You don’t have to be rich to give back

Suresh Kanotra, managing director Sheffield Africa. PHOTO| COURTESY

How would you describe yourself?

I am a son of a refugee from Pakistan who settled in India. I grew up in various cities in India and had my first job in New Delhi. My ambition was to be a successful entrepreneur. Though I have been employed thrice, I have always seen myself as an entrepreneur.

 

Starting out for you was not easy, what lessons did you get from this about life?

I learnt that at the beginning, it is not usually about the money, rather, about building relationships and a strong robust brand. When I started Sheffield Africa, (a Nairobi-based company that manufactures and imports high-end technology kitchen solutions) my aim was to develop a customer database of at least 25 clients who were 100 per cent loyal. From these clients, I was able to get referrals and this grew the business.

 

What informed your decision to set up your business in Nairobi, after all, there’s lots of competition here…

Entrepreneurship is about taking risks, and successful entrepreneurs are those that see a problem and have a unique solution for it. I had identified that a huge service gap existed in the food and beverage industry in Kenya, so the business was bound to succeed.

 

Any business lessons that you can share with the youth?

I have learnt that being 110 per cent committed to your clients will not only bring you big business, but also generate lifetime relationships with customers who become your brand ambassadors.

 

What are some of the key highlights of your career?

My career journey has been exciting. I started off as a trainee engineer and rose to become a planning engineer. I have learnt a lot about the various faucets of engineering, from design to production.

My key highlight from all these is being able to give shape to ideas and designs as the food and beverage facility industry calls for creativity. This has not gone unnoticed as Sheffield has been recognised as a leader in its industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

What is your view on entrepreneurship skills for graduates?

Universities often offer generic parameters and theories that are usually not applicable in the real world. Making it as an entrepreneur purely depends on your commitment, excellence and hard work, whichever part of the world you are in.

 

How did you manage to fund your business?

I started Sheffield from my savings. I had to go without a salary for the first six months, so my wife had to use our savings to cater for our needs.

The financial constraints were huge. The turning point came when we got our first big order from Panari Hotel. I wasn’t able to supply it all; the owner lent me the money on an agreement that I provide value-added services to the project.

 

What lessons have you learnt about money?

Your expenses should be less than your income. This will yield a surplus, which you can then reinvest in your business.

Entrepreneurs look at money as a seed that can be planted and bear fruit, rather than a fruit to be eaten.

 

What are some of the key business comparisons between Kenya and India?     

Providing quality products; hard work and commitment are key drivers to succeeding in any part of the world.

My experience in Kenya has been great, and I feel that Kenya is blessed with tremendous talent, and when given the right opportunities, will deliver results that are beyond imagination.

 

What lessons can Kenya draw from India, as it draws closer to Vision 2030?

Kenya has huge potential to be Africa’s industry leader in manufacturing. The simple logic to achieve this is to check what is being imported into Sub-Saharan Africa especially through the Kenyan air and sea ports, then promote local manufacturers to produce these products. This is how the Asian Tiger countries of South Asia reached their current development status.

 

What aspects of running your company do you most enjoy, and, dare I ask, what are the biggest headaches?

It is where it begins and ends. From design where our clients’ wish list is internalised and starts becoming a reality, and the end, where a lifetime relationship is established. The headaches are temporary when an idea fails. Relief comes when we create solutions, and from watching employees grow from trainees to become masters in their trade. This gives assurance that the Sheffield brand will keep thriving.

 

How do you unwind?

I travel a lot and learn. I also play table tennis during most of my lunch breaks. It teaches me to be more resilient. The most interesting book I have read is Lost Horizon, By James Hilton, which I read in my teens.

 

What is the gravest mistake that you made in your youth?

When I was 20 years, I imagined that money was everything and was motivated to be an entrepreneur to make money. Time has however taught me that the entrepreneurial journey is about satisfying the needs of your customers.

 

If a magic wand made you 25 again and you had a chance to change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Nothing. I would still be an entrepreneur with a commitment to a high level of integrity.

 

Do you have any regrets?

I wish I could have learned earlier how to give back to society. And that one does not have to be rich to give back.

And that talents and skills can be passed on to others.

 

What is the one thing you would advise a student about to graduate or one that has newly graduated regarding making it in the job market or laying a foundation for his future?

What they learnt in school was theory, in the real world things are practical and require a lot of on-the-job training.

To be successful, one has to put the ‘3 H’s – Head, Hand and Heart’ into the job and associate closely with a mentor.