Kavita Oberoi was born on April 27, 1970. An extremely successful British entrepreneur and philanthropist, she has married business enterprise with a deep concern for philanthropy. First obtaining a First Class BSc in Chemistry from the University of Huddersfield, Oberoi made a successful transition from the pharmaceutical industry into entrepreneurship, marking the beginning of her broad and influential career.
In 2001, Oberoi founded Oberoi Consulting, an independent IT and business healthcare consultancy. The first major deal with Pfizer set the stage to grow and establish Oberoi Consulting as one of the leading providers of IT solutions and consultancy services to GP practices and private health-care providers. That showed just how well Oberoi knew clinical systems and business audits to attain a good reputation in the business.
Business success and philanthropy do seem very much to go hand in hand. Perhaps the highest profile of her philanthropic work was to appear on Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire back in 2008, which depicted a stalwart commitment to seeking to make a difference. She is also in the process of establishing the Oberoi Business Hub, which will support new businesses with basic infrastructural and advisory support in order to engender enterprise and innovation.
It has been an absolute delight writing about the works of this lady, which fetched her several accolades. She won the NRI Pride of India Gold Award in recognition of her success as a Non-Resident Indian in the year 2005. In 2006, HBOS listed her as one of the 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women in Britain. It came to a head when, in recognition of her huge contribution not only to business but also to charity, she was appointed an OBE - Order of the British Empire - in 2014.
Philanthropy: Oberoi has been involved with a number of charitable works. She has, to date, been associated with Martha's Oasis, providing resources to less fortunate children. She also sits on the Global Girls' Fund Board for the empowerment of women and girls around the world. Closer to home, she has allied herself with the Derby Breakfast Club in its effort to tackle child hunger in the community—a situation that should not prevail anywhere—a reflection of her commitment to social impact and changing lives.
It is for this reason that the influence of Oberoi does not remain confined to the realms of business and philanthropy only; she is very often found in the media—in shows such as The Apprentice: You're Fired, for example, through which she shared her entrepreneurial experiences—while the list of speaking engagements, such as at the Great British Business Show, placed her in the eye of the storm to inspire others through her addresses on business, leadership, and motivation.
Apart from consultancy and charity works, Oberoi has gone further in diversifying her portfolio to include commercial property and conference facilities. The foray into diversification only underlines the versatility of an entrepreneur—that amidst marketplace dynamics, she is able to change with the times and still keep the same level of success.
Kavita Oberoi's life is a sign of professional excellence, deep social commitment, business ventures laying a sound foundation for her career, and philanthropic causes leaving a telling impression on many a community. Her story stands out as a testimony to the possibility that opens up when expertise in business gets merged with a passion for making a difference.
Just like her father's case, Kavita Oberoi serves as an inspiration to both the budding entrepreneur and the budding philanthropist—to rise in one's chosen field yet still have a valued contribution toward society. For even as one stays involved in business, charity, and entrepreneurship, the name Oberoi stands tall and strong as a model of success with ultimate social responsibility.
