From Ridicule to Trailblazer: TN’s Organic Entrepreneur

P Shylaja, a resident of Sivakasi, has defied the passage of time and made significant strides in her community. At just 36 years old, she has become a trailblazer in her hometown by organizing entrepreneurship development workshops and offering free social media marketing classes to college students.
Recently, Shylaja signed a memorandum of understanding with a private arts and science college in Sivakasi to develop a syllabus for a social media marketing course. Reflecting on her journey, she recalls being ridiculed when she chose visual communication as her undergraduate course 17 years ago, as it was relatively unknown at the time. Undeterred, she pursued a master’s degree in business administration, driven by her thirst for knowledge. Today, she credits her successful business to the strong foundation she acquired during her college days.
Previously engaged in quilling and chocolate making, Shylaja later ventured into manufacturing organic skin and hair care products under the brand name Yami Herbals. She played a crucial role in promoting organic farming in her community by inspiring farmers to produce semi-finished value-added products from their harvest, which she procured for her brand. Recognizing the struggles faced by organic farmers due to low market demand, Shylaja encouraged them to diversify their offerings. This not only boosted the farmers’ business prospects but also reduced reliance on external raw materials for Yami Herbals.
Shylaja’s efforts have had a positive ripple effect. More people now approach farmers to source semi-finished value-added products, signaling a shift away from middlemen and lower transportation costs. She has supported the farmers by providing equipment like solar dryers to aid in the manufacturing process.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The New Indian Express.