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April 2016

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Issue

Opening Ceremony of ‘Lakhmidas Rowjee Tairsee Bhatia Baug’ at Fort, Mumbai

By the efforts of Global Bhatia Foundation, Shri Ganesh Sanap (Municipal Corporater) tookup a renovation project for ‘Lakhmidas Rowjee Tairsee Bhatia Baug’ at Fort, Mumbai and the garden was thrown open for public on March 20, 2016 by the Mayor of Mumbai Mrs. Snehal Ambekar. About 17 members of Late L. R. Tairsee were felicitated by the Mayor. The Team GBF was present on this Grand occasion and Shri Deepak Bhimani, Shri Dilip Laijawala,Shri Jagdish Matani, Shri C. H. Kapadia and other dignitaries were also present.

Editorial

Editor : Design & Layout Advisor : Haridas Raigaga : Dharmesh Gandhi Arun Bhatia

Inside this issue

Global Bhatia Foundation had taken up restoration and maintenance of Shri Lakhmidas Rowjee Tairsee Bhatia Baug (with Mumbai Municipal Corporation) which has been completed and opened for the public after a gap of 15 years, on March 20, 2016 by the hands of Mayor of Mumbai, Smt Snehal Ambekar.The family members of Shri LR Tairsee were present and felicitated on this occassion. Shri Ganesh Sanap, an elected Corporator of Fort has been instrumental in this project. GBF has taken up restoration of Ratansi Mulji Fountain near GPO and also initiated naming of causeway at Narayansarovar after Shri Gokuldas Liladhar Pasta. GBF will continue with all the efforts to restore the pride of Bhatia community wherever opportunity and situation arises.

Happy Reading !

AMAR NAYEGANDHI HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT OF DEWBERRY,TAMPA, FLORIDA.

MANY CONGRATULATIONS.

Dar Swim Club female swimmer, Sonia Tumiotto competes in the recently national club championship held at Heaven of Peace Academy. Sonia was declared the overall winner after breaking 10 nations swimming recordsAlthough daughter of an Italian father, Sonia's mother is Leena Jitendra Kapadia, a Bhatia lady. Sonia is an Olympic probable.

We are proud of you

GOOD NEWSShreeji Bhatia Co-op. Bank Ltd. opens its 2nd branch on April 8, 2016 at Ghatkopar.

Best wishes from the GLOBAL BHATIA FOUNDATION.

Shri L. R. Tairsee Bhatia

Opening of ‘L. R. Tairsee Bhatia Baug’

Necklace

Johan Cruyff

Corporate Lesson

World's Finest Electric-Powered Cars21 Rules For A Good Old Age

Women on top

Best from the waste.

Shri Lakhmidas Rowjee Tairsee Bhatia Baug - Mumbai

Shri L. R. Tairsee was a staunch Indian n a t i o n a l i s t w h o n e v e r m i s s e d a n opportunity to show the Britishers that Indians can run their affairs without them. He was the first Indian elected member of the Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1920. He was the President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber from 1928-29.

Bombay Municipal Corporation honored it patriotic son by naming a garden after him viz. L. R. Tairsee Bhatia Baug opposite VT (CST) station in 1936.

He and other Indian freedom fighters like Kanaiyalal Munshi, Shankarlal Banker, Dr.

V.S. Trilokekar used to lead the processions against Britishers starting from the present Bhatia Baug. They had started the Bombay branch of Home rule. He started parallel cricket for Indians at Cooperage as Britishers didn't allow Indians to play at Brabourne stadium. Lakhmidas R. Tairsee was a reform minded industrialist who was instrumental in establishing P.J. Hindu Gymkhana later on. He established “Mumbai Time” against Standard time at the Municipal Corporation (at that time, two times were in use viz. Standard time & Mumbai time).

