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Creating her own brand
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Young businesswoman Jasmin Karim has fought against odds and come up trumps. She tells K. Pradeep that though it’s been hard she is now enjoying her work
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Grit pays Jasmin Karim worked her way up with just confidence in herself and hard work as capital
Those were desperate days when Jasmin Karim longed to have a brother. Someone strong enough to support the family, which had fallen on very bad days. Jasmin and her younger sister went through very hard times. It also brought to an end Jasmin’s
dreams of continuing higher studies. There were a lot of sympathisers but very few offers of help. That was when Jasmin decided to take the bull by its horns.
“It was not enough to get just another job. I had to do something on my own. Armed with just a degree in Chemistry, a NIIT diploma there were very few options before her. That was when I was advised by one of my father’s friends to step into the education sector. By then I got married and was fortunate that my husband gave me the freedom to do what I wanted,” recounts Jasmin who has a four-year-old son, Adil. Jasmin was chairperson at the SNM College, Maliankara.
Well begun
As a first step, Jasmin decided to start a Computer Aided Design (CAD) Centre. With next to no resource in her kitty, she went around mobilising funds to pay for the franchisee licence. “None of the banks was willing to help me. There were a couple of good souls, like Mr. Thangal, my father’s friend, who trusted me and gave me some money.”
The first thing that Jasmin resolved to do was to move away from her hometown of Aluva. This decision was deliberate on two counts, one “people close to her would not know even if I failed,” and because “Kochi was already mushrooming with such institutions.”
Jasmin started her first centre in Perintalmanna in 2006. “I began with four staff members and six computers. There were hardly any authorised centres in Malappuram then. Despite initial hiccups we were able to entrench ourselves firmly in a year’s time.”
Design technology
Shifting from the Chennai franchisee to the US-based Autodesk was a smart move. Jasmin also created her own brand of training systems, Regional Information Technology Center (RIT) that incorporated training in interior and exterior design, 2D-3D draftsman; advanced diploma in building technology, art and animation. “All these are in-house designed courses, with a complete syllabus, course material and regular classes. They are basically job-oriented courses. Some of them, like the building technology one gives the ITC or ITI students an advanced, broad knowledge about site familiarisation, cost estimations etc. We prepare them for a job. This we began in 2007 and we were able to provide 100 per cent placement to all IED students and 80 per cent placement for all those who trained with us.” She opened up new avenues that provided her students with wide opportunities by absorbing franchisees of Hughes, Manvish etc. She started the Gulfinfotech Placement cell, to help place local talents in companies both in India and abroad.
Jasmin has RIT branches at Nilambur and Manjeri, has taken her parents along with her, has nearly around 40 staff members and more than 1,000 students have undergone training at her different centres.
She has now diversified into the construction business. “We are not just building apartments or office spaces. Our, the A2 Associates, first project, is renovation of a heritage building at Kodungallur. We have plans for other buildings at Kottakkal. It is not just construction we’ll be involved in. In fact, we also bring together engineers, architects, interior designers under one roof. Clients can fix an appointment, like for a doctor, with a specific professional and seek his help.”
Jasmin has set goals for herself and RIT. By 2010 she wants to have a corporate office at Kochi, branches in every district, a design company in Dubai and turn it into an MNC. “I’ll do this. I’m enjoying my work now. The moment I find it otherwise I’ll stop and join my husband in the Gulf,” Jasmin says with a determined smile.
Dogged resolve
Without ample inheritances and a public face, this Muslim woman worked in the grime and dust determined to find a place in the world of business. Sometimes made fun of, or at the best ignored , Jasmin, with next to no resources , has come a long way, the hard way.
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