Sheela Saini’s story resonates as a powerful message to countless Indian women, a clarion call for those who have shone brightly in their educational pursuits only to shift focus towards nurturing family and home post-marriage. A Gold Medalist in Mathematics, Sheela, a housewife, forayed into private tutorial, which her husband saw potential beyond the conventional. Motivated by his encouragement, Sheela embarked on an entrepreneurial voyage, establishing Sri Anand Power Systems in Hyderabad, Telangana. This transition marks the beginning of a story that intertwines personal growth with professional innovation, setting the stage for Sheela’s transformative impact on the voltage stabilizer industry and beyond.
Guiding Sri Anand Power Systems from its inception in 2017, CEO Sheela Saini has propelled the Hyderabad-based enterprise to the forefront of the voltage stabilizer industry. Her leadership has steered the company towards creating state-of-the-art stabilizers that play a crucial role in protecting household electronics from voltage fluctuations. With a dedicated team of 11 to 25 employees, Sheela has instilled a culture of innovation and meticulousness, focusing on the continuous enhancement of product design, quality, and functionality. This commitment to excellence has established Sri Anand Power Systems as a vital contributor to the manufacturing sector, celebrated for its innovative solutions and reliable protection of electronic devices.
Sheela’s father Chiranji Lal Mali was an APP – Assistant Public Prosecutor, working with CBI had transferrable job, and she completed her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya. After her marriage, Sheela shifted to Hyderabad, and contined her higher studies. In 1996, Sheela Saini graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati University in Ajmer. After her marriage, she dedicated herself to being a homemaker and a mother to three children, immersing herself in family life, from managing the household to nurturing her children and everything in between. Her husband Mahesh Saini ran Saini Semiconductors Private Limited, a business trading electronic components based out of Hyderabad, while Sheela found fulfilment in her domestic roles. However, as her children grew older, became more independent, and moved to hostels, Sheela encountered a newfound sense of emptiness and fewer responsibilities.
Sheela Saini found herself at a crossroads, with ample time and energy but limited avenues to channel them. During this phase, she started giving home tuition, a modest attempt to occupy her time constructively. Recognising her intelligence and untapped potential, her husband presented an innovative idea. He suggested, “You’re brilliant and energetic. Why limit yourself to just one-hour classes?” He saw an opportunity for Sheela to expand her horizons beyond tuition. With his background in trading electronic components, he proposed a strategic shift — he could outsource his orders to Sheela, allowing her to enter the realm of manufacturing.
With her academic background in science and years devoted to family life, Sheela Saini faced the prospect of entering the manufacturing industry with understandable apprehension. “I had no idea about manufacturing at all. It’s been a long time since my studies, and I didn’t know anything about this field,” Sheela recalls her initial hesitations. Her husband, recognising her potential beyond her self-doubts, assured her, “I will find you the right people to handle the technical aspects; you just need to manage them. I know you can manage very well.”
Buoyed by her husband’s encouragement and faith in her abilities, Sheela took a significant leap in 2017, founding Sri Anand Power Systems. The initial years of running Sri Anand Power Systems were a steep learning curve for Sheela Saini. During this period, the seriousness of business hadn’t fully settled in for her. However, the unexpected arrival of the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown brought unforeseen challenges that tested her resolve. “I was so much depressed,” Sheela recalls, sharing her moments of doubt with her husband. “I wanted to stop because I had to pay salaries, and there was no work. I didn’t know how to manage.”
Yet, it was precisely these challenging times that forged Sheela into a stronger, more resilient leader. Forced to confront the reality of her situation head-on, she used this period to reinvent herself and gear up for the unseen challenges ahead. The end of the lockdown marked a significant turning point in Sheela’s entrepreneurial journey. With renewed focus and determination, she steered Sri Anand Power Systems towards stabilization, demonstrating that adversity can indeed lead to growth and new beginnings. This shift in perspective and approach not only revived the business but also set a new direction for Sheela and her team, positioning Sri Anand Power Systems for continued success in the future. With a clear vision and a brand name, Secure Prime, she continued her journey. “I started with manufacturing stabilisers, and now, we’ve expanded into manufacturing preventers used in agriculture,” Sheela explains.
From Uncertainty to Clarity of Success
Coming from a solid academic background in science, focusing on Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, Sheela Saini stepped into the manufacturing world without formal training in engineering or production. Facing this challenge head-on, Sheela admitted, “I don’t know anything about production.” Recognising the need for expertise, she leaned on her husband’s network to find the right talent, saying, “I recruited someone for the development of technologies through my husband’s contacts.”