He was a social worker, landlord, shroff, merchant and reform-minded industrialist. Bhatia baug was created in 1864 during the tenure of the Governor of Bombay, Henry Bartle Frere.

of which he became a President

Opening of ‘L. R. Tairsee Bhatia Baug’ at Fort, Mumbai

The display board for the occasion Smt. Snehal Ambekar (Mumbai Mayor) inaugurates

Smt. Snehal Ambekar (Mumbai Mayor) inaugurates Shri Ganesh Sanap (Municipal Corporater) felicitated

Smt. Snehal Ambekar (Mumbai Mayor) felicitated Shri Ganesh Sanap felicitated by Shri Nitin Dossa (GBF)

Shri Nitin Dossa expressing thankfulness Shri Rajendra Bhatia (Grandson of L.R. Tairsee) expressing his pleasure

Opening of ‘L. R. Tairsee Bhatia Baug’ at Fort, Mumbai

The new fountain Team GBF

The new equipment for children Team GBF

Team GBF with Shri Lalitbhai (Grandson of L.R.Tairsee)

Shri C. H. Kapadia with Shri Ganesh Sanap Shri Nitin Dossa, Shri C. H. Kapadia, Shri Dilip Laijawala, Shri Dipak Bhimani and Shri Lalithbhai

Family Members of Late Shri L.R. Tairsee with Team GBF

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?""Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite.""That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?""Daddy, you know I love you."

Necklace (Story)

"Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you. "And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter? "Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you. "With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time… He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. The Moral of this storySo it is, with God. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing. "God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.”

Courtesy : Janmabhoomi

Pakistan Government declares holiday on

DIWALI and HOLI

Johan Cruyff in 1974, the year the Netherlands lost the World Cup final to West Germany

Full name Hendrik Johannes CruijffDate of birth 25 April 1947Place of birth Amsterdam, NetherlandsDate of death 24 March 2016 (aged 68)Place of death Barcelona, SpainPlaying position Attacking midfielder

Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (Dutch: Johan Cruijff anglicised to Johan Cruyff; was a

Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player he won the Ballon d'Or three

times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Cruyff was one of the most famous exponents of the

football philosophy known as explored by Rinus Michels, and is by many regarded as the

greatest player in football history. In the 1970s, Dutch football rose from near obscurity to

become a powerhouse in the sport. Cruyff led the Netherlands to the final of the 1974

FIFA World Cup and received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament.

Johan Cruyff

Corporate Lesson

Courtesy : Janmabhoomi

10 of the World's Finest Electric-Powered Performance Cars

The thought of a partially or wholly electric-powered performance car was laughable just a few years ago, but the technology for this kind of vehicle has advanced in leaps and bounds since the turn of the current decade. From a little $20,000 Japanese coupe, all the way through to a newly-released $1 million Croatian supercar, here are 11 of the world's finest electric-powered performance cars: 1. Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Type: Gas-electricPorsche's green version of its four-door saloon car can be plugged into a wall outlet in order to recharge its battery and travel 20 miles on electric power alone, however, it also has a 3.0-liter engine, which can be used in parallel with the car's electric motor. The engine also charges the electric motor's battery when the car is low. The car is capable of a 167mph top speed.

2. Tesla Roadster Type: All-electricThe first offering from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's car company was based on a Lotus Elise, but powered by an all-electric drivetrain. Despite its steep price, the Roadster gained a substantial celebrity following, with the likes of George Clooney purchasing one. The 248 horsepower base car can accelerate to 60mph in 3.9 seconds. Production of the Roadster ended in 2012.

3. Tesla Model S Type: All-electricThis is the second Tesla Motors model to go into production. The Model S is capable of traveling 160 miles on a single charge, can accelerate to 60mph from standstill, and has a 130mph top speed. It does not have a conventional combustion engine, and is charged by plugging into household electricity.

4. BMW i8Type: Gas-electricIt looks like something out of 2025, and many people believe that this car is the blueprint for the green sports cars of the future. Currently, you need to wait almost a year to get your hands on one due to high demand. It has a turbocharged 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder engine that powers the rear wheels, while it also has a 130hp electric motor that powers the front wheels. The 357-horsepower i8 is electronically limited to a 160mph top speed.

5. Honda CR-Z Type: Gas-electricWhen the CR-Z went on sale in 2010, it became the world's first production sports hybrid car. Based on a shortened Honda Insight platform and taking its styling cues from the legendary Honda CRX of the late 1980s, the CR-Z has a 113-horsepower, 1.5-liter conventional engine together with an electric motor that produces another nine horsepower to give the driver an extra boost of torque when needed.

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10 of the World's Finest Electric-Powered Performance Cars

6. BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Type: Gas-electricThe 3-Series saloon has been around for a few decades now, however this is the very first one to be powered by a gas-electric drivetrain. It isn't slow either – the combined power output from its 6-cylinder engine and electric motor is 335 horsepower. One of the driving modes that you can put the car in actually coaches you on how to drive more economically, giving you hints and tips on how you can tweak your driving style accordingly.

