Through The Studio Unicorn, the former practising endodontist is helping pottery enthusiasts explore clay as a creative pursuit and an opportunity for entrepreneurship.
New Delhi, November 13, 2026: A career spanning more than 25 years in dentistry, including 15 years of running her own practice, gave Shylaja Srinivasa a strong professional identity. However, an unexpected health crisis changed the direction of her life, leading her towards an entirely different field. What began as a personal journey of recovery and self-discovery gradually developed into a passion for pottery, inspiring her to establish The Studio Unicorn, a creative space dedicated to learning and working with clay.
A trained endodontist, Srinivasa had devoted much of her professional life to dentistry before facing a challenging period that prompted her to reconsider her priorities. During this difficult phase, she discovered pottery as a medium of creative expression and emotional comfort. Working with clay offered her an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with herself and find fulfilment beyond her established profession.
Over time, this personal connection with pottery developed into a broader vision of sharing the craft with others. Through The Studio Unicorn, Srinivasa now introduces learners to pottery, encouraging them to explore their creativity while developing practical skills.
Her studio has been envisioned as an environment where individuals can step away from their everyday routines and immerse themselves in the experience of creating something with their hands. The learning process encourages patience, concentration and experimentation, allowing participants to discover the satisfaction of transforming a simple piece of clay into a finished creation.
For Srinivasa, pottery represents more than an artistic activity. Having experienced its significance during a challenging period of her own life, she believes creative pursuits can offer individuals an opportunity for reflection, personal growth and renewed confidence.
Recognising the growing interest in handmade products and independent creative businesses, Srinivasa is also working to introduce pottery as a potential entrepreneurial opportunity. Through her online teaching initiatives, she aims to help aspiring pottery enthusiasts acquire the skills required to create their own products and explore income-generating possibilities.
Her approach is centred on the idea of becoming a "claypreneur", an individual who combines pottery skills with an entrepreneurial mindset to build a livelihood around handcrafted creations.
"I believe it is possible to earn money by making pots. My message to people who are interested in pottery is simple: come, learn the craft and explore how you can become a claypreneur," said Shylaja Srinivasa.
By offering pottery education online, Srinivasa seeks to make the craft accessible to individuals who may not have the opportunity to attend physical classes. Her teaching philosophy encourages learners to develop their skills progressively, understand the creative process and consider how their interest in pottery could evolve into an independent venture.
Her transition from dentistry to pottery also reflects the possibilities of professional reinvention. After spending decades in a demanding healthcare profession, Srinivasa discovered that an unexpected life challenge could lead to an entirely new sense of purpose.
Rather than viewing her career transition as an end to her professional journey, she considers it the beginning of another chapter, one that allows her to combine creativity, teaching and entrepreneurship.
Through The Studio Unicorn, Srinivasa hopes to encourage individuals, particularly those considering a career change or exploring alternative sources of income, to recognise the possibilities offered by creative skills.
Her journey highlights how personal experiences can shape new professional directions and how a craft initially discovered for personal fulfilment can develop into an opportunity to educate and inspire others.
As she continues to build her pottery teaching initiatives, Srinivasa remains focused on making clay-based learning approachable and encouraging aspiring creators to pursue their interests with confidence.
Those interested in learning more about her pottery activities and The Studio Unicorn can visit the studio's Instagram page: @thestudio_unicorn.
