SHAHNAZ HUSAIN - A SUCCESSFUL INDIAN WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR

Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For The Award of the Degree Of

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Undertaken AtDelhi Institute of Advanced Studies, Rohini

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF SUBMITTED BY

MS. URVASHI GOEL JAGMOHAN SINGH 08912303914 ASST. PROFESSOR ABHISHEK CHABBRA 10712303914 DAKSHAY PATIAL 10812303914

MBA 3 - BSession 2014– 2016

DELHI INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIESPlot No. 6, Sector-25, Rohini, Delhi-110085

(NAAC Accredited ‘A’ Grade Institute)(Affiliated to GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi and Approved by AICTE)

(An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Institution)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

"I do not sell products. I sell an entire civilization in a jar."

- Shahnaz Husain

"She lives, sleeps, breathes her business. She is consumed with building a successful

company which she has done."

- Janine Sharell, Correspondent, CNN

Shahnaz Husain is the CEO of Shahnaz Herbals Inc. She is a prominent Indian female

entrepreneur, who is best known for her herbal cosmetics, particularly skin care products. In

2006 she was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award by the Government of India in 2006,

and in 1996 Success Magazine's "World's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur" award.

Shahnaz Husain is the daughter of the late Justice Nasirullah Beg, a former Chief Justice of

the Allahabad High Court. Her grandfather, Justice Samiullah Beg, was a prominent Muslim

politician of the United Provinces who later served as Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High

Court. Her uncle, Mirza Hameedullah Beg, was a former Chief Justice of India who

controversially superseded Justice H.R. Khanna to the post. She was educated at La

Martiniere Lucknow.

The Shahnaz Husain Group has over 400 franchise clinics across the world covering over 138

countries.

Also, Shahnaz Herbals Inc is one of the brand that has been producing Skin care products

'without animal testing'.

INTRODUCTION

She captured the markets around the world and now she wants to conquer space. In an

innovative move, Shahnaz Husain has started work on formulations that astronauts could

carry with them in their extraterrestrial sojourns to protect their skin from the ravages of

space travel and slow down the ageing process. She has sent National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA) free samples of her moisturizers, hoping that they will be used on

space expeditions. Shahnaz Husain is one of India's most successful women entrepreneurs.

Her company, Shahnaz Husain Herbals is one of the largest manufacturers of herbal products

in the world. It formulates and markets over 400 products for various beauty and health needs

and has a strong presence across the globe, from the USA to Asia.

In 2002, the Shahnaz Husain Group, based in New Delhi, was worth $100 million. It

employed about 4200 people in 650 salons spread across 104 countries. The Group has seen a

good growth rate in the 25 years that it has been in business.

The average growth rate in the initial years (late 1970s to the early 1980s) was 15-20%. In the

1990s the average growth rate was 19.4%. A number of awards, both national and

international have been conferred on Shahnaz Husain.

Some of them are "The Arch of Europe Gold Star for Quality", "One of the Leading Women

Entrepreneurs of the World", "The 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor", "Rajiv Gandhi

Sadbhavana Award", etc.

THE MAKING OF AN ENTREPRENEUR

Shahnaz Husain belongs to a royal Muslim family which migrated from Samarkhand to India

and later held high positions in the princely kingdoms of Bhopal and Hyderabad before

India's independence. Shahnaz received her schooling in an Irish convent and because of the

influence of her father, Chief Justice N.U. Beg, she developed a love for poetry and English

Literature.

She thus had the advantage of growing up in a traditional family and receiving a modern

education. She was married at the age of 15 and was a mother by the next year. When her

husband was posted in Teheran, Iran, she developed an interest in beauty treatments and

decided to study cosmetology. To support the expenses of the training financially, she wrote

articles for the Iran Tribune on various topics under different names.

In the course of her studies, she learnt of the harmful effects of chemicals on the

human body. Consequently, she turned her attention to Ayurveda , which she believed was the

ideal alternative to chemical cosmetics, which not only harmed the human system but also led

to the deterioration of the environment in the long run.

After leaving Teheran, she trained extensively in cosmetic therapy for 10 years in some of the

leading institutes of London, Paris, New York and Copenhagen. On her return to India in

1977 she set up her own salon at her house in Delhi with an initial investment of Rs 35000. In

contrast to salons offering chemical treatments, Shahnaz offered Ayurvedic products.

