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Determination fosters the will to succeed

About 13 years ago, walking into ‘Khyber Food and Spices in Sandringham (Auckland), Shivani Arora told her husband ‘Kuldeep, “I would like you to buy this retail store.”

It may sound like the story of Aristotle Onasis jetting out to New York from Geneva to ‘buy New York Times’ because his wife Jackie had asked (actually she wanted him to buy a copy of the paper), but Mrs Arora was serious.

The year was 2000 and many Indians were emerging as progressive entrepreneurs.

A month later, Mrs Arora had the store in her ownership and three years on, the couple opened ‘Khyber Spice Invader’ in Royal Oak.

Food business is perhaps a part of their destiny. A Nando’s franchise in Hamilton (called, ‘The Base’) in 2006 opened further vistas and the couple purchased a running restaurant (Chaska Punjab Da) in Auckland’s Epsom, renamed it ‘India Gate,’ which soon became the threshold of yet another era of progress and prosperity.

Earlier this month, they made history for global chain in Australasia and the US by launching Nando’s as a fine dining restaurant within the precincts of India Gate.

Not that either of them planned to become restaurateurs anytime in their lives. Just a few years ago, their only association with restaurants was when he visited them to dine with family and friends. Today, their family welcomes friends at their restaurants.

Differing qualifications

A graduate with Honours in Engineering (Electrical) from Punjab University (Chandigarh), Mr Arora began his career as an R&D engineer in India and developed high-speed small DC motors used in battle tanks. He later moved to the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he worked for 18 years as Project Engineer and Project Manager for large industrial and university campuses and high-rise buildings.

He migrated to New Zealand with his family in 1990, worked in Western Samoa and American Samoa as consulting engineer, did another stint in Bahrain, before returning in 2000.

Mrs Arora augments her husband’s professional success with her own unique blend of passion, foresight, caution, planning, control and accountability. A graduate in Arts (Punjab University) and Education (Annamalai University, Chennai), she began her working life as a teacher and continues to bring dignity and honour to the business community with her ability to face challenges on her own and with her husband.

Specific tasks

Like most couples operating own and franchised businesses, Mr and Mrs Arora have specific areas of responsibilities and are accountable to each other. While the man manages finance, supplies, administration and new projects, the wife concentrates on the day-to-day activities including food & service, marketing, networking and staff.

Both know that restaurant business can be volatile and hence appreciate the importance of decision-making.

“It is not easy to manage two relationships, that of a business partner and a spouse, but we have trust in each other’s ability and integrity and understand that pressure can play on our moods and emotions. However, decades of partnership at home and business have helped us to respect and promote the interests of our companies, staff, children and the community. We recognise our duty towards all,” Mr Arora said.

Community ties

Mrs Arora takes her social responsibilities seriously, evidenced by the posts that she holds in a number of not-for-profit organisations.

“The hospitality industry poses peculiar challenges and often balancing work and family interests can create conflict of interest. I had spent more time at home when our children were small but I am now able to concentrate better on business and the community. In fact, all of us enjoy doing things together,” she said.

Mr Arora believes that just as levels of expertise and competence vary between people, men and women have strengths and weaknesses.

Gender equality

Mr Arora believes that every person has values and capabilities but it is important to recognise that differences do exist.

“It is not a matter of gender equality in business but having the right person at the right job. Both of us enjoy equal rights in decision making and running the family and business. We complement and not compete with each other,” he said.

Their children are also proving to be the chip of the old block helping them in business even as they pursue their other professional interests. Their only daughter Sonam awaits accreditation as a Chartered Accountant (currently employed at KPMG). While their first son Abhinav (winner of the Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year category at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards in 2011) recently graduated in Commerce and Finance), their second son Pawan is a student at University of Auckland.

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