In an era when young women are more motivated than ever to make a name for themselves, we often find ourselves lost in a severely patriarchal society, struggling to find the ladder to success. In such cases, finding a self-built lady, who has paved the way for generations to follow to excel in whatever field they choose, can be a push in the right direction. One such lady setting an example for us all is Sangeeta Khan, Managing Partner at Divine Beauty Lounge.
58 years young, Sangeeta currently has her hands full with multiple ventures, and no intentions to stop. Her story is one that can inspire even those who don’t have a definitive idea about what careers they want to pursue. A student of Public Administration at Dhaka University, Sangeeta juggled her education and her duties as a homemaker and mother. She had, initially, no plans of getting out of that comfortable, loving bubble she had created for herself. However, in 1989, she decided to step out, and take a risk. Thus started her journey, when she joined Singapore Airlines, where she ended up working for almost two decades.
Despite all the discouragement that came her way - what with her being a woman, with a family to maintain, at that - Sangeeta managed to leave her mark in the industry. With the help of her colleagues, and unwavering support from her family, she climbed her way up. In 2005, she ventured into the restaurant business, becoming a partner of Time Out, a well-known eatery in the city. In partnership with two other women, and in the midst of a number of other female entrepreneurs, Sangeeta learnt the tricks of the trade over the years.
It wasn’t an easy feat, however. Sangeeta said, “Whatever you do, you have to give it your 100 percent.” She had to forgo her social life altogether, what with her day job, her family and trying to establish their restaurant as a successful one. After she resigned from Singapore Airlines, she joined Regency Travels as a director, thus learning the other side of the trade as well. Eventually, she also became a member of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI). There, they committed to aiding young women interested in setting up their own businesses, providing all kinds of advice and training necessary.
In 2014, Sangeeta dived into yet another business venture, this time in the beauty industry. She had been interested in make-up from a young age, and was often asked by her relatives and neighbours to doll them up on special occasions. This hobby turned into a prospective business idea for her, and hence, she teamed up with her long-term friend and renowned make-up artist Bapon Rahman, to kick-start Divine Beauty Lounge.
Stepping into the world of beauty
This field was vastly different from anything she’d done before. Sangeeta mentioned how they had to struggle in the primary stages. The biggest challenge they faced to get the business going, she stated, was promoting it. “I’d expected that it would gain recognition through word of mouth, just as Time Out had,” she said. “Unfortunately, I was wrong.” Considering the massive competition in the field, with new salons being set up on every other street, the kind of exposure they expected did not come their way. But she persevered. “It was simple for me; I was not going to give up, no matter how much I had to struggle.” She started investing more of her time, and worked towards promoting the salon and building her brand.
Setting up for success
Sangeeta Khan’s dedication towards her work and determination to keep going are what got her so far. Upon being asked what advice she would give to young entrepreneurs, she mentioned that one should start with a proper business plan first. With that, you must have the passion to follow through. Also, complete transparency and trust amongst partners can help boost a business. She added that, in cases where you work with friends or family, it is important to keep personal and professional lives separate. The final and most important advice she had was that you must have faith in yourself, and believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to.
MrilQ products
Divine Beauty Lounge is the distributor of skin and hair care products by MrilQ, an Indian brand. The organic, vegan and cruelty-free products can help you maintain your youthful glow, just like Sangeeta Khan herself. She said, “I’m a MrilQ woman. I start my day with MrilQ and I end my day with it, too.” She has attended workshops and training sessions to fully grasp their proper uses and application. A thorough evaluation of your skin can help her recommend just the products that you need. With a wide variety of products available for all skin and hair types, for both men and women, there are plenty of packages to choose from to achieve the kind of healthy skin, and luscious hair, that you always dreamt of.
According to Sangeeta, some of the common mistakes youngsters make nowadays in terms of taking care of their skin include applying a lot of make-up without setting up a protective base first, and also not cleaning their faces properly every day. To counter these, we asked her for some tips to avoid premature aging.
Tips
• Before you start your day, use the MrilQ face pack that’s suitable for your skin to clean your face, and use the Lustre Oil before you apply any make-up or other chemicals.
• At the end of the day, it is important to cleanse your face of all the impurities it gathers throughout the day. After that, apply the MrilQ serum recommended to you before you call it a day.
• Set a day aside every month to treat yourself to the specialized care at a salon. A monthly facial can improve the blood circulation in your face, clean your pores, and rejuvenate your skin.
• Be mindful of your food habits. Eat your vegetables, and drink plenty of water – there’s no alternative to these. Avoiding junk and oily foods can go a long way, not only for your overall health, but to keep your skin healthy and happy.
• Find homemade remedies to treat your skin well whenever you get the chance. You don’t have to look farther than your kitchen to find ingredients that can assist you on your journey to youthful, glowing skin.
• Be patient. Your skin, like a successful career, will need time to improve. Treat it with the utmost care and affection, and don’t forget to love yourself!
