Otara Gunewardene is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist from Sri Lanka. She is the founder of ODEL, a leading fashion and lifestyle retail chain in the country, and also the founder of Embark, a socially responsible pet supply company. Gunewardene is known for her innovative and socially conscious business practices, which have contributed to her success as an entrepreneur.
Gunewardene's journey as an entrepreneur began in 1990, when she founded ODEL with the goal of bringing international fashion brands to Sri Lanka. Prior to ODEL, Gunewardene had worked in the fashion industry in London, where she gained valuable experience and insights into the industry. With her vision and determination, Gunewardene was able to turn ODEL into a successful business, and it has since become a household name in Sri Lanka.
In addition to her work with ODEL, Gunewardene is also known for her philanthropic efforts. She is the founder of the Otara Foundation, which works to empower underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka through education and training programs. The foundation has provided support to over 50,000 individuals, and has contributed significantly to the development of underprivileged communities in the country.
Gunewardene's success as an entrepreneur is a testament to her hard work and determination. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to identify opportunities and turn them into successful ventures, and her philanthropic efforts have had a positive impact on the lives of many people. Her dedication to innovation and social responsibility has made her a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, and she continues to inspire others through her work and example.
Her Story
Her unfurling as a cutting edge designer having unveiled a focused collection of wearability and chicness that rang real and true — and very her; reaffirming assurance and certainty that everything looks good from every angle cemented her entry into the world of fashion designing. They were also joined by youth from theneighboring areas and together over 270kg of waste was collected. Those who knew her well also understood that once shemade up her mind there was usually no going back. Remaining true to the highest ideals of humanity, she inspires, educates and empowers individuals on the importance of living in a world filled with respect and care for all living beings. Their zodiac sign is Leo. In February 2010, Otara became the first woman to list her company on the Colombo Stock Exchange as Odel became the first retail brand in Sri Lanka to release an IPO.
And care we did, as the rise of the Embark brand revolutionised CSR in Sri Lanka — an outpouring of public support led to a thriving operation behind the scenes — one of rescue, medical intervention and long-term aftercare while to the public — Embark gave a new identity and lease of life to the most marginalised of urban society. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021. The youngest child and only daughter of Her father, Norman Gunewardene taught her the importance of hard work, the value of consistently striving while adhering to an honourable work ethic in all that she does.
Relationships Otara Gunewardene was previously married to 1990 - 2006. Through it all, Otara takes her role as a mentor for the next generation of Sri Lankans very seriously. Life was not smooth sailing— but the family made most of windows of opportunity. In February 2010 she converted ODEL into a public limited liability company and it became the first fashion retail business to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. Spurred by her love for animals, Otara decided to read for a degree in Biology at Bowling Green State University, Ohio in the USA.
He also became the face of Embark — the organisation and brand set up in his honour to challenge the perceptions of street dogs, and to address their health and care. Retrieved 18 January 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2021. A typical family with big dreams, yet, what set them apart was the work ethic instilled within them — a success story in itself. She exited her corporate life at its peak, taking with her only Embark and its four-legged assistants as she was determined to answer the calling that she could no longer ignore.
Perhaps economists needto invent a measure that subsumes everything, a measurefor happiness perhaps. Otara Gunewardene has achieved wide recognition in her home country and internationally. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Having completed 7 successful years of work with street dogs and their surrounding communities, with the vision of providing a better life for the stray dogs of Sri Lanka and giving them the love, respect and home they deserve. Perhaps no other chief executive in Sri Lanka can claim their being, adds as much oomph to a brand as can Otara. Following her experience in working directly with Habitat Sri Lanka to rebuild after the Tsunami, Otara was inspired to sponsor the construction of 13 homes for flood-prone families in the Kalutara District. To make an impact, she aligned her skills in branding toward launching Embark with a line of clothing that personalised the very specific loving, mischievous, independent attitude of the dogs that needed a nation to care.
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She had proved with Embark that in a harsh world, her distinct voice and a compassionate agenda could make all the difference. In 2007 Gunewardene launched the Otara foundation, a non-profit organisation which focuses on environmental and wildlife conservation of Sri Lanka. Valuing and gleaning from this, Otara learnt that hard work and self-belief were the secrets to success; I learnt to take care of myself. She is the founder of ODEL, Embark and Otara Foundation. Although the two divorced 14 years later, they have 2 sons, Kiran born 1994 and Rakhil born 2000 and continue to remain friends.
She feels a lot canbe done with the Embark in product development andbrand extension, perhaps even go international. Otara through Odel has spearheaded many causes over the years, identifying key issues and tackling them with an admirable hands-on approach by store employees and other like-minded people who believed in the brand's dedication to the various causes. Despite the emerging disconnect it took Otara six months to figure for sure she wanted to sell the firm. Realising that only further large-scale expansion and diversification in retail remained ahead, Otara sold her stake in the business she founded. I felt I had lost that balance.
Retrieved 25 January 2021. In February 2010 she converted ODEL into a public limited liability company and it became the first fashion retail business to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. Award winner, Ambassador and more she undoubtedly has placed Sri Lanka on the map internationally with her efforts covering an amazing spectrum of areas. Retrieved 16 April 2018. Around 30 participants from Earth Guardians, Climate Action Now Sri Lanka and ExtinctionRebellion Sri Lanka participated in this cause. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
On 11 September 2014 Gunewardene sold of all her shares in ODEL PLC to the Softlogic Group, to concentrate on Embark. Otara Foundation also focuses on improving the lives of Sri Lanka's street dogs via the work carried out by Embark, another initiative launched by Otara Gunewardene in 2007. The total value of the company at the time was approximately Rs 5 billion. Retrieved 28 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019. Expansionist monetary policy has failed overtwo decades to stir the Japanese economyto a growth path.
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In 1990, Otara married Raju Chandiram m. Retrieved 18 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021. The New Direction It was 2015, and it was finally time for the Otara Foundation. Illustration by Sam Weerawardena John Maynard Keynes predicted in a piece published in1930, given reasonable expectations for economic growth,that human society would be rich enough by 2030 that theywould have to work for no more than 15 hours a week. In 2016, she launched a campaign against the Dehiwala zoo which resulted in the zoo improving the conditions in which wild animals are kept. It was at this time Otara met and married Raju Chandiram in 1990.