7. Acura NSX Type: Gas-electricThe second-generation of the Acura (or Honda outside the USA) NSX has supercar performance in spite of its rather heavy weight. The 3,800-pound car can accelerate to 60mph in just 2.9 seconds, and keep on accelerating all the way to 191 mph. Power comes from a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine and three electric motors, for a combined power output of 573 horsepower. An unusual feature of this car is its nine-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.

8. Lightning GT Type: All-electricGoing on sale at the end of last year, this low-volume, all-electric sports car was conceived and developed in the UK. It has two electric motors that produce a combined 400 horsepower. The GT's top speed is not particularly high, reaching 125mph, however it can accelerate to 60mph in under five seconds. It can travel 150 miles on a single charge, and apparently only takes 10 minutes to recharge when the batteries are low.

9. Audi R8 e-tron Type: All-electricMany consider the Audi R8 to be the quintessential everyday supercar, however, the German manufacturer wanted to push the boundaries even further, so they created this – a 456-horsepower all-electric version. The e-tron will only be made to order, and in very limited numbers. The car's two electric motors, powering each of the rear wheels, allow it to accelerate to 60mph in under four seconds, and its top speed is 125mph.

10.Fisker Karma Type: Gas-electricHenrik Fisker, the man who founded Fisker Automotive, actually designed the BMW Z8 of James Bond movie fame. This Finnish-built gas-electric hybrid features two electric motors, plus a two-liter, four-cylinder engine, as well as solar panels on the roof in order to power things in the car's interior, such as the air conditioning.

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21 Rules For A Good Old Age

Some of us have reached our golden years, and some of us have not. But these suggestions should be read by everyone. They have been collected from many a senior, each with his or her own piece of advice. Some you may know, some may surprise you, and some will remind you of what's important. So read well, share with your loved ones, and have a great day and a great life!1. It's time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don't just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for an investment, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries and this is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet. 2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don't feel bad spending your money on yourself. You've taken care of them for many years, and you've taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money. 3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It's easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, get tested even when you're feeling well. Stay informed. 4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together. 5. Don't stress over the little things. You've already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don't let the past drag you down and don't let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: "A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection." 7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don't stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on

the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong. 8. Don't lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There's nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You've developed your own sense of what looks good on you - keep it and be proud of it. It's part of who you are.9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to sign up to a couple of social networks. You'll be surprised which old friends you may meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know, is important at any age. 10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them of yesterday's wisdom that still applies today. 11. Never use the phrase: "In my time". Your time is now. As long as you're alive, you are a part of this time. Have fun and enjoy life. 12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you've lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.14. Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer at an NGO or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it. 15. Even if you don't feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, bir thdays, weddings,

21 Rules For A Good Old Age

conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don't get upset when you're not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there. 16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That's a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don't go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well. 17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we're all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life has added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you've been offended by someone - forgive them. If you've offended someone - apologize. Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life. 19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don't waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them. 20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You've managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what's not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They'll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you've achieved. Let them talk and don't worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you've lived so far. There's still much to be written, so get busy writing and don't waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

In a bid to promote women entrepreneurs, Indian government, on March 8 launched 'Mahila E-Haat', a first-of-its-kind website that would offer them a platform to sell their products. This is an indication that women have come a long way from just being a homemaker.

Also, if nothing else, we believe Narendra Modi's start up friendly environment in the country has proved to be a blessing for female entrepreneurs and instrumental in fighting gender stereotyping in the business community.

On the occasion of International Women's Day where the theme is 'Gender Parity', we salute the undying spirit of these six women entrepreneurs.

Nina Lekhi, founder & creative head, Baggit

Nina Lekhi who was recently featured in Fortune India's Most Powerful Women list started her company with minimal investment from her mom. Today, she and her design team launches new collections every month for the high-fashioned consumers.

Nina started the company from scratch but the journey wasn't

Women on top: Six Indian entrepreneurs who've found their place in the sun

always easy. Failures in the past, ignited a spark within her to be successful. It also gave her a lot of clarity on how she wanted her business to turn out. With 44 exclusive Baggit stores, currently, Baggit is present in 77 cities across India and numerous online channels. An exclusive collection “The Rusted Revolution” by Nina Lekhi for Baggit has also been launched recently to cater to the modern, well-travelled customers.

