On August 13, 2024, the Department of Business Administration at St. Joseph Engineering College, Vamanjoor in association with District Small Industries Association, Mangalore (DSIAM) organized a guest lecture titled “ENTREPRENEURIAL TALK” under DSIAM Lecture series for MBA students in Spoorthi Hall Academic Block III. Olin Dsouza introduced and welcomed the speaker.
Mr. Vishal L. Salian, a second-generation entrepreneur, served as the keynote speaker for the event. He leads Shakti Enterprises (India) and is the Managing Director of Polyshakthi Enterprises Private Limited. For the past four years, he has been the President of the District Small Industries Association in Mangalore and has also served as a Director at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Salian started his talk by sharing his journey as an entrepreneur. He explained how he went from being a mechanical engineer to building a business that manufactures plastic products using plastic injection molding. Although he had strong technical skills, selling the products was a challenge. To improve, he began reading business articles to learn how to sell better. He highlighted the importance of storytelling in sales, saying, "To be a good seller, you need to be a good storyteller.
He emphasized the importance of gaining practical knowledge in addition to theoretical knowledge. To build a successful business, you don't need to study rocket science; a simple idea can be enough. He highlighted that a person should have five key elements to start an entrepreneurial journey: a dream, vision, conception, imagination, and delegation. He also mentioned that along with running a business, it's important to have passions and hobbies in life. He encouraged students to be passionate about what they do.
In conclusion, Mr. Salian’s lecture provided valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of practical knowledge and the power of a simple idea. The interactive session allowed attendees to engage directly with him, gaining further clarity and actionable advice.
Olin delivered the vote of thanks, ending the event with appreciation. The active participation from faculty and students showed the event’s success. Overall, the session improved understanding and offered practical advice.
