How Kanika Tekriwal Shook Skies In Indian Aviation Industry

The Digital Woman Awards 2024 brought together some of the most dynamic women in business, including Kanika Tekriwal, founder of JetSetGo, Anam Mirza, founder of The Label Bazaar, and Pinky Reddy, National President of FICCI FLO. Moderated by Tekriwal herself, the panel explored themes of entrepreneurship, resilience, and authenticity in building businesses and scaling brands.

The Birth of JetSetGo

Kanika Tekriwal, alongside co-founder Sudheer Perla, launched JetSetGo in 2012 with the vision of creating India’s first transparent marketplace for private aviation. Reflecting on the male-dominated industry, Tekriwal shared her early experiences, saying, “When I started this business, I used to be the only skirt in a sea of suits, the only one with nice hair in a room of bald heads.”

She humorously recounted how her presence often led to underestimation. “The first time I walked into a boardroom to pitch, the customer turned to me and said, ‘Excuse me, miss, can you ask everyone whether they like coffee or tea?’” Despite such incidents, her determination won over skeptics, turning them into loyal clients.

Authenticity in Business

Authenticity is at the core of Tekriwal’s business philosophy. She emphasized, “I don’t believe in buying followers or spending money on sponsored ads. First, I’m a Marwari and very kanjoos. Second, I want someone to follow us because they genuinely want to know what we’re doing.”

This principle extends to her approach with her team. “If I’m taking out time from someone’s life, I’ve got to add value to it,” she said, encouraging young entrepreneurs to focus on building meaningful connections over superficial metrics.

Resilience as a Superpower

Kanika described the unique resilience women bring to entrepreneurship, sharing how she balances her demanding roles. “There are days I wake up crying, overwhelmed by 500 problems. But as women, we have this innate power to face challenges with a smile.”

Pinky Reddy echoed this sentiment, comparing women’s multitasking abilities to Goddess Durga, managing countless responsibilities effortlessly.

Overcoming The Bias 

Kanika’s journey also highlighted the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. In her early days, she often faced condescension. “One customer told me, ‘Cupcake store khol lo. Boutique kholo.’ But I stood my ground and convinced him to fly with us. He became our biggest champion.”

Her story illustrates the importance of self-belief. “As a founder, you have to put yourself out there. Your business is you. If you don’t believe in it, no one else will,” she asserted.

The Personal Meets the Professional

Kanika’s personal life often intertwines with her work, leading to amusing moments. “My husband Googled my name on Truecaller, and it showed up as ‘Kanika Plane.’ He said, ‘When did you change your surname?’”

She also shared how she multitasks: “This morning, I had my iPad stuck to the wall in front of me while I was cooking and attending a board meeting.”

Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs

Addressing young entrepreneurs, Tekriwal encouraged them to break free from societal norms. “It’s never too late to start. This common misnomer, especially among Indian women, that if you’re not 18 or 20, you can’t start up—it’s not true.”

Her advice was clear: authenticity, resilience, and self-belief are the keys to success. “If you believe in your product and yourself, you can overcome any challenge.”

Kanika Tekriwal’s journey is one of grit, innovation, and authenticity. From navigating a male-dominated industry to pioneering private aviation in India, her journey inspires women to dream big, embrace challenges, and create meaningful change in their lives and businesses.