| Kavita Oberoi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vasdev 27 April 1970 Bradford, Yorkshire, England |
| Residence | Derbyshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | The University of Huddersfield |
| Occupation | Managing Director of Oberoi Consulting Director and co-owner of Octavian Continental |
| Known for | Secret Millionaire The Apprentice: You're Fired! Chair of the Global Girls’ Fund Board |
| Home town | Bradford |
| Net worth | £10 million (US$14.6m) |
| Spouse | Deven (m. 1993) |
| Children | 2 girls |
| Website | |
| www.KavitaOberoi.com | |
Kavita Oberoi (born 27 April 1970) is a female entrepreneur in the United Kingdom.
In 2001 Oberoi started the successful IT and Business Healthcare Consultancy, Oberoi Consulting, of which she is now Managing Director.
Oberoi is notable for her motivational speaking,[1] fundraising for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts as the Chair of the Global Girls’ Fund Board,[2][3] under the patronage of HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and for starring in the Channel 4 TV series “The Secret Millionaire” and the BBC’s “The Apprentice: You’re Fired”.
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Raised in a traditional Indian family, Oberoi credits her mother with giving her the determination to seek out an education for herself, and her father for giving her the entrepreneurial spirit which has made her such a success in business.
During her early years, Oberoi's family lived above her father’s plumbing and bathroom shop, in Bradford, where she was introduced to the world of business by helping her father in his shop.
She says, “My father died when I was only 15, but I will always remember how his entrepreneurial spirit inspired me. He came to England in the 1960s with nothing, and built up a really successful business through sheer hard work and determination”.[4][5]
As a result of her parents' encouragement, and contrary to cultural custom at the time, Oberoi became the first woman in her family to get a University degree and be allowed to work.
Oberoi left university with a First Class BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Chemistry, and embarked on a highly successful career with Bayer Pharmaceuticals where she quickly established herself as one of their leading medical representatives.
After missing out on a promotion with Bayer, Oberoi made the decision to go it alone, which she now says is the best thing that ever happened to her in career terms.[6] She spotted a business opportunity, providing clinical audit and IT training and business consulting for GP practices, and she quickly won a contract with International Blue Chip Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer. By August 2001, demand for her services had become so great that she established Oberoi Consulting.
Already well known in Derbyshire, where her business is based, Oberoi came to receive wider public attention in August 2008 when she appeared on Channel 4's hit show The Secret Millionaire.[7]
Oberoi's company, Oberoi Consulting, now has clients such as GP Practices, PBC Clusters, Private Healthcare Providers, PCTs, Pharmacy Groups and the Pharmaceutical Industry, providing healthcare solutions, clinical systems training and clinical audits.
Independently, Oberoi also gives motivational speeches and seminars, primarily to the business community.[8]
Oberoi's other business interests include commercial property, and the provision of conference facilities and serviced offices, and in January 2010 Oberoi acquired a stake in the global, award winning security company – Octavian[9]
Oberoi's latest business ventures are Adherence Science of which she is a shareholder and Director, and Oberoi InConsortia. While Adherence Science focuses on supporting patient compliance to medication through the use of mobile phones, Oberoi InConsortia is a consortium which aims to support the move towards practice-based commissioning and away from Primary Care Trust commissioning, while offering assistance to the new social enterprises and GP consortia that form as a result of the Government White Paper on NHS reform.[10][11]
In 2005, Oberoi was awarded the prestigious NRI Pride of India Gold Award in recognition of her achievements[12] and received a special commendation in the Entrepreneur of the Year Section in the Asian Woman of Achievement Awards.[13] Oberoi was then given a Fellowship of the RSA (The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts Manufacture and Commerce).[14] In 2007 the NRI presented Oberoi with the NRI Achiever Pinnacle Award in the category of Business Empress which recognises single minded dedication and hard work in pursuit of ones goals.[15][16] In 2009 Oberoi was named in the HBOS report as one of “Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women”.[17] She was also short-listed for the business and commerce award in the Lloyds Bank Jewel Awards[18][19] and was a judge and mentor for the HBOS Social Entrepreneur Awards.[20]
The Secret Millionaire has inspired Oberoi to become more involved with charity work - Oberoi says; "I want to be able to share my success and inspire and help people. My father was well known for his philanthropy, and I want to follow in his footsteps."
Oberoi is now a Director of one of the charities, Martha's Oasis, that she supported on Channel 4's Secret Millionaire.
In April 2010 Oberoi was appointed Chair of the Global Girls’ Fund Board.[21] The Global Girls Fund seeks to raise £10million to support international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and is dedicated to empowering all girls and young women to reach their full potential and take action to change the world for the better.
As part of a series about religion and wealth Oberoi discussed how as a practising Hindu, prosperity is actively encouraged within her faith.
“Spending Review: The BBC East Midlands Today Debate” - A discussion about the expected impact of the Government's spending review.
Oberoi joined Shaf Rasul and Tom Mursell to provide "Five Top Tips for Finding Work", give some hints and tips to the young.
Panel member with Ruby Wax and Mark Firth
Evan Davis interviewed Oberoi regarding 'compliance' and the need for rules and regulations in the business world.
Oberoi joined Andrew Gilligan to review the following morning's papers
Oberoi joined the presenters of Derby Radio to give a reading at Derby Cathedral
Oberoi joined Declan and Naga as a special guest on the show
Oberoi took part in a programme hosted by Gail Porter showcasing the diverse roles in which women are now employed.
Oberoi went undercover in the Ladywood area of Birmingham to a community project called 'Sisters with Voices'.
Oberoi joined fellow "Secret Millionaire" Carl Hopkins on the couch with Richard & Judy reviewing the Secret Millionaire programme.
"A Secret Millionaire visits Ladywood" - interview
"Secret Millionaire in Brum" - interview
An interview with BBC Radio Derby about Oberoi giving up her luxury lifestyle for a far more stark existence as part of the "Secret Millionaire" programme.
"The New Rules of Business" - by Dan Matthews
"A Woman's Guide to Working for Herself" - by Sandra Hewett