Shemila Tharani, South East Business Link
I work as a Regional Enterprise Manager for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Under-represented Groups with the South East Business Link in Berkshire.
Brought up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I successfully ran my own Import and Export business which was destroyed at the start of the civil war in Congo. So in true entrepreneurial style against many blockades I then started an air cargo service in partnership with a family friend, negotiating a lease of a Boeing 747 and crew from Donald Trump, to offer a 50% cargo and 50% passenger service from Lubumbashi to the capital Kinshasa, Johannesburg in South Africa and Belgium. It also meant we could supply essential goods to the war torn country, cut off from its traditional sources of supply.
I decided to come over to England in search of a safer environment, so sold my shares and created a legacy for employees by developing a business toolkit for them based on individual skill sets.
I have had a very varied career since then; working as a Gateway Director for a SEEDA Enterprise Gateway, a Management Consultant in Luxembourg, a Project Manager on ESF Funded projects bringing economic regeneration in North London, and not least a Business Adviser to start-ups through to President Mobutu Sese Seko's Translator / Interpreter, utilising my ability to speak 8 languages!
Moving to England I faced many of the same challenges as anyone re-building their life in a new location. Having been fortunate to have met people who gave a helping hand, I knew when the Gateway Director's position came up it was a way of giving something back and staying true to my passions and values. Through that role I managed to help an extremely large number of individuals with numerous success stories that have turned into well-founded positive realities.
www.businesslinkberkshire.co.uk
