Building resilience: Lessons learned from female entrepreneurs who overcame obstacles

As a female entrepreneur who started in her 40s, I always look up to businesswomen who have overcome struggles and challenged stereotypes to establish successful ventures. Through their experiences, I find inspiration and the courage to follow my dreams.?

Here I am sharing the journeys of some Indian women in business who are the epitome of resilience and perseverance, so as to motivate others in my sisterhood:

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw , Executive Chairperson of Biocon & Biocon Biologics : Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is India’s first female billionaire and an inspiration to female entrepreneurs across the world.

At the beginning of her career, she wished to follow in her father’s footsteps as a brewmaster. But the Indian brewing industry was heavily male-dominated and she found it difficult to be accepted in those circles.

Undeterred by the rejection, she began her entrepreneurial journey and launched Biocon India in 1978 as a joint venture with Ireland-based Biocon Biochemicals, retaining a 70% stake in the company.

A business started in the garage of her rented house in Bengaluru with a seed capital of Rs. 10,000, today Biocon is one of India’s largest biotech companies, with a market capitalization of nearly $7 Bn on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Vandana Luthra , Founder of VLCC : Back in the 1980s, wellness was an alien concept in the Indian context, and being a “mompreneur” was far beyond imagination. So, when Vandana founded VLCC, she invited much criticism and raised eyebrows for entering the male-dominated beauty industry, that too as a new mom.

But Vandana decided to face the challenges head-on. She strived hard and recruited experts from the beauty, health, and fitness fields to show that holistic healthcare and wellness were here to stay - and not just as a fad.

Through sheer determination, from a small office in Delhi today VLCC has spread its wings to 11 countries and is one of the most popular wellness chains in India. Vandana’s hard work was also recognized by the national government and she was honored with the Padma Shri.

Richa Kar , Founder & CEO of Zivame : After closely researching the Indian lingerie market for a work project, Richa Kar co-founded Zivame in 2011 - to help women understand their innerwear needs and provide them with the right products without hassle.

Hailing from a conservative family in Jamshedpur, the idea was initially not received well, and she faced much criticism. Westerners may call India the land of Kamasutra, but even talking about lingerie is a major taboo in our society.

Undeterred by the social and even financial pushback, Richa persevered. She started in a small office, with a compact team, working hard to build her company to its current status today - as a market leader in the segment with net sales of over a whopping $150 Mn as of 2022.

The Indian entrepreneurial environment can be challenging for female founders, especially in their nascent years. But learning about women who have fought all odds and emerged victorious always lifts up my spirits.

Don’t you love it when the glass ceiling breaks?