Chamari, a doughty and dedicated entrepreneur

Variety adds spice to life that is otherwise monotonous. People take decisions at different times to effect changes to life for the better .Having the comfort of a secured job does not necessarily give room for a challenging path ahead. Therefore, people who have visionary thinking opted for a divert course of action to be of value to the society. Having a strong mind to swim against all odds, Chamari Bandara gave up her working career to become an entrepreneur.

Being versatile in many fields, she made good use of her experience and knowledge to set up Thesara Media, a book publishing firm that provides holistic service range to any customer. She pays special emphasis on novelty which has become the symbol of the service delivery and within a short period of time has achieved progress.

With plans to add more services to the existing portfolio, Thesara Media envisage to be a force to reckon with. Chamari has gained the confidence of service seekers and ensures that the product is delivered exceeding client’s expectations.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Excerpts of the interview.

Q.How do you describe your line of business?

A. Mass communication and public Relations were two areas that fascinated me as these had in-depth study and research opportunities which are relevant, important and appropriate in today’s context. I was involved in the said fields for many years and wanted to set up a venture that provides holistic service solutions to meet the client’s requirement.

Thesara Media was set up as a book publishing company early this year and it under takes any work related to printing, advertising, promotion, public relations and event management. Enthusiasm could be still seen in having books in the physical form which is a trend that is fast disappearing at present.

This has given rise to business sustainability and the work involved is interesting and informative.My work experience in the media field and parental influence was invaluable in the forming of the venture. The business has a steady growth as our work is different from what similar companies do and this novelty has been ppreciated by the service seekers. As Thesara Media provides a comprehensive service package, the clients have the opportunity of obtaining the entire requirement under one roof. The office is situated in Colombo 5 and we plan to add more facilities in the future.

Q.How do you manage time to handle your personal life?

A.I live with my parents and my sister and brother are married and living separately. The family support is the key in the venture where I have the flexibility of even working at home. I start my day early and work till late completing every task during the day. I never postpone work and this has won the confidence of clients where there is a continuous flow of orders. I make it a point to prioritize things and organize my day in such a way that it enables me to do extra work. I enjoying working and the work involved is not monotonous.

Q. What motivated you to venture into business on your own?

A. I was involved in the field of media for more than 16 years and this field is closer to my heart. I had this desire to start some thing of my own and was awaiting the right moment. I believe that when you are working for someone you could not do things in the most appropriate way. There are restrictions and limitations and I wanted to be independent. I was determined to be a successful entrepreneur and I am reaching this milestone fast.

Q. What are your goals?

A. As a new comer to the filed, I have secured considerable business volumes and a growing clientele. I strive to further develop the venture and thereby creating a hallmark in the industry as a holistic service provider with a difference. We intend to provide innovative solutions for today’s complicated business requirements which will also ensure the growth and sustainability of the business.

Q. How do you face the challenges of competition?

A. I am relatively a new player in the industry. However, the area of business proposition is so vast that there is plenty of room for quality players to dominate. I work hard to meet the customer expectations while delighting them with the service delivery which has been executed to perfection.

Q. What example do you provide to others?

A. I never believe that true potential could be unleashed through a career under an employer. One should be independent to take their own decisions and action to forge ahead in whatever venture they select. Depending on a monthly salary is not challenging as having an own venture which requires your constant attention and managerial skills. I have displayed that there is huge potential in the business world for a well focused mindset.

Q. What is your specialty?

A. Through Thesara Media, we also conduct workshops especially targeting the women population to empower them. These workshops are on the theme of positive thinking and generating self employment opportunities which is a huge success at present. We have already conducted workshops at Kandy, Ratnapura and Dambulla. We plan to have more in Galle, Hambantota and Chilaw. This will be an ongoing project and many women have benefited so far. We have a special relationship with any client, be it a company or an individual.This specialty has made us the convenient partner in business.

Q. What are your achievements in family life and business?

A. During the past year, the business has grown steadily and I am having sufficient business to move forward. There are many areas which have not been exploited as business options.

I intend to add related business line to the existing portfolio to make it more attractive. The business sustainability is itself an achievement and action would be taken to fuel the growth further. It is not an easy task to become an entrepreneur, especially for women.

The strong family support structure is a plus point. Therefore, I consider the stable growth in the business venture to be remarkable. The venture had also made it possible for me to realize a long cherished dream to do something of my own.

Q. What is your message to society?

A.Mahatma Gandhi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes.” American motivational speaker and author Earl Nightingale said, “The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else.” Job security is gone.

The driving force of a career must come from the individual. RememberJobs are owned by the company, you own your career!”, it is important to think differently to have an own identification.

We should have the courage to move out of the comfort zone in bringing in glory to yourself and the country.

(SJ)