Page 34 - IB April 2021
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SPBD                                                                                                                                                                                                               SPBD




























































                                   MEET THE MENTOR


                      NEELAM MAHARAJ: BUSINESSWOMAN AND MENTOR

          Businesswoman Neelam Maharaj is a mentor with South   blasting, tile polishing and rug shampoo. Friendly Mates is
         Pacific Business Developments’ Fiji Bloom program. With her   owned by my sister and I, and we’re both totally involved in
         sister Neelma, she has built up three businesses from scratch   the business.
         learning many valuable business lessons along the way.   Our second business is Salon 21, a hair and beauty salon.
         Neelam talks to us about her own business journey, and her   And my third business is Extreme Debt Collectors, which is a
         mentoring of SPBD members.                          debt collection company.
                                                               Apart from these businesses, I also do farming. I try to
          Hello Neelam. Please tell us about your business, Friend-  motivate people to farm and keep things lively even at home
         ly Mates. What services do you offer?               by doing this.
          Our business is all about providing janitorial services. The
         business name is Friendly Mates—cleaning services and we’re   Can you tell us about how you established your busi-
         17 years old. Our business employs only women, and we   nesses?
         provide interior cleaning, and exterior cleaning such as water   We used to be employees before. I come from a legal back-


        34 Islands Business, April 2021
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