Ep634: Souniya Khurana – Own Your Narrative Regardless of What People Tell You

Andrew Stotz 00:02
Hello, fellow risk takers and welcome to my worst investment ever stories of loss to keep you winning in our community. We know that to win in investing, you must take risks but to win big, you've got to reduce it. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm on a mission to help 1 million people reduce risk in their lives. And that mission has led me to create the become a better investor community where you get access to the tools you need to create, grow and protect your wealth go to my worst investment ever.com right now to clean your spot fellow risk takers. This is your worst podcast host Andrew Stotz, from a Stotz Academy, and I'm here with featured guests. Souniya Khurana, Souniya, are you ready to join the mission?

Souniya Khurana 00:47
Totally am Andrew. And that's a phenomenal mission that you have. And I can't even get started with the kind of impact that you might be having on so many lives. Thank you for having me over, Andrew. Yeah, well,

Andrew Stotz 00:59
I'm, I'm excited. I know it's not been easy to get our time to match. So I'm really grateful that we have this time together. Let me introduce you to the audience. Souniya is a co founder and CEO of the most creative and sought after branded podcast company in a new age media venture wine studio. While Souniya has career spans more than a decade across developing businesses and strategic roles, and a failed startup before navigating her way successfully through her second entrepreneurial stint, wine studio. What has conspired her success is owning her story and seeing through the many failures in her life as important milestones, TGIF she often says often why? Because for her, it means saying, God, I failed Souniya take a minute and tell us about the unique value that you're bringing to this wonderful world.

Souniya Khurana 01:58
I think, you know, one thing that relief, I feel strongly about is empathy. Something that arises from a lot of compassion. And a lot of people tell me, Andrew, that maybe you know, as a leader as a CXO, that can make you a softie at heart, but I kind of do not believe it that way, I do not see it that way. And that as a value as a belief system has been there with me, ever since I've been a child. But I connect dots. And I see that, you know, while I was a kid, the way I used to still go out of the way and help people in whatever capacity I could. Whether it is to thank my family for this upbringing, or, you know, just say that, that's something that comes to me naturally, is for people to see. But that's definitely a unique proposition, or unique value that I bring to the world. Because I see everything from the lens of what the other person is going through, whether it is a team member, whether it is stakeholders, whether it is friends, family, or anybody you know, and that helps me navigate my way through relationships, and really build strong, long lasting relationships with trust is of utmost value.

Andrew Stotz 03:23
And Sonia, I wonder if that, you know, one of the benefits of women leaders is the ability to have more empathy, and maybe men are like, get tough. Come on, get up. Let's go. No excuses. Let's do it. Come on. And we're always like that, and maybe the leadership qualities that you're talking about are, you know, valuable from a female perspective.

Souniya Khurana 03:51
Yes, and and you know why I say this, is because Andrew, I was in a conversation very recently with another phenomenal leader of the CXO, who happens to have built a unicorn in India. And she's just started another venture now. And she said that, you know, as a leader, we need to be in the times that we are in, we need to be ruthless and kind at the same time. So I fully started thinking that, you know, while, you know, we look at gender roles, and we look at how different genders performed differently at workplaces, and women have this tendency to nurture have this tendency to come from a space of compassion, but at the same time, being ruthless is also important because that's how businesses grow. You need to be focused laser right, focused on what the objective is, but at the same time, have the kindness to maybe let people fail, maybe allow that space. People to also grow by making those mistakes, but not allowance for those takes time and again, so that's a ruthless, that's being ruthless. But being kind is well. And that's the right balance that I think whatever gender we belong to. So that's been a learning for me very recently.

Andrew Stotz 05:19
Yeah, you know, as an American who lives in Thailand now, for 30 years of my life, I really you can't go around a Thai business, you know, yelling and demanding the way you would probably in an American business. And it's definitely taught me that, you know, guiding people supporting people. And the way that I think about the ruthlessness is a ruthless focus on the needs of the customer. I'm not getting tough on you, just because I want to be tough, I'm getting tough on you, because we need to deliver better for the customer. And that is a message that I think, you know, it's hard to argue that if you can do that, right, and not drop the ball for the customer, whether you're male, female, lower, higher, whatever level you are in the company, the fact is, is that, you know, that's really what it's about. Because if you can satisfy the customer, then you know, most of the other things take care of themselves. I'm wondering if you could tell us a bit about wine studio and what you're doing. Maybe you can just tell us a little bit about what you're doing with the wine studio.

