Empowerment in Action: My Inspiring Visit with the Artisans in India

I absolutely love my job! It's about operational development, operations, marketing, sales analysis, and catalog creation with endless meetings!!! But the best part, hands down, is traveling to India twice a year! Nothing compares to meeting the staff and artisans in person, seeing their warm smiles, and hearing their incredible stories. The pride and joy in their eyes makes everything so worthwhile.

Of course, work is always part of the trip too--reviewing systems, learning from challenges, and planning for the future. I arrived in Mumbai on September 27th at 1:30 a.m., and I jumped right into reviewing the Spring 2025 line that same morning. I've learned that that is the best way to deal with jetlag. The excitement and adrenaline from being back in India always keep me energized!

One of the highlights of this trip was watching a children's dance class, which I did the second day. It was so full of energy and fun, and I loved it that the girls (who normally do not put themselves forward) were eager to perform. Right after the dance class, there was a Vedic Math session, and it was so impressive to see how engaged the kids were, completely immersed in learning these ancient mathematical techniques!

During this trip, I visited three cooperatives: Aashiyana, Women's Artisans Rehabilitation Enterprise (WARE), and Aakasa. Visiting Aashiyana Cooperative was moving. Even though the area they work in is cramped and faced with religious tensions, the women there are optimistic with a strong resolve to improve their circumstances. It was so heartwarming to witness their determination.

WARE is one of the oldest groups working with MarketPlace, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces. Four of the women have been with the cooperative since its inception in 1995. What really touched me was hearing about their group Fixed Deposit (CD) account that they started eight years ago, where each member contributed 1000 Rupees per month. This year, when it matured, each woman received over 120,000 Rupees, and with the MarketPlace financial management training they've received, they each decided to open their own individual fixed deposit accounts. The pride and joy on their faces as they shared this with me was simply precious.

Aakasa is a relatively new group, still finding its footing, but the enthusiasm they showed in planning the spring season orders and increasing their production numbers was inspiring. They had decorated the stairs leading up to their workshop with beautiful Rangoli and welcomed us with a traditional Aarti, applying red powder to our foreheads and showering us with flower petals. It was such a warm and meaningful reception.

I also met with each of the Cooperative Managers to review their progress and discuss future plans. The managers from Prerna and Nishchay have been working with a coach, Mahrukh Bandorawalla, and we even had a Zoom call with her. It was so encouraging to see how they had fully embraced the coaching process and how Mahrukh is skillfully guiding them in stepping into their roles as business leaders.

Our fabric, which comes from all over India--Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra--was also a focus during this trip. Hand printed fabric has so many challenges from accurate color matching especially when producing small batches, weather can affect colors, and many other constraints which is our biggest challenge in getting the products to the customers. We had a meeting with all the fabric suppliers to discuss MarketPlace's mission to empower women artisans and the need to receive the fabric on time. We learned about their challenges, but everyone vowed to communicate on time, which at least helps in planning. It was such a positive and energizing meeting!

Fall is a festive season here, marked by Ganapathi, Navratri, Dasara, and Diwali. Navratri, a nine-day celebration of community dancing, leads up to Dasara, a festival symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Each day of Navratri is associated with a color representing a unique quality of the goddess Durga. It was such fun to see everyone embrace the color of the day, each bringing their own creative interpretation. The sense of community among the staff and artisans really shone through during these celebrations.

Despite the heat, traffic, and pollution, my trips to India are always inspiring and motivating. I'm constantly reminded that formal education isn't the only measure of capability. The women's enthusiasm to overcome challenges, both at home and in the workplace, their embrace of technology, their discipline in keeping meticulous records of their work, and their dedication to planning and adapting, when necessary, reinforce my belief that women can truly achieve anything!