Women’s Special: Nikita Shah, Sigma Corporation – Financial and emotional independence

08 March 2021: Sigma Corporation was founded in 1997. The company is into wholesale and retail trade of screen, offset and transfer printing materials and machinery. Nikita Shah is a Bachelor in Commerce and she is a qualified interior designer. Travelling, paper crafting, dance and reading are her pastime activities. Over to Nikita:

I joined my father’s business when I was 18 years old, in the capacity of the second auditor and it was just to learn and support theoretical knowledge of my degree. Passion is the difference between having a job and having a career. I may have started my career because of my father but I have it because I am passionate about it. Every industry is dependent on a printer in some way or other and that’s exciting! Coming to the screen printing process, it is immensely resourceful and relevant. Even with limitations, it is still one of the most promising methods of printing.

I joke often that now I can write a book on male psychology. However, I don’t have so much of an issue that it is a male-dominated industry as much as that a man thinks that he is smarter than women! That’s a problem! I mean smartness is not gender-specific. Having said that, I don’t think this is just in this industry it’s a pressing issue everywhere and its time that this changes. This industry has always been welcoming and warm to me, so I guess it worked out well. If not printing, my career choice would have been either an interior designer or an artist for sure!

While we are talking about celebrating women, their spirit, the question of whether I would continue to be in my father’s business after marriage is a little bizarre. A man would never be asked to quit or change business because of his marriage. I run a business and that makes me extremely happy so why would I change or stop for anyone ? Life partners are meant to support and enrich each other’s lives and choices and that’s that. My business is my baby and I am never leaving it.

Harriet Beecher Stowe said that “Women are the real architects of the society.” In a world where things are changing constantly, why not be self-sufficient ? Financial and emotional independence has to be taken very seriously. Being out of your comfort zone and determined to rise is essential. We lost so many lives and so much time in 2020, with these uncertainties – empowering and inspiring other women is also the need of the hour. My father always encouraged me to save my money and have my resources well planned. I sincerely suggest women save up, take care of your health, build a network, be happy, balance your life and work hard.

Dhiren V. Shah, says, “I thoroughly appreciate our government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative as the gender imparity and violence against women in this country has now unfortunately become so normal to us that it’s no more news. Any industry will thrive when a woman decides to make it big. We need hardworking disciplined people irrespective of gender and that’s good enough for a successful business. Of course, a woman can be a successor! There is no doubt that a woman can strike a perfect balance between family and business.”