For many entrepreneurs, success stories are often told through milestones of revenue, scale, and recognition. But for Uma Mansharamani, the real story began when everything fell apart.
Before founding Tajurba, Uma was among Delhi NCR’s leading apparel exporters, having built a business that reached significant heights, including a highly successful IPO. At that point, it seemed like the path ahead was clear.
But life had a different plan.
When Success Turned into Survival
What followed wasn’t a calculated pivot or a strategic shift it was a complete breakdown.
A global recession began affecting international markets, and with it came turbulence in client relationships. Payments stalled, communication weakened, and decisions were influenced by the client’s internal company politics beyond her control. The situation worsened over the months, leaving the business in uncertainty.
A crucial meeting was finally scheduled to resolve these issues.
That meeting was set for September 11, 2001.
The attacks on the Twin Towers led to the cancellation of all flights. The meeting never happened.
With that, the business collapsed.
“All our capital got wiped out, leaving us with huge debts,” Uma recalls.
What followed was even more difficult, not just financially, but emotionally. Decisions were made under fear, shame, anger, and guilt. Assets were sold to repay dues. Support systems faded. And the future looked uncertain.
“It felt like a dark tunnel, and we were desperately looking for someone to show us the way forward.”
The Birth of Tajurba: Not an Idea, but a Realisation
At that time, business coaching was almost unheard of in India. With no capital left and no external guidance available, Uma turned inward, working on rebuilding resilience, self-belief, and clarity.
Slowly, something shifted.
Over the years, she had informally guided many entrepreneurs and business owners. One conversation with a friend in the US changed everything.
“Why don’t you charge for your advice? It works, and people benefit from it.”
That thought stayed.
In the US, hiring business coaches was already common. In India, it wasn’t. But the need was clear.
That moment brought back the pain of everything Uma had gone through—and with it, a new purpose.
“If we could help others grow without facing what we went through, that would be meaningful.”
And that’s how Tajurba was born.
Built on Experience – Not Theory
“Tajurba” literally means experience, and for Uma, that’s exactly what the platform represents.
Every lesson from her journey, the rise, the fall, and the rebuilding, is deeply embedded into the ecosystem.
From understanding how to start and scale a business, to navigating failures, to adapting to modern challenges like technology shifts and changing customer behaviours, Tajurba brings together decades of lived experience.
“I would say everything we’ve learned in 41 years of business and life is a part of Tajurba’s DNA.”
Moving Beyond Networking to Real Growth
While many platforms offer networking, Tajurba was never meant to be about exchanging business cards.
Uma saw a deeper problem: business owners didn’t just need connections; they needed clarity, structure, and the right mindset.
Through its Build to Scale framework, Tajurba focuses on:
- Understanding individual business challenges
- Providing personalised mentorship
- Building strong business foundations
- Creating accountability systems within teams
The approach is simple but powerful: growth comes from within first, and then from the ecosystem around you.
“Business doesn’t grow through contacts, it grows through credible relationships and consistent action.”
This philosophy has translated into real outcomes, with the ecosystem contributing to over Two Thousand Crores in business growth for members, mentees and trainees.
The Mindset Block Around SME IPOs
Uma is also a strong advocate for SMEs going public—but she believes the biggest barrier isn’t external.
It’s internal.
Most founders hesitate due to fears around compliance, financial transparency, or operational readiness. But according to her, the real limitation is a belief:
“We are not big enough yet.”
“We SMEs are not meant to be so big.”
She challenges this thinking.
The IPO journey, she explains, is what builds structure, discipline, and scalability. It’s not about waiting to become ready; it’s about becoming ready through the process.
“An SME IPO is not just about raising capital, it’s about evolving into an institution.”
The “Little Voice” That Holds Founders Back
Trained and learnt several modalities under Blair Singer, besides many International and National Coaches, she emphasises mastering the “Little Voice”, the inner dialogue that often limits growth. “If you can silence the critique within, you can achieve anything.”
A major part of Uma’s work today revolves around an abundance mindset, increasing self-worth, resilience, and business/career growth through OKRs and other tools. She helps people who are feeling stuck in any sphere of life to break their inner barriers, dissolve recurrent debt, anxiety, overthinking, procrastination, relationship issues, or self-sabotage patterns. She helps them heal their inner being, master their emotions, rewire their mindset, become unstoppable, and propel them on the path of perpetual growth to achieve their goals, manifest wealth, health, great relationships, and astounding success!
