Entrepreneurship requires adaptability, customer focus: Bake My Wish CEO
Entrepreneurship requires more than a good business idea; it calls for a clear understanding of customers, effective resource management, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions, said Sirisha Challa, Founder and CEO of Bake My Wish.
Addressing management students at the ongoing orientation programme of the Integral Institute of Advanced Management (IIAM), MVP Colony, Ms. Challa spoke about her experience of establishing and developing her bakery venture.
“Entrepreneurship requires much more than a good business idea. Understanding customers, maintaining quality, developing products, and managing resources are essential to building a sustainable business,” she said.
She said entrepreneurs had to respond to competition and changing consumer preferences while remaining open to learning and experimentation.
Ms. Challa advised students to study start-ups to understand how ideas are converted into viable business models. Such case studies, she said, could provide practical insights into innovation, marketing, finance, operations, customer relations, and business development.
Referring to her experience with Bake My Wish, she said continuous learning and understanding customer expectations had contributed to the growth of the venture.
“An entrepreneurial mindset is useful even for those who choose careers in established organisations. The ability to identify opportunities, take initiative, solve problems, and adapt to change is valuable in any profession,” she said.
Corporate trainer and Joy Coach B. Ramakrishna, who addressed the students in another session, spoke about the importance of a positive attitude in personal and professional life.
Professional qualifications and technical knowledge, he said, needed to be complemented by confidence, emotional balance, and a constructive approach to challenges. He urged students to develop optimism and healthy interpersonal relationships.
The orientation programme is intended to supplement classroom learning with practical exposure through interactions with entrepreneurs, professionals, and academicians.
Buddhist monk Dhamma Dutta, Director, Maha Bodhi Society; Prof. P.S. Ravindra, Joint Director, IIAM; Dr. Tenneti Hymavathi, Academic Coordinator; Prof. Challa Krishnaveer Abhishek, Achala Yoga Chair Professor; Dr. L. Ramesh and other faculty members; and students participated in the programme.
The sessions were followed by an interaction with students on entrepreneurship, professional development, and practical learning.