Tinaiseru : Don’t Be Afraid To Go Out Of Your Comfort Zone
She urged other young businesswomen to apply the same approach regardless of what business they chose to pursue.
I think I was the youngest iTaukei woman running an eye clinic because most clinics are for older specialists, so once I came out and opened the private clinic, I sort of encouraged the other young doctors out there that were hanging in limbo
Doctor Senata Tinaiseru Founder of Advanced Eye and Ear Care Clinic
Doctor Senata Tinaiseru, the founder of Advanced Eye and Ear Care Clinic said her decision to set up her own private clinic in 2011 was a bold move, but one that she was content with and had no regrets about. The 45-year-old mother of three resides in Ba and is originally from Wainibuka, Tailevu with maternal links to Yaroi, Savusavu. She said she was only 30 years old when she started her clinic in Ba which has now expanded to another branch in Nadi.
She urged other young businesswomen to apply the same approach regardless of what business they chose to pursue.
“I started to work in it from 2012, otherwise it was registered on paper in 2011. It took a while to get everything in, and then in 2012, I started to see clients there,” she said.
“I didn’t plan to go into the private business, but I had to go abroad to do my Postgrad study and returned because of politics. I went into it blindly, not really knowing the wealth of things that I was going to learn from running a private clinic.”
She said she faced her share of challenges while in the initial stages of running her private clinic. “I think I was the youngest iTaukei woman running an eye clinic because most clinics are for older specialists, so once I came out and opened the private clinic, I sort of encouraged the other young doctors out there that were hanging in limbo,” she said.
“I’d say, when I put my mind to something I do it and I have a supportive family. As a woman, you have to voice your opinions and make that stand that we are equal in businesses and should not be treated as something inferior.” She said she was able to further expand her business after receiving a $15000 grant from Business Assistance Fiji workshop.