How I got started as an entrepreneur

This is written by SHEROES Blogger - Sapna Shahani for the FabBag #TakeCharge contest? Do you have a story to tell? Tell us your your #takeCharge story and win a FabBag, details here

Like many producers working in the broadcast media industry in Mumbai, I felt burned out a couple years ago. I previously ran an NGO project called Women Aloud Videoblogging for Empowerment (WAVE) funded by the MacArthur Foundation. And when the fund ran out, I attended a business course at the Indian School of Business courtesy of Goldman Sachs. I was trying to figure out how to turn my NGO project into a sustainable social business. Although I couldn't figure out how to sustain my NGO project, I wanted to try my hand at entrepreneurship as I realised that sustainability is the most essential thing for any organisation, including NGOs. 

I was afraid of giving up a reasonably well paid salary that I was getting for my full time production work, but something inside told me I had to make the change. I used my savings to go to Thailand for a holiday by myself to do some soul searching about what kind of business I wanted to start. I am also part of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women so I had some help from my mentor at the time, a Brazilian corporate executive. At the end of my week-long holiday, I decided that I wanted to start an alternative tour company called 'Groupies' in Mumbai because I felt that wholesome entertainment options were very limited in the city. My family had recently shifted from Versova to Madh Island and I had to take a ferry across to get there every day. That got me thinking about whether I could rent the ferry for leisure trips. The Koli folk said they would allow it and they were happy with the extra cash. A local man with political aspirations supported me as well because he wanted to promote tourism in Madh Island. The endeavour was a success and we got a full page article in the Mumbai Mirror. I provided a Koli lunch that was quite unique as well. Another tour I organised was a photo walk around the South Indian neighbourhoods of Matunga. These were well received as well.  

Although I decided to shift base to Goa and Groupies turned into Plug, a successful public relations company started with a partner, I wouldn't have got started without the support of the Indian School of Business program for women entrepreneurs and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. So I guess we need more initiatives like these, that are born in India and supported by our own corporates / philanthropists.


SHEROES
SHEROES - lives and stories of women we are and we want to be. Connecting the dots. Moving the needle. Also world's largest community of women, based out of India. Meet us at www.sheroes.in @SHEROESIndia facebook.com/SHEROESIndia

Share the Article :