Business did not come kindly to Gunjan Saini Bradshaw and that is exactly what shaped her into the powerful entrepreneur she is today. From her beginnings as a TV and radio host in India to co-founding a thriving tech company across India and the United States, Gunjan's story is one of bold pivots, resilience and redefining leadership. In this episode of the Badass Women in Business podcast, Gunjan shares how she built Codebase alongside her husband, navigated cultural and gender barriers, and turned personal challenges into a global success story.
Whether you are scaling a startup, breaking into tech, or balancing business with personal life, Gunjan’s raw and real insights will inspire you to embrace change, trust your instincts and lead with both heart and grit.
Show Notes
Welcome Gunjan Saini Bradshaw
- Gunjan's early career path from journalism and marketing in India to the entertainment world
- How business "happened" unexpectedly through her relationship with her now husband and business partner
- The story behind Codebase, a fully bootstrapped journey connecting Indian tech talent with US venture-backed companies
- Navigating the transition from TV to tech, India to Utah, and from dating to building a business together
- Finding her voice as a non-technical co-founder and earning respect in a male-dominated industry
- Bridging cultural differences between India and the United States and building strong cross-cultural teams
- Why staying bootstrapped mattered and how it helped preserve the company's vision and values
- Commitment to excellence by focusing only on hiring A players and redefining offshore collaboration
- Lessons learned about resilience, adaptability, leadership and trusting yourself when the path is unclear
Key Takeaways
- Your gender should never define your potential or leadership presence
- Bootstrapping can build a strong foundation even if it means growing slower
- Understanding cultural nuance is critical for building international teams
- Founders must wear multiple hats and continuously evolve based on the needs of the business
- True success is not about avoiding failure but about embracing challenges as opportunities to grow
Favorite Quotes
“You are not your gender, you are a person. Hustle, grind and lead without the baggage.”
“Business life did not come kindly to me, but that is where I found my true strength.”
“Building a dream should never be limited by capital. It is about smart, scrappy collaboration.”
Contact Information
- Website: Codebase
- LinkedIn: Gunjan Saini Bradshaw
- Instagram: @goofwoman
Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:
- Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders
- Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
- LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
- Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
- Athena: athenaac.com
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