The first nominee of the Top 50 Asia Pacific Women Leaders Awards 2018

February 27, 2018

In March of every year, the Women Leader International Forum is organized, attracting the attention and participation of national and international female business community. With the theme of “Successful Female Leadership,” this year’s event has a very special appearance of a talented women leader from Singapore – Dr. Sangeeta Biswas – Founder & CEO Ayu Ayu HerbaTM Pte Ltd. She is also the first nominee of the Top 50 Asia Pacific Women Leaders Awards – an event within the framework of Women Leader International Forum this year.

Could you please introduce a little bit about yourself? (Name, job title and current position)

My name is Dr Sangeeta Biswas. I am a Cosmetologist, Aromatherapist, Ayurvedic physician, Trainer and holistic-health practitioner. I am the Founder and Managing Director of Ayu HerbaTM Pte Ltd, Singapore, a company that offers the full suite of services for the beauty, wellness and health industry. I also have a consulting company bases in Brunei called AH Consultancy Sdn. Bhd.

Dr Sangeeta Biswas – Founder and Managing Director of Ayu Herba^TM Pte Ltd, Singapore

Could you please share with us about your present business field? How was your entrepreneurial path?

My current business is holistic-health-treatment and beautification services based on a fusion of Ayurvedic methods and scientific technology. Ayu Herba’s activities involve manufacturing products, offering consultations and advice on treatments, spa management, and training.

I am a visiting trainer for LCICI (UK), and a consultant and advisor for an eco-sustainable medicinal-tree plantation project.

On my entrepreneurial path, I am blessed to have made several good friends, and have met many business partners, some of whom are also now good friends. These people have been an invaluable source of support, ideas and even business collaboration on my entrepreneurial journey.

What is your business philosophy? What are the advantages/strengths of your company in the market?

My business philosophy is to conceptualize from the best of traditional and modern products and services to come up with superior products that serve humanity. A crucial part of this has been to provide education and training to women seeking empowerment, independence and support.

The advantages/strengths of Ayu Herba in the market are in combining the ancient science of Ayurveda and modern technology to restore and maintain the harmony of body, mind and spirit to provide holistic solutions. Using the gift of natural products as our base, we continue to strive for knowledge and innovative solutions to ancient problems.

Could you please share some difficulties that you had to face in business, and how you overcame them?

When I started expanding my business in a new country and environment, some of my biggest challenges were to understand the local culture, local ways of doing things, and local systems and procedures. Training people was also a challenge.

I overcame many challenges by learning to network and finding local partners I could work with, relieving much of the burden of my business. Therefore, today I believe that networking is essential for expanding your business internationally.

Could you name some achievements that both individuals and companies have gained in your business? What are your contributions to community and society?

I am the principal contributor to the publication for Junior Secondary Education, Open University (Dhaka, Bangladesh) and CAMPE’s textbook (Beauty Culture), and the presenter/resource person for the vocational training CD that accompanies the textbook. The major objective of this initiate was to help local women — who often have to stop their education after marriage — to start a small, home-based beauty business, thus empowering them and helping them improve their family financial situation.

I was a representative, trainer and international consultant for ‘Shahnaz Herbal International’ in UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Spain and India.

My contribution to society has been training several women to become employable locally and internationally. I am actively involved with Lions Club volunteers in several elderly homes, providing beauty products and services, and with the disadvantaged, mostly the visually-impaired, training them on the Ayu Herba signature ‘Integrated Head Massage’ therapy to gain financial independence.

Your plans, intentions, for the development of your company in the future?

My main goal is to expand into South-east Asian markets, with my role being primarily that of consultant/trainer and product supplier. The world is moving to sustainable living, especially natural and organic products, and I have considerable expertise in that area.

I also have a personal goal: to take the knowledge and experience I have gained to empower disadvantaged women, to make them entrepreneurs and micro-business owners, so that they can make a livelihood for themselves right where they live in their own communities and societies. I also want to help them learn from my life and business experience.

What are your perspectives about the role of Women Leaders in modern times?

As leaders it is our social responsibility to transfer our knowledge to the less privileged regardless of race, religion or country. This is only possible when we are united as a community to support each other, especially women.

Which business areas/fields do you prefer to connect with in the Vietnam market?

I have visited Vietnam, find it a welcoming and friendly society, and feel very safe and comfortable investing and working in the country. I would like to connect with the beauty, health and wellness industry (both product manufacturers and service providers) in Vietnam. That’s where my expertise lies, that’s where my passion is, and that’s where I can most contribute business-wise — professionally, and personally.

What’s your opinion about the topic “Women and the Digital Economy” of Honouring Ceremony of Top 50 Asia-Pacific Women Leaders Awards 2018? What’s your expectation of this year’s event?

The Digital Economy affects everyone, both men and women. There is no question that embracing the Digital Economy must be a crucial activity for entrepreneurs and business owners of this age.

I expect this year’s event to celebrate the growing courage and confidence of women in leveraging on the Digital Economy to make a better life for themselves and their families.

According to WL Magazine