Entrepreneurship-The Shahnaz Husain Way

Shahnaz Husain uses the Ayurvedic method of treatment, which uses natural formulations to

cure ailments. She is the pioneer and leader of Ayurvedic beauty products in the world

offering "Natural Care and Cure". The Shahnaz Husain Group offers exclusive salon

treatments geared to individual needs as well as a number of commercial formulations for the

treatment of specific problems like acne, pimples, pigmentation, dehydration, alopecia (hair

loss), etc.

According to the Group, ayurvedic products are well suited to human skin and hair as they

are non-toxic and have no harmful side effects. The human body adapts well to the natural

treatments of Ayurveda while it has an inbuilt resistance toward chemical treatments. This

makes the system all the more effective.

The Group's sophisticated R&D units develop the products and put them through stringent

quality control tests. These products are environment friendly and no testing is done on

animals. All the products offered by the group are entirely natural and carry the guarantee of

purity and safety. Shahnaz offers a wide variety of over 400 products for all age groups and

for a variety of problems.

She uses natural ingredients - fruits, flowers, herbs, vegetables, honey, - as the base for most

of her products. More complicated and exclusive treatments using gold and pearls have also

been developed. Shahnaz has recently launched the Oxygen Range with an Oxygen cream, an

Oxygen mask and facials using ingredients which breathe life into the skin and revitalize it.

The Shahnaz Husain Group has two R&D units and a herb and flower farm near Delhi. A

degree of quality control is exercised at every stage of the product development, right from

the raw material stage to the end product. Various methods of soil culture and cultivation are

followed to improve the quality of the final product. The extraction of essential oils and

decoctions, infusions, powders and tinctures, is carried out using the latest technology.

All the procedures are carried out in accordance with the Ayurvedic system. Shahnaz

believes that high quality is ensured only by the rigid exercise of control at every stage of

production. In spite of the huge size of her business and the wide variety of products she

deals in, Shahnaz Husain has never advertised. She has relied entirely on word-of-mouth

publicity to make her products known to customers.

She believes that a satisfied customer is the best form of advertisement. Before Shahnaz

Husain entered the retail market, her clinics were the only outlets for her products. By the

1990s, the range and popularity of Shahnaz products had increased so much that her products

were carried by most of the big retail stores in India and abroad.

She has been able to achieve growth due to the quality of her products and the result-oriented

treatments she offers. She commented, "I have relied only on clientele feedback, based on

clinical treatments and this is what has made the ranges truly unique and result oriented." In

1977, when she returned to India, she set up a parlor at her home in New Delhi. She had then

put up a banner with her qualifications on it.

Within days she was booked for the next 6 months. She said, "I removed the banner and since

then I have never advertised. I have let my products speak for themselves." Shahnaz was

disturbed by the fact that India was not represented in any of the Global beauty forums of the

world beauty congresses. Deciding to change this situation, she represented the country for

the first time in the CIDESCO1 beauty congress in the late 1970s.

"It was my aim to get India on the world beauty map as I felt terrible about the fact that India

was never represented at any world beauty congress," said Shahnaz. She was appointed

President for the day's proceedings at the congress and she used this opportunity to focus the

world's attention on Ayurveda.

THE TURNING POINT

The turning point in her business came when she represented India at the Festival of India in

1980. Her team was given a counter in the perfumery section of Selfridges in London. She

managed to sell her entire consignment in 3 days and also broke the store's record for

cosmetics sales for the year. As a result, she was offered a permanent counter in Selfridges.

Shahnaz was the first Asian whose goods were retailed by the the Galeries Lafayette in Paris.

Although it was not easy to enter the highly competitive western markets and especially

difficult to attract attention to the Indian system of Ayurveda, she was able to gain a firm

foothold in the markets. Shahnaz Husain products are sold at many prestigious stores around

the world such as Harrods and Selfridges in London, the Galeries Lafayette in Paris,

Bloomingdales in New York, the Seibu chain in Japan and Sultan Stores in the Middle East.

Her products are also carried by other exclusive outlets in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Shahnaz Husain has used the franchising mode to expand her business in India and abroad.

She has a large network of over 600 franchises and associate clinics around the world.

All the franchisees are required to undergo training in specialized treatments at Shahnaz

Husain's school of beauty therapy. All franchisees obtain the right to use the Shahnaz Husain

name and her specialized treatments and are allowed a 30% profit margin on the sale of

Shahnaz Husain products. In 2002, the Shahnaz Husain Group obtained distributor rights for

Australia, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands.

Distribution channels were first set up in the major cities of Australia, and later in New

Zealand and Fiji. This was followed by the setting up of herbal clinics, first in Sydney and

later in other Australian cities, New Zealand and Fiji by the first half of 2003.

