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Mrs Lopa
Patel, Founder of award-winning Asian Lifestyle portal Redhotcurry.com,
has become the first Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of The
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) - the world's largest
professional body of marketing, with 50,000 members worldwide. CIM
has 1905 fellows with women making up about 10% of this group.
Fellowship of the Institute is conferred upon members with a proven
track record of expertise in marketing at the most senior level.
Lopa, who has
been a CIM member since 1990, attained the Institute's Diploma in
Marketing in 1991, became a Chartered Member in 1998 and has worked
in marketing throughout her career. She said on her election
"Good marketing is crucial for business success in today's
competitive environment and this applies to all companies- from large
multinationals to SMEs - in all sectors. I hope to work with the
Institute in increasing the professional recognition of excellence in
marketing."
Lopa, who is
of Indian (Gujarati) descent said of her start in marketing "like
most young Asians at the time, I chose to study a science degree to
please my parents. Although my first job was with ICI, a company that
manufactured chemicals, I sought a role in marketing from the outset."
She then left ICI to start her own venture, a business-to-business
direct marketing services company.
Lopa's second
business venture, Redhotcurry.com, is a popular South Asian Lifestyle
portal. "I was only able to start Redhotcurry.com because of
the skills I had acquired through out my career", said Lopa,
"particularly the marketing, IT and data skills I acquired
through CIM courses".
"A
career in marketing can be hugely rewarding. For young Asians, the
industry offers the double opportunity of career progression and
entrepreneurship - the industry thrives on many self-employed,
freelance workers and consultants. It has also become a more
"respectable profession" in the minds of older Asians"
Lopa added.
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