In the midst of my professional journey at Ernst and Young, where I had established a sense of security and routine, fate intervened to unveil a remarkable revelation. The memory of that extraordinary day remains etched in my mind, forever altering the course of my life. It was during a seemingly ordinary moment, within the familiar confines of our corporate cafeteria, that I found myself captivated by an unexpected sight.
A small exhibition had taken root within the heart of our corporate environment, breathing life into the sterile surroundings. It was here, amidst the hum of business and the relentless pursuit of success, that I stumbled upon a remarkable lady. She stood before a collection of exquisite products, each one meticulously crafted by the skilled hands of women from an NGO. This encounter was unlike anything I had witnessed within the corporate world. Although I had experienced similar displays at exhibitions, the juxtaposition of this artistic showcase amidst the backdrop of my workplace was a novelty that stirred my curiosity.
Intrigued by the lady’s connection to NGOs and her endeavors to sell these unique items, it sparked a reminiscence of my mother’s involvement in designing home decor products for Pardada-Pardadi women. I distinctly recalled how my mom faced difficulties in selling their creations, struggling with marketing and sales despite the unquestionably high quality of their work. In fact, just a few days before this encounter, my mother had spoken to me about the challenges they were facing.
With the serendipitous connection between the lady at the exhibition and my mother’s work fresh in my mind, I approached my mom with an idea. I asked if she would be interested in sending some of her pieces to me, and I offered to explore the possibility of selling them within the corporate world. I sensed the immense potential in bridging the gap between the remarkable skills of these rural women and the market demand within the cities.
My mom agreed, and without wasting any time, I took a brief two-day leave from my office. Collaborating with the lady from the exhibition, we managed to secure a stall at both Axis Bank and Citibank. To my delight, the response was overwhelmingly positive, and the sales exceeded our expectations. Buoyed by this success, I decided to take a week-long break from my corporate life to visit the village where these extraordinary products were made.
During my visit, I was struck by a realization that lingered in my thoughts. While countless individuals were capable of doing what I did at Ernst and Young or any other corporate job, not many would think about championing the cause of rural products and empowering these women by bringing their creations into the market. It became evident to me that we had a scarcity of social entrepreneurs compared to the abundance of regular entrepreneurs in our society.
Around eight to nine years ago, when I embarked on this journey, the concept of promoting rural products had not gained the momentum it enjoys today. Recognizing the immense potential for positive change, I made the decision to dedicate myself to this cause. I aimed to fulfill the needs of city dwellers by harnessing the skills of these talented rural women, enabling them to earn a livelihood within their own communities and discouraging migration to urban areas.
Filled with determination and the support of my understanding boss, I seized the opportunity and took a six-month break from my corporate job. This sabbatical allowed me to delve deeper into this venture and explore its true potential. In my upcoming blog posts, I will share the captivating details of what unfolded during this transformative journey.
Stay tuned for more updates and join me in witnessing the profound impact of this endeavor.