They created successful businesses
on sheer grit and tenacity, often forced by circumstance. Their stories,
sourced from IIM-A graduate and author Rashmi Bansal’s new book, ‘Follow Every
Rainbow’
Juggling Multiple Roles with Ease Deepa Soman FOUNDER, LUMIÈRE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Deepa Soman’s first job with Hindustan Unilever (then Hindustan Lever) in a field sales position gave her the impetus to work in market research. Subsequent life events – her mother’s death, moving to Jamaica, a little baby to look after – gave her the direction she needed. “How many young mothers must be going through the same emotions – feeling helpless, useless, powerless,” she asked herself. She started Lumière when she returned to Mumbai as a one-woman show. Between 2008 and 2011, Lumière doubled its number of projects and tripled in terms of staff. At present, there are over 40 employees and consultants – onsite and virtual – who work on a fixed retainer plus profit-sharing, and 90% of its workforce consists of women. It clocked revenues of 3.5 crore in March 2012 and aims to cross Rs 10 crore in 5 years’ time. “I believe there is infinite, unlimited potential in every person,” says Deepa. ADVICE TO WOMEN Take pride in doing what you do well. Be patient with yourself, and use your family as a resource
The Pillar of the Family Paru Jaykrishna CMD, ASAHI SONGWON COLORS Marriage propelled Paru Jaykrishna into the iconic Ahmedabad family of Jaykrishna Harivallabhdas, which managed the Shree Ambica Mills textile business. But she was determined to create an identity of her own. At the age of 46 crisis gave her the opportunity. When the family business collapsed, Paru decided to create a large business to secure her children’s future. In 1989, she set up Aksharchem. Raising capital, sourcing inputs for her plant and convincing buyers were initial challenges she had to fight through. But she didn’t give up. In April 1996, a joint venture with Korean company Asahi Songwon Colors, was born. Its turnover crossed 230 crore in FY11, while profit after tax was at 22.5 crore. Paru also became the first elected lady member of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and in 2007, was elected its president — the first woman to hold the post in 60 years. “In my 20 years in business I have never had a single bad debt,” she says. ADVICE TO WOMEN If you earn crores of rupees and are not happy, everything is worthless
Help for All Seasons Dipali Sikand CHAIRPERSON, LES CONCIERGES Dipali Sikand says her life is ‘like a soap opera’. In her early years, she worked at a travel agency, trained as a mountaineer, even dabbled in politics, and pursued a career in HR at Essar Industries. A few years later, she walked out of a bad marriage to start a new life. And single-handedly, she raised both a young baby and a young business in Bangalore, armed with passion and determination. Les Concierges was, in a way, born out of her own struggles. Starting with a concierge desk at iGate, with her building watchman running errands, by its fourth year of operation, Les Concierges had opened its 200th ‘Life Care’ desk. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala soon stepped in as an investor. With 1,300 concierge desks all over India, the company chalked up revenues of Rs 56 crore in FY11. ADVICE TO WOMEN Be passionate about what you do. And don’t be driven by money alone
Stitching it all Together Meena Bindra, CHAIRPERSON, BIBA Meena Bindra always knew she wanted to start up something on her own, but took the plunge only after her two sons were old enough. Back then, her only asset was a love for designing clothes. Her husband arranged for a loan to start a business. So she started out with a princely sum of 8,000, “enough to buy some fabric and hire a tailor.” From a hobby venture, Biba was quickly becoming a business. With the entry of her sons into the business, Biba grew at breakneck speed. Biba opened its first company-owned outlet in 2004, at In Orbit and CR2 malls in Mumbai. In 2006, Kishore Biyani bought a 10% stake in Biba for 110 crore. In March 2012, Biba’s annual revenues stood at 300 crore. “I never imagined it when I started… Now, I feel we can grow to any height, even become a global brand,” she says. ADVICE TO WOMEN If you really want to do something, then do it. Every woman has the potential and capability
Stuffing a Big Idea in a Bag Nina Lekhi, FOUNDER, BAGGIT What started as a “fun” enterprise has stayed that way, more than 25 years down the line. Nina Lekhi started making and selling canvas bags while she was a student at Sophia Polytechnic. Her company, Baggit, is now a national retail brand with 34 crore in annual sales. In the year 1984, at age 18, Lekhi and her best friend got the idea of making “bags with attitude.” By 2006-07, Baggit notched up 7 crore in turnover with 50 full-time staff and 450 job workers. That was when, for the first time, something stirred inside her. “I followed the path of the inner search. The most important things in life for me are peace and joy – not the pursuit of money.” These have kept her going. ADVICE TO WOMEN When you are passionate about something, you won’t leave
Guts of Steel Manju Bhatia, JOINT MD, VASULI At 26, the diminutive Manju Bhatia hardly comes across as a loan recovery agent. But in over five years as one, she never had to use strong-arm tactics. What’s more, her loan recovery company Vasuli employs only female agents. From an eight-man operation based in Indore eight years ago, with a billing of 25,000 per month and a single client, Vasuli has grown to a company with 26 branch offices. It handles 500 crore of recovery for 20 nationalised banks. Her greatest satisfaction lies in the fact that her employees feel empowered. Even her mother, once a homemaker, is a director in the company who travels all over the country and handles tough cases. ADVICE TO WOMEN No job is too small or too big. You must have the drive to do something in life
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