From Sewing To Management: Becoming A Leader
Sunayana Vishwakarma, married with children ages 13 and 17, is currently manager of Utsaah Cooperative. Her path to this position is a story of hard work and hope. She began working as a tailor in a company when she was 15 and worked for 10 years before her marriage. She and her husband moved from Mumbai to his family village and lived there for 5 years, but there were few prospects for decent wages.
Wanting better for their 2 children, they returned to Mumbai to restart their lives. Sunayana initially joined the Sahara cooperative. When that closed in 2021, the artisans were offered an opportunity to start a new independent business. Many of the artisans were reluctant, but Sunayana was intrigued: "Everyone was scared, but someone had to come forward. I saw this as a great opportunity." She prepared for leadership by learning how to handle issues such as conflicts between new and old members.
"Today I manage everything. MarketPlace saw my potential and pushed me, and I am really thankful for that."
