Episode Description
In this episode of Be Anomalous, Priya Ravindra joins me for a conversation about curiosity, self-belief, and building a business rooted in values in a world that often rewards speed over intention.
Priya’s journey is anything but linear.
She grew up in India, shaped by strong women, deep-rooted values around fairness, and an early belief that speaking up wasn’t optional. As a teenager, she moved to Australia to study engineering, eventually finding herself in tech as one of the only women coding in the room.
But the company she’s building today didn’t begin in tech.
It began with a question.
During the pandemic, as consumption skyrocketed, Priya found herself wondering: Where does all of this go? What happens to the clothes we buy, wear, and discard?
That curiosity led her down a path into textile waste, sustainability, and eventually into building Punar, an ethical brand working with recycled materials, conscious production, and a mission to rethink how we consume.
But this conversation goes far beyond sustainability.
We talk about growing up between cultures, navigating gender inequality across countries, the realities of building a business from scratch, and why visibility and speaking up are essential, especially for women founders.
Priya also shares the behind-the-scenes of entrepreneurship, the failed samples, delayed shipments, self-doubt, and the resilience it takes to keep going when nothing is guaranteed.
This episode is for founders, builders, and anyone trying to follow a path that doesn’t come with a clear blueprint.
If you’ve ever felt pulled toward something you couldn’t fully explain yet, this conversation is for you.
🎧 Listen to the Episode:
[Spotify] | [Apple] | [YouTube]
What You’ll Learn
How curiosity can turn into a business
Why self-belief is built through action, not confidence
The realities of building a sustainable brand from scratch
How to navigate being the only woman in male-dominated spaces
Why speaking about your work is not ego, it’s a responsibility
How flexibility in execution can unlock unexpected opportunities
The importance of community and “finding your tribe” as a founder
Why ethical and sustainable businesses require both conviction and strategy
Favorite Quote
“Everything you seek is inside of you.”
A reminder that the answers, the clarity, and the direction we’re searching for externally often already exist within us — if we’re willing to trust it.
Favorite Book
📖 Atomic Habits — James Clear
A powerful framework for understanding how small, consistent actions compound over time — and how real transformation doesn’t come from drastic change, but from steady, intentional shifts.
In This Episode, We Cover
(00:00) Introduction and Priya’s early life in India
(05:00) Moving to Australia and entering engineering
(10:00) Being one of the only women in tech
(15:00) Understanding gender inequality as a global issue
(22:00) The curiosity that led to sustainability
(30:00) Starting Punar and learning textiles from scratch
(38:00) Early failures, product development, and persistence
(45:00) Building a brand through storytelling and community
(52:00) From B2C to B2B — evolving the business model
(58:00) Sales, visibility, and speaking up as a founder
(01:05:00) Mistakes, delays, and learning resilience
(01:12:00) Advice for founders building unconventional paths
Referenced in This Episode
Sustainable fashion and textile waste
Ethical production and circular design
Gender inequality in tech and entrepreneurship
Founder mindset and resilience
Building mission-driven brands
Community and collaboration in business
Resources Priya Mentioned in This Episode
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Be Bold. Be Real. Be Anomalous.
Thank you for having me! I loved our conversations, you are a wonderful host Sai