Vivekanad institute of management studies and research An Entrepreneurs interview Entrepreneurship management

Submitted by Shreya Vijaychandran Roll no :55 PGDM B

Women entrepreneurs
The educated women do not want to limit their lives in the four walls of the house. They demand equal respect from their partners. However, Indian women have to go a long way to achieve equal rights and position because traditions are deep rooted in Indian society. Despite all the social hurdles, many women have become successful in their works. These successful women have made name & wealth for themselves with their hard work, diligence, competence and will power. The entrepreneur I have chosen is a young, dynamic strong lady Architect and Interior Designer, Mrs Divya (Vijay) Prasad. She has her own company named Divya Designs and has set up her office in Bangalore. Here is a jist of her life as narrated by her during out interview. When asked in first standard by her teacher, who she wants to be when she grows up, pat came her reply I want to be an Architect. Did she know what an Architect meant? She still doesnt know if she knew what her reply meant at the age where girls knew only two answers for this question Doctor or a Teacher. She was just a day dreamer who liked to observe the nature, buildings, houses, trees, roads, gardens; etc and kept sketching them. Her biggest support now and then was her artist father, who must have probably put this word ARCHITECT in her tiny head. The Creative Piscean eventually got into one of the best architectural colleges in India, Academy of Architecture , Dadar. Now was the journey smooth? She says those were her nightmarish days. Lots of assignments, lot of rejections and redos, lot of struggles. Then came a point when she thought all her dreams are not going to be realized and she should settle down for something simpler and less strenuous because she still wasnt sure of what was in store for her when she actually gets into the field. Then the restless person she is she did a 1 yr diploma course in interior designing. Although it was just an implusive decision at that point of time, she feels she did the right thing. She scored pretty well in her final year but decided not to pursue it as career, thats when in just a weeks time she gets a call from one of the renowned architectural firms in Mumbai ,Faquih and Associates.

Her first project as an assistant designer was something that a fresher would not have expected. It was the interior designing of the newly built Mannat,residence of the film actor [Link] Rukh Khan. She learnt the tricks of this trade the real hard way and managed to finish this project along with 5 other projects. Since she thought she had gained the confidence and experience to do a project from Ato Z she decided to do something on her own. She started with a small project in her hometown and completed it successfully with the help of a good team and contacts which she acquired in her one year of working experience. Thus began the journey of this young lady entrepreneur. She has successfully finished a couple of projects in India and is now targeting the international market along with broadening her business circle. She says that she has learnt a lot and is still learning. She also teaches design students at various design colleges as a visiting faculty and amidst all this she also got married last year. How has her life changed after marriage and she proudly replies that she has was lucky enough to find a life partner who has been a wonderful support. Her words before concluding this interview was I am still NOTHING. My dream is to fulfill my dream that I had seen as a kid. I want to make this office a large firm and eventually become a BRAND. Am I greedy? Ah never mind. Its ok to dream big.

Questionnaire [Link] did you get the idea to start your business? The very confidence and experience I gained at Faquih and Associates in successfully completing 5 projects includind 1 international project in a span of 1 year motivated me to start on my own.

[Link] long have you been in business? 4 years

[Link] of goods or service provided. Professional and consultation services provided in the fields of Architecture,interior designing and academics.

[Link] is your niche market? Luxury and high end customers for building their corporate offices and residences. In the field of academics she has recently joined hands wit her cousin Mr Baban Balan(ex vice president of Barcalays Bank) to start a new venture which will provide integrated on field training of high quality to architectural,engineering and MBA students with the aid of experts in the respective fields.

[Link] are your competitors? Other architects,designers,builders and real estate giants. [Link] do you differentiate your product from that of others? My creative and innovative designs. [Link] you changed your product over time? Keeping in mind the dynamic nature of my field, I have always tried to improvise my designs and personalize them according to my clients at the same time accepting and accommodating new techniques and products. Same is in the filed of academics I have never taught my students in the old school method.i always give them flexibility of thought and [Link] mantra is learn more to teach more

[Link] do you advertise your product? By word of mouth.

[Link] obstacles have your overcome? Being a woman entrepreneur,its not at all easy dealing with the opposite [Link] my college days I had to face the ego,jealousy ,shrewdness of men (relatives,colleagues and professors) who just could not accept the fact that a lady also can become a creative [Link] came the clients who found it difficult at times to accept that a lady could manage their large [Link] have been times when men who worked for me like contaractors could not accept my authority and follow my instructions because a woman ruling them was hurting their ego. Once I got married,questions arised like cani strikr a balance between work and personal life. I have overcome all these obstacles by always keeping a positive attitude towards life and having faith in myself.

[Link] are the rewards of owning own business? I am independent and can confidently support my familyand am my own Boss.

[Link] did you finance your business start-up and/or expansions? Initially started as a freelancer ,also teaching at various institutes which helped me fund my business.

[Link] you target international market? I have done projects in dubai at the same time have sourced products for my projects from international markets like Milan and China, [Link] there ways you could use technology to improve your business? Yes,technology is the backbone of my business because I try to make my clients lives simpler by giving them best from the latest products available in the market. for [Link] one of my projects at Bangalore ,my client was a partially paralysed lady who was supported by two sons.i have desdigned and built her house customizing by keeping in her mind her disability

1.i provided ramps all over her house leading to all possible places in her house so that she never had to depend on her sons and never felt restricted. [Link] she could move only her right hand sitting on her customized wheel chair I had designed and provided all the appliances and equipments which she could easily operate. [Link] was also an eco friendly green house. [Link] economic conditions affect your business? Increase in land,products and services prices always pose as a threat to my business.

Conlusion: what hav I learnt from this entrepreneur?