Anisha Mistry
As a child I faced many challenges and had to face the reality of many situations that crossed my path.
As a result of those life changing situations I realised that I came across an interest, a hobby or a career some might say that I intended to pursue. I knew as well as my teacher at high school and college that my one focus in life was to study food and the industry surrounding it. I always knew I wanted to start my own business and was always finding myself bouncing business ideas instead of working during lessons.
At some stage of my final year at university, you know dissertations, presentations, project work, labs; burning the candle at both ends I went ahead and realised that this was the only chance I was going to have to pursue my dream. However through all the work it was hard enough finding the time to cook traditional home cooked food, without taking the time to prepare everything.
And so it struck me, why was I wasting my time preparing a meal from scratch when I should have been spending that time studying. Wasn't there a way I could have my home cooked Guajarti food in a quick and practical way? That was healthy and easy to cook too?
It was decision time and remembering all that I learnt on my placement and the time I took out to research my idea that all the answers came rushing to me at once and I found that I know many people who have trouble cooking traditional Gujarati foods easily and what I do is make 3 spice mixes with a practical, easy to follow 3 step method so that it encourages people to cook with great tips and guidance, which means this helps to fire the imagination of a basic cook.
I was so eager to pursue this idea through that I went to get help from the Sheffield Hallam Enterprise and lecturers on the course that I was studying (Food Marketing Management) and was very fortunate enough to get the help of a mentor; Christina Trindade, who helped to transform my idea into reality.
Nevertheless I have got there in the end and many people seem to love the idea of making traditional Gujarati food so easily.
I've learnt that as we go through life we learn from experience and find out our own style. It's only by stepping outside of our comfort zones, risking rejection and discomfort and trying new things that opportunities to succeed arise.
"Working with Anisha has been an absolute pleasure, she has real determination, ambition, creativity and a head for business. She is one of the most entreprenurial young women I have met and I have no doubt that she will become an household name when her products reach the stores and she launches her fantastic cookbook" Christina Lima Trindade, co-founder Entrepreneurs Ladder/Working Woman.