Karishma Chauhan – Business Owner

My name is Karishma Chauhan, and I’m a 31-year-old self-made entrepreneur from Chandigarh. I started my journey around 2020–21, when I was just 27, driven by a passion for digital technology and a desire to work on my own terms. I began offering IT and creative services on Upwork, where I built long-term relationships with international clients and grew a solid reputation for delivering high-quality work.

From there, I expanded into building my own service brands-Skiemedia and karishmachauhan.com-where I now provide a range of digital solutions including web development, branding, design, and digital strategy. My focus has always been on understanding my clients’ needs deeply and delivering results that help their businesses grow.

Apart from these, I’m also working on two other exciting ventures in partnership, which are currently confidential. I may not have formal company registration yet, but I’ve been consistently working and operating like a full-scale business for the last few years. Every project I take on is backed by strong intent, strategy, and a personal commitment to excellence.

Honestly, the biggest driving force was the desire to be my own boss and build something that was truly mine. I’ve always had an independent mindset, and the idea of creating a business from the ground up really excited me. I didn’t want to follow a conventional path-I wanted the freedom to make my own decisions, work with clients on my own terms, and turn my skills into something meaningful.

When I started around 2020–21, I wasn’t chasing perfection-I just wanted to start. I began with freelancing on Upwork, and from there, I slowly shaped my own brand and business. It’s been a learning journey, but that core desire-to create something of my own and live life on my terms-has never changed.

The most challenging aspect was definitely being a solopreneur in the beginning. I was doing everything on my own-client communication, execution, marketing, finances, troubleshooting-you name it. It was overwhelming at times, especially when handling multiple international clients across different time zones.

There were moments when I wished I had a team to fall back on, but looking back, those challenges taught me resilience, time management, and how to wear multiple hats. It also gave me a deep understanding of every part of my business, which has been invaluable as I grow and look toward building a team.

One of the most pivotal realizations I had-though it came through experience, not by accident-is that you often have to walk alone. Success can be a lonely journey, especially when you’re building something from scratch. I learned that not everyone will understand your vision, support your grind, or celebrate your small wins.

But that’s okay. Lions walk alone, and that’s something I really resonate with. I discovered that self-reliance, inner discipline, and belief in your own path are far more powerful than external validation. Once I embraced that mindset, I stopped waiting for permission or applause-and that’s when real progress began.

In the early days of my journey, I was juggling multiple jobs-freelancing gigs, part-time roles, and consultancy projects-working day and night without rest. Eventually, I fell seriously ill. During the lockdown, the company I worked for went into losses, and I had to leave. Desperate to stay afloat, I started working with a friend’s friend. I handled everything for him-bidding, client communication, project delivery-but in the end, he didn’t pay me and left me out of the picture.

It was a painful wake-up call. I had no work, no investment, and no backup. But I told myself-if I could help build someone else’s business from scratch, why not build my own? I started from zero, completely on my own, with just my laptop, my skills, and an unshakeable belief in myself.

Today, I’m proud to say I’m a Top Rated freelancer on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score. That journey-from being unpaid and overlooked to being recognized for consistent excellence-is what defines my story.

My advice is simple but powerful: believe in yourself and keep pushing forward, no matter how tough the journey gets. Starting and running a business isn’t easy-there will be setbacks, doubts, and moments when things seem impossible. But the key is resilience and self-belief. When you truly trust your vision and your abilities, you find the strength to overcome obstacles and keep growing.

Remember, every challenge is a lesson, and persistence is what separates those who succeed from those who give up. So stay focused, keep learning, and never lose faith in your own potential.

To me, success is sweetest when it comes after failure. It’s not just about achieving goals or reaching milestones-it’s the unique feeling of overcoming challenges that makes you truly appreciate your journey. Success is that moment when you look at yourself with respect and recognize your own value, knowing how far you’ve come despite the obstacles. It’s about growth, resilience, and self-worth, not just the end result.

My greatest inspiration has always been my mom. Whenever I felt like giving up or lost hope, she would remind me that I’m destined to make it big. She used to say that even the best actors go through hard roles and many challenges before they shine.

Her faith in me, even when I doubted myself, was powerful. She had this gut feeling deep down that no matter how tough things seemed, I would succeed-and that belief kept me going during my hardest times. Her unwavering support and confidence are what inspire me to push forward every day.

You can only lead effectively if you’ve done it yourself. True leadership comes from experience, understanding the challenges firsthand, and leading by example. When you’ve walked the path, you earn the respect and trust needed to inspire others.

A dream brought to life by a relentless struggler.

