8 April 2008

Ujjivan Launches Leadership Talk Series

To learn from the experience of outstanding leaders and entrepreneurs, Ujjivan has initiated the Leadership Talk Series. Shukla Bose, Founder & CEO of Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a very successful corporate leader and social entrepreneur was the first speaker. She was India’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995 and Woman of the Year in 2000, as the CEO of Resorts Condominium International (RCI).

Ms. Bose began work in the social sector as a volunteer for many years at the homes for the dying (Nirmal Hriday) and subsequently for Children’s Home (Sishu Bhavan) at the Sisters of Charity in Kolkata. After receiving her MBA from IIM, Kolkata and 13 successful years at Oberoi Hotels, she launched RCI in India and was their Managing Director for 11 years. She shared her experience of overcoming many of the obstacles of starting a revolutionary new concept like timeshares in the hospitality industry in a highly regulated country like India. Success in that kind of environment takes a lot of self-belief, team work, and the ability to take risks.

She left the corporate sector and set up the Indian operations of the international NGO Crystal House for 3 years. Subsequently she founded and currently leads her own very successful NGO Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which provides quality education to more than 800 ‘underserved’ children from slums in Bangalore and orphans from North East. She shared how she and her husband put in all their life time savings to get Parikrma started.

Ms. Bose spoke about her biggest influences in her life – her mother and Mother Theresa. Her mother pushed her constantly to do her best even though the goals may have seemed insurmountable. Mother Theresa was ‘the best CEO’ she has met. She was able to motivate over 800 diverse volunteers to deliver the highest levels of caring through her passion for the sick, dying and abandoned.

Ms. Bose’s discussion emphasized the excitement involved in working at a start up organization and the incredible opportunity during its early years, especially for young entrepreneurs. She went on to advise, “when you are working with the poor, and you make a decision, you can’t waste time in implementing it. Every day in the life of the poor is valuable and things change quickly.”

As the conversation wrapped up, the audience was left with a sense of optimism and new energy.

Ms. Bose kicks off Ujjivan's Leadership Talk Series.

The audience listens to Ms. Bose's discussion on her leadership journey.

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