Nishtha Yogesh Is Transforming Remote Communities By Skilling Women

In a society where women's potential is often stifled despite their inherent skill, talent, and grit, Nishtha Yogesh, founder and CEO of Hunar Online Courses, is on a mission to empower every Indian woman through education and skill development towards a future where every woman is not just skilled but also financially independent, capable of catalyzing transformative change.

In an exclusive interview with SheThePeople, Nishtha Yogesh, Founder of Hunar Online Courses, discussed her journey as an entrepreneur, the evolving roles of education, and how skilling women can lead to empowerment for the entire community.

From Finance To Empowerment: A Pivotal Shift

Nishtha's transition from being a chartered accountant to an educational entrepreneur is not just a career shift but a realization of the stark disparities faced by women in India. A staggering 34 crore literate and educated women in India still grapple with financial dependence.

Reflecting on her journey, she shares, "I was privileged to be born into a family where I was never led to believe that my dreams were less important as a woman. However, as I ventured into the world, I realized this privilege wasn't universal." This realization became the driving force behind her commitment to empowering women.

I was waiting for an idea to strike me, and when it did, the desire to be an entrepreneur was clear from day one. The best way to solve this problem was to build a skilling platform, educating women from home in a manner convenient to them.

Inspiration From Home: Nishtha's Mother

Behind every successful woman is a source of inspiration, and for Nishtha, it was her mother. Growing up in a generation where education held paramount importance, she witnessed her mother, an educator, dedicating her time to educating and empowering women. This laid the foundation for Nishtha's commitment to leveraging education and technology as equalizers.

From Idea To Impact

In 2018, Nishtha took her first steps, driven by a commitment to understanding the dreams of women across India.  Her background in finance, management, operations, research, and organizational culture laid the foundation for a venture aimed at catalyzing change. "The best way for me to solve this problem would be to build out a skilling platform where we could educate women from home without disturbing their day-to-day lives," she shares.

She embarked on a journey, traversing 30 cities, towns, and villages, unearthing the deep desire for independence among women. The gaps were evident—patriarchy limiting opportunities, diminishing support as women aged, and a lack of necessary skills to fulfil their dreams.

Women, especially homemakers and students in tier 2, tier 3 India, faced limited opportunities. They felt strongly that they were at a point where they did not know if they had the necessary skills to live up to their dreams.

Nishtha's vision for her startup doesn't just provide education; it crafts solutions for the unique challenges women face. Recognizing the lack of control over schedules, they introduced video formats for flexible learning. Language barriers were dismantled with courses available in English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali. To bridge the material gap, free starter kits were also provided.

Our goal was clear: monetization opportunities hyper-local for every student. We provide the support and confidence that women might not get at home or from friends.

Transformative Success Stories: From Villages To Fashion Shows

The beating heart of Nishtha's mission lies in the success stories of women whose lives have been transformed through her startup. Poonam Devi, a farmer's wife from Hathras, epitomizes the transformative impact. After completing courses, she opened her village's first boutique, not just supporting her family but inspiring women in the city.

From grandmothers mastering jewellery-making to young students juggling academia and entrepreneurship, these stories embody the ethos of empowerment that Nishtha envisioned. "We've been part of 30 lakh women's journeys. We've educated 55,000 women, and more than 30% of our students have started their home businesses," Nishtha proudly shares.

More and more women need to hear these inspiring stories so that they can themselves be inspired. If you read a story that inspires you, something in you moves, and you also want to make a change in society.

The Three Aspirations of Indian Women

Nishtha believes that the pervasive inequality women face in India can only be overcome by promoting independence and empowering women to follow their dreams. While the participation of women in the labour force is dropping, the number of women entrepreneurs is on the rise. The fundamental focus for women today should be on self-belief, trust, and taking steps within the realms of their reality to become independent.

Women are looking for three things: to feel respected, to gain recognition, and to be financially independent. As an entrepreneur, I always focus on helping them learn skills to feel respected and confident and providing opportunities for recognition.

Empowering Women, Building A Nation

Nishtha recognizes that the challenges women face in India are pervasive and borderless. It's not confined to rural or urban landscapes; it transcends income levels and professional domains. She highlights that the issues are not confined to rural India. Lack of access to finance, mentors, and a supportive ecosystem is a universal problem for women, whether they are urban entrepreneurs seeking VC funding or rural women aspiring to secure a bank loan. The solution, she proposes, lies in solving these problems one woman at a time, being there at every step.

The numbers may show a drop in women's workforce participation, but a surge in women entrepreneurs signifies a positive trend. The key, she believes, lies in women becoming independent and pursuing their dreams to inspire others.

Imagine an India where every woman is skilled, financially independent, and recognized. That's an unstoppable and equitable India. The singularly significant task this country has today is how to leverage the power of its women to support our nation-building efforts.

A Call To Action

Nishtha emphasizes the age-old saying, "If you empower a woman, you empower a community." The mission extends beyond individual households, reaching every woman and, in turn, inspiring a generation and the nation. 

Believe in yourself even when it's hard. Take that next small step that gets you closer to your goal. Women are exceptionally strong, and if we keep alive the belief in ourselves, we can achieve anything.