Anila Bansal’s journey is one of dreams, struggles, failures, and ultimate success. As a school student, she was a backbencher, always dancing and participating in co-curricular activities, much to the concern of her parents, who wondered how she would succeed in life. Academics never interested her until she reached 12th grade and realized she needed good scores to secure admission to Delhi University. Determined, she studied hard and performed well, though not well enough for direct admission. However, her passion for dance opened the doors to DU, proving her first major lesson—nothing goes to waste if you are doing something extraordinary that adds value to your career. She joined Gargi College, where she continued dancing and exploring opportunities through various internships. These experiences shaped her mindset, making her realize that she didn’t want to work a conventional job but instead wanted to start something of her own. However, she lacked a concrete business idea. After completing her education, she found herself at home, uncertain about her next steps. One day, her father suggested taking a trip around their city, Faridabad. Though she initially found it pointless, the visit to Mangar, a lesser-known natural and cultural spot, opened her eyes to the hidden gems in her hometown. She realized that many people were unaware of these places, which sparked the idea of starting a business—Town Glow—to showcase and promote her city. Despite having the idea, she lacked business knowledge and struggled with monetization and project planning. Encouraged by her mother, she pursued a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, where she learned essential business strategies and even worked on a project in Greece. However, she was determined to establish something in India. Having studied English Honors, she never imagined working with Hindi, but after discussing with her father and industry professionals, she understood that to make an impact in local news, she needed to embrace Hindi. This challenge led to the birth of Pehchan, a media platform dedicated to recognizing and representing local stories. Initially, she single-handedly managed the business, but she soon realized that a successful venture requires teamwork. She slowly built a team, understanding that leadership is not about doing everything yourself but about empowering others while managing operations from behind the scenes. Through this structured approach, Pehchan gained 10 million followers, leading to the expansion of multiple media channels. Eventually, Pehchan Media & Networks emerged as a recognized platform across major social media outlets, marking the beginning of her journey as a woman entrepreneur in the media industry. Anila’s success fueled her desire to inspire and uplift other women, leading her to actively recruit and empower young women within her company. She firmly believes that having an idea is the foundation—once an idea is formed, half the work is already done. Over time, she realized that while media has the power to create an impact, it doesn’t directly change lives. To bridge this gap, she launched an NGO, expanding her mission from informing people to transforming lives. Today, her entrepreneurial journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of creating opportunities not just for oneself but for others as well. Trailblazing entrepreneur and philanthropist, Anila Bansal embodies the spirit of transformation. A proud alumna of Manav Rachna, she founded Pehchan Faridabad—the city's first digital media house—and Pehchan NGO, championing educational and social upliftment. Her initiatives, from launching the Covid Faridabad resource portal to hosting blood donation and mask drives, reflect her commitment to community well-being. A graduate of DU and the University of Westminster, Anila’s fearless storytelling and philanthropic endeavors continue to inspire and create accountability. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx