A trained interior designer and a single mother, Lavina Rodrigues has crossed a male bastion working on the interiors of naval ships and naval units. Lavina’s is a story that is an inspiration to every woman. A go-getter, she tells Stars of Startups what it takes for a woman entrepreneur to succeed:

On this Women’s Day, how is being a woman entrepreneur relevant more than ever?

International Women’s Day has been celebrated around the world for more than 100 years. It is a day when women are recognized for their economic, political, and social achievements, as well as an occasion to look back on past struggles and accomplishments.

More importantly, it is an opportunity to look ahead to the untapped potential and prospects that await future generations of women, especially in India.

How did your journey as an entrepreneur start? Do tell in brief about your company.

Actually, the profession chose me. When my second son was a few years old, boredom of being at home started setting in. Around that time we decided to renovate out house and it all came to me suddenly. After I designed my home, our neighbours and friends, who visited us, were impressed by the interiors. It was this word of mouth publicity that made me an entrepreneur. After that I officially did a two-year part-time course at LS Raheja College, Bandra.

Whenever I did a project, I came across situations when I did not like themes that were offered or made available. So I ended up designing custom-made themes, items and furniture. Therein I found my calling. I was trained as an interior designer and in my practice learnt a lot from my suppliers, vendors and craftspeople. Slowly, the business model changed, from just doing the regular furniture to actual designing the space.

At Innofitt Systems, we have carved a niche for ourselves with Indian Navy and have been working with them since our inception. We have worked on the interiors of 10 ships thus far and on many Naval units pan India.

In 2011, when then President Mrs Pratibha Patil came for Presidential Fleet Review, I was asked to design the Banquet Hall. That was a moment of pride for me.

Recently, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mumbai it was a big event for the Navy. I was asked to give a total makeover to the VIP Room and Outer Entrance Area of INS Shikra (Helo Base) for this occasion. It was another moment of honour and pride for me.

What challenges have you faced in this journey?

My venture initially had zero capital investment as the only investment done was my mind and talent. But after I started doing projects for the Navy, I needed startup capital. I had none. So I had to sell my jewellery and encash fixed deposits to fund my projects.

The Navy works on a credit system and there are no advances payments or part payments. If you start a project today, it takes 3-4 months to complete it and the bills are cleared months later, which means funds are stuck for a good six to eight months. But that’s how the government departments function. So liquidity is a big challenge.

To whom will you give credit for your success?

There are three persons, all of them men, that I would give credit for my success. First of them is a Naval Officer I came in contact with during my first project for Navy. He helped me understand the system, recognized my talent and motivated me to aim for bigger projects. Directly or indirectly, he laid the foundation of my career with Navy. I owe him a lot for helping me.

Secondly, credit goes to both my sons who have stood by me throughout my struggles. Every single parent, especially mothers knows the struggles they face on home and work front. Women have a lot of balancing to do both on home and business front. Plus there is a feeling of guilt for not giving enough time to growing kids. My sons have been my pillars of strength, not demanding my attention, being self-reliant while I made my career. I am so blessed to have such sons.

What do you think are your strengths?

My biggest strength is the fire in my belly that goads me to aim higher and higher. Another thing is my go-getter attitude and perseverance that hasn’t allowed me to give up.

What is your support system and source of inspiration?

The biggest support system would be my sons and staff, who have been trained to handle the crisis at home when I am not around. There is no particular way that I find inspiration. It could be nature in its rawness or some geometrical shapes, it could be anything.

If you were to mentor or guide women-led startups, what would your top three suggestions be?

1. Take short-term discomfort for long-term gain. Some people find success overnight, but you should never assume that’s how it will be for you. Usually there is a long back-story of hard work, sacrifices and failures behind every overnight success.

2. Bad times too shall pass. Tough times don’t last, tough people do! This applies to business and life too. It is necessary to keep in mind that when everything seems to be going your way, you need always be prepared for adversity. When challenges and setbacks seem to be chasing us, there will inevitably be better times around the bend provided we persist.

3. Learn something from everyone you meet. Years back someone told me the importance of continuous learning. Everyone is superior to you in some way or other. There is always something to learn from each person you come in touch with. Till today I continue to learn, even from the labourers I deal with on a daily basis.

What is that one change you suggest that will make women entrepreneurship blossom in this country?

What is very important for women to understand while stepping out as entrepreneurs is to detach their gender from their conversations and show their clients that they are committed to the idea, and let the product speak for itself. If you do that, I don’t think you being a woman would stop somebody from accepting your ideas.

I think women should be the first ones to stop undermining other women.

How do you measure success? Is it different for men and women?

I would measure a woman’s success by her ability to adapt to the changing cultures and ambiences and equip herself with skills. Every woman should be able to make transitions without losing her identity.

I feel the success of a man is rated by his ability to provide for his family and kin. I agree it is different for men and women. Men are natural recipients of the support of family, kith and kin when they choose a field to venture into.

When women find success in business, it is rarely because they had success handed to them. They have to work, not just on their careers, but also to gain respect of their male colleagues in order to advance. It is a constant struggle, not just for Indian women but for women all over the world, to overcome the inequalities and social stigmas surrounding their perceived inability to work successfully in business.

One of the key things that I discovered during my journey as an entrepreneur is when the stakes get higher in terms of money and risk, opportunity for women gets lesser.

Would you like to share a funny or memorable anecdote that was due to gender bias or happened because you were a woman?

One funny incident that comes to mind happened while working onboard a naval ship. There are no women around and it is so difficult for everyone when a lady asks you directions to the washroom — there is no ladies’ washroom on a naval ship.

That said, I have never faced any gender bias while working for the Navy as the men are absolute gentlemen. I have never known them to undermine someone because of gender. They have the highest respect for women around them — be it a top official’s wife, a sailor’s wife or a civilian lady.

The biggest example is once you are on the ship’s gangway, you are saluted to, being a lady...irrespective of the rank you or your husband holds or even if you are a civilian lady.

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