Kruti Patel Goyal is a busy lady these days, thanks in no small part to her son and daughter, twins who will be turning three in December. Parents of dynamic duos will relate: "Going from a family of two to four overnight was an absolute whirlwind that turned our lives upside down, but in the most wonderful way." As the VP of Business & Corporate Development at Etsy, the Prospect Heights, Brooklyn resident helps Etsy grow through partnerships and acquisitions, and by developing plans for new businesses. (Prior to Etsy, she worked at (RED), the company founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, that partners with businesses to help fight AIDS in Africa.) "Etsy is a great fit for me because it’s very much a mission-driven company. I feel so fortunate to work at a place that helps creative entrepreneurs make a living doing what they love. And it’s even more gratifying to know that most of these 1.7 million entrepreneurs are women." (She'll also admit to having a bit of an addiction to shopping the site.) Off hours, you'll find Goyal and her family taking in Brooklyn goodness close to home, picnicking in Prospect Park, exploring the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, shopping the Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza, and sampling new flavors at Ample Hills Creamery.
Yet another Reason To Like Her: Goyal spent the first decade of her career in the finance and media industries, working at prestigious companies and moving up the corporate ladder. "From the outside, my career looked great, but I was struggling to find a sense of purpose in my work and figure out what I really wanted to do with my life." So she did it: she and her husband quit their jobs and traveled around the world. "I’m not sure if convincing myself or convincing my husband to take this leap of faith was the bigger accomplishment, but the experience had a profound impact on my life," she says. "The time we spent in Asia and Africa provided me the clarity to see that that finding meaning in my work was about focusing beyond myself. This realization ultimately led me to find my role at (RED) and then to Etsy."
Work/Life: "I’m extremely fortunate to have a supportive and involved spouse that I can lean on and share responsibilities with. As a working mom, organization and prioritization are critical life skills--I’ve honed my productivity skills in order to make every minute count when I’m in the office and at home. I’ve also learned to set clear boundaries with work. I make it a priority to get home in time to spend quality, uninterrupted time with the twins in the evenings. Reading to them and cuddling with them before bedtime are my sacred daily rituals."
photo: Etsy
