‘Risk is overrated in India’
This Bangalore-based woman, is one of the 25 women leaders from across the world shortlisted for the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnerships- a programme that connects America’s top women executives with emerging women leaders across the globe. Under the programme, she aims to promote entrepreneurship and leadership among women in India. A fearless impresario herself, Yeshasvini believes that the traditional value-driven role of Indian women will make them the top entrepreneurs. “In India, the society fabric is conducive for the Indian women to become entrepreneurs. Indian women have the ability to make contacts. They must tap it,” said Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, who believes strongly that there is a lot going for Indian women which makes it all the more conducive for them to transform into entrepreneurs and be their own bosses.
She affirmed that Indian women have the innate capability to network through their multi-faceted roles all of which involve a lot of networking and interaction with the society on which they live and function.
When she launched her own enterprise, the Jain Group of Institutions iDEA PG program in which potential entrepreneurs are chosen and trained, Yeshasvini had no apprehensions. She says, “I am not an analysis-paralysis kind of a person. I hold only myself accountable for everything I decide and do,” she said confidently.
“Life has come one full circle after that. I already had the financial and business acumen to start off on my own,” said Yeshasvini also pointing out that while working in a corporate firm, one does not really feel the pressure of the magnitude of working capital, the cash strap and the perfect structure that is needed to launch a start-up company. “Suddenly, I was my own manager. I was taking care of the revenue, all the finances, and motivating my employees all by myself!,” she added.
So how does she plan to reach out to the Indian womenfolk and promote entrepreneurship among them?
“The idea that they do not have enough financial independence is something that our women have internalised. They need to break out of it”, said Yeshasvini.
She also observed the fact that Indian women have a natural ability to nurture and approach people and build contacts, which will make them successful entrepreneurs. “My primary goal is to pass on my entire network and contact system to other women,” she said, admitting that challenges are bound to be there. “The greatest challenge is the working capital. No doubt that banks are apprehensive about granting loans to women”. There are several solutions to this, according to Yeshasvini, “In our country, everyone knows everyone else. Women must use the contacts that they have and venture fearlessly. It’s okay to take risks!”
Worrying about risks is something that one tends to gravitate towards. “Risk is overrated in our country. If a comfortable lifestyle is the only priority, then there is no point in venturing into entrepreneurship.” she said. Throughout her time at the Infosys BPO where she worked as a management consultant, Yeshasvini had this urge to ‘create’ something new and not just look into the routine corporate affairs.
Opining that Human Resources Consulting is severely underrated in India, she said, “HR, as is widely believed is not just about managing peoples’ resumes. It involves a lot of intervention, it’s a much deeper discipline than what it is normally conceived to be.” Yeshasvini, in her current capacity is the founder and Managing Director of e2e People Practices Private Limited, a Leadership Audit firm that helps entrepreneur CEOs scale their businesses. Among other roles, she is a visiting faculty member at the Indian Institute of Management- Bangalore and she is also assisting NASSCOM in its Diversity Initiatives. Ten years down the line, Yeshasvini dreams of having a business structure along the same lines as her current pursuits, with charity, entrepreneurship and education perfectly in place. She would also like to engage in public work, and continue to choose value over money. “I am not running behind a private jet”, she signs off.