Iconic Woman Entrepreneur in the Food Industry

Sheila Thakkar from Sargam Foods Pvt. Ltd In conversation with Sheila Thakkar

What are your thoughts on receiving this honor? Whom would you like to dedicate it to?

I am extremely grateful for the recognition and the honor bestowed on me. My first thought goes out to all the women in India whom I would like to empower, in whatever little way I can, to become self-sufficient and economically sound. In this vein, I’d like to dedicate the award to my late husband, Shri Mahendra Thakkar, the pioneer of Vandevi and Vaidehi Hing. It is his faith in my capabilities and support of women working (a revolutionary mindset for our generation), that has driven me to achieve and continue to strive for excellence

What have been the redeeming features of your job that have won you this title?

Managing a 90+-year-old brand has been both rewarding as well as challenging.

The food industry in India has grown exponentially in the last few decades. The only way we could hold our own and continue to thrive was through the constant focus on growth and development. Evolving leadership isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a practice of trial, error, and advancement that evolves over an entire career. Being open to change, from traditional methods to modernization without losing focus on quality has been the redeeming feature that sees my company and me where we are today.

As a woman achiever, do you think it is challenging for women as compared to men to grow in their chosen fields?

Yes, being a woman in a predominantly male-centric industry has been one of the most difficult features of my career. The journey from survival to thriving has been one full of hurdles, however, endurance and determination have seen me not only overcome adversities but also use them as opportunities to succeed.

Women are finally getting their due now. Do you agree?

While I do agree that women are in a way better space than they were when I started my career path, I believe that there’s a long long way to go for gender equality to become a norm. In our company, we have set this ball rolling by employing and empowering more women in what used to be traditionally male-dominated processes.

What has been your winning mantra?

It would be faith in myself and my team; coupled with discipline, and the knowledge that the only way to success is through persistent hard work.

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