I caught up with Neha Panwar, marketing strategist, and educator who is passionate about creating meaningful impact through startups, storytelling, and collaboration. We spoke about entrepreneurship, the difference between building audiences and communities, and how students can take ownership of their learning.
đź“Ť Q: You co founded Yellow Lights Media at such an early stage. What did entrepreneurship teach you that corporate roles never could?
Neha: “I haven’t really done a traditional corporate role in my life. I like being in the trenches and solving problems. When I started Yellow Lights Media in 2021, I began it with someone and honestly I knew nothing about media. But the joy of creating something from scratch excited me. That same mindset has stayed with me. I created a student society at UNSW, I worked with a startup, and now I’m with one again. It might not always be structured, but I’m someone who wants to create impact. That’s why this path works for me.”
📍 Q: What’s harder, building a brand or building a community?
Neha: “It depends on the kind of person you are. You can build an audience quite easily, but that does not necessarily mean you have a community. Community requires people to actively engage and feel connected. In some ways, building a brand is easier because it can be one sided. Building a community means nurturing relationships and keeping people engaged for the long term, and that’s much harder.”
đź“Ť Q: As an Academic Tutor, what gaps do you see between what students learn and what the marketing industry actually demands?
Neha: “University is about opening your mind. It gives you the foundation and creates opportunities to have conversations with peers and lecturers that challenge your thinking. Universities do that really well. There is a gap between study and industry, but universities are trying to reduce it.
Industry work is very hands on and you often learn by doing. Sometimes it takes months to truly understand something in practice. I also think universities should not carry the full responsibility. We often underestimate the power of self learning. Universities can teach methodologies, but discipline and curiosity have to come from the student.
Maybe one improvement could be an additional year of structured professional experience, similar to a graduate program but built into the university journey. That way students can gain deeper industry exposure while still studying.”
đź“Ť Q: One message for the world
Neha: “Try to switch your mindset from taking to giving. Life is very serendipitous and when you focus on giving, great things tend to come back to you.”
✨ Key Takeaway:
Neha’s journey shows that impact often comes from stepping into uncertainty and building things before you feel fully ready. Whether it is startups, communities, or careers, the people who create meaningful change are usually the ones willing to learn in the trenches and give more than they take.
