41: A conversation with Sumita Ghose, Founder Rangsutra on building a sustainable social enterprise

A conversation with Sumita Ghosh, Founder Rangsutra on building a sustainable social enterprise: Sumita Ghosh my guest on this episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast is the founder of Rangsutra - a social enterprise working with artisans in rural India. A Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship for Leadership, Ghosh set up Rangsutra with a goal of bringing about socio-economic development and inclusive growth to rural India by engaging both the community and market. But, the venture almost didn't take off because a leading public sector bank refused to give her a loan since she did not have collateral. A determined Sumita raised the seed funding from a 1000 artisans who she had worked with in the past. Today, Rangsutra is co-owned by 2000 artisan shareholders along with Ghosh, Social Venture Capital Fund Aavishkaar and Fab India's Artisans Microfinance. Sumita's ambition for Rangsutra is to be a global brand but also to show the world that there is a way of doing business, which is good for all. In India the partnership with FAB India and IKEA who have a similar value system has helped Rangsutra to grow from strength to strength. Listen to her Sumita speak about her journey. 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 "I swear by the waves of the sea and seashore, that we will change the warp and the weft of society. And this change can only happen if it begins with you. You have to be the change you want to see the world and the world will change accordingly". This song by Kamla Bhasin, developmental feminist activist and poet is the inspiration for these women artisans engaged in bettering their lives.