You're just a product. Yeah. No one cares about my future in this career. Don't eat this. Don't do this. Don't tan. It was a very stressful environment. I was very close to signing with Fox Studios. When I got there, they told me about the kissing scene. I was like, I don't want to do a kissing scene. The principle of not telling me before I got there and telling me when I was there. That pissed me off so much. And actually, that was one of the turning points in my career. I'm done with this industry. I don't want to do this. I'm not a product. I'm educated. I'm smart. Like I can do something else. Like I don't want to do this anymore. I am done. >> From there, how did you get to Luna PR? I took my exit. I was like, believe me, like we need to get into crypto. We need to accept crypto for payments. We need to just be full-on crypto. We need to even do an ICO. Have you ever repaired someone's reputation? Um, you're a successful, gorgeous woman in the web 3 space. Do you intimidate men? Today's guest is a visionary, award-winning entrepreneur shaping the global web 3 landscape. She is also an investor in the future of blockchain, a media executive, and the creator of the crypto Polo Cup. She's built influence across four continents and is a driving force behind web 3's mainstream adoption. With her sights now set on policy and power, this is where technology meets leadership. Please welcome the founder and CEO of Luna PR, Nikita Sachdev. Nikita, thank you for being here with us today. >> It's my pleasure, Jenny. >> We've been wanting to have you on the show for quite some time. So, let's get right into it. You have an incredibly impressive career trajectory. Please tell us a bit about your professional journey and how it has led you to where you are now. Where do I begin? Um, so studied in Texas, moved to Singapore cuz my dad was working there. Singapore is not easy. I was walking in a mall once and someone was like, "Hey, we're looking for your color hair for a hair dye commercial and if it works like you'll you'll get paid 5 grand. Uh, and it's just one day shoot." Got my paycheck, gave it to my dad. I'm like, "There you go. That's one semester." And then I'm like, "You know what? I need to do this a little bit more. So I was like, how do I do this? How do I get into this? So I started searching for these um kind modeling jobs. After doing this for two, three years, I started building my portfolio and my profile. And so I just started like investing in myself and then just ended up um being on the face of pawns, Vaseline, Singapore Airlines, big billboards. >> You were like a full-blown proper model. >> I was a commercial. Yeah. Commercial. Did you enjoy that life? >> I loved it. I mean, I was I flew to India and shot for Hyundai. I shoot I flew to uh Mongolia, shot for the 44 for Ford in the Gobi Desert. I went to Sri Lanka and I was the face of uh Salon Spa, which is like the biggest spa there. I was on billboards in Koala Lumpur. I remember walking down the Kale airport and there was a billboard the size of this wall and I'm like, "Oh, that's me." Oh my god. And I remember sitting in Singapore Airlines and I >> Did people ask you for your autograph? >> No, but people were always asking me for photos. Like I'd go places and they'd take photos if especially if they recognized me. >> You were already having PR of yourself everywhere before you even got into PR. >> Yeah. I mean, but um you know, it was a very stressful uh environment and it was like I mean every like every model will tell you it was like don't eat this and don't do this and don't get in the sun. And I wasn't allowed to get in the sun, you know, cuz uh in Asia especially, you had to like the fairer skin you were, the the better it was for shoots, the more chances you you got at getting shoots. So, I remember they would tell me don't tan because if you want the jobs in Korea and Japan and North Asia and even I mean everywhere in Asia, if you want if you want to get more bookings, don't tan. >> Where was your favorite place that you went to shoot and where was the most challenging? >> Very challenging was the Hyundai shoot I did in India. It was 5 days and you know I went downstairs and saw your studio here today and things have changed so much. Like you can replicate that in studio without having to go 5 days in blistering heat in a 20 kilo dress. Like every hour they're touching up your makeup and your hair because you're drenching in sweat. And by the end of the shoot my face was like destroyed. My skin was horrible. My hair was burnt. And you're like >> why am I doing this? And actually that was one of the turning points in my career where I was just like I'm