Gautam's mom inspired her to fight the odds, and with Open Secret, she is inspiring moms to switch to healthy snacking options for their children
Ahana Gautam, Founder and CEO, Open Secret
Image: Mexy Xavier; Assisted by: Hemal Patel
Bharatpur, Rajasthan, 2005. It was a sultry Monday afternoon. And distraction was the last thing the young girl needed. Just a few weeks ahead of her IIT entrance exam, Ahana Gautam was immersed in intense preparation. A friendly neighbour, who also happened to be a professor at a college, made an unexpected entry. “Aapka IIT ka sapna toh aapke bete ne poora kar diya tha [your son fulfilled your IIT dream],” she dished out her unwelcome opinion. “Then why are you making your girl study for IIT?” she asked out of curiosity. “Jyada phadhaogey to ladka kaisey milega [how will you find a groom for her if she is so well-educated],” she sounded concerned. The young girl, though, was piqued.
(This story appears in the 24 March, 2023 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)