In many ways, entrepreneurship is a singular journey, one ventured by a lone visionary who sees obstacles as opportunities. When that journey is shared with the world, something magical happens. Just ask Anju Rupal, an EO Switzerland – Zürich member, serial entrepreneur and founder of Abhati Suisse, the first skincare line with a social responsibility bent. In this interview, Anju opens up about her philanthropic expedition, the merits of pursuing beauty with dignity, and how through cosmetics, she’s giving people the keys to end an overlooked global crisis.
You’re a longtime entrepreneur with a number of successful businesses under your belt. How did you transition into social entrepreneurship?
“The social responsibility seed was planted almost 25 years ago, when I was visiting India for the first time. As I was walking down the street, a woman approached me and asked if I could watch her two babies while she found a place to go to the bathroom. I was shocked! It had never occurred to me that there were a significant lack of toilets in India, and that not only did people defecate openly, it was a way of life. I found myself returning to India for business later in life, only to find that nothing had changed. People were still going to the bathroom in public, and it was even being recorded on cell phones and shared inappropriately. I knew that I had to do something to contribute to a solution. I just didn’t know how. (more…)
