Swati Singh - 40 Under 40 2026

Swati Singh’s story begins under the glare of stage lights, where poise, confidence, and the ability to command a room were daily lessons. In the fashion and pageant industry, she learnt to read people as much as she learnt to present herself—a skill that would later define her approach to leadership. Standing in the spotlight, she discovered a truth early on: applause is fleeting unless it serves a greater purpose. That realisation pushed her into entrepreneurship. Founding Smuk – The Cosmetic House, Swati traded glamour for grit, navigating the messy, emotional reality of building a business from scratch. Every setback became a lesson in resilience, every small victory a testament to courage. She learnt to fail publicly and rise stronger, to bet on herself when the odds were stacked. By the time she stepped into the corporate world, Swati was no longer afraid of the grind. She knew how to reinvent herself. She knew how to start from scratch. And that’s what shaped the leader she is today— resilient, grounded, empathetic, and fiercely self-made. Today, as Manager– Growth US at Simplify Healthcare, she channels this unique blend of stagehoned confidence, entrepreneurial grit, and corporate savvy to drive impact and inspire those around her. Speaking with TradeFlock, she shares more about her work and journey that’s redefining what ambition looks like for women, especially mothers, in today’s workforce.

What key lessons from Smuk shaped your corporate journey?

That venture was my greatest teacher. It’s easy to celebrate success, but failure forces you to confront yourself. The most important lesson I learnt was that passion isn’t enough— discipline, systems, and patience matter more. I also learnt that there is no such thing as “overnight success”. Everything takes time, and time demands consistency. Smuk taught me humility. It taught me how to negotiate, how to manage people, and how to stay steady when cash flow becomes a nightmare. It taught me that a setback doesn’t define you— your comeback does. When I entered the corporate world, I walked in with a founder mindset. I didn’t wait for instructions; I took ownership. I didn’t fear responsibility; I welcomed it. Most importantly, I learnt to detach from my fear of failure. Once you’ve been through a startup that collapses, no cold call, no sales rejection, no tough quarter can shake you. I carried that grit with pride.

What biases have you faced as a motherleader, and how have they shaped your advocacy?

Motherhood is beautiful, but in corporate life, it can feel like a battlefield. The hardest part isn’t the workload—it’s the judgement. The subtle pauses when someone realises you’re a mother. The loaded question: “Will you manage?” “Are you sure you can handle this?” No one asks fathers these things. This bias is so ingrained that many women shrink themselves just to avoid being misjudged or doubted. I faced it too. Each milestone came with hidden conditions, as if my ambition needed permission. Instead, it fuelled me. Motherhood didn’t slow me down—it sharpened me, teaching me focus, efficiency, and emotional intelligence every single day. My motto: “Don’t underestimate a working mother. She’s not balancing two worlds—she’s building them.” I am grateful to my husband, whose unwavering support made it possible to navigate every late night, transition, and milestone with confidence and grace.

What fuelled your rise from SDR/ BDR to leading US growth at Simplify Healthcare?

Starting from the bottom was the biggest blessing. Cold calling builds character. Rejection builds resilience. An SDR/BDR role isn’t glamorous—it’s repetitive, demanding, and mentally exhausting. Yet, it taught me discipline and consistency like nothing else. What drove me was a promise I made to myself: “If I want a better life, I must build it with my own hands.” Every day, I approached my work as if I were building my own company—tracking numbers, studying top performers, taking feedback without ego, and showing up with hunger even when motivation ran low. Today, leading US Growth at Simplify Healthcare isn’t just a role—it’s a responsibility I feel deeply accountable for. The US market is competitive and mature, demanding both strategy and stamina. I focus on relentless hard work, understanding payer pain points, building strong relationships, maintaining pipeline discipline, and scaling a growth engine predictably. I live by: “Work until your pipeline reflects your discipline.” My children are my ultimate motivation—they remind me daily why building something meaningful matters.

How do you hope your story inspires women and working mothers?

I hope my story becomes a mirror for every woman who has ever doubted herself, every mother told she must choose, and every girl taught to shrink her dreams to fit expectations. I want women to feel seen, to know that ambition and motherhood are not opposites—they are allies.A paused career is not a broken career, and returning stronger is not just possibleit’s powerful. My journey is a reminder: “Your story doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. It just needs to be yours.” And if my sons grow up respecting strong women, that will be my greatest success.