Full name?: Neha Gajwani
Position / Job title?: CEO, SmackTom
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Early on, I found out that when you scribble a bit with a pen that’s not working, that it begins to write again. I imagined only I had this unique and magical gift, so I figured I had to use it in some way. I thought for certain I would grow up to be a pen doctor, and people would bring their pens to me to fix.
Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
I was placed in an incredibly fortunate position – My family breathes support. I would be stupid not to create something exciting. In reference to the earlier story about my childhood dream, my mom gave me a pen after telling me I would be the best pen doctor anyone would know. In my business, I received support from my team and from partners like eBay, who offered a seamless entry into the retail world with an already established user base and trusted global marketplace. Beyond this support network, I saw people in my family live dreams, come to this country with very little, and build empires. They taught me to be frugal, but gave me that hunger to want more. My dad preached and preached about putting in hours, about rejecting ideas like a four hour work week; he was all about embracing the daily grind. It turns out he was right: most successful people aren’t brilliant, they just want something really, really badly.
Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
Very important. They teach you that every little bit helps, and that you are above no task. If my mission is making sure my boss gets coffee, I want to make sure I get the coffee ready perfectly, two minutes ahead of time, and without being asked. If I help my boss work better, the company does better; every little bit counts.
I had my first internship at a bank in India, and my second at a media company in New York. I did start off getting coffee, but I was also pretty curious about how these companies worked, and lucky enough to have bosses who became mentors. The value of my internships was not in what I learned specifically, but in learning that any job is worth doing well.
Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you. What is your job REALLY like, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts?
This interview is pretty glamorous! The rest isn’t as glamorous, but it’s fun. As an entrepreneur, every day I want to do so much, but there are so many moving parts to a business, and my day is rarely what I want it to be. That said, I strive to spend at least 40% of my day with my team, working through any problems, brainstorming, looking at projections versus actual data. Around 20% of my day is dedicated to planning, 20% to check everything is on track with everyone on the team and investigate anything that’s not, and 20% to surprises. I do spend more time than I ever anticipated making sure people are ok, that they feel good about the mission, that they feel important and appreciated, that their concerns are heard and addressed. One of the most surprising parts of starting a company is how emotionally tolling it can be – both because you are dealing with people and people are complicated, and because you end up so attached to the business that every high and low gets magnified.
What is the biggest career mistake you’ve ever made?
Not taking it as seriously in the beginning. I saw my family start businesses, and naively figured it couldn’t be that hard, and I didn’t really understand the effort that needs to go into it. That’s changed pretty drastically, but I think I spent a year or two chasing my boyfriend more than my work. It took me some time to realize how selfish that was, when I have such a dedicated team.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Keep going – it’s fun to prove them wrong. As a young female entrepreneur, when I begin talking to someone, they dismiss me. After I keep talking, though, they listen, and that’s gratifying. If you know what you’re talking about, they’ll have to listen.
Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
Of course! Honestly, though, I’m not great at it. I love the people in my life, and I would love to spend more time with them. It’s always a struggle, but it’s something I try to be very conscious of. It’s easy to get consumed by work or by family and friends; it’s hard to balance.
On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
I think, unfortunately, you need to prioritize one. When there’s a deadline that risks a profitable opportunity, and your kid has a soccer game, you choose. I have no judgment for either choice, and I have never been in that position, but I have had much easier choices like working late or going on a date. I do think, though, that while this is a more difficult problem for women, it’s more of a universal problem. Both women and men need to prioritize. Both need to choose between that opportunity and that soccer game, and I imagine it’s hard for both.
If you could look into a crystal ball and see 20 years into your future, what would you want to see?
I would want my desire, but not demeanor, to be aggressive. I would want to see myself using my experience and skillset to help. I want to marry corporate efficiency and nonprofit passion and kindness. And, if we’re dreaming here, I want a family with three kids.
Do you have any career role models? Who are they?
Sounds cheesy, but my parents. My dad is one of the most brilliant and unassuming people I’ve ever met (I may be biased, though). My mom’s quiet strength and kind character make her a force. They’re not boastful and they lead calmly.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received – career-related or otherwise?
What’s the worst that can happen? They say no. So ask.
Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
A very wise person once told me that you love something when you’re good at it. I recently started working out. Never used to like it, but now that I can do it and not look completely silly? I love it. If you work hard, you’ll fall in love. If you’re already in love, work hard.
If you married a millionaire husband and didn’t have to work, would you? (Be honest.)
Five years ago, I would have probably said yes. Today, I can’t see myself without working, and I don’t want to. I enjoy things more when I work for them. I want a dedicated purpose, and this business is just the start of that. I want to feel like I’m contributing. I want to work.
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