However, the journey was challenging. “Initially, I recruited people, but they left, and then others joined us,” Sheela recounts, reflecting on the turnover and challenges of building a reliable team. Despite these early obstacles, Sheela’s determination and growing experience gradually turned the tide for Sri Anand Power Systems. The industry began recognising her efforts, with inquiries about stabilizer manufacturing starting to come from building suppliers, potential employees, and markets looking to expand. “It took time, but this way I figured out what I wanted to do.”
Facing the challenge of on-time product manufacturing and addressing the issue of product returns was a significant hurdle in Sheela Saini’s journey with Sri Anand Power Systems. Despite repeated concerns raised by the sales team, finding an effective solution seemed elusive. “I had no manufacturing background and was limited to my office and laptop,” Sheela admits. Her initial attempt to solve the problem involved leveraging her comfort with data, organizing sales orders, and delivery dates in an Excel sheet to bring some order to the chaos.
However, the real breakthrough came when Sheela decided to step into the manufacturing area herself. “I realized I needed to understand exactly how our stabilizers were made,” she says. Diving into the shop floor, she learned every step of the stabilizer assembly process, from fitting the transformer to wiring and the crucial final testing. This hands-on approach led her to mandate multiple testing phases for each stabilizer to minimize the chance of failure upon delivery.
Sheela’s direct intervention transformed the production process. “I insisted on a burning period for each stabilizer to assure its quality before it reached the manual testing phase, and only then could it be packed for delivery,” she explains. This meticulous attention to detail and insistence on rigorous testing protocols significantly reduced the rate of field returns. “Implementing these steps in our production line meant we could finally dispatch our products on time,” Sheela shares, marking an important improvement in the company’s operations and product reliability.
Building Team & Growing Together
After addressing the initial challenge of product returns and manufacturing delays, Sheela Saini encountered a new obstacle: sourcing transformers. Sri Anand Power Systems had been outsourcing transformers, but the vendors couldn’t deliver according to the schedule. Seeking a solution, Sheela reached out to one vendor for assistance. “I asked for his support to train our employees to manufacture transformers in-house,” she recounts. With the vendor’s guidance, they established an in-house transformer section, marking a significant shift towards self-sufficiency.
As Sri Anand Power Systems continued to grow and the volume of orders increased, they began outsourcing PCBs to ensure timely access to raw materials and maintain on-schedule dispatches. To streamline this expanded operation, Sheela innovated the use of technology and team coordination. “I’ve moved our tracking to a Google Sheet, accessible by our store personnel, allowing real-time oversight of our inventory,” she shares. Furthermore, Sheela introduced a WhatsApp group as a dynamic tool to enhance the production cycle, enabling seamless communication among dispatch, sales, and production teams. “Orders are placed in the group, the production manager orchestrates execution, and any material shortages are immediately flagged by the store person,” Sheela describes the process. This collaborative approach not only improved material availability and order fulfillment but also fostered a sense of unity and purpose among team members.
Determination & Positive Mindset: Stepping Stones of Success
Sheela Saini’s journey shows learning and growth know no age limits, embodying the spirit of perseverance with her mantra: “Never Give Up.” Sheela shares, “People often say that as you get older, your energy levels drop, and you can’t work as much. But for me, it’s the work itself that keeps me going. Just recently, I was telling my family how this work keeps me moving. Without it, I’d just be confined to my house, doing nothing. Being engaged in my business connects me with people, energizes me, and motivates me to stay healthy so I can keep working.”
Sheela’s commitment to her well-being is as rigorous as her dedication to her business. “I practice yoga for two hours every day to stay fit and able to handle more work,” she reveals, highlighting the integral role of physical health in her professional resilience. Reflecting on the learning curves and challenges, Sheela emphasizes the importance of resilience. “The most important lesson I’ve learned is to never give up. During the early days of the business, we faced the lockdown. I saw many established businesses shutting down during COVID-19, but I didn’t give up. I had faith in myself,” Sheela recounts.
This period tested her resolve, forcing her to make a stand for her independence and the future of Sri Anand Power Systems. “My husband was always there to support me financially, especially during the lockdown. But then, I realized I wanted to succeed on my own terms. I expressed my gratitude for all he had done but decided it was time for me to stand on my own. This is my company, and I wanted to be independent. ‘Never give up’ is more than just a mantra for me; it’s the guiding principle of my life.”