The Shahnaz Husain Group has about 40 distributors and more than 600 sub distributors all

over India. The Group sells not only in the cities but also in the small towns. In addition, the

Group owns about 20 clinics and outlets in New Delhi. All other outlets are run on the

franchise system. The Group does not make any financial investment in its franchises, nor

does it have any share in their profits.

DIVERSIFICATION

The Group has diversified into Ayurvedic centers for Panchkarma, Dhara and Kerala

massage.

It has also set up two Shahnaz Husain Ayurvedic Health Resorts, one near Delhi and another

in collaboration with the Hyakumata group of Japan in the US island of Saipan. These resorts

which can accommodate about 200 people at a time, aim at providing urbanites treatments

and programs designed to counteract the stress of modern life. The Group has also been

holding discussions with major five star hotels in New Delhi and New York to set up health

spas. Shahnaz Husain products normally cater to the premium end of the market and are

rather expensive. Shahnaz justifies the price citing quality, purity and high excise duties as

the reasons. In 2002, however, she developed a product for the mass market, a Fairness

Dream Cream, priced at Rs 68 for 50gms.

This product will not only be advertised (unlike her other products), it will also be

made widely available through all sorts of retail shops and even at railway stations. She

claims that she has always wanted to create a product for the masses and the R&D deparment

had been on the job since 1995 to create such a product.

The group has also launched a line of herbal drinks under the brand name Fitness Fiesta

Shadrink. These drinks are low calorie, cooling drinks to be consumed in the summer. The

drinks are based on rose and khus (poppy seeds) extracts and contain essential nutrients,

vitamins and minerals which nourish the body and help purify the blood. Shahnaz's love for

animals prompted her to introduce a special range of ayurvedic products for pets – Shapet.

This range includes hair care balms, anti-tick hair cleansers, talcum powder, anti-scabies skin

oil, antiseptic balm, and anti parasitic lotions Shahnaz believes that chemical products and

pesticides destroy the natural luster and health of the animal's coat. Natural products not only

prevent this but also help soothe and cure infections.

TRAINING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS

Seeing the need for internationally recognized institutes that offered professional training in

beauty, Shahnaz Husain set up Woman's World International. This was started at a time when

people who wanted to train in beauty treatments and therapy could only get apprenticeship

training. The institute which is affiliated to ITEC, U.K3 offers training in cosmetic therapy

and combines theoretical knowledge with practical training. Students study physiology and

the human anatomy to understand the scientific principles of beauty and become familiar

with the major systems of the human body. They are taught the practical skills of massage

and make-up under the expert guidance of a qualified therapist. They also learn the use of

various skin and hair gadgets. In addition, they study nutrition, weight control and exercise.

Students are also given basic training on setting up and running salons and maintaining

hygiene.

In addition, they learn communication skills and general business management skills. The

institute has branches in New Delhi, Mumbai and Noida. Shahnaz later started the Men's

World International because of the demand for men trained in beauty treatments. These

institutes offer Diploma Courses and Post Graduate Courses in beauty and cosmetic therapy.

They also offer refresher courses and courses on personal grooming.

The Shahnaz Husain Ayurvedic Centre for Panchkarma, Dhara and Kerala Massage also

imparts training in these traditional disciplines. Students are taught the Ayurvedic system of

"Tridosha" for identifying ailments. A qualified Ayurvedic doctor conducts these classes.

Shahnaz has also started 'Shamute', a free training school in cosmetic therapy for the speech

and hearing impaired. The training they receive in this school helps them lead a self-reliant

and purposeful life despite their handicap. Even after they qualify as beauticians, they are

offered guidance and advice throughout their career.

LESSONS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Shahnaz Husain has acquired worldwide recognition. Her dedication and relentless hard work

have paid off and she heads a Group which is the largest of its kind in the world.

"It is important to have a dream and to believe in the magic of your dreams" says Shahnaz,

who has been able to convert her own dream into a business worth millions of dollars.

Shahnaz believes that a true entrepreneur is a person who has independence of spirit. "One

should be innovative, dynamic and willing to try every avenue towards success." She does

not look on her work as a career. It is more like an obsession and the sole purpose of her

existence.

Shahnaz says that to succeed, one must never give up and never stop trying. "I always feel I

have another mountain to climb and another frontier to cross. I never rest on my laurels." She

puts in 18 hours of work and diverts all her energies into her company. Her business acumen

and untiring efforts combined with excellent products she creates have made the Shahnaz

Husain Group the undisputed leader in the market for Beauty Products and Natural Remedies.

