Prachee Devadas: Fostering Synergy
Today, women are increasingly becoming successful entrepreneurs, thanks to their education, skills, ambition and capabilities. However, despite women entrepreneurs' significant contributions towards economic development, they still face numerous barriers and challenges, which can hinder them from achieving their objectives. As per research, women entrepreneurs are often ignored when it comes to starting their venture in many emerging economies despite their sustainable contributions toward GDP.
India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru famously said: "Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves." Several factors can influence the entrepreneurial potential of women. Women's level of education and training can play a significant role in their ability to start and successfully run a business. Knowledge and experience can help them to develop the required skills to succeed as an entrepreneur. A strong network of friends, family members and professionals can help to get started in business. Networking can be crucial for women, though it's equally important for men. Also, a passion for business is significant for any entrepreneur. It takes commitment to stay the course and achieve success.
Nurturing The Dream
Prachee J. Devadas, Founder, President and CEO of Synergy Enterprises, Inc., is the epitome of women entrepreneurship. Started in 2003, Synergy grew from a small business with two employees into one of the most successful consultancy firms in Washington, DC., US. Synergy Enterprises Inc. is a certified woman-owned company that provides information technology and management consulting services to local, national and international clientele in public and private sectors.
Prachee Devadas has a Bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pune, India. After her studies she immigrated to the US in 1986. Initially, she worked for several small firms in various management capacities. Synergy Enterprises Inc., which she started as a small start-up, eventually grew into a company with over 100 employees. In spite of the presence of several other IT consultancy companies in the Washington DC area, she managed to grow Synergy successfully.
According to Prachee Devadas, the key factor for building a successful business is to have solid infrastructure in place from the beginning. Second, have the scalability and strength to bid for contracts successfully. Besides, the initial investment has to be for the long-term. Third, client-centricity is an important factor, since you need to strategise and prioritize the customer experience and aim to garner customer loyalty. Fourth, efficiency and cost-effectiveness, which call for innovative ways of thinking specifically for each client and project. Fifth, day-to-day involvement in the project or contract, making sure you build and develop business relationship with clients.
Given the fact that women entrepreneurs still face discrimination, particularly those who are not highly qualified, Prachee initially had to face bias and preconceived notion of being a woman entrepreneur. She had to break out of this mould and learn to deal with obstacles. She noticed that male business owners were uncomfortable working with a business woman. Usually, they shun women business owners unless she has a PhD or is a medical doctor, or she has an advanced IT degree. She often felt that male business owners at the outset of business meetings start off with an attitude that women are usually good only at conference management. They would not consider that they are equally competent at statistical evaluation programs or designing a highly secure interactive online training tool. However, she found that the discriminative tendency seemed less likely if you have a strong set of skills and experience, because at the end of the day you bring value to the table.
Synergy Enterprises, Inc.
Synergy Enterprises provides strategic and multimedia communications, management consulting, and information technology services to high-profile clients. Built on strong and enduring relationships, it offers technical assistance and learning, strategic communications, and customized information technology tools to a variety of federal and state clients. With a powerful blend of expertise and experience, it provides a range of public health and public education content. The company's diversity is its major strength while its polyglot staff members represent 27 countries. Whether it is developing innovative solutions for clients, or presenting in industry-leading conferences, the company has been in the forefront, with its technological expertise.
Synergy Enterprises, Inc. has won several awards and accolades over the years. It has consistently been recognised for its outstanding work. Prachee Devadas has received "Distinguished Service Awards" from the National Association of Professional Asian American Women in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2002. She is involved in "Synergy Gives Back" programme, through which she serves various organisations located across the US and other countries.
In 2010, former US president Barak Obama lauded Indian-origin Prachee Devadas as a woman entrepreneur who came to America to build her dreams and be her own boss by setting up a successful technology services company. She has been serving on The Children’s Inn (National Institute of Health) board of directors since 2018. She aims to provide children and their families at The Children's Inn emotional support, comfort and joy she received from Yuna, a miniature poodle, which had been her constant companion for 13 years. She set up "The Yuna Comfort and Joy Fund," for recreational and therapeutic activities of seriously ill children and their families who stay at The Children's Inn.
(Photo: Courtesy Company Site)
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