ST Bureau
New Delhi
This
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
ST:
Please
tell us more about your entrepreneurial venture.
Please
tell us more about your entrepreneurial venture.
Olenka
and Krishnazina: Junuka Jewels
LLP, an online store of traditional, tribal, ethnic, symbolic handmade
jewelleries of North-East India was formed to protect and promote the hidden and
unexplored treasures of the region. We, the Co-Founders Olenka Dilip &
Krishnazina Thakur started this online platform in May 2015 with the main
objectives of creating a self-sustaining community of artisans and craftsmen, to
facilitate business in Indian as well as in international markets and create employment
for rural artisans and give direction to skilled craftsmen. The rustic, earthy
and unrefined look is the attractiveness of tribal jewellery. Each piece of
ornament is a symbol of a vanishing culture or a resemblance/ gift recreated from
nature. Our firm has up until now launched adornments from six of the eight
north-eastern states.
and Krishnazina: Junuka Jewels
LLP, an online store of traditional, tribal, ethnic, symbolic handmade
jewelleries of North-East India was formed to protect and promote the hidden and
unexplored treasures of the region. We, the Co-Founders Olenka Dilip &
Krishnazina Thakur started this online platform in May 2015 with the main
objectives of creating a self-sustaining community of artisans and craftsmen, to
facilitate business in Indian as well as in international markets and create employment
for rural artisans and give direction to skilled craftsmen. The rustic, earthy
and unrefined look is the attractiveness of tribal jewellery. Each piece of
ornament is a symbol of a vanishing culture or a resemblance/ gift recreated from
nature. Our firm has up until now launched adornments from six of the eight
north-eastern states.
 |
| (L) Olenka Dilip and (R) Krishnazina Thakur Co-founders, Junuka Jewels |
ST: Who is your biggest influence in
life?
Olenka
and Krishnazina: We
are self-motivated and self-inspired. It would be wrong to name anyone in
particular, but we take inspirations from a variety of people– people from
various walks of life, who have successfully maintained a work/life balance.
and Krishnazina: We
are self-motivated and self-inspired. It would be wrong to name anyone in
particular, but we take inspirations from a variety of people– people from
various walks of life, who have successfully maintained a work/life balance.
ST: What challenges do you face in your
day to day professional life, if any?
day to day professional life, if any?
Olenka
and Krishnazina: Our artisans are based in different parts of North-East India
and they speak and understand the local language only. Communication with them,
at times, becomes a big challenge. The most difficult part is to make them
understand the designs and spacing of the products for on-time deliveries. Procuring
products from craftsmen based in remote and interior parts of the region is
another challenge we face. It gets very difficult for us to maintain delivery
timelines in such cases, as well as in times of conflicts, curfews and road
blocks, which in some areas are fairly common. Through Junuka Jewels, we’ve
been trying to encourage artisans to do more as we try to get them markets
beyond their limited reach.
and Krishnazina: Our artisans are based in different parts of North-East India
and they speak and understand the local language only. Communication with them,
at times, becomes a big challenge. The most difficult part is to make them
understand the designs and spacing of the products for on-time deliveries. Procuring
products from craftsmen based in remote and interior parts of the region is
another challenge we face. It gets very difficult for us to maintain delivery
timelines in such cases, as well as in times of conflicts, curfews and road
blocks, which in some areas are fairly common. Through Junuka Jewels, we’ve
been trying to encourage artisans to do more as we try to get them markets
beyond their limited reach.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years down the line?
Olenka
and Krishnazina: Over the next five years, North
East Indian jewellery would be marketed globally. Our aim is also to revive lost
forms of jewellery. We are already working on the lost art forms and trying to
recreate them into contemporary designs and would take them to international
markets.
and Krishnazina: Over the next five years, North
East Indian jewellery would be marketed globally. Our aim is also to revive lost
forms of jewellery. We are already working on the lost art forms and trying to
recreate them into contemporary designs and would take them to international
markets.
ST: What is your message to the readers
on ‘International Women’s Day’?
on ‘International Women’s Day’?
Olenka
and Krishnazina: Never stop dreaming. If you have any
urge to do something, do it right now. There is nothing like a perfect time. As
the proverb goes – “time and tide waits for no one” – don’t waste time on
thinking too much, instead plan on execution. Everybody should be mentally and
financially independent and there should be no barrier or hindrance to any
ambition, aspiration or thought.
and Krishnazina: Never stop dreaming. If you have any
urge to do something, do it right now. There is nothing like a perfect time. As
the proverb goes – “time and tide waits for no one” – don’t waste time on
thinking too much, instead plan on execution. Everybody should be mentally and
financially independent and there should be no barrier or hindrance to any
ambition, aspiration or thought.
More about the Co-founders:
Olenka Dilip
Co-Founder
Olenka has been a financial services
professional with over nine years of experience, having primarily worked in the
areas of investor communications, broker-dealers, mutual funds, securities
processing and operations. Over the years, she has built core competencies in
networking skills, entrepreneurial mindset, product understanding and
international market.
professional with over nine years of experience, having primarily worked in the
areas of investor communications, broker-dealers, mutual funds, securities
processing and operations. Over the years, she has built core competencies in
networking skills, entrepreneurial mindset, product understanding and
international market.
Olenka is an MBA from Apeejay School
of Marketing, Delhi with a specialisation in Finance and Marketing.
Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University
of Delhi.
of Marketing, Delhi with a specialisation in Finance and Marketing.
Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University
of Delhi.
Krishnazina
Thakur
Thakur
Co-Founder
For
over seven years, Krishnazina has worked in various capacities in the
legal and financial services sectors. She has proven expertise in understanding
the business, finance and statutory compliance of companies, especially in
the financial services and education sectors. She has strong capabilities in
regulatory compliance, risk management, fundamental research methodologies,
acumen in systematic analysis of ideas & database management.
Krishnazina holds B.Com and
LL.B degrees from Gauhati University, as well as an MBA in Finance
from SCDL, Pune.
LL.B degrees from Gauhati University, as well as an MBA in Finance
from SCDL, Pune.
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