TheCconnects: Tapasya, your journey from physiotherapy to founding VeRoMa Media is nothing short of inspiring. Can you walk us through how you transitioned from a clinical background to leading a cutting-edge marketing agency?
Tapasya Shukla: Thank you for the kind words. My journey has been a bit unconventional, and that’s what makes it exciting. I completed my bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in 2015, during which I worked closely with patients to create personalized care plans. That experience taught me the power of listening, truly understanding someone’s needs, and building trust. However, I realized my passion wasn’t just in healing bodies; it was in building connections and telling stories that resonate.
By 2016, I pivoted to the corporate healthcare industry, where I supported US-based physicians by streamlining their paperwork. That role was a crash course in relationship building across nationalities and cultures. It showed me how forming genuine connections can forge long-term partnerships. After that, I moved into the insurance industry, focusing on both B2B and B2C alliances. I loved crafting solutions that felt tailor-made—whether for a small business or a large enterprise. That position sharpened my ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives.
Next, I joined CareEdge Group as Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing, leading campaigns that blended data and creativity to drive engagement. Every step along the way taught me something new about connecting with people. In 2024, I launched VeRoMa Media to bring that vision to life on a larger scale and help brands of all sizes tell their stories authentically.
TheCconnects: That’s a remarkable pivot. Who would you say has been the biggest influence in shaping your mindset and approach, both personally and professionally?
Tapasya Shukla:It’s ironic that if you asked me to name just one person who shaped me, I would be at a loss. My mindset and approach are truly a mosaic of lessons and challenges from everyone around me.
Take my mother, for example. As a maths teacher, she taught me that solving complex problems is simply a matter of breaking them into smaller steps and that doing so with integrity matters far more than arriving at the correct answer.
Then there is my brother Tejas, my personal champion and sanctuary. He may be younger, yet his wisdom exceeds his years. Whenever doubts creep in or I lose my way, he is the first to remind me of my strengths and encourage me to aim higher.
My friend Priyanka deserves special recognition for tolerating my half-formed ideas. Her candid, constructive feedback has transformed many of my initial pitches into cohesive strategies and kept my ego firmly grounded.
On the professional front, my business partners Hussain and Ilachi are my secret weapons. Their strategic insights and creative vision have enabled VeRoMa Media to maintain an unwavering focus on addressing our audience’s genuine needs.
Combine all this with Mumbai’s ceaseless energy and its daily challenges, which bring both exhaustion and exhilaration, and you have the true blueprint behind our agency’s success. These combined influences compel me to balance analytical rigor with empathy, pursue ambitious goals, and deliver work that resonates deeply.
TheCconnects: That’s a powerful influence. Speaking of challenges, what’s been the toughest hurdle you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
Tapasya Shukla: I still remember stepping off the train in Mumbai with nothing but a suitcase and big dreams. Moving from physiotherapy to insurance, then sales and finally marketing felt like jumping between moving trains. I spent more late nights learning new jargon than sipping chai, made more cold calls than I can count, and wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. But every stumble taught me something new, and my stubborn refusal to quit turned those lessons into momentum. The lesson? Challenges are often opportunities in disguise. You just need to combine empathy with a willingness to dig into the numbers and iterate quickly. That same grit drives every campaign at VeRoMa Media.
TheCconnects: That’s a great example of blending heart and strategy. What are some key lessons you’ve learned over the years that you’d want others to know?
Tapasya Shukla: First, never underestimate the power of adaptability. Markets shift, consumer behaviors change, and technology evolves at lightning speed. If you’re rigid, you’ll get left behind. Second, data is your friend, but it’s not the whole story. Numbers can tell you what’s happening, but you need to understand the why behind them that’s where empathy and storytelling come in. Finally, don’t be afraid to fail fast. At VeRoMa, we test ideas early, learn from what doesn’t work, and refine. Every misstep is a chance to get sharper.
TheCconnects: Let’s talk about the digital landscape. What do you see as the biggest challenge for brands trying to stand out online today?
