In these competitive times, teenagers and adolescents are having difficulty getting admissions suited to their potential. Through a resume, only a piece of limited information is shared by the students. Institutional and admissions officers want to know more about the applicants, preferably in their own words.
We got an opportunity to interview Katherine Ernst Mehta, one of the brilliant minds behind this initiative. Being an education advisor, she guides students across many countries in their admission process. She is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a mother who has beautifully maintained the work-life balance.
Thus, if the scope of this preliminary information is widened, the chances of young minds getting the right opportunities increases significantly. The two dynamic entrepreneurs Katherine Ernst Mehta and Kavitta B Bedi, came up with the idea of Xtraview. This start-up aims to tackle these challenges and provide career-enhancing insights to the students.
Interview with Katherine Ernst Mehta
Pranav- Starting something new is indeed a challenge, and we need a strong motivation to start something. So, Katherine, what was it that motivated you to venture into the field of Entrepreneurship? How did your journey as an entrepreneur begin?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – I would call myself an “accidental entrepreneur.” If you had asked me what I wanted to be in high school, I never would have said entrepreneur!
I found myself heading down this path shortly after my first child was born. I had a strong desire to be my boss, set my schedule, and have complete control over the type of work – everything that entrepreneurship offers!
Now, I can’t see myself doing anything else. I love the freedom entrepreneurship offers and the excitement of knowing that you created something new or are responsible for the success of a new venture or initiative.
Pranav- We all have someone whom we look up to, an inspiration for us. Who was your role model, and what qualities inspired you?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – Many people inspire me – teachers, former bosses, colleagues, and partner Kavitta.
But one most inspiring person would have to be my mother. She has always had a clear vision for what she wants to do and doesn’t let others dissuade her from achieving her goals. She also set up and ran multiple businesses throughout my childhood and served as a great role model for a working mom.
Pranav- How was it that you started to pinpoint the needs of teenagers and adolescents and decided to work to meet these needs?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – In 2015, I founded my college counseling business, Edvanta Consulting. Edvanta started as a one-room operation out of a guest bedroom in my home. Today we are a small but effective team, and we have helped students achieve their dreams of being admitted into some of the best universities in the world.
My work with Edvanta gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges students and institutions face regarding admissions. Students feel limited in the information they can share in a written application. Admissions officers, on the other hand, want to learn more about students in their own words. Thus, in 2020, Xtraview was born. Xtraview is a digital platform that allows students to record and share unscripted digital interviews alongside their written applications.
Pranav- What is the turning point of your life?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – Deciding to move from the US to India and build a life and career when I was 22 years old. It was a bold decision, then, but I believed that a life in India would be more exciting and open up many more opportunities for me. And so far, it’s done just that!
Pranav- What positive changes have you seen in your own life after beginning with Xtraview?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – After becoming an entrepreneur, I discovered that I am more driven and motivated than ever before. I can’t rely on someone else or expect others to drive work while I relax. Instead, if I want a company to succeed, I know that my hard work and consistent efforts are crucial to driving that success.
Pranav- What is Xtraview all about?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – Xtraview is a digital platform that enables students to record a live, unscripted interview which they can share along with their written applications and submit to universities, colleges, internships, job recruiters, and other academic programs.
We also offer Xtraprep workshops, which prepare high school and college students to ace their digital interviews and interactions. In the workshops, we cover 15 key points to excel in digital interactions. For job applicants, there is an additional module that features 5 points to perfect your elevator pitch. Following the workshop, students go through a live, recorded interview and receive feedback from our expert trainers.
Pranav- What’s the vision that Xtraview holds?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – Xtraview aims to tackle the challenges students and institutions face regarding admissions. Students feel limited in the information they can share in a written application. Admissions officers, on the other hand, want to learn more about students in their own words.
Our Mission:
Empower students to showcase their unique X factor. Allow academic committees and admission officers to gain an EXTRA insight into every child’s personality. Give every student an equal, unbiased opportunity to seize their dreams and succeed.
Pranav- What are the awards you’ve gained in your journey? What do you feel is the most significant achievement of yours till today?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – Xtraview was selected out of several thousand applications to participate in the FICCI for start-ups forum, a big honor.
Another proud accomplishment has been the number of referrals that come through existing and former clients. The trust institutions place in us to help carry out a part of their admissions process is a form of recognition in and of themselves.
Pranav- Life is not just about awards and achievements, the hurdles and challenges one faces are a part of that. What challenges did you face in your life, and how did you overcome them?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – There are unique challenges that female entrepreneurs face: balancing work and motherhood or striving to establish credibility in the workplace. Rather than treating these as “weaknesses” and trying to mask these and emulate our male counterparts, we must learn to play to our strengths. We should also use those to our advantage to succeed in a competitive environment.
Pranav- What are the plans and dreams that you wish to achieve?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – I would like to see Xtraview become the leading trusted partner in communication and digital interviews for students – not just in India but also globally.
Through the platform, I hope to empower students to achieve their education and career dreams by honing their communication skills.
Pranav- Being an education advisor, what changes in the education sector would you suggest to benefit the students?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – I would suggest a greater emphasis on communication skills throughout the school. Students may begin with a strong communication foundation, but this often loses emphasis as students move into higher grades, where more emphasis is strictly on academic learning.
It, however, is the wrong approach, in my opinion. Strong communication skills are crucial to one’s success in life. Emphasizing communication skills throughout schooling prepares one for the future and translates into academic success, as well, as one is better able to communicate answers.
Pranav- Apart from your work, what else do you like to explore, and what hobbies do you cherish?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – I love to read, cook, garden, and exercise. I also love spending time with my children. They always offer a fresh perspective and help me return to work rejuvenated!
Pranav- This pandemic has been a great teacher for us all. And it has changed our perspective towards life in some way or another. So, what lessons have you learned in this phase?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – In the early days of Xtraview, we thought universities and students would be knocking down our door to sign up. Instead, it’s been a slower process, mainly due to the pandemic’s impact on students and educational institutions.
It’s been a good lesson in developing patience and learning how to go after bigger, long-term goals, rather than abandoning those for every small opportunity that comes along.
Pranav- How was your experience setting up the start-up ‘Xtraview’ amid this pandemic?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – We started Xtraview smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so there was a lot of uncertainty about how the market would respond.
But so far, we’ve seen a tremendous response, partly because the business model addresses the needs that have arisen due to the pandemic – online communication is inevitable. People need to build the skills to communicate in this new digital medium successfully. Because people can no longer travel, universities and institutions have had no choice but to resort to digital interviews and assessments, meaning the market was also more receptive to our model.
Pranav- What is the greatest life lesson you’ve learned through your experience?
Katherine Ernst Mehta – To ask for help when I need it and trust that others can do the job as well (and sometimes better!) than I can.
I tend to shoulder too much responsibility because I don’t want to inconvenience someone else or feel like it’s work I should be able to do. Xtraview is my first venture with a partner, and as we continue to expand our team, I realize how much faster work can move and how much less stressed I am when I ask for help or delegate tasks to someone else who can do it just as well- and sometimes better – than I can.
According to Katherine, for the young ones to excel in today’s date despite the competitive environment, they should develop strong communication skills, focus on learning to work as a team, learn to adapt and become more self-confident. Katherine emphasizes the value of putting effort and leaves a message for all the readers, “Never let the fear of failure stop you from doing something new. It is far better to have tried something and failed than to have never tried.”
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