Mumbai based Dhanashree Bhatkal is a Finance Professional and a Serial Entrepreneur, who has been Training Businesses and Coaching Individuals to find Financial Freedom. With 20 years of Professional experience, she Co-founded “A Money Tree” ~ a boutique Firm that is dedicated to transforming Financial Lives of Clients. She calls herself an Accidental Millionaire but an Intentional Entrepreneur.
She is an FCA [Chartered Accountant] and holds an MBA, along with a Masters in English Literature! Her brand 91safeindia was awarded the Best Emerging Company Award in 2020 by the Indian Achievers Forum. She has also been awarded the India Prime Women’s Icon Award 2022.
Dhanashree is a celebrated Author, and authored a book titled ‘Money – What’s Left What’s Right’ which hit the markets in October 2022, and is steadily inching towards a bestseller mark. Dhanashree was featured in the Top 50 Influential Authors of 2022 earlier this month.
Pioneer News caught her with her for a quick interview and here are some of the excerpts:
1. What inspired you to write this book?
I am an avid reader, and Writing has been a passion for me since my school days. This book was a natural progression since it brings together two of my favourite things – Writing and my core subject which I have been immersed in for more than two decades now. Simplifying money management!
My inspiration for this Book remains my mother, to whom this book is dedicated. I believe I got the writing gene from her, and also many lessons that have served me in my life and career!
2. What challenges did you face while researching and writing it?
When I decided to write on this subject, it was because I have been working in this area for more than 20 years. It was more about digging back into our past projects, seeing how we have worked with mentees and clients, and hand picking the anecdotes, experiences and case studies that I decided to share. Perhaps research was not really required since I write free flow, and from my first-hand experience of things. But the editing was a tough job! To decide what should remain and what needs to move out. The intention was to write for the common person who knows nothing about finance, savings, investments, business or money management.
3. What part of the book do you like the most as the author?
The chapter that talks about ‘Healing Money memories’ and the one titled ‘Are you Dimming your Light?’ ~ these two are close to my heart because they resonate with me not only as the author, but also as a reader.
4. What message do you want to convey from this book?
- That anyone, no matter the age, gender, occupation or location, can learn money management and start building wealth.
- That our Mindset is as important, perhaps even more important than the systematic knowledge and practical tools. A Combination of both is ideal!
- That no matter where you are, you can start right now to change your financial reality forever.
5. What is the most challenging part for an author in general?
Authenticity without making it preachy. I think non-fiction work runs the risk of sound preachy and authoritative at times. I have done my best to keep the language lucid, simple and conversational. Maintaining the pace and interest of the reader while also keeping the communication warm and relatable can be challenging!
6. What are you working on next?
I am working on my next book which is in a very nascent stage at the moment. But I am currently focused on the Workshop that I am building to take people on an end to end journey to financial freedom. Online, self-paced and with loads of practical processes and assignments, I want this to be a tool for real transformation for participants.
We are also developing E Books with a thrust on several topics to optimise Money matters and Business for Small & Medium sized enterprises.
www.dhanashreebhatkal.com is moving rapidly into a direction to put all of these options in one place.
7. What keeps you going as a writer?
The Desire to transform lives of people around me. That is a passion and a vision both. Through my writing and communication, I believe even the smallest dent that I make, even one life transformed, is a small dent in the universe. The reviews and feedback I am receiving over the last few weeks and months has convinced me of this further.
8. If you had to suggest two books for Indian Youth, which would they be and why?
Not only because I am the author, but also because along with the book we have an entire eco system to readers – so the first is ‘Money – What’s Left What’s Right’.
The other is ‘The Big Leap’ by Gay Hendricks.
Dhanashree spends a lot of her time in Social Projects close to her heart. She has been an avid Reader, Writer, Language Enthusiast & Photographer. In her free-time you can find her trying out Musical Instruments, Reading, Traveling or Binging on Movies. Her Favourite Spots are Innsbruck (Austria) & Niagara Falls (USA). Her Dream Travel is a Road trip to Ladakh (India). Her all-time Favourite Movie is Notting Hill.