Dubai: Shobha Mendonca to Lead Kanara Entrepreneurs Ltd (KEL)

Media Release

Dubai, Nov 21: Shobha Mendonca has taken over as President of the Dubai Chapter of Kanara Entrepreneurs from the outgoing President Albert Rodrigues and is the first lady President of this entrepreneur forum. She is one of the founding lead members of this forum that was started in Dubai in 2005 to promote entrepreneurship among individuals hailing from the Kanara region. 

With Chapters in Dubai and Bangalore, this forum currently has over 150 members and with collaborations with similar like minded organizations such as Rachana in Mangalore, Dimensions and CCCI in Mumbai has built a network of over 1000 entrepreneurs and professionals from the Kanara region.  With Kanara Entrepreneurs also being associated with TiE, the largest network of entrepreneurs in the world with over 15,000 members, it provides a huge opportunity for its members to network with others – sharing and learning from each others experiences and building and expanding their businesses beyond boundaries that they once had not thought of.

Three new directors were also unanimously appointed during the KE meeting on 13th November.  Daniel Fernandes took over as Director – Finance, Julian Lewis as Director – Membership and Frank Fernandes graciously accepted to continue as Director – Marketing & Sponsorship for one more term.  “We want all our Lead Members to come forward and lead this organization voluntarily providing their expertise and ideas for the benefit of all our members” said Shobha in her inaugural address before the election of the new directors.  “The fact that our Lead Members voluntarily come forward and take these roles itself is a testimony on the confidence they have built being part of this organization.”  KE has a well documented constitution with some directors retiring in odd years while the rest in even years to ensure that there is smooth functioning of the organization.  It also ensures that no individual can continue in one position for more than two terms thereby providing opportunity for everyone to lead and bring their thoughts and ideas into this organization.

Shobha has been an entrepreneur for the last 14 years.  She is the Managing Director of Middle East Factory LLC which provides quality steel fabrication to various high profile clients and boasts of some of Dubai’s icons such as Burj Khalifa as its clients.

Daniel is the Managing Director of Dafnia Communications – a technology company specialising in networking, ably supported by his wife Dorothy.  Julian has been in the business of building materials for the last 19 years in Dubai and manages Peninsula General Trading LLC. Frank has diversified businesses in Dubai from shipping to travel.  He has also produced two movies – one in Konkani and one in Kannada in the past two years.

The other Directors in the KE - Dubai team include Michael D’Souza (Managing Director of Humaid Al Suwaidi Real Estate) who is in charge of Mentoring and Alfred Vaz (Managing Director of Jifco Trading LLC) who is responsible for all our Events.