Meet Deepika Pillai | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deepika Pillai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deepika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have lived across 3 continents in multiple cities and I have always found joy in exploring unique places. I have been eager to learn how distinct each of us are. My closest friends & colleagues have been from strikingly diverse backgrounds. What has always amazed me is how we all are different, but all still the same. Wherever I went, the sociology of the place and the contrasting environments fascinated me. I have had a global career in sales & marketing and now as a mom of two young kids, the responsibility of parenting in a foreign land with a vivid sociological mix poses a constant challenge. It is a perpetual thought to ensure that the kids not only seamlessly integrate into the place they reside in, but also remain aware and proud of where their heritage. And this is how my third baby, Kula Village was born. Kula village is a one-stop shop that curates all-inclusive multicultural, ethnic and world heritage products. We would like to arouse a sense of connection with your roots and help you embrace world cultures. To achieve this holistic environment, we partner with entrepreneurs who share our vision of creating this seamless and boundless community.

What should our readers know about your business?
So where do I begin? Kula Village has taken life from a single idea – to build a community that brings about radical change in the way we see culture and heritage. Over the past few months I have spoken with several partners who have all trusted my vision and that was the easy piece of the puzzle. However, putting together everything else has been a struggle – from being a non-developer to maintaining work-life balance through the pandemic. No step of the way has been easier than another, but overcoming hurdles seems like an everyday affair now. But I am glad that we have been able to launch. The journey only gets tougher from here as we refine the company further. I would like the world to know that if I have been able to build a company from scratch, being a mom of 2 very young kids and having to run the household with no external help in the middle of the pandemic – anyone can do it. There is no time to rest and no place for excuses once you’ve found your Ikigai.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I started this company in the middle of the pandemic. I honestly have to give a shoutout to my husband and kids who have supported me through all the erratic hours and the amount of hours that goes into a startup. Here is also a special mention to all my mentors who have guided me through this journey. I also would like to give a shoutout to all my managers and colleagues across organizations I’ve worked at. Lastly I give a shoutout to my parents, sister and my entire family who have been a constant source of love and inspiration. Kula Village belongs to each one of them as much as to me.

Website: https://www.kulavillage.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kulavillage
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kulavillage
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thekulavillage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kulavillage
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWnp0gHKBpIRrvIqtvge7Tw?