Ep 89: Why Rebranding Isn’t Starting Over but Stepping Into Your Next Level with Puja Malhotra

Business AdviceBusiness GrowthEntrepreneurship
Written By Shauna Lynn Simon

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Ep 89 - Transcript

In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn sits down with Puja Malhotra, founder and creative director of Roop Creative Agency, for a powerful and emotional conversation about what rebranding really means. Puja shares how leaving corporate life to build her own agency sparked an ongoing evolution, one shaped by intuition, courage, and purpose. Together, they unpack the emotional side of rebranding: the guilt, fear, and resistance that surface when your business outgrows its original identity, and the freedom that comes from realigning your brand with who you’ve become.

 Listeners will gain insights into how to know when it’s time to rebrand, how to balance passion and profit, and why rebranding is less about starting over and more about stepping into clarity and confidence.

If your brand feels “too small” for the business you’re building, this episode will remind you what’s possible when you let go and grow forward.

Subscribe to The Real Women Real Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to join Shauna Lynn every week for empowering discussions and practical advice on navigating the entrepreneurial journey with health and wellness in mind.

Timestamps:

  • (00:02) - (09:15): Hear how Puja Malhotra made the bold leap from corporate life to founding Roop Creative Agency, and why a little “blissful ignorance” can be the best fuel for entrepreneurship.

  • (09:16) - (18:45): Learn how pivoting with purpose helped Puja evolve her business, attract aligned clients, and rediscover joy through intentional change.

  • (18:46) - (32:30): Explore the emotional side of rebranding—why it’s often more about self-discovery than design, and how to know when your brand no longer represents who you are.

  • (32:31) - (46:20): Find out how Puja guides clients through rebrand resistance, feedback fears, and creative collaboration to build timeless, confidence-boosting brands.

  • (46:21) - (59:10): Get Puja’s advice for creatives making the jump from corporate to entrepreneurship, including how to set strong boundaries, welcome feedback, and build a truly freedom-filled business.

Resources:

Emily Rosales:

About Puja Malhotra:

Puja Malhotra is the founder and creative director of Roop Creative Agency, a boutique branding and web design studio she launched in 2016 after leaving a career in corporate marketing. Named after her grandmother, Roop Creative is rooted in strategy, storytelling, and timeless design—helping entrepreneurs across North America build brands that not only look beautiful but also scale with clarity and purpose.

 With over 15 years of experience, Puja has worked with hundreds of business owners to develop brand identities, design websites, and create strategies that align with their goals. She is passionate about meeting clients where they are—whether through full-service brand development, website intensives, or semi-custom brand kits that allow new founders to launch with confidence.

In addition to her client work, Puja runs Corporate Dropout, a 3-month 1:1 mentorship program designed for designers, strategists, and creatives who are ready to confidently leave the 9–5 and build profitable, sustainable agencies of their own.

 A proud mom, Puja often shares her journey of balancing ambition and motherhood, navigating identity as a first-generation entrepreneur, and building a business that feels true to who you are.

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Shauna Lynn Simon
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Ep 88: Work Smarter, Earn More: Finding Profit in the Business You Already Have