Loden Entrepreneur wins award in global competition
Deki, the owner of Buddha Tyres and one of the first eight Loden entrepreneurs supported by the Loden Foundation in 2008 has received the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award in a competition held by Prince Charles' Youth Business International.
The award was presented by Lady Rothermere at a gala ceremony attended by over 200 guests including numerous distinguished personalities in the Museum of London.
“Deki is an inspiration not only to women in her own country but to women all over the world”, said Priya Lakhani, the founder of Masala Masala, in her introduction of Deki. Originally from Kurtoe and after dropping out of high school and trying different career paths, she landed in an automobile workshop for many years until she discovered the gap in the market to retread tyres. The Loden Foundation helped her with capital and mentoring support to launch her business. Today, she employs eight staff and runs a flourishing business. “Our ideas must be followed by action”, says Deki when asked about her key to success.
The award to Deki was in recognition of her exceptional achievement in a business sector which is almost entirely dominated by men. Of the five awards presented during the ceremony, the overall title of Entrepreneur of the Year went to an Isreali entrepreneur, who started a business of using legos to teach physics to young children.