Tapasya Shukla: The biggest challenge is cutting through the noise while staying authentic. Consumers are bombarded with content, over 600 billion dollars in global digital ad spend last year shows how crowded the space is. The temptation is to chase trends or lean heavily on AI for quick wins, but that risks coming off as generic or inauthentic. Brands need to focus on building trust through consistent, value-driven storytelling. Another challenge is navigating privacy regulations. With laws tightening globally, brands must prioritize ethical data practices while still delivering personalized experiences. At VeRoMa, we tackle this with our ADAPT framework, using analytics and AI to stay agile while keeping the human element front and center.
TheCconnects: That’s a great segue. Can you share how VeRoMa’s solutions address the specific pain points your clients face?
Tapasya Shukla: Absolutely. Many of our clients, whether startups or established players, struggle with fragmented marketing efforts. They might have a great product but lack a cohesive strategy to reach their audience. Our ADAPT framework solves this by integrating analytics, design thinking, automation, platform expertise, and continuous testing. For example, we built a campaign for a healthcare client that used AI-driven insights to target specific demographics, paired with emotionally resonant creative that spoke to their values. The result? A 40% lift in engagement within three months.
We also focus on accessibility, small businesses often think world-class marketing is out of reach. Our AI-powered tools level the playing field, giving them access to the same data insights and automation as larger brands, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s about solving real problems, whether that’s low brand recall, poor lead quality, or inefficient ad spend.
TheCconnects: That’s impressive. You’ve mentioned AI a few times, how do you see it shaping the future of marketing?
Tapasya Shukla: AI is a game-changer, but it’s not a magic wand. It’s phenomenal for automating repetitive tasks, like optimizing ad bids or analyzing consumer behavior in real time. At VeRoMa, we’re developing proprietary AI tools to streamline campaign ideation and execution, cutting setup time by 60%. But the real magic happens when AI amplifies human creativity, not replaces it. For example, we use generative AI to prototype campaign concepts, but our team always refines them to ensure they resonate emotionally. The future is about blending AI’s efficiency with human empathy to create campaigns that feel personal and authentic.
TheCconnects: That balance is so important. Let’s shift gears, what do you do to unwind or recharge outside of work?
Tapasya Shukla: When I finally shut my laptop, I have two very human modes. On my hardest days, I curl up on the couch and replay The Office, Friends or The Big Bang Theory; those familiar jokes feel like a warm hug when everything else feels chaotic.
On days when I have a bit of energy left, I dive into what I call “organized chaos.” I’ll scrub the kitchen until it sparkles, dust every shelf (and discover treasure troves of forgotten things), rearrange my drawers just because it feels good, or sneak out to my little balcony garden and coax new life out of wilting plants. Sometimes I settle in with a favorite book and get lost in someone else’s world.
I swing between blissful messiness and that sweet, fleeting order. Neither version is perfect, but both remind me that recharging means doing exactly what I need, whether that’s escaping into comfort TV or finding peace in a freshly organized corner of my home.
TheCconnects: That sounds like a great balance. For aspiring entrepreneurs in marketing, what advice would you share to help them succeed?
Tapasya Shukla: Stay curious and keep learning. The marketing landscape changes faster than you can blink, new platforms, new tools, new consumer behaviors. Read widely, experiment constantly, and don’t be afraid to challenge conventions. Also, invest in relationships. Your network whether it’s mentors, peers, or clients, will be your greatest asset. Finally, focus on impact over perfection. You don’t need a flawless plan to start; you just need a clear purpose and the willingness to iterate. Mistakes are just stepping stones to mastery.
TheCconnects: One last question: where do you see VeRoMa Media five years from now, and how do you plan to get there?
Tapasya Shukla: In five years, I want VeRoMa to be the gold standard for integrated marketing, not just in India but globally. We’re working toward that by building proprietary AI tools that make data and creativity accessible to all brands, from startups to IPO-bound companies. We’re also expanding our team to include specialists in emerging markets, ensuring we stay locally relevant while meeting global standards. And through our mentorship program, I hope to nurture the next generation of marketers who prioritize ethics and empathy. It’s a big vision, but we’re taking it one bold, adaptable step at a time.
TheCconnects: Tapasya, this has been such an insightful conversation. Thank you for sharing your journey and vision with us.
Tapasya Shukla: My pleasure! I’m excited to see where this journey takes us, and I hope our story inspires others to chase their passions and build something meaningful.
