometimes participate in a conference call. I watch the 10 pm news, read a few pages of my book club book, talk to my husband, say my prayers and then "fall into a coma". Before I know it, it is 6 am again.

I hear you. I have been known to try to reason with my alarm clock. What advice do you have for somebody trying to break into the skincare/makeup/beauty industry?

Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot do it and be successful!

What's next up for your line? Are you considering doing a line of makeup for brown skin?

Two spot treatments: one for acne and one for dark spots. A line of makeup for brown skin is definitely in the line up.

What are some of your favorite products from other lines? What's in your makeup bag?

For foundation and powder: MAC. For mascara: Dior Show. For blush and eyeshadow: Bobby Brown and Dee.

What's the number one mistake brown girls make in terms of their skincare regimes?

Not having a daily skin care regimen: cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen.

I have read many times that toner is an unnecessary step. Do you disagree?

In today's beauty landscape, toners have been formulated with ingredients which are beneficial to the health of the skin. They no longer contain alcohol or just witch hazel. So by applying a toner, you are adding another layer of ingredients (ie. antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, hydrators, oil absorbers etc...) to the skin.

In light of the current economy, do you have any suggestions on where to scrimp and where it is still worth splurging in terms of skincare?

Splurge on cleansers and moisturizers. Scrimp on sunscreen (an SPF 30 with UVA protection is essentially the same at any price point).

How have your children influenced your line? Your work?

I think universally, children are central to everything that we do. In regard to the line, my children have helped me test products that I was formulating and they offer their opinion on marketing and strategy. The oldest goes in as a mystery shopper to make sure the Sephora staff is up-to-date with the products.

What one talent do you not have that you wish you had?

I wish I could sing!

What are you reading right now, or best movie/book in recent memory?

I am reading "Eat, pray, love." The best book is "The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All," by Michael Usse.

If you are interested in more of the science behind the line, and it's formidable blend of ingredients click here. Dr. Taylor is currently offering $15.00 off a purchase of the two best-selling skin brighteners. Click here for more details.

In Focus: Pooja Pittie, Little GuruSkool

There are so many amazing South Asian women doing so many amazing things. I want to try to showcase some of them on this blog with this new feature: "In Focus."

My first interview is with Pooja Pittie, a mother of a 6 year old who lives in Chicago, loves to eat out, read and paint, sometimes dreams of going back to art school, and has authored and designed a series of beautifully illustrated books for Indian children. When Pooja couldn't find books and DVDs to introduce Indian culture to her son, she took the matter into her own hands and decided to make her own. Hence, Little GuruSkool was born. Heralded by many as "Baby Einstein for Indians," the 3 books and 3 DVDs currently available teach children about colors, music, and animals, in English and in Hindi, with an Indian backdrop of culture and music. The book on animals, for instance, takes children on a journey from the jungle to the farm to the ocean, highlighting the names of the animals in English and in Hindi. The book on musical instruments introduces kids to the strings of a sitar, the beats of a dholak and the melodies of a flute. And the accompanying DVDs visually and musically compliment the books.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Pooja about Little Guru Skool, how she got it off the ground, and where she sees it going. She and her books have recently been splashed around in the press and she has some great insight on the constant "balance" we all crave in parenting our children. Plus she's just a rockstar. LittleGuruSkool books and DVDs are available at LittleGuruSkool.com, as well as Amazon.com. Also, you can preview the DVDS or sample songs from the CDs at Pooja's site. Readers, meet Pooja:

Tell us about your inspiration to start Little GuruSkool.

Well, I am a first-generation Indian and I wanted to make sure my son was learning about India. I used to be very hesitant about letting him watch videos but then I came upon the "Baby Einstein" series and I really came to admire it. The reality is that, in this day and age, both parents are busy and kids are going to watch t.v. This is of course a deviation from the Indian mindset that somebody should always be taking care of a child so I had my own issues with it. But I found Baby Einstein to be interactive and definitely educational. When I tried to find something like the Baby Einstein series that was focused on Indians, I was surprised to see there really was nothing out there.

Why were you surprised?

You just never think that you have had the "big idea" so when I found myself really thinking that if I was going to find content I was going to have to write it myself, I found that surprising. Everything I found, here and in India, just didn't appeal to me in terms of quality, or wasn't age-appropriate. And when I started asking other Indian parents if they had had any luck in finding good, entertaining, educational books or DVDS about India, I was amazed by how eager they were to find the same sort of thing.

Lots of our readers grapple with the conundrum of exposing our kids to Indian culture. How do your books and DVDs do this?

I like to think the books and DVDs provide a good balance of Western and Indian culture. Which is really how I wanted my son to grow up. The material isn't "too ethnic" and the sensibility in terms of content and illustration is modern. It's different from other "Indian" products--it isn't designed to be any sort of language immersion. Instead, I hope the books and other materials subtly expose children to portions of what makes Indian culture great--the sights, the sounds, the music, the language.


What are the other ways you inject Indian culture into your lives?

Simple things. By traveling to India with my son as frequently as possible. He's 6 years old now and has been there about 6 times - I know it's difficult to travel there often, but children never forget that early exposure. Even at 5 years of age, Aarav talked about places and people he interacted with on his last trip when he was just 4!

