Meet the SHEROES - Kalpana Heblekar

India does have a huge handicraft industry and every state boasts of its own unique design theme and expertise. Some states are known for their products all over the world. Today’s Shero of the day, Kalpana Heblekar tapped this potential and decided to try and help talented women who create handicraft products sell their wares internationally.

Kalpna will be presenting her B-plan at the SHEROES Summit – Bangalore, get your passes to the event to meet her.

Meanwhile, here’s her story,

What is your Line of Work? How did the Idea of Handicraft Sourcing as a Profession come about?

I am basically into handicraft sourcing. In this line of work we train mainly rural and urban women who have a varied skill set. We focus on hand holding them in their marketing goals so that their handicraft products can be sold to different countries.

I use to work in a bank before and I found it very routine. I wanted to do something for these talented women so that they could stand on their feet. I chose Handicrafts because this needs very basic training and it can be imparted to any one irrespective of their caste or educational background etc. All they need is the desire to learn and do and the willingness to use their hands to create something.

How do your Ideas better the Handicraft Industry in India?

The Handicrafts industry in India needs to have skilled and trained workers in order to meet International standards. We lack in our designing and packaging categories. We have a huge handicraft industry thriving in India.

Our work helps impart skill and adequate training and thus makes the product Internationally saleable.

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur in India?

In short, a lot of hard work and patience as well as perseverance are required.

What was your first job like and how did that experience help you grow in your profession?

I worked in a Bank and that has shown me why financial independence is a must for everyone. At the end of the day, you need to be able to stand on your own feet.

What Advice can you give a young budding woman entrepreneur?

Young entrepreneurs should equip themselves with the required skills and learn patience and grow or scale up slowly as any business cannot give overnight success.