Fit with Fab
Farzana Begum walks into Fit with Fab every morning in Visakhapatnam, her hijab neatly tucked in place, a symbol of her identity. “My hijab is a part of me, just like my strength. It doesn’t limit me; it empowers me,” she says. In a field where women are often under-represented, she stands tall. “Fitness is for everyone, no matter what you wear. Strength comes from within,” she adds.
When Farzana Begum lost her mother in 2014, she realised how often women’s health takes a backseat in families. Determined to change this, she began advocating for fitness among women, only to face resistance from families reluctant to send them to gyms. Undeterred, she pursued certification to become a fitness coach.
Her journey, however, was not without challenges. In 2017, a tumour in her spine required surgery, forcing her to pause. Yet, she moved to Visakhapatnam and started training a small group of women on Beach Road. Just as she was gaining momentum, another hurdle came in 2019 — a diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma after a malignant tumour was found in her rib. The battle with cancer was gruelling, with rounds of chemotherapy testing her resolve.
The phase was one of the toughest. Looking back, Farzana says: “That setback was a setup for a comeback.” In 2020, post-treatment, she founded Fit with Fab, an all-women’s gym in Visakhapatnam, creating a safe space where women can train without inhibitions. Her journey caught the attention of many, even leading to an appearance on a television show hosted by actor Balakrishna, where she was honoured in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Farzana believes that women, especially those in their peri and menopausal phases, need to prioritise strength training. “It’s not just about fitness; it’s about reclaiming strength at every stage of life,” she says, adding, “Women in their 40s and beyond must embrace strength training, take charge of their fitness, and never let societal restrictions define their limits. It’s not just about staying fit but preventing osteoporosis, improving metabolism, and boosting confidence.”
Cocoabuzz
Latha Pudi, founder of Cocoabuzzz.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Latha Pudi is redefining cocoa farming with her sustainable enterprise, Cocoabuzzz. Returning to her agricultural roots in Vizianagaram after years in the corporate world, she has transformed a traditional practice into a climate-smart venture in Andhra Pradesh. As a finalist in IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL Women Startup Entrepreneurship Programme, Latha is pioneering eco-friendly cocoa farming while adding value to the regional cocoa industry.
Founded in 2021, Cocoabuzzz initially focused on post-harvest processing, producing cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, flavoured cocoa nibs, and vegan cocoa spread. Recognising a rising demand for high-quality cocoa, she recently expanded her plantation with 1,500 new saplings, set to mature over the next three years. Today, her 2,000-tree cocoa farm sequesters around 20 metric tonnes of carbon annually.
What sets Cocoabuzzz apart is its fruity-flavoured cocoa beans, a specialty in high demand. “The climatic conditions in Andhra Pradesh are suitable to grow cocoa. Here, we get one harvest cycle from April to July,” says Latha. To maintain consistent quality, Latha plans to integrate digital grading and benchmarking technologies. Her efforts have already gained traction — Cocoabuzzz has a buyback agreement with Mondelez, a major global player in the chocolate industry.
Beyond cocoa, Latha is focused on supporting farmers who must wait four to five years before cocoa trees yield earnings. She is developing nutritional, plant-based edible products that maximise returns for growers. In June 2024, her startup was selected for Google’s DigiPivot programme, a six-month digital marketing training initiative in collaboration with the Indian School of Business, Hindustan Unilever, AVTAR, and Off Experiences.
In Andhra Pradesh, where few farmers venture into value addition due to high processing costs and concerns about agriculture’s viability for future generations, Latha sees an opportunity. With Cocoabuzzz’s 100% sell-out rate, she is proving that sustainable farming can be profitable. To ensure year-round productivity, she has diversified into off-season crops like peanuts, white sesame, and coconut to produce cold-pressed oils.
“We are also using soil sensors to monitor humidity, pH, and nutrients, along with automation for farm operations and pest detection,” adds Latha. Even agricultural waste is repurposed — cocoa pod shells are turned into compost and mulch.
Vidhya
Aparna Kolagatla, founder of Vidhya.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Traditional career counseling often reduces a student’s future to grades and conventional pathways. Aparna Kolagatla, founder of Vidhya, challenges this norm with a personalised mentorship model that nurtures self-discovery, long-term growth, and alignment with a student’s true potential.
Vidhya goes beyond aptitude tests and predefined choices. “We focus on subject selection, aptitude assessments, interview preparation, and ensuring students balance academics with sports or the arts,” Aparna explains. Shadowing and mentorship are central — like when she guided a 15-year-old student torn between fine arts and applied design. “By connecting with a UI/UX and product designer, the student explored creative technology and industrial design, eventually securing admission to a top design school with scholarships,” says Aparna. Vidhya today has mentees across India, for profile building, interview preparations, gap year mentoring and summer school programmes.
Since its selection for the Women Startup Programme at IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL in 2020, Vidhya has faced challenges — particularly in gaining credibility. Parents often compare independent mentoring with large coaching institutes, and schools lean towards broad-based counselling. “Those who value holistic development appreciate our approach, especially for global opportunities like Ivy League admissions or entrepreneurship. But resistance comes from parents focused solely on traditional careers,” Aparna notes.
Her vision for Vidhya is clear: quality over expansion. She aims to build structured programmes and a strong network of trained mentors, ensuring that every student receives the guidance they need — not just for immediate success, but for a lifelong journey of self-evolution.
“Education should develop self-awareness, adaptability, and real-world competencies, bridging the gap between education and employability, entrepreneurship to create future leaders and change-makers,” says Aparna.
Published – March 06, 2025 05:22 pm IST
