Financial Times

Lessons from young entrepreneurs
By Ruwanthi De Silva
Young women entrepreneurs took the stage at last month's meeting of The Sunday Times Business Club at the Trans Asia Hotel where their talents and skills were showcased. The highlight of the evening was the presentation made by the Shell Live Wire, "Young Business Start-up Award of the year" recipient, Samantha Senerath a university graduate from Moratuwa.

She told the gathering "to do anything, one must have a goal and move towards it persistently " Ms Senerath, an enterprising young woman driven with an ambition to success despite an initial struggle, said her desire to be her own boss and her love for pottery was what drove her to launch her own pottery business "Neo Lanka Potters".

In her presentation she explained the steps taken that has led her to the present stage of development in her business. Despite many economical and social constraints, Ms Senerath's business has proven to be a success and members of the Business Club agreed that her success story is one of unfaltering courage and determination.

Asked if she had any plans to move in to the export market, she said that while having received a few orders, she is concentrating on strengthening her market position locally before moving overseas. "Find your interest, capabilities and reach out for your goals" were her parting words of wisdom to the other young entrepreneurs in the audience.

A group of young female entrepreneurs from Musaeus College and Gothami Balika also made presentations. These youngsters who have formed companies in their schools, spoke about the products and their style of management.

When asked how they managed to run a company with the pressure of school work and exams each of these young girls stressed on the importance of time management. "We think we are the best, and that motivates us to do better," said one girl from Musaeus. The youngsters are part of the Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) programme. The event was sponsored by the Trans Asia Hotel and co-sponsored by Ceylon Brewery Ltd, makers of Carlsberg.

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