She was also conferred Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015 by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Hon'ble Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

What prompted you to be an entrepreneur?

Three decades ago I realised that my friends and I did not have funky and contemporary bags to buy in India. My zest for painting and art inspired me to take up art courses- one in textile and another in interior decoration. The design background I developed and the urge to create extraordinary handbags for the fashionable woman helped me start my company. I picked up the tools of the trade and started the Baggit journey.


How did you go about it?

Since my teenage years, I felt that just like T-shirts with slogans, bags too can be fun and creative. This thought urged me to create “Bags with Attitude”. I was always inclined towards graphics and humour-related objects and knew that I wanted to do something that adds value to the customer. I created my first set of tote bags and for the first few years sold it to a few retail stores in Mumbai. The collection was quite a hit among consumers. I learnt a lot during this phase and gained customer insights. Gradually, I started experimenting with canvas and then moved on to using coloured canvas for a more artistic feel. Today, we design bags which are light weight, easy to use, reusable, recyclable and environment friendly.

How do you handle the fierce competition?

Baggit's strength lies in delivering a product which is superior, in terms of functionality as well as design. The acceptance among all age groups and our large variety of skills helps us retain market-share.

Tanaaz Bhatia, founder, Bottomline Media

An alumnus of the prestigious Stern School of Business, New York University, with a degree in media and finance, Tanaaz began her career in New York, working on Wall Street with Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns before moving back to India to start her own venture, Bottomline Media.

She has worked on some of the biggest films such as Ra One, Don 2, Agent Vinod, English Vinglish, Roy, and Dil Dhadakne Do and her recent accomplishment has been marketing Dilwale. Her extensive work with luxury brands such as Micheal Kors, Tumi, John Galliano, Tods, Satya Paul and with celebrities like Shah Rukh, Gauri Khan and Saif Ali Khan has made her the consultant of choice for companies planning their foray into the country. The company has also stayed true to servicing every aspect right from celebrity partnerships, digital campaigns to television production.

What prompted you to start a company?

I moved from a career on Wall Street to Mumbai when my father had a heart attack. I worked with Kotak Mahindra and then at Citi Bank, but starting my own company had been something I had wanted all along. Bottomline Media took birth as an idea over a cup of coffee at Gloria Jeans. A friend suggested I look at the entertainment sector and the business around it, since I know so many people in the field. I saw this idea as something that would work for me and started acting on it. Soon my dream started taking a more tangible form.


Timing is everything. When an opportunity knocks at your door, you have to be smart and grab it and if you don't, you really lose out. Being in the right place at the right time is really

important. Around the time when I was starting out, I met Jaspreet Walia who was then working on his movie Lamhaa and he asked me to work with him on it. I laughed because I didn't know what to do in a film, so he said I should take up film branding. Initially, I was apprehensive, but it worked so well! After that movie in 2010, word about my work spread and several projects came our way.


It isn't easy but when your work is fueled with passionate challenges, it makes the job more exciting. Sanjay Dutt was impressed by my work in Lamhaa and asked me to work with him on another project. While the industry has stiff competition, hard work and great output never goes unnoticed. I kept my focus on my goal and before I knew it, I was working with Shah Rukh Khan on Ra One. This film was the turning point in my life. The marketing idea, the videogame based on Ra One, was a huge success. The strategy went viral and we got in touch with many international brands. That put me on the map and there was no stopping after that.

Vandana Luthra, founder, VLCC

VLCC, a beauty and wellness giant has it's presence in 11 countries across Asia, Africa and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the credit goes to Vandana Luthra. Initially, a homemaker, Vandana started her journey in 1989 when the first of her two daughters was only 3 years-old.

Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, this beauty expert got herself well versed with beauty, fitness, food and nutrition and skin care when she pursued higher education in Germany, UK and France, after completing a professional course from the Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013 for her contribution. and in 2015, she was listed as the 33rd most powerful woman in business in India by Fortune India.


In my family, we were encouraged to take decisions and be independent. Beauty and wellness always fascinated me. Once, I was accompanying my father on his official trip to Germany where I met his friends – a husband-wife duo running a health centre. Theirs was a great combination, with one being a nutritionist and the other a cosmetologist. They had a big influence on my decision to enter the business of beauty and wellness. Moreover, the encouragement and support I received from my husband Mukesh, who is also a first generation entrepreneur, further steered me towards my entrepreneurial journey.

