Leisa: Hello, I’m Leisa Holland-Nelson and welcome to another edition of Women Mean Business, where we’re going to take you up close and personal with extraordinary women doing extraordinary things. My guest today is Ruchi Mukherjee, the Founder of Lights Camera Action Houston, which is a digital magazine as well as a print magazine, and hosts the extraordinary Mother’s Day Soiree, saluting international mothers. Ruchi, welcome.

Ruchi: Thank you, Leisa; so excited.

Leisa: I’m glad you’re here. You have really done a lot in the 10 years you’ve been building this business. What advice would you give the next person who wants to achieve the success you’re achieving?

Ruchi: Oh boy, where do I start? Well, I’ve got two. One, of course is business when you have a business. I’m realizing that the hard way; contracts. Yes, I would never say don’t trust anybody or anything like that, because that’s what has also, trust and love and friendship, but don’t mix friendship and business. I’ve done it and I’ve had tears as you never know, and I felt that I emailed the person and I wrote what I’m giving, yet never received the check, or never received the money, stuff like this. So make a contract. Please have a contract so that you are secure.

Leisa: That’s great advice.

Ruchi: That’s one. And, the second one is that I do feel also like there are days where I feel I’m burned, and I feel I’ve not been, some things will then go wrong, but at the same time, the very next second I tell myself my business is based on love, friendship, and honesty. I don’t care how many people cheat on me, or do wrong to me. I will continue to do the right thing because I cannot imagine, I cannot thank Houston’s amazing people who have been behind me, next to me, and just because they have trusted my honesty and they loved me with what I do; my integrity, that is why.

Leisa: Thank you, that’s great advice. Basically you’re saying, have integrity but sign a contract.

Ruchi: Exactly.

Leisa: It works. That’s really great.

Ruchi: If they’re honest they will do it.

Leisa: Thank you. Thanks for being here. There you have it, extraordinary advice from an extraordinary woman. I’m Leisa Holland-Nelson, President and Co-founder of ContentActive, Houston’s leading web and mobile technology company. You can find me at contentactive.com or follow me on Twitter @lhnelson. We’ll be back again next week for another edition of Women Mean Business.