We were lucky to catch up with Lekshmi Kiran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lekshmi, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

It didn’t begin as a business plan—it started as a quiet moment of reflection.

At the time, I was running a robotics and coding academy for kids. Every day, I saw children doing incredible things with technology, but I also noticed something that stayed with me—very young kids spending long hours on screens, many already wearing glasses. It made me pause and think about balance, and what I could do, even in a small way, to encourage children to engage differently.

I didn’t set out to build a brand overnight. I just decided to take one step—to write a children’s book that could draw kids into storytelling and imagination.

So I started writing whenever I could—late nights, early mornings, in between everything else. My first book, *Chester Adopts a Family*, was inspired by our own dog and how he, in many ways, adopted us. That personal connection made the story feel real, and it gave me the confidence to keep going.

That one story grew into a series—**Chester’s Tales**—where each book is designed not just to entertain, but to create moments of connection between parents and children.

Once the manuscript was ready, I had to figure everything out from scratch—editing, illustrations, formatting, and self-publishing. I spent hours researching, connecting with illustrators, and learning how platforms like Amazon worked. There was a lot of trial and error, but holding my first printed book in my hands made it all worth it. It turned an idea into something tangible.

Today, my books from the *Chester’s Tales* series are available on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing them reach families through these platforms reassured me that there was a real audience looking for meaningful, engaging content for their children.

As the books reached more families, I started hearing something important—parents wanted more ways to engage with their kids beyond just reading.

That insight shaped my next steps. I began creating books that combined reading with coloring and learning—introducing kids to different dog breeds and even cultural themes like Chinese New Year. It became less about just selling a book and more about creating shared experiences for families.

Then came a very personal milestone.

As a child, I always had a dream—not just to write a book, but to create something physical from it. I wanted to bring a character to life in a way that people could see and touch. So I decided to create a handmade, hand-painted cookie jar inspired by the Wheaten Terrier character from my story.

I had no background in product design or manufacturing, so I had to learn everything—from materials and production to pricing and packaging. I started small, tested the idea at local events, and listened closely to customer feedback.

It wasn’t easy. There were challenges, uncertainties, and a lot of figuring things out along the way. But that product resonated more than I expected, and it became the bridge into expanding into pet products under my brand, Purple Girl.

From there, I continued building—selling on Amazon, Etsy, and through my own website www.purplegirlshop.com , as well as in-person events. Each step built on the last.

Looking back, there wasn’t one big breakthrough moment. It was a series of small, consistent steps—write the book, figure out publishing, listen to customers, try something new, learn, and keep going.

And through all of it, one feeling stands out—I had a childhood dream, and even though it was hard, I brought it to life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My journey has been anything but linear—and I think that’s what truly defines both me and my brand.

I have a Master’s degree in Commerce, but my career actually began much earlier and in a completely different space. At the age of 17, I started working as a television anchor in India. What began as an opportunity turned into a six-year journey, where I hosted a top-rated show. That experience shaped my confidence, communication skills, and ability to connect with people—something that continues to influence everything I do today.

After that, I transitioned into the corporate world, where I spent over 16 years working in project and operations management with organizations like UST Global, Blue Cross Blue Shield across multiple states, and Deloitte. Those years taught me structure, leadership, and how to manage teams and complex systems.

But over time, I started feeling a pull toward something more personal and creative.

That turning point came when a friend encouraged me to consider running a business. That’s when I entered the education space and began teaching kids robotics and coding. I ran that business for about seven years, and it remains one of the most fulfilling phases of my life—not just because I was teaching children valuable skills, but because I was also able to create job opportunities, especially for women, and mentor a team of educators.

However, that experience also planted the seed for what came next.

While working with children, I noticed how much time they were spending on screens. That observation stayed with me and eventually inspired me to explore ways to encourage more meaningful, off-screen engagement. That’s how I began writing children’s books.

My first book, *Chester Adopts a Family*, inspired by our own dog, became the foundation for a series called *Chester’s Tales*. These books are designed not just to tell stories, but to help families connect—through reading, coloring, and learning together.