I started VLCC with a simple dream. I wanted to create an environment where people felt supported and nurtured, where they would be encouraged to achieve their full potential. I envisioned a place that inspired people to be the best versions of themselves, for themselves.



Being an entrepreneur, that too in the late-eighties, was an uphill journey for me. Not only was the beauty and wellness services industry in its infancy, people were unwilling to take my work seriously as I was a woman. While people were familiar with the ubiquitous 'beauty parlour', the idea of a holistic wellness solutions provider which combined scientific weight management programs with advanced skin and hair treatments was new. Being in what was largely an unorganised mom-and-pop shop kind of sector, I struggled to raise capital - private equity was a relatively alien concept, and banks were wary of something that was hardly deemed as scalable and sustainable.

We worked on developing a unique business model for the company, one which is widely used today (especially in the hospitality industry), called infrastructure facility management. That was the turning point in the business. In 2004, VLCC received its first private equity investment from CLSA. VLCC received the second round of PE funding in 2007 from Everstone Capital. I had to be persistent and assertive to convince people about the value proposition of my business. It took a while to convince them that my venture had a scalable, sustainable business model. Finally, patience and hard work paid off.


It makes more than just a great idea for one to stand out from the crowd. A great product, consistently excellent service delivery and maintaining quality are key. Equally important is constant research and innovation. The idea is to give your customers what they don't know that they want and yet when they see it their latent need awakens. It's a challenge, but equally satisfying. Wellness is a knowledge-driven business where the wealth of knowledge an organisation accumulates is not just what differentiates it from its competitors but, more importantly, ensures its sustainability.

Zeba Zaidi, CEO & co-founder, Volano Entertainment Pvt Ltd

Driven by the passion for sports, Zeba launched India's first participative sports firm, Volano Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Under Volano, she directed the execution of some of the most path-breaking sports properties like the Devils Circuit, Devils Ciruit Swift Challenge and GameOnIndia. A sports enthusiast and a huge Arsenal fan, Zeba completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College, but later moved to London and lived there for over a decade before returning to India. With her keen eye for detail, Zeba ensures every activity – right from the marketing initiatives to on-ground events are executed to perfection. Her rich expertise spans over 16 years in sales and marketing with Fortune 1000 companies across UK, Europe & UAE and it has proved instrumental in the success of Volano in such a short span.


Becoming an entrepreneur was a sheer stroke of luck. I moved back to India in 2011. It was with an aim to revive my corporate career which had centred around the sales vertical spanning multiple geographies and industries. I had taken a three year sabbatical to spend time with my young children and was ready to leap back into work. Having spent years overseas though had inculcated a deep love of participative sports in my family and it was a lack of playing opportunities in India that pushed me into thinking about this niche. The more I spent time talking to like-minded people about wanting to play weekend sport, the more I realised the great opportunity that lay in this space. Eventually, I took the plunge and with a vision of building a participative sports organisation, I started Volano.


Volano Entertainment Pvt Ltd is situated in the space of Sportainment. The idea behind Volano was to combine active sports and entertainment. We thought of creating properties which provide unique opportunities to engage in participative sports and at the same time create memorable experiences for our customers. The decision to get into sports as a business was a very risky one, given that we moved opposite to the trend of professional sporting leagues, by getting into the amateur space. When we started out in 2011, there were absolutely no players in this category and that is what was most exciting. I think very few businesses have the opportunity of creating a market for themselves and we were fortunate enough to be in that situation. The idea is to maximise the first mover advantage with constant innovation and growth and that's what we have been focused on ever since.

Our flagship brand, The Devils Circuit, is India's first and biggest Obstacle running series that is an annual event. With a social media community of over half a million enthusiasts, we take pride in the fact that this community is built out of sheer passion and love for sports and fitness. This year's season began in October and has seen the Devils Circuit hosted across Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mohali and Mumbai. We will culminate the season in Noida on March 13.


I guess the most important factor when it comes to dealing with competition is to constantly innovate. In today's world where everything is changing at a super fast pace whether it is the consumers' interest in a brand, the advent of a new fad or new technology platforms serving innovating engagement platforms; the key is to stand out from the clutter.

