Stepper in Spotlight: Shweta Verma

Diversity and inclusion is a buzzword today. But back in 2019, when dolls were meant to have perfect bodies, Stepper Shweta Verma dared to introduce Ginny, a doll with glasses and a radial club hand, to show that it is okay to be different.

When kids see Ginny, they get curious about how she does things like eating or playing. This curiosity opens up a conversation about disability and being unique. It helps children see that differences are okay and can even be interesting. Ginny teaches them to have a positive attitude towards diversity.

“ We aim to build a world where being different is okay, and empathy & respect for diversity is a way of life. We believe that disability is also a part of human diversity. We hope to share these beliefs with others, especially children,” says Shweta Verma, Stepper in the Spotlight and founder of Ginny’s Planet, a for-profit social enterprise nurturing people and spaces to build an empathic and diversity-respecting world.

The inspiration behind Ginny’s Planet

Working in diversity and inclusion was not a new experience for Shweta, as she had worked as a social worker for over 20 years. When Shweta’s son was born with various health conditions, she worried about the challenges in terms of perceptions and attitudes he might face when he started school, particularly within his peer group. She found a significant gap in resources and support for changing mindsets about children with disabilities. There was a lack of children’s literature addressing these issues, and workshops to promote such understanding were non-existent for children. It was this realization that inspired Shweta to start Ginny’s Planet.

“ With Ginny’s Planet,  I wanted to bring the conversation around diversity,  inclusion, and empathy to children,” she adds.

The name: Ginny’s Planet

Selecting a name that would resonate with everyone was crucial to Shweta. She chose “Ginny” because it’s a common gender-neutral name in Delhi. The word “planet” symbolizes a world where being different is okay. Thus, Ginny’s Planet was born.

What is Ginny’s Planet?

Ginny’s Planet offers a variety of products and services to help children learn about diversity, inclusion, and empathy. These include:

• Products:

1. Ginny dolls: Ginny, with her nine fingers, teaches children the beauty of being different.
2. Storybooks: Ginny’s Planet has published a series of storybooks that feature Ginny and her friends.
3. Merchandise: Ginny’s Planet also sells a variety of merchandise, such as stationery and bags, that feature Ginny and her friends.

• Training and workshops: Ginny’s Planet offers training and workshops for adults and children on diversity, inclusion, and empathy. Doll-making workshops are very popular among children. Relational Bullying is also in the spotlight at present.
• A Day in Ginny’s Planet: A flagship program that involves activities such as poetry, arts and crafts, and theater, all centered around the theme of diversity.
• Online content: This includes blog posts, YouTube videos, ‘What Ginny Reads’ series where they recommend books linked to empathy & diversity.
• Training a diverse team: This behind-the-scenes work includes training and actively recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds, primarily from partner NGOs, to join the team.

Challenges

Shweta’s primary challenge lies in the common misconception that work on diversity and inclusion would be relevant only for specific groups and not the general public. Despite the organization’s broader mission of promoting diversity, inclusion, and empathy among all children, many people believe it solely focuses on addressing disability-related issues.

She elaborates, “While everyone acknowledges the importance of our cause, few agree to register. Some do not respond, and even if they respond, they are not willing to pay for it.”

Future plans

“ I want to gather a good, consistent team to support me, use the power of networking to create more business, and become financially sustainable in the next 2 years,” she says.

Advice for entrepreneurs

• The right time to start is NOW, no matter what others say. If you believe in your idea, do not wait.
• Entrepreneurship is a chaotic, adventurous journey. We need to immerse ourselves in our work, invest in our own learning, and find good mentors. 
• Take care of your well-being.

Shweta, the Stepper

Shweta feels that entrepreneurship is a lonely journey. Becoming a part of an incubation program brings in a lot of benefits:

• Safe space for questions and motivation
• A strong network of like-minded individuals
• Developing an entrepreneurial mindset

She joined STEP’s program twice, initially in 2020 when Ginny’s Planet was just one year old, and later in 2023, to reposition it and attract investors strategically. Her favorite Tuesday sessions are Adaptive Leadership and Problem Solution Fit.

“ My first mentor at STEP helped me put things in perspective and deal with failures. This time, she is helping me with marketing strategies and communication, especially planning ahead. ,” she adds.

Shweta received a 2 lakh grant from STEP in 2020, which she used to develop an educator’s kit and pilot her project. Now she aims to pilot it in Delhi too. The most significant takeaway from her STEP journey was becoming an integral part of the community,

“ We have forged bonds where each of us genuinely cares about the other’s journey to success,” she reflects.

Shweta, the person

Shweta is a food lover, and her favorite food is Rajma Chawal. Himachal Pradesh is her preferred holiday destination. She draws inspiration from her son. 

The mantra of her life is, “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow, it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”   – Jacob A. Riis