Sucheta is the CEO of Soukhyaa Enterprises. She began her career working in education and consultancy but it was the birth of her first child that led to the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. She wanted to make sure that everything she was providing to her child was helping to make them happy while also being nature-friendly. While she was able to find several options for healthy foods, baby powders and soap, she found that there was no healthy clothing specifically for infants. This set her to thinking and thus an idea to start a business in baby furnishings was born. She started her business Baby Prints and began the manufacturing and marketing process. Throughout this journey, she supported the rural economy and ensured that the manufacturing process followed a zero waste policy, only using cotton and natural fibres so that the products were bio-degradable. In the business in production and sales, she consciously engaged only needy, previously exploited women – mainly “Single Mothers”. It was tough to convince few of them and raising their confidence level, in few of the cases, she faced tougher situations to ensure their safety and convince the parents of such women. By ensuring that women are engaged, – not just women empowerment is taken care of, but since these women were exploited and had to face challenges at personal front. Working with Baby Prints not only gave them the self-confidence and ray of hope to start the life once again but also made them financially strong and independent. In this manner, through the business, Sucheta helped gender equality, supporting needy people and bringing life to the vulnerable sections of society. The business took off very well, so much so that there were offers for partnership. However, sticking to their core value of an all-women enterprise and that more than money, societal development would be their primary goal – they have refused any partnership or tie-ups. There were many hurdles along the way, in terms of credit, finances, lack of family support and more, but the strong will and support from the women employed sustained their energy levels. Unfortunately, as challenges grew and then the pandemic struck, the overall business was affected. They sustained as long as they could but it wasn’t easy and therefore the business had to be discontinued. However, the passion, the energy remained and more importantly the continuous backing from clients and engaged women. The break opened doors for new customer relationships, parties who saw their products and requested that they expand the furnishing category beyond babies and children. As the country started to come out of pandemic and businesses were reviving, they have now expanded to wider range of quilts and furnishing – with targets being not just kids/babies but for everyone. All these being a first-hand experience and seeing the successful journey, there were many start-ups who approached Sucheta for mentoring. And not expecting any returns, she offered them mentorship and today is proud to be associated with them. There are 2 Section-8 companies, working for women entrepreneurs, a strategic consultant. It immensely pleases her to be part of growth of any successful journey. Today, Sucheta is the proud owner of 6 Cr company completely built and brought up by her – engaging only women, using only environmental friendly material, zero wastage and supporting more than 40 needy families. At times, she does feel tired and exhausted – managing both family and business single-handedly, but the only fuel that keeps driving her motivation is the development of people who are dependent on the business and also the fact that the business supports nature and is not one that exploits the nature.
Sucheta Acharya
CEO
Soukhyaa Enterprises