MAJOR AWARDS WON BY SHAHNAZ HUSAIN

Awards Received from International Organizations

The American Biographical Institute, USA, has nominated Shahnaz Husain as the

“Outstanding Woman of the 20th Century.” She won the institutes “2000 Millennium

Medal of Honor,” the century's most notable medal commemorating extraordinary

achievement in the last 100 years.

In 1996, she received the “Arch of Europe Gold Star for Quality” in Spain.

She was the first woman in the 105-year history of the US based SUCCESS magazine

to win the “World's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur” award. The award committee

described her as the kind of personality every woman in the world would love to

emulate.

The US based National Foundation for Women Business Owners, in association with

IBM, selected Shahnaz Husain as “One of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the

World” in 1997.

“The Global Quality Management Award” for commitment to the principles of total

quality management, was bestowed on her in 1997 by the Global Quality

Management Institute.

In 1999, the Shahnaz Husain Group was given the International Golden America

Award for “Quality and Excellence.”

Awards Received in India

The Government of India “Woman of the Year 1986 Udyog Ratan Award” for

promoting Indian exports.

“The Gold Award for Woman Entrepreneurs” in 1988 for putting India on the world

cosmetic map.

The “Bharat Nirman” award, 1989, for her contribution towards beauty culture.

The “Indira Priyadarshini” award for contribution towards national causes, 1989.

The “Rajiv Gandhi Sadhbhavna Award,” 1995 for promoting Ayurveda and Herbal

care.

“Gem of Alternative Medicine,” given by the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine,

Kolkata, in 1996.

The “Priyadarshini Award” given by the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, 2000.

THE SHAHNAZ HUSAIN PRODUCT RANGE

Sun control products This range seeks to protect the skin from the harmful effects of

ultraviolet rays and prevent problems like burning, ageing and drying. This range has 2

products—Shascreen and Shablock.

Man Power This is an exclusive range for men providing treatments and solutions to

problems of skin, hair and body. Shazema, Sharose, Shabase, Shalife, Shablem, Shaclove,

etc. are some of the products of this range.

Teen Collection This product range is aimed exclusively at teenagers and young

clients. The products in this range are designed to protect and maintain the natural balance

and youth of delicate skins. Shaclear (anti pimple), Shamoon (cleanser), Sharose and

Shagrain are neem based creams that protect young skin.

24 Carat Nature's Gold The Shahnaz Husain group has developed exclusive

treatments using gold, which is one of the softest and most absorbent of all metals. Gold

treatments make the skin more resilient and youthful. Under this range are offered Skin

Radiance Gel, Skin Radiance Foundation, and Shahnaz Husain's 24 Carat Nature's Gold

Beautifying Mask.

Precious Pearls The powder of natural pearls is used in these formulations to help

lighten skin gradually and achieve an even tone. The Precious Pearls Naturally Whitening

Rehydrant Moisturizing Cream influences the skin at the cellular level, rejuvenating it

and improving its natural functions.

Touch of Silk The Touch of Silk Beauty Fluid is a greaseless silky formula used to

hydrate and rejuvenate the skin and protect it from moisture loss.

Honey Health Honey, which is rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes, is used as a

powerful dehydrant and healing agent in combination with other extracts. Some of

Shahnaz's honey based products are: Ayurvedic Face Cleanser, Ayurvedic Freshness

Lotion, Ayurvedic Rehydrant Milk, Flower Power Ayurvedic Honey Intensive Cream,

Ayurvedic Mud Mask, etc.

Aroma Therapy Aroma therapy uses essential oils and their odors to alleviate stress and

assist healing. These oils are obtained from plants, herbs, woods, seeds and resins. Aroma

Therapy does not heal directly, but assists in the healing process and eases certain

conditions. This range includes Aroma therapy Oils, Muscle Relaxant Oils, Shapeace (a

relaxant) and other natural oils and extracts (anti cellulite).

Veg Power This range uses vegetable to protect and heal. Products in this range:

Ayurvedic Care Lotion, Intensive Moisture Surge, Ayurvedic Night Nourisher.

Bio Originals This range consists of neem based products for protecting the skin and

scalp: Neem Skin Nourishing Cream, Neem Under Eye Treatment Gel, Neem Antiseptic

Face Cream, Scalp Cleanser and Conditioner, Hair Treatment Oil, etc.

