vriinda

Founded and managed a one-of-a-kind hostel that felt like an escape within the city. Redefined Bengaluru’s hostel scene with community-driven events, fostering creativity, connections, and a vibrant cultural space. Hosted 6,000 guests from diverse backgrounds—working professionals, creatives, solo travelers, founders, investors, and more. Organized 180 events in a year, including mental health meetups, music jams, flea markets, pop-ups, and art workshops. Collaborated with new organizers, artists, and small business owners, providing a launchpad for their first events and workshops —supporting talent that lacked executional expertise.

Redefined the backpacking experience in a lesser-known gem, creating a vibrant and welcoming community. As one of Shangarh’s first hostels, consistently outperformed renowned chains in occupancy and guest experience. Launched Shangarh’s only Airbnb, earned Superhost status, and expanded into a hostel while running both accommodations and a café with just two volunteers. Achieved 80% occupancy in a remote region, with 60% of short-term guests extending stays to 15 nights. Leveraged Café Stories n’ More as a discovery point, driving hostel visibility and conversions. Built strong local partnerships with grocery shops, trekking guides, and taxi drivers, enhancing guest trust and experiences. Boosted organic reach through collaborations—Untravel Media (85K views) and Twin Strings (1.2M views), elevating Shangarh’s tourism. Pioneered community-driven experiences, hosting group trips, wellness retreats, surprise performances, and festival celebrations, leaving a lasting impact.

Founded the first café in a remote Himalayan village, transforming Shangarh’s tourism landscape by providing a much-needed social and culinary hub. Led construction in peak winter, managing laborers and carpenters to complete the project in just 1.5 months—becoming the first 'outsider' to build in the region. Drove 300% growth in visitor stays, increasing daily footfall from 5 to 20. Pioneered tourism impact—locals invested in taxis, homestays upgraded to Airbnbs, and a branded grocery store opened to meet new demands. Leveraged Instagram & content marketing, positioning the café as Shangarh’s go-to travel guide with travel tips, weather updates, and high engagement. Partnered with local businesses, providing employment, incentivizing taxi drivers, and hosting volunteer programs for café operations. Built a vibrant community, hosting Shangarh’s first jamming sessions, open mics, and festival celebrations. Mentored 'Ups and Downs of Mountain Life', sharing insights on remote living and entrepreneurship.

Oversaw account management for high-profile clients such as GSK, including their brands Mother’s Horlicks, Horlicks Growth+, Eno and Boost. Conducted in-depth research to develop strategies tailored to client needs and industry trends. Handled social media accounts and managed page hygiene, strategy, campaigns, posting and engagement. Performed comprehensive competition analysis to identify opportunities and gaps. Managed seamless communication with clients to align goals, provide updates, and ensure the delivery of results. Coordinated between different branding, copy and design team to ensure smooth flow of brief and timely delivery of work.

Collaborated closely with an account planner to gain foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in advertising, marking the beginning of my journey into the world of marketing. Contributed to projects for renowned brands such as Dabur, Coca-Cola, and Odomos, Lizol. Developed concept cards to communicate campaign ideas for various brands. Conducted competition analysis for multiple brands across diverse categories to identify market trends and opportunities. Explored and documented insights into South Indian markets to inform culturally relevant strategies. Conducted in-depth research on the evolving role of men in advertising, highlighting shifts in consumer behavior and societal expectations.

Conducted research and created detailed databases of potential speakers for the 2017 Global Partnership Summit. Contacted speakers, facilitated communication, and managed confirmation processes. Managed on-field logistics, including coordination and troubleshooting during event execution. Conducted venue-related research and reiki to ensure optimal event planning and execution. Contributed creative ideas for various events to enhance engagement and attendee experience.

Identified and researched 400 potential speakers, filtered through 50 of them, and finalized 15 impactful talks coordinating with the speakers for ideas, scripts, and presentations. Managed event logistics, coordinated between different teams, and handled operations from planning to execution.