Andre Shackleton speaks on how BNI Goa has become a market force and recognised as a productive marketing platform for businesses
The business landscape is always in a constant state of evolution and this is also true for Goa.
Over the last decade, Goa has seen an influx of new businesses, both large and small. It is amazing to see that these new businesses are either new industries or are ancillary to existing Industries.
The new entrepreneur is learning that networking is one of the key elements to building up market goodwill and sense of credibility with their customers as more and more people can either recommend their products or services or vouch for them personally
The more tenured businesses who have relied on conventional marketing methods have realised that, to get an edge over competition, they need to build up credibility amongst contemporaries and customers if they want to stay viable in the market.
BNI Goa, in the last 10 plus years, has grown to become a market force that has been recognised as a very productive marketing platform for businesses. Especially those businesses that are looking for that edge over their competition.
This is true even for a person like me who after a two decade corporate career chose to start my own business as a Corporate Trainer.
Being a member of a 100 members plus chapter in BNI Goa has certainly given me clients from Goa and India but also has generated business for me from overseas; this being typical for most businesses.
BNI prides itself in its ability to constantly innovate with the ever-changing market forces and disruptions. This is evident in the local market but also national and international markets. One of the biggest reasons that gives me the impetus to keep promoting this platform is not only how we see entrepreneurs start accelerating their businesses, but also under the able leadership of Rajkumar Kamat and his vision for businesses in Goa, BNI Goa has also through its outreach programs inculcated and nurtured entrepreneurship with the masses.
As part of these outreach initiatives we also encourage the youth of Goa to start business and our very own members come together to mentor and guide these businesses. We also have supported businesses that are struggling or have been hit with personal or professional disruptions.
In the last six years, BNI Goa is proud to have addressed thousands of students studying in the various colleges and universities; the focus being to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset. It is heartening to see the success of these initiatives when these very students start their own business and join as members in BNI to promote their business.
Additionally, we have also worked with the Labour Ministry in Goa to provide jobs and encourage youth seeking employment. Our members who are growing their businesses are always on the lookout for talent in the state.
Today in Goa, BNI has made inroads in all segments of the MSME sector and we also facilitate venture capitalists to come in and invest in what could be a unicorn business right here in Goa.
Our members volunteer for initiatives that range from helping the less fortunate to going to colleges and inspiring our students to think of starting their own businesses and the responses that we are getting, encourages us even more to go out there and influence new and young minds. This is the global initiative of BNI known within the members and business voices.
As an area director of BNI Goa, I am heartened and motivated each day to work with our members to not only grow their businesses but to also reach out across the state and influence how the business ecosystem will look in the next 10 years.
