Nutripreneur Of Month - Shilpa Mittal

Name:  Shilpa Mittal

Company Name:  Shilpsnutrilife

Work-Profile: Nutrition & lifestyle counsellor, Educator, Conducts workshops & seminars

Work Experience: About 20 Years 

Big Achievement: 1^st Indian Dietitian to Launch an android app in India

Mission: Creating healthy nation, through right nutrition advice. To help my clients correct their diet and lifestyle through simple means and methods so that they will carry it all their life.

Education:  Shilpa completed B.Sc. Food & Nutrition  (Merit Rank Holder) from SNDT Ghatkopar in 1995.  Thereafter Shilpa completed M.Sc. Nutrition with 2^nd Rank from SNDT in 1997

Family, Marriage & Children: Shilpa’s parents have always been supportive of her education and encouraged her to do her Masters and work thereafter. Shilpa got married in 2002 and has a very supporting husband and in-laws who have always wanted her to utilise her knowledge and work. She has 2 beautiful daughters aged 9 and 13 years

Before Becoming A Nutripreneur: Before starting her own venture, Shilpa has worked with Dr. Rajesh Parikh (obesity consultant), Dr Aziz Asai (physio and fitness coach), health clubs, VLCC, etc

How Did It All Start: Shilpa had always wanted to start her own venture and opportunity came knocking when one of her friends “Aarti Batavia” was moving to US in 2007 and wanted Shilpa to handle her clients. Shilpa decided to take leap of faith and took up the opportunity and set up her own clinic.

Journey: She set up her clinic and had visiting cards and letter heads designed. She approached doctors on quarterly basis in the beginning to inform them about her clinic, indicating how important networking is in initial days. She also advertised through inserts in local paper, organizing free talks in various local organization, etc. Aatri was always there to help Shilpa in low times and always gave her valuable inputs indicating once again the importance of good friends. Shilpa started slow and did face some difficult times in start but it was all worth in end. As she puts in her own words” “Starting things on your own require a lot of courage, patience, hard work and financial investment, but believe me it is all worth it, when a client comes to you and thanks u for the results, rather making the much needed difference in their life. The level of satisfaction is very high as here only you are involved in the results and no one else.”

In 2009, “Nutrilife Health Management” was born and she started approaching schools for nutritional workshop. This involved mailing across the proposal, fixing meetings with the concern person, explaining the details. The workshop that she conducts consist of seminars on topics ranging from obesity, various types of deficiencies, recipes, healthy eating for kids and parents, and also one to one counselling.

Current:

• Shilpa has renamed her company to “Shilpsnutrilife” i.e. nutri- nutrition life - lifestyle so it's diet and lifestyle makeover.
• She is also the 1^st Indian dietician to have an android app for educative purpose.
• She has been consistently celebrating nutrition weeks for last 5 years by organising various free camps related to nutrition involving lectures, workshop and invites many eminent doctors to deliver lectures during nutrition week celebrations.
• She also conducts healthy eating workshops for kids aged 6-10 years. The best part about these workshops is that Shilpa’s daughter has helped her plan this workshop by sharing their experiences of what their friends like to eat, what their tiffin comprises off and by helping her weave interesting stories to promote the mantra of healthy eating among young children

Lessons Learnt In The Journey: Be very confident of what you say to your clients. Being honest and firm is equally important. Be patience while dealing with them. Connect with them. I learnt a little bit of marketing too. Still a lot more to learn.

Message for budding nutritionists

• Trust yourself completely
• Demand what you are worth of, don't degrade yourself for a few pennies, if you hold your worth right so will the other person do.
• Collaborate and help each other, that's how our community grow only then will all of us benefit
• Practice what you preach as you are the role model for your clients

We wish Shilpa all the very best for future

- Team NII