This June I will be featured in FUSIA magazine. For those that may not get a chance to see my interview in print, I have reproduced it below.
Any person can buy a business, it takes an entrepreneur to create a business.
No one knows this better than Syerah Virani, Editor-in-Chief & CEO of MyBindi.com. When Virani acquired MyBindi.com from its founders in late 2005, it was just another website and one that was in decline. Since then, Syerah Virani quit her bay street law practice and she has transformed MyBindi.com from a website to a thriving online community which is now a go-to destination for everything from event listings, wedding planning, parenting tips to recipes!
In this issue, Syerah speaks to FUSIA about her passion, her vision and what it means to be a Zentrepreneur!
You call yourself a Zentrepreneur. What distinguishes you from other Entrepreneurs?
Any entrepreneur can create wealth; it takes a Zentrepreneur to also create a fulfilled life. Zentrepreneurism is when you create a business that is built on the principles of compassion and generosity and not just profit.
MyBindi`s first and foremost mandate is the advancement of the South Asian community and recognizing the talents and achievements of its members. I left India twenty years ago but am passionate about my cultural heritage. MyBindi is a manifestation of that passion. It aims to be the platform that brings together all aspects of South Asian arts, entertainment and lifestyle. Our greatest achievement is the strength of our community alliances and partnerships
Even the team that works at MyBindi is driven by passion and not by money, fame or glory. Profits do follow but that`s not what drives decision-making or the morale at the company.
Zentrepreneurs make choices that ensure that their personal growth is not sacrificed for the growth of their business. As their business grows, they consistently seek out ways to foster growth among their clients and enrich the lives of everyone that interacts with their product or service.
Do you miss being a Bay Street lawyer?
I enjoyed being a lawyer but it’s what I do at MyBindi that gets my juices flowing and brings a certain shine in my eyes. That is passion! I don`t miss Bay Street. Of course, I could never stop being a lawyer though. I still practise as sole practitioner and now help small businesses that are starting out on their own. I work with new and aspiring entrepreneurs on developing their own strategy for success.
What other projects do you have on the go?
My greatest passion right now is working with new entrepreneurs and help them chart their own path to success. I run coaching programs and workshops where I work with business owners individually and in small groups. I am also working on a book which I hope to release in the fall of 2010. You can check out more information at www.zentrepreneur.ca
How has MyBindi evolved under your leadership?
The most visible change is the site’s design and layout so that it showcases MyBindi’s large repository of original content. Also new, is the introduction of several dedicated affiliate sites such as Bindi Weddings (bindiweddings.ca) that focuses exclusively on South Asian weddings and Bindilicious (bindilicious.com) a dedicated portal on South Asian cuisine.
Our newest channel is NewBindian (www.newbindian.com) which provides excellent resources for new immigrants to Canada. We’ve also launched BindiBlogs (bindiblogs.com), which features nine columnists writing on topics ranging from bollywood and music to literature, food, wellness, parenting, politics, and relationships.
Geographically, we’ve expanded to include coverage of events on the West Coast (mybindiwest.com) and also in cities like Ottawa and Montreal.
What is your personal work philosophy?
1. Do what you are most passionate about and what you believe you can do better than anyone else
2. Get the right people on the bus to help you steer the company to the greatness it deserves.
3. Ensure your product or service supports the endeavours of your customers, clients, partners, and the community at large.
