Parminder Batra

Lessons in Leadership, Resilience & Purpose: A Conversation with the Founder of TraknProtect

What foundational advice helped you stay adaptable in the early stages of building your business?

The best piece of advice I received early on was that things will change and evolve, go with it. A mentor told me that the key is to stay flexible, pivot quickly, and stay open to where opportunity might lead. That advice shaped everything about how I built TraknProtect.

When I first started the company, it was designed for moms like me — a tool to help families know what they owned and where everything was. It was about bringing more order and peace of mind into everyday life. But as we began exploring other applications of our technology, we spotted an opportunity with hotels that needed to track valuable assets like housekeeping carts and equipment. So we pivoted.

Then our hotel partners began asking whether we could use the same platform to help keep their staff safe. That’s when our true purpose emerged: creating safer environments for hospitality workers. That moment of listening, adapting, and evolving defined not only our business but our mission.

Looking back, that early advice — not to commit too early to any one industry, market, or product until it could sustain itself — gave me the freedom to experiment, learn, and discover the path that aligned with both purpose and profitability. TraknProtect was born out of that willingness to pivot, and that has become our greatest strength.

 

 

Was there a moment early on when things went wrong, but ended up reshaping your company for the better?

One of my biggest so-called ‘failures’ became a turning point in January 2018, during our first deployment of a safety solution. We were thrilled — this was a major milestone for TraknProtect. But when we attempted to install the system, the customer’s internet provider blocked our access. Everything came to a standstill. It was disappointing and, honestly, demoralizing. After all that work, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us.

But after a few hours of frustration, the team and I asked ourselves: What can we learn from this? That moment of failure sparked one of our biggest breakthroughs. We realized that if we partnered with a major cellular provider, we could build a backup infrastructure that didn’t rely on the property’s Wi-Fi. Within weeks, we began developing that integration — and it changed everything.

What started as a roadblock became a defining advantage. Today, that partnership allows us to serve a far more diverse set of customers, including properties with limited or restricted internet access. It taught me that the best innovations don’t always come from perfect plans — they often rise out of what looks like failure, if you’re willing to see the opportunity inside it.

What’s an accomplishment in your business that fills you with pride?

One accomplishment I’m incredibly proud of is that — despite being one of the smallest companies in our space — TraknProtect has earned preferred vendor status with nearly every major hotel brand. From Accor to IHG to Hyatt and beyond, we’ve built trust with the world’s largest hospitality companies, not because we had the biggest R&D budget or the flashiest marketing, but because we listened, adapted, and delivered.

We created the most versatile safety solution on the market — one that genuinely meets each customer’s unique needs. Competing against companies with massive resources, we proved that agility, authenticity, and purpose can outperform size.

Every time I walk into a hotel and know that a housekeeper feels safer because of something our team built, that fills me with pride. It’s proof that impact isn’t about how big you are — it’s about how deeply you care about the problem you’re solving.

What phrase or mindset do you rely on during challenging moments in business?

The quote I repeat to myself every day is from Mel Robbins: ‘No matter what happens, I am capable of handling it.’ It’s more than a mantra — it’s a mindset I live by as a leader and as a person.

In business, especially as a founder, things rarely go according to plan. Technology fails, deals fall through, and surprises show up at the worst possible moments. Early in my journey, those moments triggered anxiety and self-doubt. But over time, I learned that what matters most isn’t avoiding chaos — it’s how you show up in it.

Reminding myself that I’m capable of handling whatever comes keeps me centered. I don’t panic or freeze. I breathe, assess, and search for the creative solution inside the challenge. It’s not that I always know the answer — it’s that I trust myself to find it.

To me, that quote represents calm strength: the kind that allows you to navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. Resilience isn’t pretending everything is fine. It’s believing that no matter what happens, you have the resourcefulness, grit, and heart to figure it out. And more often than not, things do work out — not just because you survived the moment, but because you grew from it.

How has being a woman in leadership shaped your understanding of strength and confidence?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to pretend to be strong simply because I’m the only woman in the room. For a long time, I believed strength meant speaking more, proving myself, or having all the answers. But true leadership isn’t that. Its presence, clarity, and authenticity.

I’ve learned I can project confidence even in silence — that quiet conviction is often more powerful than force. I’ve realized I don’t need every answer; that’s why I’ve built a team of incredible experts around me. My job is to listen, ask the right questions, and empower the best ideas.

And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned not to feel guilty for pausing. Taking a step back to evaluate isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Leadership isn’t constant motion — it’s intentional direction. Embracing that truth has allowed me to lead with more authenticity, balance, and impact than ever before.

What’s a ritual or habit that keeps you focused and feeling like yourself?

I actually have two rituals — one daily and one annual — that keep me grounded.

My daily ritual is writing my affirmations and morning statements. Almost every morning, I remind myself that it’s a new day, a new start, a new chapter. It’s how I let go of yesterday — whether it was a win or a challenge — and give myself permission to begin again with fresh energy. It centers me before the day takes over and reminds me that progress is about intention, not perfection.

My annual ritual happens on my birthday. I take a trip — sometimes alone, sometimes with my daughter or a close friend — and step completely away from the business. It’s my time to reflect on the year: what I’ve achieved, how I’ve grown, and where I want to go next. Then I ask myself one powerful question: If fear and money were no object, what would I do next? The answers become the foundation for my vision for the coming year.

It’s one of the most grounding and inspiring things I do — a reminder that reflection is where clarity and courage are born.

Parminder Batra is the founder and CEO of TraknProtect®, a leading safety and real-time location technology company, and a former attorney dedicated to advancing safety, innovation, and anti–human trafficking efforts in hospitality.

Reprints of Boss Babes Magazine featuring Parminder Batra on the cover can be ordered on demand from Peecho.