tired. I'm starving. My hair is burnt. My skin is burnt. Like it's like no one cares about, you know, my my future of the in this career. Like they just you're just seen as like today you need to look like this. It's just a product. You're just a product. Yeah. So um >> I went back home to Singapore and I had this this my Bollywood career trajectory was looking incredible at the time. I even um I was very close to signing with Fox Studios. I did a movie. I did a a big movie. Actually, >> you did. You were an actress, too? >> I This is an exclusive for you, J. >> Okay. Yeah. I haven't told >> exclusive exclusive. >> I come from a very conservative family. Okay. So, I go on set and they're like, "You'll be acting with Sadhart Malhotra, who is like Brad Pitt of India. Like, he's he's massive. Like, you can Google him. He's like everywhere. He's a-lister." And they tell me when I'm on scene, Sidhart Mhhatra is gonna kiss you. >> Oh. >> And I'm like, >> and this is just last minute they're telling you, of course. >> Yeah. And I'm like, no, like my dad's going to watch this. I he can't kiss me. I didn't know I'm old at the time. >> I was like 24. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I was like, I don't want to do a kissing scene. And also like um I have a boyfriend and he's not going to be happy about it. >> And then who's now my husband, but I was like, he's not going to be happy. He's still not happy about it. Wait, you had to do it anyway. >> Oh my god, there was like a hundred people watching me. When I got there, they told me about the kissing scene and it pissed me off so much. It was just the the principle of not telling me before I got there and telling me when I was there that pissed me off so much >> and that was my cherry on top and I just did the scene and I was like I am done and I was like ready to like move to India and like live there and actually get commit into going into Bollywood and I was like no I'm done with this industry. I don't want to do this. I'm not a product. I'm like I I I I'm I'm educated. I'm smart. Like I can do something else. Like I don't want to do this anymore. So, I went all the way back to Singapore and I was like, "No, I studied six years in university." Like, I've studied my whole life. I was an A-list student. Like, I was always on principal or honor roll. I studied chemistry. I went to university when I was 16. So, I'm like, I'm going to do something else. >> You're like incredibly gifted as well. >> Not gifted. My parents really pushed it. So, it was instilled in me and I'm like, this did not go to waste. And, you know, for for what I experienced, I commend everyone that's in that industry. It is so underrated, so difficult to become a star and become a celebrity and to act like it takes so much discipline, right? So kudos to them. >> But it just wasn't for me. And I came back to Singapore and then I started a modeling agency. Oh, >> and my whole like stigma was let me not let me give an experience to models that I didn't that I didn't uh face, you know, like let me give them let me give them some something better based on the lessons I learned. So, um I wouldn't tell people like don't tan. But what I would tell production studios and what I would tell like the uh guys that were doing the bookings is that this is a tanned model. If you want someone more light-skinned, we have someone like that. But like please don't tell my models to be a certain way that they're not. >> And what happened to it? >> Um it still exists. So basically I started the company with a friend of mine Louisa. She was this Brazilian model in Singapore and we took Louisa and Nikita and we made Luna. >> So that's how Luna >> that's how Luna came about. >> And then um so we started the agency and we were representing like 2,000 models across Asia. We had bookings for like Formula 1. The girls, the grid girls were from our agency uh for any Mickey Moto, the jewelry brand, for watches, for Rolex, for Cartier, for everything. Like they were booking our models like we were we were really one of the top modeling agencies in Singapore. Uh so I wanted to expand and I said, you know, let's let's give it a shot and going to corporate videos and doing something more corporate. I think there's some money to be made in that sector, too. So, we were trying to get into corporate shoots, like get our models to do corporate shoots. >> And one of our corporate shoots was about crypto back in 2017. And so, I go into the studio and >> um they wanted a Russian, Korean, Mandarin, uh speaking, Japanese, and English host to basically do this corporate video to tap into these markets. Um, so I got into the set and I'm like looking through