Entrepreneurship is about opportunity and timing

dubai - Young people must choose a field and become a specialist early on in their career

As a woman entrepreneur, I am often asked how different it is for me to build a business, and my answer always is that first and foremost, the business has to work, gender comes second. As a third generation hotelier, I have always had a focused approach, first towards academics and subsequently, a career. Being clear in your objectives makes it easier to make decisions along the way. I would also advise young people to choose a field and become a specialist early on in your career. You will get the opportunity to pick up management skills along the way.
Staying focused in hospitality and remaining current with the industry helped me identify a business opportunity when it came along. Aiana Hotels and Resorts, my Indian-inspired hotel brand, with properties under development in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India, is the result of a focused and proactive strategy to create a niche in the hospitality market.
I believe that entrepreneurship is all about opportunity, timing and the ability to take risks as was the case of my recent venture, Aiana Hotels and Resorts based in Qatar. It was also all about meeting the right business partner, Shaikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, who shared my passion for hospitality and supported the idea of creating an Indian-inspired brand on a global scale.
The last two years as CEO of Aiana Hotels and Resorts has taught me to have self-belief, as if you are convinced, the universe will rally behind you to help you succeed. I got a lot of support from my family and business partners, the hospitality industry itself, both in India and the GCC. There is always support for entrepreneurs who are determined, persistent and passionate about their work.
According to me, being a woman is just an added advantage as you bring another perspective to the table. Building a support group that shared my passion for hospitality is what has helped me take the plunge into entrepreneurship. I am most thankful to my mother and board member Lakshmi for her unwavering belief and encouragement, who seems to know intuitively what I am capable of and is always there to nudge me along. Everyone needs a champion and I would recommend that every woman professional find a mentor for guidance and support.
My biggest challenge as an entrepreneur has been to create a brand that is India-inspired, yet global in its approach. I take each opportunity as a learning experience to equip myself to be better informed, more prepared and smarter the next time around. I believe that one must be able to be strong and assertive when the situation warrants it. I credit this change to Kavita Ramdas, representative for the Ford Foundation's office in India, and former president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women who at a speech said - We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.
Speak up
My advice to women who want to compete in the corporate world is to speak up. Research has shown that in a group setting, men are 75 per cent more likely to speak up than a woman. It has also been scientifically proven that it is more difficult for men to register a female voice and so they are more likely to interrupt or speak over you. This does not mean you need to be the loudest voice in the room but the point is to have a voice and make your opinion known. Remember always that to remain silent is to agree. As a woman entrepreneur, I have learnt that it is extremely important to have self-belief. Crossing the confidence gap is the first step towards bridging the gender gap.
Becoming the CEO of Aiana Hotels in my early 30s made me cognizant of the fact that while my heritage and global exposure brought a lot of credit, as a leader, I also needed to bring experienced professionals onto my team who shared my passion and values but also brought varied skills to the table that could supplement my own. I recognised early on that I needed to be comfortable with delegation and create an environment in which people are enabled to do their best work. No one gets anywhere alone, so trust and empowerment is key. Being in the services industry is a blessing as I am surrounded by passionate, talented people who I can be inspired by and learn from.
The writer is joint managing director and chief executive at Aiana Hotels & Resorts. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.