Life of an Entrepreneur

Kiran Mazumdar- Shaw

If I can build a company

like Biocon anyone
can.the first step was to
dream however big or
small..If you have a vision
big or small, al plan no
matter if its imperfect, but
if there is passion and
conviction for it success is
inevitable
-Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw,

Life
Kiran was born on March 23, 1953 and brought up in
Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, India
She hailed from a family, which encouraged her to pursue
higher education
Went to Ballarat College in Melbourne, Australia, to
specialize in Malting and Brewing Technology to become
India's first woman brewmaster.
Though she possessed the required technical qualifications,
her chosen profession was completely male-dominated
Kiran went abroad and found a job in the UK.
There she met Leslie Auchincloss, owner of an Ireland-based
company. Auchincloss was planning to start a business in
India. The Irish company wanted to establish its operations in
India to produce simple bio-products from indigenous raw
materials.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw started her professional career as

Challenges
In 1978, she joined as Trainee Manager with Biocon
Biochemicals Limited in Ireland.
In the funds for her business. Banks were hesitant to
give loan to her as biotechnology was a totally new
field at that point of time and she was a woman
entrepreneur, which was a rare phenomenon.
In the same year, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw founded
Biocon India in collaboration with Biocon
Biochemicals Limited, with a capital of Rs.10,000.
She initially faced many problems regarding funds
for her business. Banks were hesitant to give loan to
her as biotechnology was a totally new field at that
point of time and she was a woman entrepreneur,
which was a rare phenomenon.

SUCCESS MANTRA
MS. SHAW
Determination
Willingness to take risk
Talented team
Spirit of Adventure

Portrait of an
Entrepreneur
Kiran has chosen a virgin
field, leading the Biotech
industry from the fore front
Kiran has the ability to spot
an opportunity a mile away, a
kind of telescopic vision
Has given the country a new
field to develop in.

History of Biocon

History of Biocon
Founded as an brewing enzyme extraction company
1978
Exports to Ireland grew. Next, in 1984 tried to get an
alternative to Koji enzymes
In 1989, acquired by Unilever
By 1990s Koji enzymes were a success, and got an
added advantage in fermentation drugs
In 1995 foray into bio pharmas
Now produces everything from insulin to antibodies
Has been leading the biotech industry for 20+ years.
In 2004, Biocon came up with an IPO and the issue
was over-subscribed by over 30 times

Biocon
Biocon's initial operation was to extract an enzyme from
papaya.
Under Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's stewardship Biocon
transformed from an industrial enzymes company to an
integrated biopharmaceutical company with strategic
research initiatives.
Today, Biocon is recognised as India's pioneering biotech
enterprise.
BIOCON INDIA:
Biocon was founded on November 29, 1978 as a joint venture
between Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. of Ireland and an Indian
entrepreneur, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw.
In 1979, Biocon became the first Indian company to
manufacture and export enzymes to USA and Europe.
Unilever plc. acquired Biocon Biochemicals Ltd.
In Ireland in 1979 and merged it with its subsidiary, Quest
International. In 1989, Biocon became the first Indian biotech
company to receive US funding for proprietary technologies.

Awards
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is the recipient of
several prestigious awardsET Businesswoman of the Year, Best
Woman Entrepreneur
Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the
Year Award for Life Sciences
Government of India also felicitated her
with Padmashri (1989) and Padma
Bhushan (2005)
Nikkei Asia Prize, 2009 for Regional
Growth
Express Pharmaceutical Leadership
Summit Award 2009 for Dynamic
Entrepreneur
Veuve Clicquot Initiative For Economic
Development For Asia

Awards
World Economic Forum and The
Indian Chamber of Commerce
Lifetime Achievement Award
Received an honorary Doctorate of
Science in 2004, from her alma mater,
Ballarat University, in recognition of
her pre-eminent contributions to the
field of Biotechnology
Honorary doctorates from University
of Abertay, Dundee, U.K. (2007),
University of Glasgow, U.K. (2008) and
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh,
U.K. (2008).
Recently named among TIME
magazines 100 most influential people
in the world

Looking Ahead
Kiran has moved onto even more
challenging ventures of developing
insulin and drugs that can cure cancer
Diabetes had emerged as an
important area: Clinigene( Biocons
clinic) embarked on a longitudinal
research program
Launched insulin under the brand
name Insugen.

Role of Busines
Women
The role of business Women in economic development is
inevitable.
Women entrepreneurship must be moulded properly with
entrepreneurial traits and skills to meet the changes in
trends and strive for excellence in the entrepreneurial arena
so that one day every Indian woman sets an example as
Kiran did.