Journalist & Media Tech. Entrepreneur Linda Ashok on Success & Failure

We gathered from your Twitter post that the University of Glasgow denied you admission to their Creative Entrepreneurship program because you scored 58.2% in your graduation. Tell us more about it.

True. At the request of a journalist friend, I had applied for the British Council Creative Economy Scholarship to further my understanding of entrepreneurship and deepen my community impact. But when I received their decision on not making the cut, it was a pity; I wish the University of Glasgow knew the political strategy prevalent during my graduation that impacted universities in Bengal, including Rabindra Bharati University (where I studied) and Calcutta University, where students securing a 45% would be radical.

Foreign universities offering to sign up students late in their career should focus more on their work experience, achievements, and professional recognition than academic scoring. Particularly they should be considerate of mid-career women professionals from Asian countries who have already had it all.

Well, that’s truly a matter of concern. But what’s your plan ahead? Do you still wish to pursue higher studies?

I am studying every hour. At this moment, as I reflect to answer your questions, I am studying the pattern of things. My ventures are an output of my intellectual curiosity and ability to digest and disseminate information as suitable.

But academically, yes, I hope to pursue higher studies at a university where the faculty doesn’t reject mid-career applicants basis their academic mark-sheet, where the faculty truly stands up for professional achievement-based merit helping mid-career professionals further their mission.

I come from a family where my parents didn’t even have a chance to complete their schooling. My brother and I managed through a lot of adversitiesto complete our graduation. So, a post-graduation will be a fulfillment of many things together.

Ms. Ashok, would you like to share with our readers more about your ventures? I am particularly intrigued about StartuptoEnterprise.com.

Thank you for asking and your interest. StartuptoEnterprise is a global digital news media reporting on technology, marketing, businesses, and people from startups to enterprises. My growth as a journalist took place with my experience of working with The Telegraph in Schools (TTIS) and Voices by Statesman.

As already suggested, I didn‘t have the privilege to choose a specific program in journalism from any premier institute, and the focus was more on earning money to feed my family. So, after 15+ years with Fortune 100, 500s, and startups, StartuptoEnterprise is my journalism to usher in more visibility to news from startups and global enterprises.

Right. I see that StartuptoEnterprise.com conveys a class and erudition in every published piece. There’s a substantial amount of research and how you refer to establish sources to back your content.

There’s quality, but you have just covered 100 articles in 90 days or so in quantity. How do you plan to put up with the pace of covering compelling news from the startup community breaking every few hours? What’s your sustainability strategy? How do you plan to bear this financially, or how are you funding it already?

Wow. Let me think. Here, I sip a cup of ginger tea as I try to answer your questions. But, yes, I am grateful that the work going out there is gaining good visibility. I receive a good number of emails these days from research agencies and universities curious about StartuptoEnterprise.com. Many international corporate PR agencies also reach out to me inquiring about media partnerships for their brands.

I am taking it all slow and steady because I am confident of my work and where my perseverance will lead me. 100 articles in 90 days are almost an article a day, and it is a deliberate choice because I can do only so much while taking care of my digital marketing clients that I consult via Brand Happiness®. On the way, I might apply to startup accelerator programs and seek funding but not yet.

Wonderful. Good growth is slow and steady, and you are leading it by example. But while you are assured and confident about your work, do you think that is intimidating to many? Your social media posts are so poignant; both your criticism and appreciation are evidence-based and genuine. Guess you collected a lot of bad eyes?

I appreciate your kind words. Yes, I critique, but as you have noticed, they might sound on the face but are backed by rationality. I am recommended by image consultants to approve everything to gain greater positive sentiment for my personal brand, but no, I do not believe in such a strategy.

For example, I am critical of Jeff Bezos as a business tycoon and also appreciative of Jeff Bezos as a human to consider fulfilling the space mission of the 82-year old Wally Funk, who will join Jeff on Blue Origin’s debut commercial space flight. I am critical of Jack Dorsey’s attitude toward Indian IT Regulation compliance. I am also appreciative of him for selecting Manish Maheshwari as the MD of Twitter India instead of a white guy.

So, it is a pity if many cannot follow. As a concerned society, we have to contain toxic positivity and challenge the status quo to bring out stories that deserve all the light.

And this brings us to a wrap. Thank you Linda Ashok for this candid interview. If you wish to follow Linda Ashok, Founding-Editor of StartuptoEnterprise.com & Founding-Consultant of Brand Happiness®, use her business card.

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