“I come from a small village called Vadlamudi in Guntur district. My childhood was marked by love, struggles, and the support of my parents. My father worked at a milk collection center and made bricks to make ends meet, while my mother managed the home. We lived in a joint family, and despite the financial challenges, my parents never let us feel like we lacked anything.

One of the biggest influences in my early life was my mother’s elder sister, a Kuchipudi teacher. She used to take me to school, and people would often call me the teacher’s daughter. I stayed with her for a while, but when I was in my first standard, I moved back with my parents. Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. But by the time I finished school and was doing my B.Com, I started thinking about preparing for government exams. Business was never on my mind.

I married a man who had a vision-he wanted to run his own automobile business. In 2015, he worked hard to establish it, and while I supported him in every way, I was never involved in the business. I looked after our home, raised our daughter, and managed everything on the personal front while he focused on building the company.

Then, in 2020, my husband went on a business trip to Visakhapatnam. One morning, I got the news that he had passed away due to a massive cardiac arrest. It was devastating. My daughter and I were in complete shock, unable to process what had happened or how we would move forward.

Taking over his business was terrifying. I had no experience with running a company, managing finances, or handling the day-to-day challenges of the automobile industry. For a while, my daughter and I even considered selling it. But then we realised-this was not just a business. This was his dream, and it was our only source of income. I knew I had to step up.

There was one big hurdle-I had studied in a Telugu-medium school. My English and Hindi were almost non-existent. But my daughter, my biggest support, encouraged me to learn. She motivated me to take online classes and helped me build my confidence. I was determined to succeed-not just for me, but for her.

And I didn’t stop there. I learned to ride a cycle and a scooter, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t want my daughter to feel embarrassed that her mother couldn’t. I wanted to show her that no matter your age, it’s never too late to learn. I picked up skills I never imagined I would-using a computer, managing accounts, and understanding the business inside out.

Over the years, life has changed me. I was once a sensitive woman, but today, I stand strong. I handle the business, manage finances, and even provide jobs for others in the industry. Some days, it feels overwhelming, but I keep going because I remember my husband’s words-he wanted to run this business successfully until he was 60. Though his journey was cut short, I am determined to see his dream through.

Looking back, I never thought I would be here. What started as a dream to be a teacher turned into something I never expected. My daughter and I have faced the hardest times, but we’ve held on and built something together. With every challenge, I’ve grown stronger, more capable.

This is not just my story-it’s proof that when life pushes you down, you can stand up again. That no matter how tough things get, if you hold on and keep learning, you will find a way forward.”

– Praveena, Businesswoman