We recently had the privilege of interviewing Sandi Saksena, founder of Sandi Rich Management Consultancies. Starting her professional journey at the age of 44 as a Financial Consultant, with unwavering dedication and confidence, she successfully navigated the challenging path of selling life insurance in the UAE. After 28 years of serving the role, Sandi currently owns a company, attends seminars, podcasts, speaker engagements, does fitness challenges, and even walks on the ramp as a model. As an award-winning and acclaimed leader, Sandi Saksena’s journey is a testament that with strong will and perseverance, success is inevitable.
The Beginning of a Transformational Journey
We started the interview, “How did your professional journey begin, and what key moments shaped where you are currently?”
Sandi shared, “My professional journey began in January 1997, when I found myself in financial dire straits and desperately needed to generate income. Rejected repeatedly, I answered a well-worded newspaper advertisement that I felt was just for me: a female aged 44 with no job experience of any kind, no ‘office’ skills, or knowledge of typing, and who could barely navigate the ‘mouse’ on a computer. The recruitment ad read ‘If you are a people person and you have good communication skills, no experience required, training provided.’
Several rejections because of the above did not break my spirit or resolve. When one’s back is against the wall, the only way to go is forward. I believe in the power of prayer and I also know that when one prays for something, one must be clear and not change what one prays for. With focus and consistency, my prayer was ‘open one door for me,’ but when doors were shut in my face, I never complained or questioned; I still prayed open one door for me.
Being educated, articulate, congenial, and with the ability to learn and implement, I have complete faith in my intelligence, capabilities, self-confidence, and attitude. So, I attended the group recruitment seminar. There were more than 50 candidates, 8 were shortlisted, and I was one of them. I was offered the job on the spot. I could not believe my ears, no questions about experience, or expertise. I asked why and how they selected me; they listed my confidence, style of speaking, the questions I asked, and in short, my overall personality. They were looking for inherent traits, everything else can be taught or learned. They saw potential that was not influenced by a CV or lack thereof.”
Current Offerings at Sandi Rich Management Consultancies
Interested to learn more about the core services or unique products offered by Sandi Saksena’s business, we asked her to share the same.
“I have just started my own company Sandi Rich Management Consultancies, offering various consulting modules focused on the personal and professional development of the individual. With tailored Financial literacy for individuals and groups based on status, age, employed business owners, stay-at-home women, and students, I offer negotiating skills, sales skills, and public speaking skills, among other bespoke workshops. I partner with lawyers to conduct workshops on contracts, Wills, Estate Planning, and qualified health professionals on Wellness sessions.
My services are uniquely customized as they are based on the requirements of individuals or groups. I’m a ‘1 stop destination’ connected to key elements of what makes each of us financially secure, legally protected, and healthy in mind and body to enjoy a good quality of life.
And, I resigned from my commission-based role as Financial Consultant with the only group that I worked for, Nexus Insurance Brokers, after 28 years,” she mentioned.
Navigating through Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of a professional journey’s evolution. So, we asked Sandi Saksena, “What major challenges have you faced as a leader, and how have you overcome them?”
Sandi explained, “To be honest, once I stepped into my role as a financial consultant, things just got better, not only on the financial side, but I discovered facets of myself that became assets to my growth.
Challenge — this word is tossed about all the time giving the impression that most of us are struggling, working against the odds, the path strewn with difficulties. It sort of gives the impression that if things are progressing ‘smoothly’ we are not ‘working hard.’ However, it’s more about working smart, channeling, and optimizing the energy and efforts to what contributes to my success. In the quest to lead or be led, I am a leader.”
Impact of AI: Redefining Businesses
The digital revolution has been transforming the way businesses operate across sectors. To learn more from Sandi Saksena, we asked, “How do you see technology — especially AI — influencing your sector?”
“Technology is there to make me more successful by doing mundane routine tasks. It is not there to take over my thinking or my creativity, which makes me unique. Over-reliance on AI, where we seem to be headed, the shortcut to critical thinking, is quickly diminishing human ability to reason, question, be creative, and be independent. This will lead to gradual atrophy of my cognitive faculties, which I will not accept,” explained Sandi.
Envisioning the Future
We further asked, “What’s your perspective on where your industry is heading in the next few years?”
She added, “My ‘industry’ has infinite possibilities for development and growth. It’s always a work in progress and will continue to flourish because developing one’s personal skills to stand out in one’s field, protecting financial assets and legal rights, staying healthy in mind and body will always be a driving force.”
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
Addressing the beginners, we asked, “What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or professionals aiming to create impact?”
“Objectives must be clear: are you jumping on the bandwagon of the most popular idea on social media or is this just a flash in the pan to make some quick money and move on to another exciting ‘flavor of the month’ project.
In the real world of business, that is, consistent money-generating enterprises, there are no shortcuts. Well-researched, structured, professional legal advice and accounting procedures should be your foundation. Most people focus on marketing, social media, and other ‘viral’ methods and forget the basic boring fundamentals. Choose to spend your money on what is vital to sustain your business to prevent its collapse
It’s very much like ‘I won’t take care of my internal and emotional health, just slap on make-up, get botox and fillers, and use image-altering apps.’ It’ll not last long before your body ‘caves’ in,” Sandi shared.
Learn more about Sandi Saksena’s journey, connect with her on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Find Sandi Rich Management Consultancies on LinkedIn and visit their website
Also Read :-
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