By cooking Indian food for my son, teaching him the Hindi words as we go along, telling him anecdotes about my childhood &and food that I liked to eat when growing up.

By listening to Hindi music with him - I haven't exposed him to Bollywood movies but many songs--from old movies & new ones--are a great way to get children familiar with the sounds of Indian instruments and languages. And Aarav finds the big dance sequences highly amusing.

Do you worry about your son not being "Indian" enough?

You know, maybe I should but I don't. I moved here when I was 21 years old and see so much greatness in the Western culture. I think I would be doing my son an injustice to "make" him more Indian. I myself don't feel overly American and at the same time I don't feel overly Indian. I don't want to make my son feel out of place in this place that is his home. Of course I want him to be aware of his roots and be comfortable with his identity. But I think it should be done without too much force.

What were you doing before you launched Little GuruSkool?

I got my MBA from the University of Chicago Class of 2005 and upon graduation, I worked at Unilever on the Dove Hair brand in the U.S. for 1.5 yrs. Last year, I left Unilever to pursue Little GuruSkool full-time

Do you write the books and videos yourself?

I create all the concepts for the videos and books. I work with a film production studio in Bombay of course, but nothing goes forward without my input or approval. Based on the videos, I create the storyboard and illustrations for the books myself, but I have the illustrations professionally rendered afterwards.

Take us through "a day in the life" of Pooja...

A "day in the life" in terms of business could be - waking up at 4 am to talk to my web developers in India, creating a storyboard for one of the book titles, working with the graphics designer on the DVD packaging, meeting an Indian mom for coffee to get some ideas, spending an hour on the phone with customer service at Amex to make sure my website accepts their cards and at the end of the day, always evaluating my written plan and writing up a to-do list for the next day!

"Busy" doesn't do you justice--so tell us, what are your tips for the perpetual juggling we all do--of kids, family, work, pleasure?

I am not too rigid and disciplined about my work schedule - quite impulsive in fact and I think this allows me to juggle things better. I know that sounds contradictory, but since "pleasure" and "family" are part of the balancing act, it helps to be impulsive and flexible. It allows me to enjoy life a lot more. I'm good at taking breaks!

I've realized that I'm ambitious in all these areas of my life and wouldn't sacrifice one for the other, and so for me, it's all about balance. I am trying to accept that everything cannot be perfect and I shouldn't be too hard on myself! Starting a business in an area like this has been all-consuming but I try to have weekends where I take time off from even "thinking" about work. And, with my son, I try to involve him in as many things as I can - especially things that I enjoy doing - painting, cooking, listening to music

What are some of the other parenting sites/books/products you like?

Like I've said, I've admired and used a lot of Disney's Baby Einstein products. I think they've done an excellent job in developing a range of complementary products for pre-school children.

Believe it or not, I've never read a "parenting guide" really - I rely on my mum's anecdotes from our childhood to be my guide!

In terms of toys, I've found Magna tiles & Legos to be very effective in engaging my son for hours and at the same time, helping him think about building things

Last book you loved? Movie? TV show?

I love reading - last couple of books that I liked were "Shantaram"--was struck by an outsider's account of the city being something I could agree with!--and "Time Traveler's Wife." I'm reading "Three Cups of Tea" right now which is so inspiring

The last movie I loved? "Sex & the City"! Also liked "Sarkar." I know that's old but I'm not the biggest movie buff!

As for TV - I love Dragons' Den on BBC America.

Tell us the funny things your son is doing these days.

He's really into playing guessing games with people - whether it's humming a tune and having them guess the song or drawing out a house with a paper flap for a door and having people guess what's inside the house!

What are the weirdest/funniest/strangest reactions you've had to starting Little GuruSkool?

My family and friends were surprised that I was starting a media company without any prior media experience--my background is in Finance and Accounting!

Some people have asked if I was setting up an actual "school" for children because of the name. And a lot of people tease me about the spelling of "skool" - I chose that spelling because it's a play on the word "gurukul" and "kool" sounded a lot closer to that word.

Any advice for budding-entrepreneurs reading this?

I want to say "go for it" but with one caveat. You need to have a very clear vision of what you want to do before you just take the plunge. Without the vision, you will get side-tracked. For instance, with my books, I had to fight nearly daily for the sort of "less is more" illustration style. If I didn't stay firm in what I wanted it to be, my vision for the books would have gotten lost. But, I cannot even describe how happy I am that I left my old job to do this full time. If you are lucky enough to find something you really love and that really inspires you, take the plunge!

What's up next for Little GuruSkool?

I want Little GuruSkool to be a cultural "gurukul" for parents and children around the world. I plan to introduce new topics every few months and new products like toys, flash cards & coloring books. This is my plan but in the end, I am looking to all the parents out there who care about this to give me ideas and suggestions on how I could help them introduce their children to this vibrant culture.

Pooja would love to know what you guys think of her books, and what sorts of titles you would like to see. Please feel free to leave Pooja questions and comments here, or to email her directly at pooja.goel@littleguruskool.com.

Check out more of the books and DVDs here and here.