Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has been awarded Padma Shri on India’s 72nd Republic Day. Other than a software company, Sridhar is known for his humanitarian work in his locality. He has started a school in his village.
On the other hand, famous Ludhiana Businesswoman Rajni Bector is also one of the Padma Shri recipients in the current Republic Day celebration. She is known for her business company Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities.
Sridhar Journey to Padma Shri Award
Sridhar shifted from the USA to India for the betterment of society. Initially, he founded AdventNet Inc in California in 1996. After shifting its base to India, he renamed the company to Zoho in 2009. Zoho has its headquarter in Chennai.
Today, Zoho services are being used by more than 60 million users. Zomato, Xiaomi, Levi’s, Ola, Amazon are the few noted clients of Zoho. Zoho has a valuation of near $1 billion.
Zoho has also launched the instant messaging app Arattai to woo Indian users. With the current WhatsApp controversy, Arattai has become popular in its testing phase itself.
Vembu believes in fearless entrepreneurship. He said that you should be fearless else you may not make the right decisions in front of big companies. He compared business with war. Vembu said that in war, you may die in the worst scenario but in business, even after failing badly, you are alive. So, you have a chance to bounce back.
On the Padma Shree award, it is a huge honor and I feel humbled. I dedicate this to our employees, my extended family, for keeping the faith.
I want to thank friends and well-wishers for all your messages that have poured in. Your support keeps me going. 🙏🙏🙏
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 26, 2021
He talked about Government development as well while speaking on January 16 in Star India Initiative. He praised the central government for bringing broadband to villages.
Business Tycoon Bector Rise to the Prestigious Padma Shri Award
Ludhiana biz woman Rajni started her business from her backyard with an initial investment of Rs. 300. Today, it has raised Rs 541 crore from the market.
Initial Public Offering of her company has created records in initial days itself. It was oversubscribed by the investors a whopping 198 times.
Centre recognized her efforts in trade and industry by conferring her the prestigious Padma Shri Award. She is one of the five Padma Shri Award recipients from her state. Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award.
Rajni feels blessed and expressed her gratitude for the government. She is also pleased that the government recognized her efforts and services.
After doing the baking course at Punjab Agriculture University, she started the baking business from her home. Initially, she started an ice cream shop and In house baking.
Her husband supported her by buying an ice-cream churner worth Rs 20000 in the 80s. This initial investment grew her business rapidly. In half a decade, her brand Cremica saw a turnover of Rs 5 crore. Soon, she became popular among the masses and her company turnover reached Rs 20 crore in 1995.
Her meteoric rise crossed all boundaries when all leading international and national brands — McDonald’s, Café Coffee Day, Barista, Air India, Indian Railways, Taj Group, Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Spencer’s, Big Bazaar, Mondelez, Domino’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut – became her direct customers buying from her buns, burgers, bread, biscuits, ketchup, dips, spreads, etc, widening manifold the horizons of her sales network.
Very soon, she joined the elite club of Ludhiana business tycoons Bharti Mittal, Hero Owner, Oswals of Monte Carlo. Today, her company has a share of 12% in total biscuit exports from India. She has an export network in 64 countries.
