Hearing from SPJ Superwomen – Alumni Talk with Bhavya Chandrahas
Bhavya Chandrahas (Founder & CEO – Dori) is a GMBA 2008 alumnus of SP Jain School of Global Management. Let us hear her tale with Dori as an SPJ Superwoman!
How did you get the idea for your business?
Having worked in fashion for over 8 years, I had a passion for this line of work. Each time I went to India, I was astounded by the kind of intricate work that our artisans produced. Today, I just try to provide a platform for the work they do. Dori started in a small workshop in 2015 – the idea behind the brand was to offer one of a kind pieces of jewellery using our age-old heritage in a contemporary setting. It’s a colourful, vibrant brand that explores simplicity in structure, and stands out in terms of its workmanship. All the pieces at Dori are handmade and ethically sourced.
What was your mission at the outset? What challenges did you face in achieving this goal?
The mission at the outset and even today is to keep my customers satisfied and content with the uniqueness, quality, and design of their jewellery at an affordable price. Customer truly is king. Challenges I faced are what every start-up or small business face – creating awareness for my product/service with a non-existent marketing budget. Thankfully, the use of social media has changed that to a large extent.
Starting a company from scratch and running it successfully are no easy tasks. What factors have helped you achieve this feat?
I think my prior work experience at some of the largest retail companies in the middle east like Landmark Group and Al Ghurair helped me immensely. The experience and knowledge you acquire working for them is priceless. It also helps to have a hugely supportive family who has your back always.
Studies have found that women-helmed companies report 13 per cent higher revenues than others on an average. Why do you think this is?
I might have a bias in saying this, but that’s possibly because women have had to work harder and smarter to get the same kind of respect, position, and pay in the work place as men. While this is changing, there is still a long way to go.
In an era where women are repeatedly standing up for themselves and claiming the space they deserve, we still have fewer women entrepreneurs than men. How do you think we can overcome this? How can we encourage young girls at school level to pursue their dreams?
It all begins at home. Irrespective of gender, if children are encouraged to pursue what they love doing rather than what society/parents dictate, we will have more people who are passionate about what they do excel at it. This, in turn, generates an inclination to create more and develop something of your own which results in entrepreneurship. Women must help and stand up for other women. Healthy competition is great, but one must pay it forward to others. We are all on our own journey and there is enough space for everyone to thrive. We as women, need to help each other rise.