I offer a wide range of IT and digital marketing services, specializing in AI-powered language translation, social media optimization (SMO), SEO, paid marketing campaigns, content creation, and graphic design. My goal is to help businesses enhance their online presence, reach their target audience effectively, and drive growth through innovative technology and creative strategies. With a strong focus on delivering customized solutions, I work with clients globally to meet their unique needs and achieve measurable results.

The versatile and evolving needs of my clients inspired me to develop this comprehensive range of services. Each client has unique challenges and goals, so I wanted to offer a broad set of solutions-from AI language translation to digital marketing and graphic design-that can be tailored to help them succeed in a fast-changing digital world.

“My life mantra is patience and resilience. I believe that staying calm and persistent through challenges is the key to long-term success. With patience, you give yourself the space to grow, and with resilience, you bounce back stronger from every setback.

The most challenging part has been managing people who work for me. It’s not easy to find team members who are as committed to quality and hard work as I am. Many want to earn but don’t put in the effort or deliver the standard I expect, which makes building a reliable team tough. This experience has taught me the importance of patience, clear expectations, and leading by example.

I focus on self-care and continuous personal growth to protect myself from brain drain. By investing time in learning, staying updated with industry trends, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, I keep my skills sharp and my motivation high. This helps me stay creative, productive, and ready to adapt to new challenges.

In my opinion, the three essential qualities for success are fitness, patience, and hard work. Fitness ensures you have the physical and mental energy to tackle challenges consistently. Patience helps you stay calm and persistent when results take time. And hard work is the foundation that turns your goals into reality through dedication and effort.

I frequently use ChatGPT for generating content, brainstorming ideas, and improving communication, as it greatly boosts productivity. For design work, I rely on Canva because of its user-friendly interface and versatile features, making graphic design accessible even without advanced skills. Both tools have become essential in my daily workflow, and I highly recommend them to entrepreneurs and professionals alike.

Prioritizing work is the key habit that makes me more productive. By identifying the most important tasks and focusing on them first, I ensure that my time and energy are spent on what truly moves my business forward.

I tend to overthink at times, which can slow down my decision-making process. I’m actively working on trusting my instincts more and taking quicker, more confident actions.

My top three getaway destinations are Greece for its stunning beaches and rich history, Nainital for its serene lakes and peaceful mountain vibes, and Switzerland for its breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures.

“A lion always walks alone.”

My key driving force was the desire to create something unique and truly my own. I wanted the freedom to shape my own path and build a business that reflects my vision and values.

What motivates me the most is that feeling of value and respect for myself. Knowing that my hard work and efforts are recognized fuels my drive to keep pushing forward and achieve greater things.

I define success as something that leaves a great aftertaste-meaning it’s not just about the achievement itself, but the lasting satisfaction and fulfillment that come after overcoming challenges. Success is that rewarding feeling that stays with you long after the goal is reached.

Believe in yourself and keep working towards your goals, even if you’re alone or no one else believes in you. Persistence and self-confidence are key-trust your journey and never give up.

My greatest inspiration is my dad. He started working at just 17 and never took a leave, always dedicated to providing for our family. His hard work, dedication, and resilience have been a constant motivation for me to push forward and build something meaningful.

My favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur is the freedom to live life on my own terms-working and resting the way I choose. This flexibility lets me balance my passions and priorities in a way that truly suits me.

My business focuses on helping people grow their businesses by providing tailored IT and digital marketing solutions that drive real results and long-term success.

The main motivation was to do things differently and my way – to bring my own unique approach and vision to the work I’m passionate about.

The greatest inspiration for me was the female CEO of the first company I worked in. She carried herself with confidence in both her speech and style, which showed me the power of strong leadership and self-assurance.

Never give up-it’s just the beginning. Every challenge you face is shaping you for something bigger. Keep going, even when it’s tough.

My favorite part of being a business owner is the flexibility to manage my work on my own terms and the financial independence that comes with it. It’s empowering to have control over both my time and my earnings.

When I first started my business, two of the biggest challenges were time management and self-care. As a solopreneur, I was juggling everything on my own, and it took time to find a balance between work demands and taking care of my health and well-being.

I see my business growing into a recognized and trusted name-where people know it, respect it, and rely on it for quality services. My goal is to build a strong brand that stands out and makes a lasting impact.

I would never compromise on showing up for my business. No matter how hard things get, I won’t let procrastination or excuses make me step away from what I’ve built.

For me, success isn’t a final destination-it’s an ongoing journey. It’s about consistently moving forward, growing through challenges, and never settling. As long as you keep going, you’re already successful.

“Efforts never go unrecognized or unseen-what you put in always finds its way back to you.”