By: Marisa Sanchez
Manisha Pratapsinh has always been a steadfast woman who doesn’t let age-old stereotypes keep her from broadening her horizons and being the best version of herself for her community.
She moved from Mozambique to Portugal and then France to see what the world offers. She now lives in Madrid, Spain, but still keeps the memories and experiences in her home country close at heart.
Those who don’t know Manisha have yet to recognize what her talents can do for everyone. She has a knack for determining what her fellow Mozambicans need and wants to improve their lives. And with her recent thrust into her home country’s transportation industry, the spotlight is shining brightly on her.
It all began after a phone call with her partners. Manisha worked as a specialist in civil construction machinery–yet another industry predominantly led by males. She was responsible for getting materials and equipment from one site to another, and it was then she witnessed how Mozambique lacked transportation services.
Frustrated at the circumstances, she talked about it with her partners. A few moments later, the idea to start her own bus company formed.
“Not everyone has the means to have private transportation. It was a way to meet the needs of people in rural areas regarding their jobs,” Manisha said.
Coming from the civil construction industry helped Manisha to transition seamlessly to the transportation sector. According to her, shifting her attention from one to the other wasn’t tough because she experienced the lack of services in the latter herself, arming her with the drive and knowledge to spark change within Mozambique.
Furthermore, she knew what values and skills she needed to bring to ensure her new company’s success. One of them was strategizing its operations by studying the market and identifying the locations that needed her company’s services most, especially those within rural areas.
Manisha also used her experiences living in Mozambique and other countries to broaden her view about running her bus company.
“All my employees are from my country, as the unemployment rate in Mozambique is 25 percent, and my goal is to help the community. Of course, I know people from other countries who help me have a different perspective on business,” she shared.
Her entrepreneurial spirit was coming to light as the wheels to establish her bus company were set in motion. However, she struggled with embracing it wholly because of societal pressure and prejudice brought on by years of gender discrimination.
“The major difficulty I had and still face is always having to prove that we are capable of making significant decisions, considering that women are considered the weaker sex,” she said.
Yet, thanks to circumstances that led her to meet strong, powerful women, Manisha learned to set aside these negative thoughts and come into her own as an entrepreneur.
Drawing upon her experiences and insights gained from living in various countries, including Mozambique, Portugal, France, and now Spain, she recognized the potential to leverage her expertise and resources to effect positive change back home.
From assembling a team comprised primarily of local talent to meticulously analyzing market dynamics and operational logistics, she embraced her entrepreneurial spirit with determination. Despite facing societal pressures and gender biases that sought to undermine her capabilities, Manisha remained resolute in her pursuit of success becoming inspiration from the strong, powerful women she encountered along the way.
As Manisha became comfortable in her position as a business leader, her story became an inspiration for how people can spark the change they want to see within their community. Partnered with the proper approaches, skills, and values, they can unlock a recipe for success.
Published By: Aize Perez