Souniya Khurana 06:31
Sure, thank you for asking that, Andrew. And so we're definitely serving customers the best way we can. And something that really started this spark within of starting something called as buying studios. Wine stands for what's your narrative, and basically saying that, you know, everybody has a story. Every brand has a story. And it was before vine that I was working on something called as India network, which was building community on ground for startups in tier two, tier three cities, helping them build an ecosystem. That's when I realized, so, you know, for everybody who's listening, India has two very different parts to it, India has a very metropolitan cosmopolitan crowd, very urban, very aware exposure to how the world behaves, what, what is going on what's trending very in tune with everything across the globe. And then there is an India, which we call as Bharath, where there are people who aspire to live the Metropolitan Life, but they do not have the same wherewithal and resources that the Metropolitan, urban, millennial cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan crowd has, yet they have that aspiration, because Internet penetration has grown so much, they see that they consume the same content. That is the community that is the community, which is now also ambitious, which is now also innovative and creating their own startups and ventures. But for the lack of that exposure, they do not know how to tell their story. They do not know how to really put their narrative out to the world. And they have some brilliant, bizarre, phenomenal innovations. But it's sad that they're not able to take it out to the world. And while doing all of this is where I realized that, you know, there is space for me to work on content and helping these startups really focus on bringing out their story. So that's what I out and then I ended up good here, guys head on this conversation on the last day of that retreat that why don't we look at doing something together. That's where this was 2019 of June. And in September 2019, is when we started this business, this venture called Vine studio, with the intention of helping businesses leverage the power of audio, and podcasts to bring out their narratives. And we started working with startups and a lot of entrepreneurs solopreneurs. And that kind of started also showing us those because this content that we started creating for these businesses, small brands also started showing the kind of deep engagement that was happening through podcasts and to audio content. And more of them wanted to start creating these because they saw that while that does not give them the kind of vaster audience that a YouTube or a tick tock does, but it gives them depth. It gives them longer engagement. So that's how it happened and now we've been working with A lot of big brands as well. So am I still catering to startups in tier two, tier three only? No, we are also catering to a lot of big businesses and big brands. And that is what has kind of also given us the confidence that the space that we are in, we've got our own proof of concept we've already got in enough business, we are already making good revenue. So that kind of as a startup is a great validation of where you are and where you're headed. And, and that's been interesting, right from just me and my co founder to now our team of 15. I don't think I could have asked for anything better than where we are right now. And it's only going to get better.

Andrew Stotz 10:48
Fantastic. Well, that's exciting. And yeah, there's so much going on in India, just incredible the diversity of ideas, and all of that. So it's exciting that you're bringing that out. Well, now it's time to share your worst investment ever. And since no one goes into their worst investment thinking it will be tell us a bit about the circumstances leading up to then tell us your story.

Souniya Khurana 11:19
In a while, I would love to talk about my worst monetary investments, but I think every he makes those and loans and gets up from there. But since I am in the business of narratives, and storytelling, and owning up their narratives was that as a kid, who was a 10 year old girl in school, I failed. You know, that's where the TGIF comes from, thank God, I failed, because now I look back, and I realized that failure was good. But back then, I was horrible at mathematics and horrible is an understatement. And I hope that the audience who listens to this also resonates that we are not great at everything, we figured out what our strengths are eventually but back then, of course, you know you're bad at one subject your peers, your colleagues, your parents, your family always tries to tell you that you know this is your weakness, invest on it more so that you can get better at it. But that's a bad strategy. Please do not invest in things that you're bad at. And I tried to really invest into that. Okay, I got better but was it something that I was always interested in? Getting better? at it? Did it really helped me feel better or feel confident? No, because nobody ever amplified or helped me look at what my strength was. My strength always was English my strength always was stories. Strength was history. I love stories I love the world of narratives and things that you take me to a different world and nobody helped me ever realize that this is where I need to invest more this is where I'm to spend more time on and what did it eventually wear it for the entire duration of my school challenge there is no, your of your school. I felt like I'm not good enough. I felt terrible. I did not enjoy my school days. I just felt that this time needs to end soonest. And you know that time I still remember and when I failed in sixth grade, I actually contemplated suicide because I felt that my life is not worth it. Nobody will understand me I'm a failure. Instead of looking at it as an event in my life, I ended up looking at it as a noun and use that as a tag up until my first venture which was in 2016. And whatever used to happen before that, you know whether it was getting the best placement in college, whether it was getting a good rank to get through the university that I wanted to get through. I always felt Andrew that this was happening by default. It has not been designed by me. You know, that is where you end up leading yourself to when you do not invest into your strength when you do not have the support system that helps you see what your strength is. And it was only in 20 It was only after 2016 When I met The right people in my I started looking at is there was always fear that I had kind of started living with that I'm not good enough that I do not belong, where I am at, and that my parents did not help me look into my strengths. And were always pushing my phone focusing on my weaknesses, maybe they do not even love me, they do not understand these three consistent fields that played into my life up until the time that I met the right mentors. And I saw the story that I was actually living with the story that I'd created out of the fact was that I had failed, that I was not good at math, that was the fact. But the story that I had created was I'm not good enough. I do not belong here, I'm not worthy enough. So all those never enough moments kind of became big mountain, then of course, you know, that's moment of reflection that comes in and you see that okay? Maybe you shouldn't own them, or own your narrative. Now, I openly own it with Elon that, you know, this is how it is, this is who I am. And I wasn't good at that. So be it. So now is the time that I've been investing on my strength on what I'm good at. And that's been the transition from having invested into the worst thing in my life to now knowing what to invest into.