What started as storytelling gradually evolved into something bigger. Today, through my brand *Purple Girl*, I create children’s books, pet-inspired products, and handmade items like hand-painted cookie jars that bring characters from my stories into the real world.

Currently, my work is deeply rooted in the pet industry. My focus has shifted toward creating products that celebrate the bond between pets and their families, while also continuing to create engaging content for children.

I’m also actively involved in advocacy and industry work as part of the Canine Committee at the Pet Advocacy Network, which aligns with my growing commitment to supporting pets and responsible pet ownership.

At its core, the problem I’m trying to solve is simple but meaningful—how do we create more connection in a world that’s increasingly distracted? Whether it’s helping parents engage with their children through books or helping pet parents celebrate their bond with their animals, everything I create is centered around connection, storytelling, and purpose.

What sets me apart is that my work is deeply personal. Every product, every book, every idea comes from a real experience—my journey as a parent, a business owner, and a pet parent. It’s not just about creating something to sell; it’s about creating something that resonates.

What I’m most proud of is not just building a business, but building something that has impact at different stages of my life—whether it was empowering women through employment, teaching children, or now advocating for pets and creating meaningful products.

What I want people to know about me and my brand is this: I believe in evolving with purpose. I’m not afraid to start over, learn something new, or follow a completely different path if it means creating something meaningful.

And through every chapter of my journey, that intention has remained the same—to create, to connect, and to make a difference, even if it’s one small step at a time.

We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.

Yes, I have—and it was a very meaningful experience for me.

I sold my previous business, which was focused on teaching kids robotics and coding, to a young entrepreneur who had just completed his undergraduate degree. It was incredibly rewarding to pass something I had built to someone at the beginning of their journey. In many ways, it felt like a full-circle moment.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that a business becomes truly valuable when it’s not dependent on just one person. Buyers are looking for something that already works—something that has consistent revenue, a proven track record, and clear potential for growth.

In my case, the business had all of that. We had established systems, a strong customer base, and a clear structure for how things operated day-to-day. There was also room to scale, which made it attractive to the next owner.

Another key factor was having tangible and intangible assets in place—curriculum, processes, trained staff, and operational know-how. These are the things that make a business transferable.

If I had to give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs thinking about selling one day, it would be this: **document everything.**
Every process, every system, every learning—write it down.

When you have a clear blueprint of how your business runs, it not only makes your life easier while operating it, but it also makes the transition much smoother when it’s time to sell. It gives confidence to the buyer that they’re stepping into something structured and sustainable.

At the end of the day, people are always looking to buy businesses—but they’re especially drawn to ones that are organized, proven, and ready to grow.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

For my first business, the investment was actually quite low compared to what people might expect. My husband and I funded it ourselves using our savings. We were very intentional about starting lean—focusing on what was absolutely necessary and building from there.

That experience taught me an important lesson early on: you don’t always need a large amount of capital to start—you need clarity, commitment, and the willingness to grow step by step.

When I eventually sold that business, it created the foundation for my next chapter. I used the proceeds from that sale to invest in my current business, Purple Girl. In a way, one business helped fund the next, which felt both practical and rewarding.

Another mindset that has really guided me is how I think about profit—especially in the early stages. When you’re building something, it’s not just about making money right away. It’s about creating something sustainable.

So instead of focusing on taking profits out, I focused on reinvesting whatever the business generated back into it—whether that meant developing new products, improving quality, or expanding reach. That reinvestment is what allows the business to grow stronger over time.

For me, funding wasn’t about one big moment—it was about being resourceful, starting small, and then continuously reinvesting in the vision I believed in.

Follow Purple Girl:-
Facebook – Purple Girl
Instagram – @purplegirldfw
Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/lekshmi-kiran-33075965

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.purplegirlshop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purplegirldfw/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554829321875
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lekshmi-kiran-33075965/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PurpleGirlDFW?ref=seller-platform-mcnav, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS1N5Z5C