Born and raised in California, Gurpreet Kaur Sidhu always felt different from the other kids. Gurpreet has been a day dreamer at a young age she wanted to accomplish a lot of great things and leave a mark behind – a good one. Gurpreet began writing already in the seventh grade. That’s when she wrote her first book. She was inspired by J.K. Rowling and figured out that if she was able to creating something so fascinating like Harry Potter, so could she. As Gurpreet got older, money became her focus. She wanted a career that would support her lifestyle and that would enable her to buy a home in the Bay Area.
With an insatiable appetite for reading and writing, Gurpreet would often find herself at the receiving end of a cold stare from one of her teachers – reprimanding her for working on literary ventures when she should have been paying attention.
All those secretive moments spent scribbling paid off, however, and now Gurpreet is launching her debut novel “STORM”.
In addition to being a highly accomplished writer, Gurpreet is a passionate businesswoman, holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Currently, she’s exploring other business opportunities that align with her mission and passion.
Aside from fervently writing and building a business empire, Gurpreet can be found savoring the scents of her most recent kitchen-made delicacy or pumping away stress at the gym.
”I worked as a Behavioral Therapist for Autistic children for a year before moving on to becoming an Assistant Manager at a Fortune 500 company. Fast forward three years later, I quit my job, finished writing my novel that I had spent eight years working on, closed shop, published Storm, which was nominated for Best Thriller, and now I’m working on the sequel and a movie script. ”
Gurpreet Kaur Sidhu
Gurpreet Kaur Sidhu, tell us something about STORM and something we would not be able to find online.
Storm is a psychological thriller, the first book in the series, with themes of reincarnation and karma. It has a mix of romance, mystery and suspense. The story starts off with Evan Storm, who remembers his past life through reoccurring dreams. He’s adamant that the memories mean something, even though his family thinks he’s crazy. When he meets Shadow Hex, his neighbor, he learned she’s the missing piece of his puzzle. What he doesn’t know is that by getting involved with Shadow, he’s putting his whole family in danger.
Well, I think I’ve given away most of the backstory of how Storm came to be. But what readers don’t know is that in the second book, there will be two deaths in the family. I’ll keep it as a secret as to who those two characters are. Readers will get a little bit of insight of the SEA, the Secret Eye Agency, the secret projects that they’re working on and how it started. In Storm, we don’t cover that aspect of the SEA. Readers will also get more insight of Derek and Samantha’s story.
What inspired you to pursue a business study and become a businesswoman?
When I was in the fifth grade, we had a book fair at school. I would buy a few books that I was interested in reading and sometimes if I couldn’t find anything, I’d buy books just so I could add them to my library at home. That’s when I bought a book—I forget the exact title of it— but it was something along the lines of How To Become A CEO. I read bits and parts of the book, about what made people great leaders and since then, I wanted to be a CEO. I had no idea of the stress behind running a company, or financials. I only knew a little about what it took to become a great CEO. I had a vision as I grew older, that I’d be one of the few women CEOs and from there, the vision changed to starting my own company. Which led me to get a degree in Business Management. Even though we no longer have our clothing line anymore, I’m working on different projects that align with my passion!
What inspired you to write STORM? What was going through your mind on that day?
I’ve always been fascinated with reincarnation and karma. Who were we before this life? What kind of world did we live in and how were we as human beings, if we were in fact humans in our past life? Based on my beliefs, I believe the two go hand-in-hand. I’ve met people who remembered their past lives and I’ve always wished that I had that gift. The idea came to me as I was on my way to school. I knew I was never going to magically begin to remember my past lives, so I figured, why not write a book about it? To make it interesting, I decided to add a secret agency, a psychic grandma, an old love and some secrets. That was eight years ago and the storyline still makes me excited. Since it’s a series, each book gets better and better. I started off with writing the TV pilot for it and when I heard back from agents, requesting more of my work, which I didn’t have at the time, I decided that I would write a book instead. I still would love to see it adapted into a TV series or a movie.
What fulfillment does writing give you?
It gives my imagination a permanent home. I’ve always been a daydreamer growing up and still am to this day. I have so many ideas, curiosities and questions that what usually ends up happening is that a potential story comes to life. Being able to write about things that I wish existed in the real world is really fulfilling, and writing in general is therapeutic for me.
What sacrifices have you had to make during life as an entrepreneur and a leader?
I had to give up everything that wasn’t going to propel me forward. Which meant limiting screen time to little or nothing. I didn’t spend as much time with my family or friends because I had to wear multiple hats; I was constantly busy. I really had to prioritize what was important to me long term. It’s made me mentally stronger and has improved my work ethic. I’m more determined to be successful and I don’t see any other option. When I say mentally stronger, I’m referring to the failures that you’re going to endure on this entrepreneurial journey. Not everything’s going to pan out the way you’d hope, and you have to understand that going in. Keeping my head high and being positive were some of the hardest things I had to do because a lot of people around me didn’t think it was a good idea to start a business. They wanted me to go on a safer route, where money was guaranteed. Unfortunately, I’m a risk taker and I like going down paths that are new to me with little to no guidance.
How do you manage your work days?
I use Microsoft To-Do and make lists for every project that I’m working on. Then I’m able to set due dates for each task that way I’m able to create a daily to-do list to make sure I’m on track. However, there are times when I end up working on a task for too long, which backs up my schedule. I’ve had a lot of those days which made me realize that I need to work on bettering my time management skills. I found that setting a time limit for each task has helped me complete all my tasks for the day and I’m not staying up until midnight to finish a day’s worth of work.
What would you like to share and advice to people who are starting a business of their own?
Know your market and product. You don’t want to create something just for the sake of it. Do as much research as you can about what you’re selling. I think the best kind of business is the type that doesn’t require inventory. If you can provide a service to customers and do majority of the work on your own, your overhead costs are going to be minimal. The best business model out there is the one that finds solutions to problems people face on a day to day basis. People are always looking for ways to make their lives simpler. If you can find something that will benefit the average person, you’re most likely looking at a large market who needs what you’re selling.
How do you make sure anyone can find STORM?
I make sure that all my social media accounts have my website in my bio. When I promote Storm, I make sure to mention the top two places readers can buy a copy, which is on Amazon and my website, gurpreetkaursidhu.com. My website also has the links to all the popular places you’d go to shop for books.
What popular entrepreneurial advice do you agree/ disagree with? Why?
The best time to do what you want to do was yesterday. The second best is today. Personally, I don’t want to look back at my life and have any regrets. I don’t want to have a list full of “could haves…”. So, if there’s a business you want to start, go do it. You’re going to have people who will doubt you and tell you that you’re crazy and then you’ll have some who you will inspire and will applaud you for having the courage to follow your dreams. At the end of the day, pursue what you feel is right in your heart.
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
I plan on being more conscious of my health. I’ve started to make some changes to my diet. I believe we should be very selective of what we put into our bodies. It’s very easy to indulge but what we forget is how our food choices now are going to impact us later on in life. I’ve realized that I’ve been carrying around a lot of grief. I never got the chance to deal with what was happening properly. I would always throw myself into more work to avoid confronting the feelings that I had buried deep down inside of me. Writing has helped me release those emotions, but I’m going to work on being more honest in the moment, instead of letting things accumulate and feel the burden of that later down the road.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
I would say my proudest achievement was when I found that Storm was nominated for Best Thriller! I remember the day when the nominees were going to be announced so clearly. I’ve never won any competition and have always come 3rd in anything I did compete in. It really made me proud to see Storm be nominated because it was an acknowledgement that all the work I put into this book was well worth it.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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