Shobna’s resolve

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Shobna Kishore by her pizza oven. Picture: NAVNESH REDDY

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for change. For some, the period brought pain and suffering. Others seized the opportunities the crisis provided to try out something new.

That is exactly what Shobna Kishore did – she continued to raise her children during the pandemic but also decided to delve into the business world.

Growing up in Lomolomo, Lautoka, the mother-of-three, holds a Bachelors degree in accounting and economics.

She has come a long way since establishing her home-based food business under the name ‘Tri Colors Enterprises’ in 2020.

“Cooking was always a hobby for me and my husband. We’d search on YouTube to learn how street food and charcoal pizzas were prepared,” she said.

“We thought of putting together these ideas we found on the internet and ventured into something different. We began doing $5 barbecue packs before moving on to selling Italian style wood-fired pizza,” said the 36-year-old.

Mrs Kishore said her biggest challenge during COVID was coming up with creative ideas to help sustain the business.

“In the middle of it, I lost my mother during the pandemic. Weeks prior to it, she was stuck in the Lautoka Hospital during the lockdown.

“The loss shattered me, plus I was four months pregnant with a baby on the way. Mentally, I went through a very stressful phase.” She said going through adversities was not entirely bad because it also brought with it opportunities to take risks and make smart decisions.

“I had thought a running a business. But the pandemic pushed me hard to start a food business. Unpredictable times teaches a lot of things and now my dream is to have a modern restaurant of my own.

Mrs Kishore said her motivation in life were her in-laws and parents. Her late parents came from middle-class families. They worked hard to give her the best education.

She said while she believed in the adage ‘behind every successful man is a woman’, behind her is her husband, who she looked up to as a role model for her children.

“I have learnt a lot from him and my entire success is credited to him,” she said.

“He was the one who guided me all the way.”

As an aspiring businesswoman, Mrs Kishore believes is important that she finds time to relax and rejuvenate.

Mrs Kishore finds this ‘me moments’ by exploring food recipes on YouTube and reading thriller novels by writer Dan Brown. She even catches up with the latest football news.

“I was active and participated in athletics during my high school days, however, now I am more interested in football, particularly the English Premiere League, supporting Manchester United.”

Mrs Kishore lives with her family in Lautoka.

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