When you first talk to Neelam Singh, there’s an instant sense of calm about her, not the kind that comes from perfection, but from peace earned after years of persistence. Today, as the Founder and CEO of The Burger Company, Singh stands as one of the most inspiring examples of how belief, hard work, and patience can turn the simplest ideas into stories of success. But her journey hasn’t begun in a boardroom or a kitchen, it has begun much earlier, in a classroom.
Singh has grown up as a shy, soft-spoken child who has often been bullied in school. “I have been very quiet, very reserved,” she recalled. “I have been bullied a lot, and for the longest time, it has made me believe I was not enough.” The experience, she shared, has shaped her deeply. “That phase has broken me for a while, but it has also made me strong. I have learned to rebuild myself. Every small win, whether it was speaking up in class or later leading a team, has rebuilt my confidence.”
Over time, she has come to see those years not as scars, but as lessons. “Now when I look back, I actually feel grateful. It has taught me empathy. When you’ve been through that kind of hurt, you automatically become kinder. I think that’s why I’ve always wanted to build a brand that feels human, not transactional.”
Her love for food, she said, has been her constant companion. “I’ve always loved food. If I’m really, really hungry, it has to be a burger, my whole burger,” she laughed, adding, “but if I’m in the mood to share, then it’s pizza.” It’s this simple joy around food, indulgent, yet communal, that has later defined The Burger Company’s essence.
After completing her studies, Singh has stepped into the corporate world, where she has worked for two years. “The first year has been fine, I have learned a lot, grown professionally,” she said. “But in the second, I started questioning myself. Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? And when I pictured that life, I didn’t see myself happy in it.” That realisation has been the turning point. “I’ve saved a bit, given myself a timeline, and told myself, let’s try something I can wake up excited about. That’s how The Burger Company has been born.”
From the start, Singh has made it a point to stay close to her customers. “In the first year, I took orders myself, served food, and collected feedback. Recently, when we opened another outlet, I’ve done it again,” she said, smiling. “It has reminded me of how much I’ve missed that feeling, that direct connection. Seeing someone take a bite and smile, it’s pure joy. It reminds me why I started.”
But behind the warmth, there has been grit, the kind that doesn’t make noise but quietly endures. “I’ve realised I’m a very stubborn person,” she laughed. “There have been moments when I’ve thought maybe I should give up. But then I’ve told myself, no, why not? I can do it. I’ve been doing it. Let’s see what happens.”
A believer in manifestation, Singh said, “Manifestation backed by passion makes anything possible. Sometimes you forget you’ve manifested something because you’re too busy living it. Passion keeps you moving even when you want to give up.”
Motherhood, she admitted, has added a new dimension to her journey. “I’ve been blessed to have my parents take care of my son while I work,” she said. “But that doesn’t take away the mother’s guilt. When you’re at work, you feel you’re missing out on your child’s moments. When you’re with your child, you think about work. It’s a constant push and pull.”
At the same time, it has made her more patient and self-aware. “Motherhood has changed me,” she said. “Earlier, I used to react instantly. Now I pause, I think. I’ve become calmer, more composed. I’ve learned that not everything needs an immediate reaction, that lesson has helped me in business too.”
Her advice to other working mothers has been heartfelt. “Take small breaks,” she said. “Every few months, if you can. It doesn’t have to be luxurious, just something to breathe. It keeps you sane. It helps you come back with more energy, more love.”
Talking about the business itself, Singh reflected, “The market changes so fast, consumer behavior, delivery culture, preferences, everything. There’s no single formula for success. You have to keep unlearning and relearning.”
But amidst all the chaos, she has also learned to listen to her body. “Health has taken a backseat for a long time,” she admitted. “There was a time when I couldn’t sleep without anxiety pills. But I’ve stopped that now. I travel, I take short getaways, and I’ve started listening to myself again. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
She credited her husband, Nitesh Venkat, for being her biggest support through it all. “He’s not just my partner, he’s my biggest cheerleader,” she said. “Because he’s in the business too, he truly understands what I go through. There’s no need to explain. He just gets it. That kind of support means everything.”
Her eyes have lit up when she has recalled one of her most cherished moments. “Once, a pregnant woman left a note saying she’s been craving something that truly satisfies her, and when she’s eaten our burger, her baby has kicked,” Singh smiled. “That note, it has stayed with me. It’s such a pure reminder of why I do this.”
She added that nothing compares to watching people celebrate at her outlets. “When families, friends, or couples choose your place to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, that’s beyond business. That’s love.”
Reflecting on her journey, Singh has said, “I’ve learned that success doesn’t come overnight. You have to work hard, stay humble, and be consistent. You don’t need to be special in the way you’re born, you can be special in the way you show up every day.”
And perhaps that’s what best defines Neelam Singh, not just as a businesswoman, but as a human being who has turned every scar into strength, every stumble into self-belief, and every burger into a story of passion served with heart.
