Sunira Khullar Nutritionist and Clinical Dietician, Founder of the Hygieia Nutrition is a Clinical Dietician with a PG in Health and Nutrition from Delhi University. She started Hygieia Nutrition in June 2019 to provide the masses with accurate
information about lifestyle disorders.
She believes one can only prevent a disorder if she/he is well aware of it in advance.
She is a ray of hope for everyone who has fallen into trap of fad diets and is looking to improve his health with the simplest yet practical meal plans and food psychology.
In a free-wheeling chat with
Daily Excelsior she shares her experiences
as an entrepreneur.
Excerpts of interview
Tell something about your startup and how people can benefit from it?
After working with renowned Gyms and Fashion Models I gained an experience in the field and started my journey as a clinical dietician and improved the nutritional status of many people belonging to Raipur, J&K, Gurgaon, Punjab, and a few overseas clients in the USA, Dubai, and Canada with my therapeutic diet plans, many have transformed their body and successfully managed and reversed their lifestyle disorders. I have expertise in the management of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and PCOD. I have also experience in giving nutritional therapy to GDD and autistic Patients…At the same time, I have experience treating lean and underweight patients.
What challenges have you faced as a woman Entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
I was a medical student from Bakshi Nagar Jammu, completed my graduation in the year 1999 from Women’s Prade college. Being focused on the health department, I tried the entrance Exam for MBBS only once and after not getting successful and without wasting my tests and trials, I decided to go for a bachelor of science and then can have some other qualifications
Due to certain personal family circumstances, I was not supported to have my medical studies from any other state of India. But I felt that still there were many sectors to prove myself. During 2000-2001 I joined my PG Diploma course in health and nutrition and also applied for PG Diploma in computer application. In both fields, I scored good marks in the first division. This encouraged my inner zest to explore more in my studies. So after that, I applied for a bachelor’s in education and then also did a master’s in education. After that, I was selected for the MCSE scholarship form (Microsoft Certified course in System Engineering). Right after my studies, my parents fixed my marriage to a person belonging to one of the renowned business families of Jammu. As I belong to such a renowned family I was not supported to do the job in the private sector. Finally, I decided to open my institution where I served students for 6 years, but this was not the end of my journey, at the same time I joined convent school – St. Peters Karan Bagh (ICSE Board) where I served for many years. In 2016, I shifted to Raipur capital city of Chhattisgarh, and joined KPS (CBSE) as a science teacher. During the 2019corona, when many people required health guidance and correct lifestyle habits I decided to give a new direction to my career as I was already having my qualifications in hand.
What Inspired you to start your business?
In 2019 due to Covid, many people suffered from chest infections and post-Covid disorders, all because of the wrong myths of eating habits. When I was admitted to ICU due to Corona Chest infection, during that time I experienced many people losing their lives due to wrong eating habits in that ICU ward. Patients suffering from Corona infection used to opt for juices or sugary components which was against the corona. Even during critical conditions, they never accepted to wear the oxygen mask and within hours I saw them collapsing, this was not tolerable. Right after my discharge first of all changed my family’s eating habits and then started guiding people also. This social service has benefited many people and hence decided to open a nutritional therapy center.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Ms. Anar Mehta, a famous Women Entrepreneur, social worker…founder of the Shrishti Bharat foundation always inspired me with her service to women of the nation, she personally encouraged me and guided me whenever I needed her help.
Do you feel that in India there are enough structures and facilities put in place to assist women to expand their Startup Journey?
After 2019 Indian Government has proved itself in the field of science and research. If India wants to assist women to expand their startup journey, I think there is ample revenue, enough structures, and facilities.
How do you balance your professional and personal life?
Being a woman who belongs to men dominating society, it is quite difficult for woman of such a mindset kind of family to maintain a balance in her professional and personal life. We as women have never been supported in such conditions where sometimes we need help. So being the stronger determinant for my ambitions I decided to be a multitasker as Mom, wife, and community health worker.
What advice would you give to someone who is an aspiring woman entrepreneur?
For any woman of the country or world who has the firm zeal to serve her nation or mankind as well as an aspiring woman entrepreneur I would like to advise i.e. You might fall seven times but get up the eighth time. Giving up is not an option.
Which woman inspired you ?
Mother Terresa was always my inspiration since my childhood when I studied her article about her services to mankind specially for the poor and needy in the health sector.
feedback sunirakhullar@gmail.com
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