SETBACK to COMEBACK!

It's possible to rise above the challenges that come your way in your professional life with adaptability and persistence.

- Kalwyna Rathod

Be it personal circumstances such as health issues or family responsibilities, or factors such as poor job fit, organisational changes, or office politics, there's a lot that can impact your career's progress or even contribute to setbacks. While these are all part of life and professional growth, self-reflection and adaptability are key to navigating these challenges. Read on to know how two entrepreneurs made it through...

Noida-based Deepak Gupta is the co-founder of Style Lounge, a one-stop beauty and skincare solution powered by AI and technology

Being a male founder in the beauty-tech industry is unusual, but Deepak has combined technology, transparency, and trust to create a new ecosystem for beauty and skincare. When he chose entrepreneurship, the challenges only grew - from convincing salons to trust digital transformation to handling sceptics who couldn't imagine AI shaping beauty. Each obstacle taught him to look beyond the immediate 'no' and focus on building systems that would outlast resistance.

“In every career, setbacks come like courier packages – different in size, weight, and urgency,” Deepak points out. “Mine came when opportunities that everyone else celebrated – onsite assignments, international exposure – did not come my way. At first, it felt like I was being left behind, but then I realised that the delay was actually preparation, so I invested in building depth, leadership, and resilience.