LAUNCHING:
NISHA GARIGARN
Company:
Croissant
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THE BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
I’m one of the founders of Croissant. It’s an app that lets you access co working spaces across your city. We have a community of remote workers in New York City, London, Berlin, SF Bay Area, LA, and beyond!
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
It is so different from day to day, but my main role at Croissant is marketing and product. This week, I’ve done things like send e-mail marketing campaigns, prototype a new messaging feature for our app with Sketch, and meet for coffee with potential community partners.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND WHAT CHANGED?
I used to joke around that I wanted to be a candy taster! Growing up, I never had any serious desire to be anything in particular. I trusted in the system and worked hard to do well in school and develop my interests, hoping that I’d figure it out along the way. My goals have evolved over time as I deepen my knowledge about stuff I’m interested in.
WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
I graduated from Scripps College with a degree in Media Studies. My liberal arts education has been a valuable foundation for my thinking and how I approach the world.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
My Mom is my biggest role model. She immigrated to the US from Thailand when she was in her 20s and built her life here from scratch. Her hard work and determination has been a source of inspiration for me my whole life.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
I work remotely and I love it, but I’d go crazy if I had to work from home all the time. I am someone who takes in inspiration from my surroundings, so I am always exploring different work spots. I love being able to work from cozy coffee shops, and I also use my own app Croissant to hop into beautiful co working spaces.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?
I get too overwhelmed with non-important things. There are a myriad of urgent things that come up regularly. I’m trying to be more mindful about picking a few things to focus on each day. Things that will incrementally move my company forward, rather than a checklist of tasks that seem important but are really just busy work in disguise. In practice it is difficult for me to do this consistently.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
I am not sure yet. I hope to still be working on something that positively touches the lives of people around the world. I’ve been very excited about the blockchain and cryptocurrency movement recently, so perhaps I’ll be working on something in that field.
DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?
I think I am slightly different in all contexts, but I am a huge believer of authenticity. Life is easier when I can just be myself.
WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?
I’m in a leadership role in my company! Our startup has four founders, with me being the only woman founder (and very proud of it).
DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?
Yes! Embracing diversity needs to be intentional because it is a lot of work. It’s much easier to run a meeting when everyone already has the same ideas. You can make decisions quicker and execute faster. However, I believe it is absolutely worth the effort to develop a culture where different perspectives are valued and respected and integrated into the decision-making process. Since we are trying to build a global company, the more diverse perspectives, the better!
HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?
My work and my life is very intertwined. I like it better this way!
WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?
To be a founder, you need to have a lot of grit. There are so many “ups and downs”. It’s just part of the process. Those who stick it through and adapt the quickest will be the winners at the end.