Andrew Stotz 17:10
So how would you summarize the lessons that you learn?

Souniya Khurana 17:14
Well, I think one thing that I would say is that on your narrative, people will tell you a lot of things. But it is important for everyone to really look into their life and see, and understand what is this really telling me? And is this telling me that whatever you're investing into, you just look at it? From a very outside perspective, you know, step out of your own situation, and take a helicopter view that, okay, you know, this is happening. But what is the story that I'm creating? What is this really telling me? Is this about me? Or is this about the situation. So making it more objective, and taking the emotion out of it helps you see things more rationally and clearly. And clarity, as they say, is power. So I think that has been the biggest takeaway. So bring clarity, and that is where the power lies, and invest into your strengths. That is the second lesson. And third, take emotion out of situations that drain you look at it more rationally.

Andrew Stotz 18:34
Lots of great things there, maybe I'll summarize a few things that I take away. Well, the first thing I like the idea of stepping, stepping outside of yourself. And one of the exercises I've done is the idea of kind of imagining that you're up on the ceiling of the room, looking down, and then use that as a tool to observe yourself. But sometimes, I also realized that I needed outside help, like you mentioned, you know, you weren't getting him. I remember, part of my narrative when I was young was that I was just a skinny kid. And you know, I was afraid I was intimidated easily. And I was in a group therapy session when I was 17. And the counselor told me stand up, go over to the mirror. He said you're almost six foot tall, you know, you're a big guy, you know, you're not a small guy. And I was like, I didn't even really think of that, you know, and he tried to kind of help me break my narrative and then think that's the other thing that I take away is that you can change your narrative so when it does get depressing, and it does feel down and you do feel frustrated Well, it's probably because you're living someone else's what someone else thinks you should be doing. But ultimately, I think as we get older we realize that what's our number one job to be a better me to be a better you. And so I think you remind us of that and and I think that's a Great, great lesson, anything you would add to that?

Souniya Khurana 20:03
I think you've very beautifully summed that up. And, you know, something that you said that you're looking at it, you know, look at it from the perspective of you being on the ceiling. And then that also reminds me that, you know, think about it that if you were a fly in your own life, and you were sitting on the wall and looking into your life, how would you see it? That's another, you know, the fly's eye view, is how I love to say it. But yes, I think you've beautifully summarized it. And at the end of the day, you know, there's this beautiful quotation that I read in this book by Brene. Brown that, you know, it's you who's in the arena, right? And you only know what's going on. So don't let anybody else belittle you don't let anybody else tell you what to do, who you are, where you come from, since you are the one who's taking that sweat, that grind. So get up and decide, but don't let anybody else decide who you are. And don't let anybody tell you, what's your narrative? So that's, that's how I would be able to explain it, because I don't really exactly remember the quotation. But yeah, that's what it means for me.

Andrew Stotz 21:19
So let's go back in time and think about, you know, when this was all going on, and now, you know, the question is on your is, are young people going through this now? Yes, they are. And we know particularly I know, in my for my friends in India, and my time in India, there's a lot of pressure on young people, to conform to be what their parents want them to be smart to get in the best schools pressure. So based upon what you learn from your story, and what you continue to learn, what one action would you recommend our listeners take to avoid suffering the same fate?

