Interview with Amber Chand

Continued from the VividlyWoman April Newsletter: LF: What did you discover from this experience? AC: There was a certain headiness - an intoxication, you might call it - that symbolized that era of the dot.com boom. And a bravado that went along with massive amounts of venture capital being thrown at the feet of emerging internet companies. Clearly there was something unsustainable about these testosterone driven, fast paced models of growth that focused narrowly on maximizing profit in a short amount of time. Inherent in this exhausting vision of growth were the destructive attributes of fear and greed expressed through an impatient, highly competitive and aggressive drive to succeed. The only other example of unbridled growth of this kind I could think of was cancer. Deciding to go back into the world as a business entrepreneur nine months later and resurrect the crumbling mission of the old company felt terrifying in some ways and I had to ask myself the important question: how would my business enterprise differ from this model and how would it authentically reflect my values as a mother, peace builder, spiritual seeker and global citizen. It was these questions that led me to explore the realm of the feminine paradigm for business. LF: What does the feminine paradigm for business look like? AC: I believe that in order to be successful and sustainable in the 21st century, businesses like all other organizations need to create a skillful balance between receptive feminine and active masculine principles. This new kind of enterprise needs to be decisive, action-oriented, focused and strategic (the masculine) as well as intuitive, empathetic, collaborative and inspirational (the feminine).. Its success lies in its capacity to create relationships built on trust and transparency not suspicion and secrecy. Its actions need to be infused with love, respect and fairness towards all stakeholders and not fear,distrust and callous self centeredness. It needs to value interconnectedness through the partnerships it creates rather than succumb to blind competitiveness; foster patience in achieving its goals and create a steady vision for its future, strengthened by reverence and humility. The feminine seemed to beckon inviting me to reframe the context of my business as transformational rather than merely transactional. I began to envision a matrix that would measure the company's success not only in terms of its profitability (sustainability) but also in terms of its social impact on the communities it served and the happiness that the women felt because of their association with the company. This holistic view - creating an enterprise for the good of all - excited me. Each morning, before I sat at my desk, I would invoke divine inspiration and guidance, trusting in the journey I had embarked upon, feeling the sheer goodness of the work , and sensing that my business was not a separate entity from myself but rather a deep expression of who I am and seek to be - in the world. LF: Tell us about your most recent enterprise, the Amber Chand Gift Collection AC: I launched The Amber Chand Gift Collection as an online retail enterprise that offers unique, meaningful gifts created by skilled women artisans around the world. These are talented and courageous women who are rebuilding their lives in the shadow of war, genocide, civil strife and crushing poverty . All are seeking an opportunity to earn a livelihood for themselves and their families. Through the Collection, they are able to market their products to American audiences. LF: How is the Collection doing based on the understanding of the feminine paradigm in business? AC: Today, the Collection has blossomed into a beautiful enterprise small and intimate in its gift offerings whilst supporting hundreds of women artisans around the world. It has grown steadily each year, with people from 108 countries connecting to its website and a growing base of loyal customers who are considered our Ambassadors of Peace. By all accounts, it is a successful enterprise. By valuing the feminine principle in the way I choose to run my business I have found a certain ease and grace in the process, a receptivity to each new opportunity that comes along and an openness to each new obstacle and challenge (of which there are many). I find myself trusting the sacredness of this unfolding journey, celebrating its successes whenever it touches the lives of others, and honoring the deeper mission which inspires and informs its growth. Very much like in nature, a seed of a vision is sown, watered, and with patient attention, grows into blossom. This is a very feminine perspective and one that works! Amber Chand Founder The Amber Chand Collection http://www.amberchand.com/ 413-458-5343 Love, Leela is the founder of VividExistence and VividlyWoman . A facilitator of groups and individuals for over 20 years, she is an expert in the field of body, self and soul