Inspiring Women Award 2015 | Inspiring Female Entrepreneur | Kaniz Almas Khan

Summary

K Almas founded Persona in 1998 to address the diverse needs of clients in Taka, pioneering a corporate structure in the beauty industry. Over the years, Persona expanded to include a spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and services for men and children, promoting health and family inclusivity. The Personal Lifestyle Institute supports women's entrepreneurship, with 50% of graduates working abroad. Canvas magazine, launched to share beauty and lifestyle insights, aims to inspire women across Bangladesh. K Almas was recognized as Outstanding Woman in Business of the Year in 2019.

Takeaways

• 🌟 K Almas launched Persona in 1998 to meet the diverse needs of clients.
• 🌍 Over the years, Persona expanded to multiple branches across Dhaka, catering to a growing clientele.
• 🏢 Persona was the first in the beauty industry to establish a corporate structure, including HR, marketing, and accounting departments.
• 💆‍♀️ K Almas pioneered the first spa in Dhaka, offering a luxurious experience with internationally trained staff.
• 🏋️ A state-of-the-art gym for women was created to promote health and fitness.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A men's salon and a children's salon were introduced to provide comprehensive services for families.
• 👩‍🎓 Over 30 trained employees lead stigma-free, independent lives thanks to the Personal Lifestyle Institute.
• 📚 The training center supports executive staff and skilled workers while promoting women's entrepreneurship.
• 🌐 The institution complies with international standards, with 50% of graduates working abroad.
• 📖 Canvas magazine was launched to provide an international perspective on beauty and lifestyle, aiming to reach women across Bangladesh.

Q & A

What year was Persona launched?

Persona was launched in 1998.

What was the initial focus of Persona?

Persona was established to meet the diversified needs of clients in the beauty industry.

How did Persona expand over the years?

Over the years, Persona grew to include several branches all over Dhaka to accommodate the growing number of clients.

What corporate structure did Persona pioneer?

Persona was the first in the beauty industry to create a corporate structure that included an HR department to oversee its large personnel.

What facilities did Persona introduce to enhance customer experience?

Persona introduced a fully equipped, state-of-the-art gym for women and the first spa with personally trained, internationally skilled staff.

What services does Persona offer for men and children?

In addition to services for women, Persona offers a men's salon and a fun salon specifically designed for children.

How many employees has Persona trained and supported?

Today, over 30 victimized employees have been trained and educated by the Personal Lifestyle Institute.

What is the mission of the training center associated with Persona?

The training center promotes ongoing support for executive staff and skilled workers, focusing on women's entrepreneurship and self-motivation.

What percentage of the training center graduates work abroad?

50% of the graduates from the training center go abroad to work.

What is Canvas magazine, and what does it aim to achieve?

Canvas magazine was created to bring ideals of beauty and lifestyle into homes, offering an international outlook on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news to women across Bangladesh.