“Never jump into a new business without planning. Learn from your mistakes. Every business requires time and effort to get going.” Tell us something about yourself and love for your chosen field of art. I’m Sunita Sehdev. I live in Delhi. I was always interested in crafts despite being a science student. Now I’m a cold porcelain clay crafter. I’m highly skilled in flowers and figurines. I have started giving classes of this art alongside. https://m.facebook.com/CPFlowers
What ignited the spark in you to convert your interest into a self-owned start up? My keen interest in my craft became my passion and I decided to move forward. I made up my mind to start my business. My husband and my family supported me. The product which I use to make with full interest to catch the originality was most inspired and I walked into this profession.
How has been your journey been, please share your future goals? It has been an amazing experience from learner to business. No recognition, no social circle, no communication skills, no marketing skills....but with passage of time, development of these factors grew and I became more confident and determined. I started with clay flowers and today I can make anything that crosses my mind. This profession has made me more independent and liable. This journey has been a beautiful one. I never thought that I would be a recognized person someday. I would like to open a small institute of all crafts under one roof. I would also love to work on fondant flowers and figurines for cake suppliers.
What all challenges did you face and what were your strategies to overcome them? Every new work is a challenge. Challenges are necessary to overcome our fears and finish our skills and polish our talent. They help us to discover who we really are and how confidently do we react in different situations. I used to make my strategy to solve the problems. Sometimes I failed but tried again with a new strategy. Oh yes! I did it again and again until I succeeded. The main challenge was raw material on fewer rates. I kept on my search and I succeeded.
What are your views on the thought, that as compared to male counterparts, it’s harder and more struggling for females to make a mark professionally? Women tend to be more involved in personal relationships than men and suffer more when they are disrupted. More married women have increasingly entered the workforce and find it difficult to juggle job and family responsibilities such as caring for children and elders simultaneously. They are more likely to suffer depression. Women have to make more adjustments to accommodate the conflicting demands of the family and work.
What piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring youth who wish to pursue their dream of becoming an entrepreneur? Do your business whole heartedly. Do what you love. Take advice of your mentors who will help you to become a better entrepreneur. Never jump into a new business without planning. Learn from your mistakes. Every business requires time and effort to get going.
According to you, what are the top three essential skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? (a) Should be Passionate for the work. (b)Should have good communication skills and personal relations. (c) Marketing and being creative as it will bound people to buy your product.
Being an entrepreneur affects your family life. Has the family been supportive? Oh! Yes ..Thank God...I'm lucky to have a supportive family. Due to their support, everything seemed easy and flowing. I try to complete my tasks on given time and manage to give full time to my family and friends on weekends.
What are your views and opinions towards the ambiguous need to promote women entrepreneurship and women empowerment in India? Women should be given free vocational training facilities to suit their varied needs and skills by the government. Family support is necessary for their education and awareness to help them in developing technical skills and in building vision. Action should be taken by the government to empower the women in which their health and safety is included.
