'Business was bad word in my family': Bengaluru CA opens up on taking risk over job security

For CA Meenal Goel, choosing entrepreneurship meant going against everything she had grown up believing. In a family where loyalty to one employer defined success, the idea of starting a business felt almost rebellious. Job security, pensions and provident funds were the gold standard. Risk was something to be avoided at all costs. Yet, despite fear, uncertainty and very little support, the Bengaluru-based chartered accountant chose a different path. Her journey, shared on LinkedIn, has struck a chord with many navigating similar crossroads.

Meenal Goel comes from a family deeply rooted in traditional career paths. Her father spent 35 years working at a private limited company. Her uncle dedicated 28 years to a PSU bank. Her grandfather served as a government school teacher. Every adult she grew up around had worked for a single employer their entire life. Stability was non-negotiable. Pensions, provident funds and long tenures were seen as the ultimate markers of success.

So when Meenal expressed her desire to start a business, the reaction was immediate and predictable. Business, in her family, was viewed as something meant for people with inherited wealth or strong financial backing. She was told she did not come from that background. There were worries about what would happen if she failed, and how she would recover without a safety net.






She admits those concerns were not entirely misplaced. At the time, she had no formal business knowledge, no mentor to guide her, savings of ₹12 lakh and no family backup if things went wrong. The fear was overwhelming. She questioned whether she would lose everything, disappoint her family or prove she was not capable enough.

Despite the doubts, Meenal decided to take the leap. The early months were brutal. She made mistakes, lost money and struggled with confidence. Progress was slow and emotionally draining, but she refused to quit. What kept her going was a growing realisation that her parents’ fears came from their own lived experiences. For them, stability meant survival. For her, taking risks was the only way to grow.



Over time, her work began to show results. As her efforts started paying off, her family slowly began to understand her choices. The resistance softened, replaced by acceptance and support. Meenal’s story challenges the idea that entrepreneurship has to be inherited. According to her, business does not need to be in your blood. What truly matters is the drive to keep going, even when fear and doubt are louder than belief. Today, she owns her own company, which makes Rs 50 lakh in revenue.