For me competition is not other players in my industry, I enjoy a first mover's advantage and stay ahead by consistently adding new elements to my sports properties. The real competition is everything that would prohibit a potential consumer from using my services. This competition I deal


with at 3 levels- first, I ensure a fantastic experience that participants remember and talk about, second, I constantly innovate to ensure that what we are offering at Volano stays fresh and third and most importantly, I look at competition as an impetus that drives me to give my best every single time.

Puja Bansal, founder and director, MyHeera.com

A certified diamond grader, Puja launched herself in 1998 as a brand under Khandelwal Jewellers Ltd (KJL), a famous jewellery brand known for its strong legacy. Known for her creativity and innovative designs, Puja has been actively involved in manufacturing, retailing, designing and has showcased her expertise in several events and fashion shows in India and abroad. Her keen interest in jewellery and her passion for designing led her to introduce Myheera.com, a unique online platform presenting itself as a virtual world of a globally connected business to business stage for the Gems & Jewellery industry.

Puja brings with her an extensive industry experience of over 17 years.


I come from a family that's being in the jewellery business for over 60 years. We are into manufacturing of precious stone jewellery for the European and American market. I belong to the third generation. and have 17 years of experience. In the business, sourcing was always a challenge and had to be routed only through few offline exhibitions. This led me to launch my venture in 2014. With a strong knowledge in the industry and with the strong support of the promoters backgrounds, the project was taken aggressively.


The time and research that went into making the portal was more than two years of market survey by the promoters to check the need of a b2b platform for this industry. The result that we could see was that the industry which still runs on a touch and feel business model has now over a period of time matured enough to run transparent business model using today's digital approach. The market statistics was gathered and we were shocked to see that such a vast industry which is robust and adds a good amount of value to the country's GDP is only 4% organised and has a lot of scope for improvement. New B2B inquiries, sourcing and new buyers were limited to offline exhibitions with limited participants, limited time frame and limited space. There was a need in the industry to create a space which could accommodate the entire chain of manufacturer, retailers wholesalers, traders and service providers from large, medium and small enterprises to a single click search engine, generating leads through 24/7 online exhibition .


Nothing comes easy specially in today's digital world where

your deliverables are very high. Initially, we were the first movers to bring this industry in one window for sourcing and solutions, and now, we are convincing the industry to participate online as the very nature of the industry is traditional. But since time has changed new generation has taken over and we see the market now available for a much healthy business environment. Competition is in a way needed somewhere and we are working hard to make this portal world's best b2b for gems and jewellery segment.

Ankita Seth, co-founder, Vista Rooms

Ankita was a social activist who worked with various NGO's. This led to a lot of travel and during her travels, she figured out that the budget hotel segment in the country is highly fragmented and everyone takes the discerning traveller for a ride to say the least. Vista Rooms was created with a intense, common intent to standardise budget hotels. The founders were similarly wired, which helped common synergies. Her travel experiences helped her realise a common dream to help travellers opting for budget accommodation. Today, she is instrumental in turning haveli's in Rajasthan into boutique hotels and is the only women in the budget hotel segment.


During my stints with various corporates, travel formed an integral part of my profile. Since most corporates prefer putting up their employees in budgeted accommodation, I would eventually end up in a budget hotel. The budget hotels in India can be ridiculously fragmented and I would always wonder why there was no standardisation in the segment. Most of these hotels would paint a rosy picture on OTA portals and end up being a nightmare for travellers. I was aware of friends, colleagues and others who have had funny tales from budgeted stays. Vista Rooms was born out of an intent to standardise budgeted stays.


Amit Damani, Pranav Maheshwari and I started Vista Rooms in 2015. We were driven with a common intent to standardise budgeted stays and we started a small pilot project in Mumbai and Pune. We slowly started expanding and today, Vista Rooms has 800 + properties in 80+ locations in India. Vista Rooms also commands the largest inventory in Tier II, tier III cities.


"You don't compete to be rich, you create." I firmly believe in this philosophy. Our biggest competitor is almost twice our size, however, in comparison to them, we took half the time to reach where we are today, and that depicts our aggressive growth. The competition in the budget hotel segment is fierce, but we focus on bettering and diversifying our product offerings. Vista Express which is our food delivery model and Vista Lounge which looks at business lounges are our recent launches.

Ekta Negandhi - An entrepreneur par excellenceShe creates best from waste.

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