For Deepthi Katragunta, entering the senior care space is both a personal and professional transformation. After more than 16 years working in high-tech engineering, Deepthi decided it was time to trade lab work for community impact. Now the proud owner of three Seniors Helping Seniors® territories across Central New Jersey, she is using her analytical mind, structured planning and deep empathy to build a business rooted in compassion and purpose. Her inspiration comes from her family — both past experiences and future goals—and a desire to create meaningful change in people’s lives.

1851 Franchise sat down with Katragunta to discuss her transition from high-tech to senior care and her franchising journey with Seniors Helping Seniors®. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Deepthi Katragunta: My background is very different — I have a master’s degree in electrical engineering. I was in the corporate world, working on high-tech like 5G wireless technologies for almost 16 years. The focus there was almost always on testing the tech before applying it into the real world. It was mostly working in the computer lab, not directly with other people. No direct impact on the community. When I had the opportunity to look at other options, I wanted to return to basics and have more of an impact and contribution to the community. I wanted to build connections and be part of my community. Make a difference in people’s lives.

Seniors care was something I was naturally drawn to because I really like being helpful to people who are vulnerable. I also really saw the need for these services, just going off the statistics. Twenty percent of the U.S. population will be 65 or older by 2030. I saw there was an immense need for these services and the ability to help them live independently at home.

Some of my family members needed care, and that is how I got to understand why senior care is so important. I grew up in India and my parents and husband’s parents are still there. We still visit them every other summer. My father-in-law, who has always been very healthy, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and became immobile after one night. We had to find caregivers for him and that whole process took over six months. We found an amazing caregiver who is still working with him today. We appreciated her so much and we could tell how much of a difference her contributions made.

Being an employee for so many years, I understand how important it is to provide a great, safe space for my caregivers to work and to be satisfied with the amount of work they want to do. I want to be able to build a good team. I like building a good team.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Katragunta: I have always been a very technical person, and I always felt like I didn’t fully understand how businesses work. How to make money in my industry was always something I wanted to learn. But instead of getting an MBA or learning a new course, I wanted to do something hands-on and own a business myself. Fortunately, I had the means to do that and had saved up enough money. I was able to buy a franchise. After speaking with various franchise owners, it felt like the brand could really show me the path and at least give me the framework I needed. I was smart enough to learn new things, but I needed that framework. I was also looking for something I could do full time, put the boots on the ground and learn everything hands-on. It was really that urge to keep learning and challenging myself that brought me to franchising.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Katragunta: I started listening to their validation calls and talking to other owners. All of the information was very accessible and open. Everyone was open and communicative. The positive attribute of all the franchise members was amazing. There wasn’t a single instance that made me doubtful if I was getting into the right concept. They built my confidence and my trust only grew the more I researched. I could also see the connection to the community. It all felt like a safer risk to take for me. This was very different from my background, so I needed a lot of that support and framework.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Katragunta: My goal is to get all three territories up and running within the next five years. After that, we hope to continue growing and expanding, especially with the types of services we can offer to the clients.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Katragunta: My parents are still very independent and capable. By doing this, I hope to learn those skills when the time comes to care for my own parents. This is going to be a learning process for me as well.

I am really looking forward to building a great team.

I have two daughters who are 10 and 12. Another reason I took this up is to show them that if you put in enough work and are really passionate about doing something, you can always achieve it.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Katragunta: Once you have a basic understanding, have figured out which industry is right for you, and you know you are passionate about that area, make sure you spend time doing enough research and talking to people. I think talking to multiple franchise owners made a big difference. They came from similar backgrounds to myself. Everyone seemed happy with their decision to make a change from their corporate life. The franchise offers that foundation and you just have to build on top of that. Gather as much information, do your research, find your territory.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding home care provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.