Today we speak to Sandhya Raghunandan, she heads the Indian Operations of a Stone and Quarry business. What made her choose this industry and what has she learnt in this business, let’s hear.
Can you share details of the kind of business you presently run?
I am in the stone mining industry for close to 25 years, heading the Indian Operations - a 100% subsidiary of an Italian company - Red Graniti Quarries and Blocks India Private Limited.
My principles are based in the North of Italy and have had their presence in India since the late 80’s. This company is represented globally, having offices or mines in Africa, USA, Brazil and many parts of Europe too.
The business we have in India is one where we play both the roles of a buyer and a seller. We buy Indian Granite and Marble in the form of raw blocks and ship them to our stockyards situated either in Italy or other European countries like Poland or Croatia.
We also sell to India - raw blocks mined from any of the above mentioned countries where we have our presence. Our customers are generally Export Oriented Units, those factories where raw blocks of granite and marble are processed and value added and exported out of India.
25 years ago, as a young girl just out of college, my goal was to be financially independent. To me, I wanted to set out into the world, maybe travel sometimes and make a living for myself. Probably the desire to learn as I earn, was what inspired me to enter the world of stone.
How did the inspiration to enter this field of work come about?
I was born in Zambia Africa, and lived there till I was 18. I completed my graduation in Bangalore thereafter. Maybe, I was drawn to the company I have worked in since the very beginning till date, because, I hoped to be connected in some way with a childhood spent in Africa. This was particularly because of our company’s presence globally, but with our major mines being in Africa.
The day I stepped into the world of stone in the year 1991, I knew this was where I belonged.
What appealed to me then, and maybe even today is that I needed no formal training, no skill, and no particular educational qualification to fit into the role I was in. My hard work, my dedication and my values are simply those that have brought me thus far thereafter.
If I were to be asked, what makes a person successful in this industry, I would simply say, if you have a passion, a drive, patience and perseverance, you can reach great heights
What challenges do you often face while running your own business?
The challenges one encounters are plenty.
Uncertainties in terms of changing government mining policies or fitting our requirements in strict accordance to the legalities are just some to name a few. There are other day to day encounters that can be altogether another issue. Corruption , natural calamities, like the tsunami or floods resulting in closing of all ports of exit and therefore delays in shipments, disappointed customers due to untimely deliveries based on the above, change in market trends, port strikes, government bans in mining in certain areas ,all contribute to my challenges. How I work myself through this is another story! Many a times, the entire plan must be restructured and reviewed to fit in these unexpected challenges.
What tips should aspiring women entrepreneurs follow according to you?
To me, an entrepreneur or for that matter any one entrusted with the responsibility of running a company almost like one’s own, one needs to understand exactly how the system runs, for which ,a person should stay focused and remain within that industry before they play the role of a leader. One must have the desire to grow and therefore whether there are consistent changes / or unexpected changes, one must continue to have a vision, stay in line with it, and see that the dream comes true. This must happen with clarity, with patience and perseverance as mentioned before.
Professionally, where do you want to be five years from now?
Five years from now, I would have spent 30 years in this industry.
I would see myself – certainly very content, having won the respect from my fellow associates, while simultaneously bringing the company to a certain level of profitability. Being humbled by my failures and accepting them as triggers to my successes.
Professionally I have achieved most of what I ever desired, where I stand today.