Flower Power Flower power is a range of floral remedies. This range contains highly

specialized formulations to cure and correct various problems. Some of the products in

this range are Egyptian Lotus, White Water Lily, Marigold, Morning Glory, Himalayan

Musk Rose, etc.

Himalayan Herb These are ancient formulations known for their anti ageing properties.

Products in this range: Ayurvedic Night Cream, Snow Day Cream, Face Treatment

Cream, Ayurvedic Rehydrant Lotion.

Herbal Make-Up The Shahnaz Husain range of herbal make up offers a wide range of

beauty aids made of natural products. Shaeyes (kajal), Shaline, Shaheal (concealer),

Shalips (lipsticks), Shadust (talc), Shabride (sindoor), etc. are some of the beauty aids in

this range.

Shahnaz Herbal Ayurvedic range This range contains cleansers, moisturizers,

nourishing creams, herbal masks, eyecare products and special treatment products for

specific problems like acne, pimples, blackheads, spots, pigmentation, burn marks, etc.

THE SHAHNAZ HUSAIN BEAUTY SCHOOLS

Shahnaz Husain is the pioneer and leader of professional beauty training in India. She started

her beauty training school (previously known as Woman’s World International) nearly four

decades ago, at a time when only apprenticeship training was available. She realized the need

for a comprehensive professional training programme, comprising of both theory and

practice. The vision of providing quality education across the globe has seen the Beauty

Academy expanding to nearly 75 beauty training schools in India and abroad. Since the

Shahnaz Husain brand is globally recognized, students have been coming from abroad to

study and acquire the valued Shahnaz Husain Diploma.

With the fast growth of the beauty business, there is a corresponding demand for

professionally trained personnel. Shahnaz Husain’s academy has been fulfilling this demand

through their globally acclaimed courses.

Shahnaz Husain’s Beauty Training Academy offers comprehensive professional Diploma and

Post-Graduate Courses, opening up lucrative career opportunities. The courses equip the

student with expertise in all aspects of beauty care and in highly specialized premium

treatments.

CONCLUSION

Shahnaz Husain`s journey as an entrepreneur is a great inspiration for all the young

entrepreneurs and start-ups ventures. Shahnaz Husain is one of the rare and few first

generation women entrepreneur, pioneer, visionary and an innovator, who introduced a totally

new concept of Ayurvedic Care and Cure worldwide. She created a brand with universal

appeal and application. Shahnaz Husain`s brand found place in the international market for

Ayurvedic beauty care. In a world ridden with environmental degradation, Shahnaz Husain

ventured into the world of nature and its healing powers, taking the Indian herbal heritage of

Ayurveda to every corner of the globe with a crusader’s zeal.

When Shahnaz Husain was in Chennai recently for an assignment, she was candid in her

utterance when questions were thrown to her. The pioneer of Ayurvedic beauty care has

achieved unprecedented international acclaim for her practical application of Ayurveda, the

ancient Indian system of herbal healing. Just when there was a worldwide “back to nature”

trend, Shahnaz Husain recaptured an ancient herbal system and made it relevant to modern

demands.

Ms Husain explained how a person can get younger day-by-day by maintaining his or her

health in a phased and fine-tuned manner. It was indeed not surprising seeing the ever agile

Shahnaz who adopted the principle of Ayurveda, based on an integrated system of clinical

treatments and product ranges, almost four decades ago. In fact, her career has been a

constant search for a better alternative. After all, she firmly believed that there is a room for

improvement.

The suave and soft-spoken, Shahnaz’s study of Ayurveda, the Indian holistic system of herbal

healing, strengthened her faith in nature after finding that it could offer the ideal answers to

protective, preventive and even corrective cosmetic-care. What started as a young women

entrepreneur`s dream is today one of the biggest brand in the cosmetic care space, the

Shahnaz Husain Group. Shahnaz Husain is the CEO and the Brand Ambassador of the group.

Today, the group has a chain of over 400 franchise clinics, shops, schools and spas

worldwide, as well as ayurvedic formulations for skin, hair, body and health care covering

almost 138 coutries. Her journey, from one herbal clinic to a worldwide chain, is one of

unprecedented success. What started as a small business at home at a time when internet was

unheard of, went on to become one of the greatest brands across the globe in the ayurvedic

care segment.