Education, Opportunity & support: Women can Excel and Lead in any Field
Sheela Saini reflects thoughtfully on the evolving landscape of women in manufacturing, noting the historical scarcity of female participation in the field. Yet, she observes a promising shift, buoyed by her own daughters’ involvement in engineering and their keen interest in the manufacturing sector. “Participation of women in manufacturing was less, but that’s changing,” Sheela notes. Her daughters, both grounded in engineering, have ventured into the manufacturing business, exemplifying the potential for women in this traditionally male-dominated industry.
Sheela firmly believes that with the right education and motivation, gender becomes irrelevant to one’s capabilities in the manufacturing sector. “If you have proper education and motivation, then there’s nothing about gender. Women can do everything,” she asserts. However, Sheela acknowledges the unique challenges women face, particularly in balancing professional ambitions with domestic responsibilities. She credits the evolving role of men, including her husband, in sharing these responsibilities, which has been pivotal for her own ability to focus on the business.
At Sri Anand Power Systems, women constitute 70% of the workforce, underscoring Sheela’s commitment to empowering women in the workplace. From accounts to production in-charge and wiring, women hold key positions, with men primarily handling tasks that require heavy physical labor. Sheela emphasizes the importance of training and opportunity, sharing stories of training uneducated women for specialized tasks like wiring, demonstrating their ability to grasp complex skills with proper guidance.
Sheela’s approach to leadership is inclusive and merit-based, focusing on an individual’s ability to contribute, regardless of gender. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s male or female; if they show energy in their work and can connect with the team, that’s what matters,” she explains. This philosophy extends to maintaining a harmonious work environment, where the ability to collaborate and support fellow employees is valued above all.
Transparency is the DNA of Sri Anand Power Systems
Sheela Saini’s guiding principles in life and business revolve around self-belief and perseverance. “Trust yourself and don’t give up,” she asserts, emphasizing these as her foundational mantras. Sheela believes in the importance of working with integrity and making decisions based on one’s own convictions rather than being swayed by the expectations or desires of others. “Do whatever you want to do, making sure it’s your decision,” she advises, underscoring the significance of personal agency in achieving one’s goals.
This ethos of self-reliance is deeply ingrained in Sheela’s approach to running Sri Anand Power Systems. Even with her husband’s willingness to provide financial support, Sheela chose a path of independence. “I wanted to manage salaries and purchases on my own. I didn’t want to rely on financial help,” she recounts, highlighting a pivotal moment of asserting her autonomy. This decision to trust in her abilities and chart her own course was crucial to her success. “If I hadn’t trusted myself, I would have remained dependent, and I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Sheela reflects.
Sheela Saini places a high premium on honesty and transparency, principles she holds as the bedrock of Sri Anand Power Systems. “The first value I uphold is honesty,” she states emphatically. She insists that her sales team embody this principle, advocating for clear and honest communication with customers. “Be honest with your customers about what you are offering them,” Sheela advises, emphasizing the strength that comes from such integrity and the clarity it brings to business interactions.
Transparency, according to Sheela, is more than just a policy—it’s a vital component of the company’s DNA. This clear communication ethos extends beyond sales to encompass every interaction within the company and with its clients. Sheela believes in fostering a positive work environment where good behavior is paramount. “My first condition is that behavior should be good and not disruptive,” she explains, asserting the importance of creating a supportive and cohesive team. Training and patience play a critical role in this approach, with Sheela and her team willing to invest time in their employees, recognizing that learning curves vary. “We don’t judge them based on how long it takes to learn; the key is to connect with others without causing disturbance.”
Behind Every Successful Woman Stands a Supportive Partner
Sheela Saini openly acknowledges the important and critical role her husband Mahesh Saini played in her entrepreneurial journey, attributing much of her success to his encouragement and support. “My husband helped me a lot,” she shares with gratitude. It was his belief in her potential that nudged her towards starting Sri Anand Power Systems. “He was the one who told me I should start this business. Without his encouragement, I might not have achieved this success.”
Even before venturing into the world of manufacturing, Sheela was always driven by a need to stay active and engaged. “I never sit idle at home,” she states, illustrating her dynamic nature. A certified yoga teacher, Sheela’s discipline extends beyond the business realm into personal health and wellness. “I’m a yoga teacher, too, dedicating two hours daily to my practice. Had I not been in this business, perhaps I’d be teaching yoga or pursuing something else with equal passion.” Sheela’s reflection on her path show us a life characterized by activity, learning, and the pursuit of passion, whether in yoga or business. “Yes, for this business, my husband’s help was invaluable,” she admits, highlighting that while her journey could have taken many forms, it was his support that steered her towards manufacturing and the successful establishment of Sri Anand Power Systems.