the teleprompter that the girls are going to read and I'm like ICO blockchain crypto. I'm like >> it's a different language. >> I'm like what is this? Like what is this? Like and I remember the um the CEO of the company said to me that you know Nikki if you put it put $1 in crypto in 2009 today 2017 you'd be a millionaire. And I'm like I've never invested in my life. I think I need to start getting into investment. So, I go home and I'm like, "How to invest in crypto?" Coinbase comes up. I click I make an account and at the time there was a button for recurring buy, weekly recurring buy. >> And you did that. >> So, you put your credit you put your card in or your debit card in. Forgot to uncheck recurring buy and every week there's money coming out of my account going into Bitcoin. >> Oh. What a blessing. >> Like that is that is a a gift, right? >> Yeah. Yes. It was honestly like >> the best mistake you ever made. >> Like luck. There's nothing like luck. >> Yeah, >> it was a little bit like I got lucky. I'm going to admit that. >> I mean, if if that that is the best mistake I've ever heard, you know, anybody make because by default you're investing in the best, you know, digital currency possible >> back in 2017. So, go into my Coinbase account, all of a sudden I've made more money than I thought. So, I'm like, I'm going to make a video on how amazing Bitcoin is. So, I take my Instagram and I'm like, "Guys, it's going to disrupt the monetary system." Everyone's like, "What is this girl like? What is this girl smoking?" Right? Meanwhile, the biggest exchange at the time, it was called Huobi Exchange. It's like this unicorn crypto exchange out of China. It just moved to Singapore because of regulation. They DM' me on Instagram and they're like, "Hey, we really like your content. Can you be a host at our exchange?" And I'm like, "Sure, this is fantastic. Like, I'll use my modeling skills." Like that's why they wanted me cuz I had already like this onset skills and they were like just bring it to our studio but instead of shoots you're interviewing people. I was like great let's do it. And I was forced to learn about blockchain because I'm interviewing such like technical founders. So I was forced to learn about blockchain and that was the pivot of my career and that's how I got into crypto. >> And so from there how did you get to Luna PR? We still had the modeling agency. Louisa is still my best friend. like we, you know, we were still running everything together, but my time was going into crypto. >> And eventually she's like, "Babe, like come on, we're running a business. Like, are you in it or are you out?" I was like, "Believe me, like, we need to get into crypto. We need to accept crypto for payments. We need to just be full-on crypto. We need to even do an ICO." And she's like, "What are you talking about?" So, she's like, "Let's do this." She's like, "Let me run the modeling side. You launch a crypto side, and then we'll just be founders of both subsidiaries together. we'll still keep it together. I'm like, fantastic. And eventually, and I was like, please. >> But you were still a partner in it. So, >> yeah. And I was like, but you got to believe me. You got to believe me. And she always believed me, but eventually I felt guilty. >> So, I'm not pulling my weight. So, um, we we parted ways and I told her, you know, you take the the modeling. I took my exit. I I I had a small like cash exit from the modeling agency and I took that money to move to Dubai because everybody was moving here. I feel like Dubai is really booming. Jiteex was happening here. I got invited to speak to Jiteex and then I was like I need to see what's happening in Dubai. So I moved here with my exit money, brought my sister along and so we moved here together and within the first year uh we went from like five employees to 40 and then second year we were at 100 almost 100. >> But how did you guys scale so quickly? Like what was that secret sauce or that secret ingredient for you? >> I really think it was being at the right place at the right time like while the US was cracking down on companies they were all moving here. Binance moved here, biggest exchanges, all the money was flowing out of the UAE and everybody was interested. And then Vara opened up, the regulatory systems opened up, the regulatory bodies. So there there was so much happening in the UAE and I it was really kind of just going with the flow of being at the right place at the right time. >> And being in PR, I know there's always been this this statement that there's no such thing as bad PR, but do you think that good PR can actually fix bad behavior? and some of the you know grand mistakes