Self-belief, a sense of purpose: Lessons to bookmark from Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's inspiring journey

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a pioneer in the biotech industry, India’s richest self-made woman, recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. Rather the chairperson and managing director of Biocon Limited - the country’s largest listed biopharmaceutical firm - had her heart set on becoming a brew master, following in her father’s footsteps.

However, despite a Master’s Degree in Malting and Brewing from Melbourne University, Mazumdar-Shaw returned home to rejections, based solely on her gender. Turns out, no company was keen on hiring a woman for a brewing job.

But that didn’t stop a then-25-yr-old Mazumdar - who was considered ‘a huge investment risk’- instead it only made her more determined to prove to the world that a woman could build and run any business that she wanted to.

43 years after having founded Biocon India, Mazumdar-Shaw’s journey has become an inspiration for budding entrepreneurs across the globe. And if there is one lesson that this self-proclaimed ‘accidental entrepreneur’s’ journey proves, it’s that perseverance pays off.

On her 68th birthday, here’s looking at lessons to learn from the business icon.

Confidence Is Key
In an interview with Femina.in, Shaw - who was in her 20s when she refused to be brought down by gender stereotypes - said it is important for women to remember that they are capable of doing anything that a man can do. This top boss believes that self-belief and a sense of purpose are among the most important characteristics that women need to have in order to achieve whatever they set their minds to.

Lessons From Her Mother
Mazumdar-Shaw says she inherited her ‘fiery, independent streak’ from her mother, Yamini Mazumdar - who runs her own business at the age of 89. Her mother’s entrepreneurial journey that began at the age of 68, after the Biocon boss lost her father, is proof that ‘it’s never too late’ to start working. Shaw credits her never-give-up spirit to her mother.


It’s The Journey, Not The Destination, That Matters
Seeing how Mazumdar-Shaw’s professional journey went from wanting to be a brew master to a pioneer in the healthcare industry, it is no surprise that this business leader says an entrepreneur's life should always be a continuous journey. In a 2014 interview to YourStory, Mazumdar-Shaw said that the meaning of being an entrepreneur is setting off on an unknown path. It is the discoveries along this path that define one’s journey, and not the final destination, as that often changes with the journey.