Women Entrepeneurs Making a Difference – Introducing Sharnalata Roy

Sharnalata Roy is only one of the many bold and determined women entrepreneurs who are now making their own mark in the world of business. This Bangladesh native was convinced that she could be successful with her own business opportunity even though her own family had serious doubts that her dreams would ever come true.

In India and many other countries women entrepeneurs frequently face a number of obstacles whenever they chance to dream of business opportunities. In the case of Sharnalata Roy it was truly one woman against the world and this intelligent, spirited female refused to let others dictate what her own future would be. After 8 years of hard work, dedication and personal sacrifice Roy has now been recognized as one of the leading women entrepreneurs in the world. She owns and operates a beauty salon that is named ‘Women’s Fashion World’ and this Sylhet business was recently honored as India’s ‘Best Enterprise of the Year’ for 2010.

Sharnalata Roy was married while still a young teenager. This was a common practice in her native country of India, but marriage did not deter her from nurturing her own dreams and aspirations. Although she certainly had nothing against raising a family of her own and keeping a proper home Roy knew that she could also create a profitable business if given the opportunity.

The idea of being able to control her own destiny was what kept her dreams alive.

33 years ago this intelligent and insightful woman had to plead with her new husband’s mother for permission to pursue higher education. During the next 10 years Sharnalata Ray studied Bengali literature, worked at a school and even worked in a bank. In the late 1990s she completed a two year diploma program and then she moved on with her other interests. Soon she was cutting and styling hair for her friends and family members. Those who were lucky enough to become her customers realized that she had amazing talent and skill. Some of her close friends even offered her encouragement to chase her dreams of becoming a business owner.

As a stylist she knew there was a need for her services, and she longed for the chance to put her business plan into action. If the opportunity would not come to her she then reasoned that she must seek the opportunity. Roy would open her very first Shubid Bazar beauty salon in 2004 and she even employed three other women to help her. From these humble beginnings she has successfully created a thriving business that employs more than four dozen employees. Both male and female workers have been hired by Sharnalata Roy, and many of her workers are women from the impoverished, local communities.

Roy is presently operating four different salons in India. The salons are segregated by sex with two salons designated for male clients and two of the salons serving the female clientele. The success of Roy’s “Women’s Fashion World” has made her a role model for other females in her homeland. Her business venture shows others that it is indeed possible for women entrepeneurs to establish profitable companies even when faced with cultural resistance and constraints. Now this strong and courageous individual has been honored for her work and is recognized as one of the leading entrepreneurial trail-blazers.