Shahnaz HussainThe Group has also gone global with some of its other ventures like the

Shahnaz Husain Forever Beautiful lifestyle shops, Beauty Training Institutes, Ayurvedic

entres and Shahnaz Husain Ayurvedic Spas, all based on her franchise system. The

bubblingly enthusiastic lady recently extended her base in the UK, by opening two more

franchise salons in London, in Finchley and Middlesex, as well as a Shahnaz Ayurveda

Aesthetic Clinic on Harley Street. The Group’s international presence is gaining further

momentum. TESCO, the largest retailer of UK will sell Shahnaz Husain herbal products

across all its stores. According to Shahnaz Husain, “Our alliance with TESCO will help to

reach a larger section of society in the UK. We are expanding our footprints across the globe.

We will take Ayurveda and Brand India to more countries within a year,” she asserts

confidently.

The company is expanding rapidly and is entering Saudi Arabia, Israel, Myanmar and

Bangladesh, targeting revenue of Dollar 10 million from these countries during this year. The

Group also plans to tap the niche segment in the US, where there is an increasing interest in

alternative therapies. The Group also participated in COSMEXPO – 2009 at Cairo, Egypt in

March, 2009, where Shahnaz Husain was Chief Guest and Cosmoprof in Italy, the biggest

worldwide event in the beauty sector.

Born into a conservative family, the mild-mannered Shahnaz says, “I had to comply with

existing traditions and was married at a tender age of 15 and become a mother by the time I

was 16. I trained for ten years to keep abreast with the developments in cosmetic therapy and

cosmetic chemistry, at leading institutions of the West, like Helena Rubinstein, Swarzkopf,

Christine Valmy, Lancome and Lean of Copenhagen.” Adopting the principle of “Care and

Cure,” she set up her own herbal clinic, at her residence, with very little capital investment,

formulating products for skin, hair and body care, based on the ayurvedic system and

developing clinical treatments for specific problems. Her formulations and treatments have

become breakthroughs in natural beauty care.

Shahnaz’s success, as she avers, in the international arena, in the face of great odds, is itself

phenomenal. Financial constraints and closed doors did not deter her from achieving her

cherished goal with flying colours.

Did fighting a lone battle in competing with the biggest brand names in the international

markets, where billions of dollars are spent on advertising and packaging affected her

confidence, morale and enthusiasm?

“I always have complete faith in my own abilities and with invincible belief in Ayurveda, I

allowed my products to speak for themselves”, she replied with a smile on her face, adding “I

sold a 5000-year old civilization in a jar.”

Some of Shahnaz`s greatest entrepreneurial achievement include Padma Shri Award – First

entrepreneur person from the beauty sphere to receive the coveted Award. Ms Husain’s other

international awards include the Arch of Europe International Gold Star in Madrid, Spain, the

Quality Excellence Award in Geneva, Cannes and London, Golden America Award in New

York, the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award in London, Woman of the Millennium

Award in USA, Woman of the Year Award from the Governor of California, USA and the

WQC International Star Award in Paris in November 2007 and Leonardo da Vinci Diamond

Award by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, U.K.

Ms Husain’s innovations and spirit of enterprise are well matched. Never losing sight of the

basic nature principle and Ayurveda, her contribution to her field is unprecedented. Through

her career, regular columns and books, she has created an awareness of the dangers of

chemical treatments that has influenced minds and market demands. Her career is a portrayal

of how she has translated her ideas into reality, living life by her values and unique

philosophy. Her profound knowledge of natural care, her rare energy and vitality, as well as

her faith in her own abilities, make it a story of a woman who dared to dream and succeeded

beyond success. Indeed, Shahnaz Husain has become a legend in her own lifetime, while her

organization, Shahnaz Herbals, is a magnificent expression of her dreams, hopes and

aspirations.

Is it not the time for other entrepreneurs to emulate her in their chosen profession? “There is

nothing which cannot be learnt or done,” concludes Shahnaz in her own inimitable style, as

she signs of for the day”

REFERENCES

1. Shahnaz Husain Brand Heads Down Under, The Hindu Business Line, October, 1, 2002 

2. The Beauty of Business, Hindustan Times, November 17, 2002

3. Courting the Stars, www.asiaweek.com 

4. The Profile of a Tireless and Dedicated Entrepreneur, www.franchiseindia.com

5. A Scent of a Woman Entrepreneur, www.imagesfashion.com

6. Herbal Queen Shahnaz Husain, www.fashionindia.net

7. Janine Sharell, Princess Runs Royal Size Cosmetics firm, www.cnn.com

8. Sharmila Chand, The Magic of Dreams, www.lifepositive.com

9. www.shahnaz-husain.com

10. www.theasianoutlook.com 

11. www.ayurveda-herbs.com