Souniya Khurana 21:56
I think one thing that I would highly recommend every young kid who's now looking to make career options or decisions that are very important for them, whether it is choosing the stream of education, or the university or career, a lot of people will tell you a lot of things, but recognize your strengths. You know, just First things first, I think until and unless, you know what, really, Julie, you know, cheers you up, I think something that I tell people is that in the last six months, 20 are just, you know, close your eyes. And think about those times where you felt that you're in absolute flow, that you've loved doing what you do, that you did not even once, think about why you're doing it, you were just so engrossed and involved in that activity, it could be art, it could be dance, it could be music, whatever gives you that kick, you know, first things first, figure that out. And then see if there is you know, there's a concept of geeky guy, right? You know, if you're passionate about something, and you really enjoy it, you love it, see if there is a possibility to transition that into a profession. Something that will also make you money that make you happy, that will create an impact in the world, go all out for it, you know, stand up for what you really want to do. But recognize, first, take time in self reflection, and help yourself before you can help anybody else. But that's the thing that I have understood from my life, and that I would love to pass

Andrew Stotz 23:41
on. Whatever gives you that kick, I like it, I like it, what is a resource of yours or any other resource that you'd recommend for our listeners.

Souniya Khurana 23:51
Um, I actually get into a lot of conversations and row with CXOs, especially women who are in the position of CXOs, and high achieving entrepreneurs. And it's called CXO talks, which is there on all podcast, streaming platforms, as well as YouTube, anybody who's aspiring to really go on the path professionally, of growth of high achievement, whether as an entrepreneur, an aspiring entrepreneur, or if you are in middle management, looking to go and grow yourself into executive positions. This is one resource I will highly recommend. And these are the conversations where we don't talk the dry, high and dry conversations about what makes you a CXO. But about candid, vulnerable stories, which is about what really goes into making, whether it is the grind, whether it is those icky, murky moments or your regrets. I talk about all of those and that's something that I'd highly recommend to anybody who's looking to go that way and that pot.

Andrew Stotz 25:01
And that's, I'm assuming on every podcast platform that's out there.

Souniya Khurana 25:07
Yes. Wherever you listen to your podcast, I'll have links

Andrew Stotz 25:10
to that in the show notes, ladies and gentlemen, so you can click on them and check it out. Okay, last question, what is your number one goal for the next 12 months?

Souniya Khurana 25:20
Wow. For the next 12 months, my number one goal is. It's actually, that I've been focused and off late on, on better health and fitness. Because what I've realized is that while as a high achieving entrepreneur, somebody who wants to achieve a lot of things grow and scale rapidly, the last thing that we keep on our priority is our health. And as cliche as the saying is, your health is your wealth, I now see how true that is. Because in the last two years of COVID, and post COVID, the kind of health recovery and troubles that I've seen a lot of entrepreneurs going through, I feel that I don't want to be that space, you know, I really want to be active, healthy, and be able to, you know, once I know that if I'm physically healthy, to be able to ensure that I'm mentally healthy, kind of goes hand in hand. So yeah, that's one thing that is my number one goal for the next 12 months, good health, good fitness. And physically, mentally, spiritually, and that'll help me grow and go wherever I want to.

Andrew Stotz 26:49
That's exciting. You know, I always, I never really exercise in my life. And I always kind of found it hard. And what I found in my life is whatever I it's hard, whatever is hard in my life, I do first thing in the morning. So when I was working on my dissertation many years ago for my PhD, first three hours of the day for seven months straight when I've written books, when I've done other things, it's like, I've got to grab that time. So I know what your challenge, and I feel the same challenge is just to keep getting better exercise. And we have a park nearby here in Bangkok that I go to pretty much every morning. And then recently I've been stopping eating at lunch, so I eat my lunch. And then I don't eat any more food for the rest of the day. And that has been phenomenal for allowing me to have a deeper sleep, and bring my heart rate down to a much lower level. So that's been something you know, we all have our different things. But that's one I'm experimenting with and finding it pretty exciting. So hats off to you and we look forward to your continued health Well, listeners, there you have it another story of laws to keep you winning. If you haven't yet joined the become a better investor community, just go to my worst investment ever.com right now and claim your spot. As we conclude Sonya, I want to thank you again for joining our mission. And on behalf of a Stotz Academy, I hereby award you alumni status for turning your worst investment ever into your best teaching moment. Do you have any parting words for the audience?

Souniya Khurana 28:24
I actually I think your audience I'm sure it's as grateful as I am. Because there's so much such a wealth of insights that come from some really worst investments. I don't think there's any other way for you to get better at investing in yourself than to consume. is better than to make your worst investments and then realize Ouch, this is not supposed to be done. It's better to learn from others mistakes. So yeah, I think that's a phenomenal job you're doing Andrew,

Andrew Stotz 29:06
thank you. And we all appreciate that. And that's a wrap on another great story to help us create, grow and protect our well fellow risk takers. Let's celebrate that today. We added one more person to our mission. To help 1 million people reduce risk in their lives. This is your worst podcast host Andrew Stotz saying. I'll see you on the upside.