Meet Megha Desai, Founder & Principal of Marketing. Strategy. Dharma
Tell us about your business.
Marketing. Strategy. Dharma. (MSD) is a brand development and communications company based in New York City. MSD enables start-ups, brands, artists and for-purpose businesses establish their voice, generate strong brand partnerships, and grow. MSD also acts as the Director of The Desai Foundation, a for-purpose organization focused on fostering Indian-American culture and creating health initiatives in India.
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
In all honesty I became an entrepreneur by accident. My ultimate goal was to discover a place where I could work with a certain kind of clients doing a specific type of outreach and brand development. It turned out that to accomplish this I had to start my own company.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
I would definitely have to say my father. He has been one of the most influential forces in my life in terms of showing me how to set and accomplish my goals and how to approach and create new opportunities.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Professionally I am most proud when I am able to bring together two companies and help maximize their potential together in a surprising way. That is really what I strive to create.
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
The first I would say is a lesson that applies to all facets of life is the belief that Karma is real. What you put out comes back to you and if you operate your business with that standard, good things will happen.
The second is that, fundamentally, everything in business is about relationships. The sooner you realize the importance of investing in your professional relationships, the farther you will go in business.
What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
Our business has grown mainly by word of mouth and returning clients although I also write for various publications such as Fast Company and the Huffington Post which has helped bring some attention to MSD.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
Fostering professional relationships and holding back from micro-managing my staff. By letting my team evolve and grow I have been able to maintain focus on my own work and professional strengths.
Do you have any new projects coming up (or have you just completed a big project ~ reached a milestone, etc.)? If so, please tell us about it.
I have recently shifted my business model moving away from functioning like a traditional agency model allowing us to be more flexible with our fee structure. This has allowed us to work with more start-up companies and organizations. And I’m proud to say that our projects have resulted in a lot of clients returning to us with repeat business because they are walking away feeling good about our results.
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
Singing is an important release for me. I’m a semi classically trained Indian singer and have recently started exploring pop and rock genres as well. I also go on long bike rides and try to do an activity that’s really outside of the box every two weeks to push me beyond what I perceive to be my limits.
You want to write a book on The Next Generation of Giving.
You can see my series on Huffington Post on this topic here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megha-desai/the-next-generation-of-in_b_5110555.html
What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you (feel free to include the links to your social networks and websites)?
Twitter: @Meghatron5
Visit website at http://msdharma.com/
