Mansi Joshi - The Entrepreneurs of India Magazine

Growing up in a large, education-driven joint family in Indore, Mansi Joshi was no stranger to ambition. Her grandmother, a mathematics teacher, held an MA in Economics and an M.Mus in Music. Her mother pursued double MAs in History and Geography. Her father, despite earning a degree in Biology, co-founded a business in copper parts alongside her grandfather. Her uncle, a BITS Pilani engineer, later joined that venture. It was a household where knowledge, stability, and the courage to carve a new path were deeply interwoven.

Like many children raised in Indian homes in the 90s and early 2000s, her journey was shaped by academic pressure. Drawing and reading were the only two things she truly loved, but those were seen more as hobbies than anything serious. The goal was clear: IIT. Days started at 6 AM and ended deep into the night with coaching classes, test prep, and relentless expectations. Despite topping mock exams regularly, the stress took its toll. Just before her real IIT Mains, Mansi had a breakdown and confessed that she couldn’t see herself walking that road.

Her family supported her decision to step away—but what came next was unclear. With no real direction, she explored architecture, thinking it would balance structure with creativity. She secured admission and excelled in her Interior Architecture course in Vadodara, graduating with a gold medal. Yet, something still felt incomplete.

A move to Mumbai opened new doors. She joined an architecture firm but also began exploring creative outlets—fiction writing, open mics, storytelling. Then the pandemic hit. During the lockdown, she picked up digital illustration just to learn something new. She started posting comics on Instagram, never expecting people to connect with them the way they did. Slowly, she taught herself 2D animation to bring her characters to life. That decision changed everything.

Today, Mansi is a freelance illustrator and animator, building a niche with her signature style—emotionally engaging, nostalgic, and deeply rooted in desi culture. Her content isn’t just visually appealing—it tells stories, and brands have begun to notice. From small businesses to big names, she now collaborates with clients looking for heartfelt, relatable ways to connect with their audience.

Behind the reels and posts, though, is a real journey filled with mistakes, self-doubt, and important lessons. One of the biggest challenges she faced was her own perfectionism. “I used to think something should only be shared if it’s perfect. But chasing that stopped me from starting so many things,” she says. Over time, she’s learned to treat mistakes as necessary steps in the creative process. Progress, not perfection, is what keeps her moving forward.

Being a full-time content creator isn’t without its hurdles. Social media platforms change constantly. Algorithms shift. Visibility fluctuates. It can feel like an endless race. And when people don’t take the profession seriously, it only adds to the pressure. But Mansi chooses to focus on consistency and community. She reminds herself daily that what matters most is the joy of storytelling—and the satisfaction of doing something she truly loves.

She says, artists are still undervalued. With AI tools growing rapidly, that gap is widening. But she refuses to let that discourage her. Instead, she stays authentic to her own artistic style. “There will always be a temptation to change your art to be more marketable,” she says, “but staying true to your voice is what makes the work meaningful.

Mansi's journey hasn’t been powered by fancy degrees or massive startup funds. Everything she knows, she learned online. YouTube tutorials, blogs, books—these have been her teachers. While she admits that formal training might have helped with business skills like pricing and marketing, her self-taught path allowed her to build her own unique approach.

The support from her family has evolved over time. Initially, her decision to leave architecture for full-time art was tough for her parents to understand. She had no clear income, no large audience, and from the outside, it probably looked like she had given up structure for uncertainty. But they saw her grow—emotionally, creatively, and eventually financially. Today, her family, husband, and in-laws stand firmly behind her.

To young creators starting out, her message is simple: make it real. “Create something first, make it better later.” Whether it’s a doodle, a short video, or a full-blown idea, take that first messy, imperfect step. Because once it exists, you can shape it into whatever you want.

Mansi Joshi may not have cracked IIT, but she cracked something far more important—her own voice. And with every illustration, every animation, and every post, she invites others to do the same.