From Homemaker to Hiring Powerhouse: How Adv. Pooja Mishra is Building a Talent Empire with Heart
Opening the Doors to Possibility :
Not every startup story begins in a garage. Some start at a kitchen table, with two toddlers running around and a woman daring to dream between diaper changes and dinner prep. Adv. Pooja Mishra, founder of NextGenTalent Consultants, is living proof that resilience, not just resources, drives entrepreneurship.
“I got married at 19 while still in my B.Com first year,” she shares. “Despite stepping into adulthood sooner than my peers, I was determined to be independent.” What followed was a journey marked by early sacrifices, persistent reinvention, and eventually, entrepreneurial triumph.
Today, Pooja runs a thriving dual-vertical business—offering recruitment services and corporate gifting solutions—with a growing team and ambitious plans to scale nationwide. But her rise from part-time trader and bank employee to business owner and lawyer wasn’t a linear one.
Early Trials, Quiet Determination
Pooja’s professional journey began in banking, but a long, physically draining commute during her first pregnancy led her to make a difficult choice—step away from a promising job and focus on her family. “But sitting idle was never in my nature,” she reflects. While managing motherhood, she turned to online reselling and trading to stay engaged and earn independently.
It wasn’t until after the birth of her second child that she reentered the workforce as a recruiter. “I had no idea that this placement role would be the stepping stone to my entrepreneurial journey,” she recalls. That role planted a seed that would eventually grow into NextGenTalent Consultants.
Education and Support System: The Backbone of My Journey
While motherhood brought new responsibilities, it never dimmed Pooja’s academic ambitions. “After marriage, I continued my education and proudly completed my graduation and LLB,” she shares. “I’m still pursuing further studies—because I believe learning never stops.”
Beyond her own persistence, Pooja credits two foundational figures who helped shape her journey.
“My husband has been my biggest strength—standing by me through every decision and challenge,” she says. “His support has given me the courage to take risks, even when the odds weren’t in my favor.”
Equally influential was her mother. “She always believed in me. I still remember her words: ‘You are special—you can achieve anything you set your mind to.’ That belief became the fuel behind my journey from homemaker to entrepreneur.”
“I’m truly grateful for my past experiences,” she says. “Without those moments of frustration, I might still have been stuck in the same routine. In fact, the lack of growth and absence of appraisals were among the biggest push factors—it made me realize that I couldn’t keep waiting for recognition from others. Instead, I decided to create my own path.”
A Bold Leap of Faith
After five years of giving her all to a job without recognition or growth, Pooja had a pivotal realization. “I thought, ‘Why not dedicate a few years to building something of my own?’ That shift in mindset became a turning point. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
With limited capital but a wealth of determination, she launched NextGenTalent Consultants. At first, her ambitions were modest—just to match her previous salary. “I remember thinking, ‘If I can just earn what I was making in my last job, that would be enough.’” But she soon surpassed that modest goal and began paying salaries to others—a full-circle moment that speaks volumes about her tenacity.
Filling the Gaps: A Startup Built on Insight
Pooja’s entry into entrepreneurship was not without hurdles. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was building references,” she admits. Lacking an established network in the beginning, she credits a key supporter—a “guardian angel”—who helped her through the early days with daily encouragement and trust.
Another major challenge? Communication. “I recognized it early and have been working intentionally to improve. It’s still a journey, but I’m committed to getting better every day.”
Through these struggles, she saw firsthand the market gaps in relationship-driven recruitment and flexible, customized corporate gifting—gaps she now works to close daily.
NextGenTalent Consultants: A Dual-Service Success Story
Today, NextGenTalent Consultants offers two core services: recruitment and corporate gifting.
On the recruitment front, the company focuses on helping clients across industries fill vacant positions with the right talent. What sets them apart is their personal, consistent approach—rooted in relationships, not just resumes.
More recently, Pooja launched a second vertical in corporate gifting, providing customized hampers, return gifts, and branded merchandise for clients. “From filling roles to filling gift boxes, both ventures stem from the same passion—serving people with value and reliability,” she explains.
Each vertical feeds into her larger mission: to create meaningful, service-first experiences for every client, regardless of the industry.
Breakthrough Moments and Milestones
Pooja’s first major milestone came when she closed her initial recruitment deals without any strong market references. “That moment gave me the confidence that I was on the right path,” she says.
Another defining breakthrough was client referrals and repeat business—proof that her work wasn’t just satisfactory but impactful. “That shift—from chasing clients to being recommended—was huge. It validated everything we were working toward.”
The successful launch of the corporate gifting arm solidified her company’s stability and potential for diversification. “It showed me that we were not only surviving but thriving.”
Vision 2025: Empowering Talent and Expanding Reach
Looking ahead, Pooja has a clear vision for the next five years. She aims to establish NextGenTalent Consultants as a recognized name in recruitment across India, especially in underserved tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
“There’s so much untapped talent in these regions,” she says. “Our goal is to bridge the opportunity gap by connecting deserving candidates with quality employers.”
On the corporate gifting front, she envisions a standalone brand offering end-to-end solutions for events, celebrations, and employee engagement—complete with a proprietary product line.
But perhaps most meaningful is her goal to empower women. “I want to create flexible work-from-home opportunities for women who had to pause their careers like I once did,” she says. Pooja also plans to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that it’s never too late to restart and redefine your story.
