Name: Ishween Anand
Age: 42
City: Mumbai, India
Occupation: CEO &
Founder, NYASSA Retail Private Limited
Founder, NYASSA Retail Private Limited
ST: Please tell us
briefly about you.
briefly about you.
Ishween: After passing my chartered accountancy exams
and MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Management, New York. I worked in
GE’s asset management division. Then, joined Ernst & Young in The Big Apple
and began handling mergers and acquisitions for the consultancy.
and MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Management, New York. I worked in
GE’s asset management division. Then, joined Ernst & Young in The Big Apple
and began handling mergers and acquisitions for the consultancy.
Indeed, even with a background in the
financial world, I would spend more time on soapmaking.com instead of the
wallstreetjournal.com in the early days of my career.
financial world, I would spend more time on soapmaking.com instead of the
wallstreetjournal.com in the early days of my career.
An interest, a hobby became an obsession for
me and Nyassa was founded in 2007.
me and Nyassa was founded in 2007.
Nyassa was a modest but passionate attempt to
create world-class soaps with ingredients that are natural and wholesome.
create world-class soaps with ingredients that are natural and wholesome.
ST: Who is a woman
that inspires you the most and why?*
that inspires you the most and why?*
For me it is my mother and will always be. My
mom has been my biggest influencer as I have watched her closely in my growing
up years. She is the woman who encouraged me to become a National level swimmer
and a pianist at the Trinity College of Music, London. I’ve seen her showing
compassion, patience and unconditional love to my handicapped brother. She
helped her father and my father in growing their businesses. She was career
minded but yet an amazing mother, she raised us with so much love and kindness
that’s truly inspirational.
mom has been my biggest influencer as I have watched her closely in my growing
up years. She is the woman who encouraged me to become a National level swimmer
and a pianist at the Trinity College of Music, London. I’ve seen her showing
compassion, patience and unconditional love to my handicapped brother. She
helped her father and my father in growing their businesses. She was career
minded but yet an amazing mother, she raised us with so much love and kindness
that’s truly inspirational.
ST: How are you
celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
For me it’s like back to school but this time
it’s with my 2 year old daughter who will be around while I will be upgrading
my knowledge and skills in a perfumery workshop in Bangkok. A woman should
always learn and push barriers.
it’s with my 2 year old daughter who will be around while I will be upgrading
my knowledge and skills in a perfumery workshop in Bangkok. A woman should
always learn and push barriers.
ST: What is the most
important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on
this occasion?
important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on
this occasion?
Education and experience is very important because
that ultimately makes every woman confident and it raises their self esteem so
that they can draw the line whenever needed. And this is what leads to an
independent life.
that ultimately makes every woman confident and it raises their self esteem so
that they can draw the line whenever needed. And this is what leads to an
independent life.
ST: What according to
you is ‘women empowerment’?
you is ‘women empowerment’?
To me women empowerment is to empower women in
taking their own decisions and progress in life by working and being
independent. Nyassa has encouraged women from different backgrounds and single
women in their financial problems by recruiting
them. Along the way they have excelled
in ways they never imagined and to me that’s uplifting. Thus, It is my
continuous approach in providing such guidance to women around me.
taking their own decisions and progress in life by working and being
independent. Nyassa has encouraged women from different backgrounds and single
women in their financial problems by recruiting
them. Along the way they have excelled
in ways they never imagined and to me that’s uplifting. Thus, It is my
continuous approach in providing such guidance to women around me.
ST: What would you say
are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
are the main challenges facing women at present in India?
Creating a work and family life balance is the
most common challenge I see in women. Since work and family are the two most
important aspects in a woman’s life, balancing them out is necessary. There are
many issues in a working mothers life that results to stress. It is essential
to have a strong family support to deal with the ever so increasing competition
around us.
most common challenge I see in women. Since work and family are the two most
important aspects in a woman’s life, balancing them out is necessary. There are
many issues in a working mothers life that results to stress. It is essential
to have a strong family support to deal with the ever so increasing competition
around us.
ST: Where do you want
to see yourself in next 5 years?
to see yourself in next 5 years?
I see myself taking my company Nyassa to
international markets. I also have a two year old daughter who I intend
spending more time with and inculcate the same values that my mother provided
me. This is my personal and professional goal.
international markets. I also have a two year old daughter who I intend
spending more time with and inculcate the same values that my mother provided
me. This is my personal and professional goal.
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| Ishween Anand, CEO & Founder, NYASSA Retail Private Limited |
