UK Asian Voice | 15th April 2017
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LCNL elects their new President
With the Chancellor – getting things done I have just returned from hosting the UK India Fintech Conference in India with our chief guest the Chancellor of the Exchequer. For the past decade as the UK Government’s Dealmaker within the Department for International Trade’s Global Entrepreneur Programme, I am responsible for bringing the most innovative young companies from India, China and South East Asia to the UK. I’ve had an unusual insight into what help they need, and a lot of success in helping them do it, so I’ve put together some of my thoughts for those of you looking to make UK connections and secure that expansion deal.
Introductions don't matter - first impressions do
I see around 150 people in person about their technologies annually. Those are the ones who get past the filtering. The vast majority fail for the following reason: n They are solutions looking for problems. You have a limited amount of time to impress me or anyone else. So going on about how brilliant your solution is, without addressing what the global problem is that it solves wastes time and let me think you can’t run a company. n Focus, be professional, be on time, remember the correct day, arrive early, set up your laptop, find the location, have my number, tell me where you are seated in advance. All of this saves about 50% of your allocated 30 minutes of fame. ONLY one person ever got all these things right when he came to meet me. His name? Peter Cruddas, now a billionaire. He came to see me at Bloomberg. Would not take no for an answer. Got everything set up beforehand without bothering me. Trust me, I interview you well before we’ve met.
Your approach matters
Sealing the deal requires patience. I will have trading apprentices who will just start trading straight away without filling in even my simple one page business plan. So they will not set a goal. They will therefore throw away a massive opportunity to
create an income because of their premature excitement. Excitement is good. I love that. But focused controlled excitement and a sure idea of the target you are aiming for is better.
Being Indian matters
Make intellectual property in India, for your Indian company. Then yes, take that company global (preferably from the UK) and sell, rent, licence, lend, franchise that intellectual property. You see if you make pharmaceuticals for an American company, it’s the company which takes its profits abroad. But then the Indian company owns the intellectual property, it takes that global and profits from it from everywhere.
The long term goal matters
Always remember to see the big picture – the busi-
ness plan, the long term goal. Being professional as a business means knowing not everything always wins. That all you have learnt before which has not won you that great deal or contract was probably wrong. Stop and ask yourself this question: are you too busy repeating the mistakes of the past that you learnt from those who never made you successful to begin with? And finally, what is the first commandment of a successful entrepreneur and company? Thou shalt be optimistic. Getting things done requires a positive outlook and a motivated mind. Find the positives and capitalise on those, mitigate as much as possible the uncertainties and negatives, and do not indulge in wishful thinking, but rather plan and succeed.
Lohana Community North London has elected their 3rd female President after a gap of seven years. Mrs Urmila Thakkar MBE, pictured, has been elected as the new President of LCNL on 2 April. Mr Yatin Dawada has been elected as the Vice President, Mrs Meena Jasani as the Secretary and Sanjay Rughani as the Asst Secretary. Vinod Sakaria has been elected as the new Treasurer and Shiru Savani as the Asst Treasurer. There are 9 committee members elected as well. Kokiben Vasani was the first female President of
LCNL and Pratibha Lakhani was elected as the second female President. Lohana Community North London has elected their 3rd female President after a gap of seven years. Mrs Urmila Thakkar MBE has been elected as the new President of LCNL on 2 April. Mr Yatin Dawada has been elected as the Vice President, Mrs Meena Jasani as the Secretary and Sanjay Rughani as the Asst Secretary, Vinod Sakaria as the new Treasurer and Shiru Savani as the new Asst Treasurer. There are 9 committee members elected as
well. M r s Thakkar was awarded a MBE in 2011 by the Queen for her services to the community in North West London. Also a member of UK Women's Association she has worked endlessly for women empowerment and simultaneously been active in helping the elderly. Kokiben Vasani was the first female President, that LCNL ever elected, followed by Pratibha Lakhani, who was elected as the second female President, 7 years back.
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1300 women set to make Harrow and Brent Glow for St Luke’s
Asian community groups are coming together to make themselves ‘glow’ with UV paint and plenty of pink at St Luke’s Midnight Walk event on Friday 30 June. 1300 ladies of all ages are expected to walk a 5 or 9-mile route around Harrow and Brent to support St Luke’s in their 30th birthday year. A group from Halifax North West London are taking part and their team leader, Manisha Umrania says, ‘I have been completing the walk over the last 5 years with a bunch of girls from work as it is a wonderful experience and it raises money for the hospice. Plus Halifax matches whatever I raise so that is even better for St Luke’s! The walk is great fun. I was really apprehensive the first year I signed up because I thought there was no way I could walk 9-miles! However you don't even realise where the time goes as you walk with friends. The refreshment stops keep you going as well as all the supporters cheer you on along the route. You get an adrenaline rush once you reach the finish line! It gives you a great sense of achievement and pride.’ Vijesh from The Masters Youth Club plays a vital part in getting volunteer marshals to help out at the Midnight Walk. Vijesh says, ‘As a club we really enjoy helping at the event as it gets both males and females involved and we really enjoy meeting new people and keeping the ladies motivated. It is a really fun night with happy faces and the ladies are really happy that we as marshals are keeping them safe en-route. We will be supporting the walk every year.’ St Luke’s would like to give a big thank you St George’s Shopping Centre in Harrow for sponsoring the event. Light up the streets of Harrow on Friday 30 June for St Luke’s Hospice. The event starts with a fun warm up and entertainment from 10:30pm at Harrow Leisure Centre. Registration is £20 until 31 May and £25 thereafter. It is £35 to register on the night. Book your team’s place or enquire about volunteering at the event by phoning 020 8382 8112 or visit www.stlukes-hospice.org/midnightwalk