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Purpose and Persistence: A Lasting Contribution
The path of an entrepreneur in sustainability, defined by innovation and a de-
parture from convention, inevitably confronts moments of self-doubt. Lipi ac-
knowledges that “time and again it comes with everyone” to reflect and question
choices. Her method for navigating such inevitable setbacks is to “look back on
it in perspective of why I started it in the first place”. Her entrepreneurial leap,
a “very thought-through decision” taking six months, was anchored in finding
“happiness in this work” and the conviction that she was “making an impact”.
This consistent reaffirmation of her core purpose is the crucible of her resilience,
demonstrating that enduring drive stems from a clear internal compass, not ex-
ternal validation.
For those embarking on a similar journey, Lipi offers direct counsel. She une-
quivocally states, “No time better than now to enter into the domain of sus-
tainability because there are so many opportunities”. Her advice, particularly for
women entrepreneurs, is to “find your core reason for why you started it in the
first place, and... standing on your beliefs is the most important thing”. The in-
dispensable value of networking complements this resilience through setbacks.
Lipi identifies networking as “the most important thing” because sustainability
is uniquely a “domain of collaboration,” not competition. As “not everybody is
one stop solution to everything,” the field thrives when “ten experts can come
together for one project”. This collaborative ethos amplifies individual impact,
transcending traditional competitive paradigms.
Lipi’s broader vision for her contribution crystallizes around a niche: the market
for water and ESG. Despite its critical importance, she notes “water steward-
ship” is “not a very talked about topic” in the Indian scenario, unlike carbon
markets or waste management. She actively seeks to “tap into the market” here,
acknowledging the domain’s relentless evolution. “The domain of sustainability
is ever evolving. You never know when one thing will go out because regulations
constantly change.” This requires continuous adaptation, as exemplified by the
rapid shifts in European ESG regulations. Lipi’s trajectory, from inherent passion
to tech-driven pragmatism and collaborative vision, underscores a fundamental