Ismat Ahmed Shaikh: Bringing Profit and Purpose Together

When Ismat Ahmed Shaikh speaks about his startup, Estalmia, his words are grounded in logic, humility, and purpose. Tracing a professional arc from statistics to finance to marketing and entrepreneurship, Ismat’s story is not just about building a sustainable marketplace. It is about building a successful business that is also socially responsible.

Ismat was born in a remote village in India and then raised in Mumbai. After earning his master’s in statistics, he built a career in financial analysis and marketing, eventually leading teams and launching a consultancy. But over time, the limitations of corporate structures—especially in India’s still-hierarchical work culture—became too stark to ignore. A micromanaging CEO and a lack of employee appreciation led him to leave. “Had he been kind and appreciative,” Ismat said, “I would have stayed for a very long time.”

It was during a visit to the U.S. that Ismat experienced a different model. He saw kindness practiced as daily leadership. A CEO who waited for him to finish a conversation before beginning their meeting. Colleagues who helped with travel plans just to be helpful. These acts were small but powerful—these acts of workplace kindness and respect left an impression.

This contrast helped crystallize his vision for Estalmia: a business that combines profit and purpose. The platform curates natural, organic, and sustainable products for people and the planet. But building an ethical business is not always clean-cut. “There are practical challenges,” he shared. “Sometimes, there is no perfect alternative—like shipping materials without plastic.” His approach is pragmatic: choose the best that you can, stay grounded in your values, and improve wherever possible. In one case, when a delivery partner failed to refund a disputed shipment, Estalmia absorbed part of the loss to protect the vendor relationship. That small gesture helped build lasting trust.

Estalmia is just the beginning. Ismat sees it as the launchpad for broader innovations, including funding R&D for packaging alternatives and exploring technology like AI to support ecological balance. His goal is to scale sustainable impact. “Ethics alone will not take you far without resources,” he said. “You need time, people, and money to actually create change.”

Today, Ismat continues building a business that reflects who he is: intentional, thoughtful, and committed to making the world better through his work.

“You have to be practical along with being a good person. That combination makes you much more capable of achieving results.”

Ismat Ahmed Shaikh is the founder of Estalmia, a purpose-driven company rooted in the belief that our health is tied to the health of the planet. He is building a business that proves profit and purpose can—and should—go hand in hand. Keep an eye out for more interviews.