that these companies make. >> PR is so important for building credibility and in building reputation and reputation is something that just cannot be it's very difficult to reverse a bad reputation especially in crypto to fix a bad reputation. Yeah. Especially in the crypto space. >> Um >> have you ever repaired someone's reputation? >> We have. We have and we've repaired even um FUD, fear, uncertainty, doubt. When FUD spreads, it spreads like wildfire. And to come in and to kind of come up with a plan in such short notice to reverse some of the damage that's been done and to uh instill stakeholder confidence again >> is something that we've had to do several times in the space. So when people come to me and they say, "Oh, there's no such thing as bad bad press." I'm like, "Well, you know, there's bad press sometimes leads to bad FUD and FUD spreads like wildfire." So >> So have you ever turned down um a client or a project for any particular reason? >> Yeah, definitely. So we've had to turn down projects that lack fundamentals. Uh because it's not just about narrative. Like yes, a good strong narrative can push push out great fundamentals, but if you lack fundamentals, it's like we can't fool the journalists. The journalists journalists in in web 3, they're they're smart. They know what they're talking about. And not just journalists, even koss, influencers, any anybody, any stakeholder involved is become a lot more savvier and they know how to do their own due diligence. So, we're not fooling anyone. >> Yeah, the internet these days is a very dangerous place. So, okay, I have to ask you because you're beautiful, you have brains, you're successful, gorgeous woman in the wet three space. Do you intimidate men? And how do you how do you lead as a woman, you know, in this space? >> Yeah. Um, I hope I don't intimidate men. Um, but, uh, I do think that, um, sometimes, you know, I would like to see, uh, more more women involved in panel discussions. I'm glad you're doing this podcast because we need more conversations like this and not why women should be in the web 3 space, but what are women doing? >> What do you bring to the table? >> What impact are they? >> Yeah. >> So, 10 years from now, what does success look like for you? And ultimately, what would you like your legacy to be? >> Yeah. So um we have been expanding um our service offering from just being a PR agency focusing on media to more of like a strategic adviser uh to being a partner to helping uh companies launch in the space. I think we have a very good 360deree view on what constitutes a successful company and um I want to be part of incredible companies. I want to see companies become unicorns because of the impact that we had on them. Oh, that's beautiful. And I did read that you want to get into politics. Is that true? Maybe, maybe. I don't know. I'm I'm I like policy. I like the policy side of things. Um, so let's see. I mean, that's a conversation uh to have two years down the line. >> Okay. I think you would make such an incredible impact in the industry. So, I I really do hope you push to that next. >> Thank you so much. Um, and okay, so is it too late to get involved in Bitcoin? What is your take on that for everybody that's debating on where Bitcoin is headed? >> It's never too late. Just over 1 million Bitcoin left to be mined. I think it's going to be a very rare commodity soon. >> Okay. So, get in there, dip your toes, take a bite. >> Yeah. >> Lastly, if you can go back in time and speak to your younger version, what would you advise her? >> Oh my god. I would tell myself, don't be scared. Just take the plunge, take the risk. Um there were so many times where I was like secondguessing myself. And um I think well I am where I am because I because I followed my instinct. >> But um there were a lot of decisions that I made because I was scared. So I think I would just advise myself to um start this journey without fear and without hate. >> Nikita, thank you so much for being with us today. It's been such a delight speaking with you. You have beautiful energy. I love what you're doing with Luna PR and I can't wait to speak with you further in in uh in all the projects that you're embarking on. >> Thank you so much, Jenny. I really enjoyed speaking with you, too. And to all of our viewers, I quote Nikita and saying, "Success is not just about personal achievement. It's also about how we can use our success to make a positive impact in the world." Again, thank you for joining us today. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to us here at web3.tv for more exclusive and updated content. Until the next time, I'm Jenny from the blockchain. Have a great day.