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She?s inspiration for all
AFTER THE death of her fighter-pilot husband Squadron Leader Vinoo Mehta, in an air crash in Goa, Shabri pieced her life bit-by-bit into that of a successful entrepreneur. After 18 years, Shabri looks back at the ?journey?. Having been left alone in the world with two young daughters, Shabri strove hard and carved a niche for herself in the male bastion society. From being a novice to having a flagship Retail Outlet (RO-VM Service Station) of the IOC, she displayed a rare combination of grit and determination to succeed.
AFTER THE death of her fighter-pilot husband Squadron Leader Vinoo Mehta, in an air crash in Goa, Shabri pieced her life bit-by-bit into that of a successful entrepreneur. After 18 years, Shabri looks back at the ‘journey’.
Having been left alone in the world with two young daughters, Shabri strove hard and carved a niche for herself in the male bastion society.
From being a novice to having a flagship Retail Outlet (RO-VM Service Station) of the IOC, she displayed a rare combination of grit and determination to succeed.
“It was the faith in God that saw her through these major tragedies,” says Shabri.
Unlike most other women entrepreneurs, Shabri hailed from a family that was in no way connected to business. It was by chance that she became a pump owner. “I applied on the suggestion from my friends for the petrol through an advertisement,” she added. And real test of time for her started from here.
“Teething problems in installing the pump were so many that I often thought of giving up,” she recalled, but added that the support from her father-in-law kept the spirit to struggle alive in her.
The only serious problem according to her was on the financial front, specially because it took enough time for the IOC officials to repose faith in a woman to run the pump successfully.
“Therefore, even the help from the parent company to open the unit was calculated,” she rued. “I had already sunk in most of my savings in getting the RO going. Indenting was possible only through re-cycling,” she said and added, “However, I immersed myself in work with the sole intention of carving a niche for myself in the field, and I could the results in just six months.”
On what difference has she made in the business, Shabri says her presence at the pump-island for over six hours every day encourages her staff to deliver prompt service.
She feels that her boys are a motivated lot who love to experiment with new ideas and make excellent suggestions for improving customer service.
About adulteration, Shabri says she herself takes utmost precaution as regards women at petrol pumps she is quick to add, initially she was the only woman to run a petrol pump in the city but now there are several thus, the challenge to remain in the race is always there.
