We often hear that the spirit of youth is indomitable. The Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE) GenNow group, a vibrant subset of enterprising members, aged 45 and below, proved that very point with aplomb on Wednesday, 23rd March 2022 at the Catholic Club, Bengaluru.

32 of the 129 KE GenNow members gathered to revive the intention of the group’s founding members – to build a safe space within KE that meets the needs of young entrepreneurs and professionals in terms of mentorship, skill building, and networking with the refreshing personality of youth culture.

After a collective recitation of the KE prayer, President, Clarence Pereira conveyed his encouraging message in three succinct points – to acknowledge group messages and meeting invites for active participation, to use social media responsibly and to occasionally surface out of the e-space and make physical connections the ‘old school’ way. His message reinforced the idea that one’s network is one’s net worth and to truly make the best of the community, for the community.

The Organizing Committee, with the support and guidance of Anoop Sequeira, Associate Director Mentoring, comprised of Eugene Mathias (Firefly Spaces) – who also seconded as compere for the evening, Neil Rodrigues (The Konkan), Nishan Pereira (Deccan Group of Companies) and Vilina Sequeira (Docens Training & HR Consulting Pvt. Ltd.) who deftly orchestrated the evening that started with a crisp networking icebreaker while dancing to the tune to the classic anthem ‘Y.M.C.A.’

One of the highlights of the evening was the group brainstorming over seven tables in ten minutes which showcased the razor-sharp wit, effervescence, and spontaneity of KE GenNow. The teams subsequently presented their ideas and suggestions for future meeting frequency, themes, and objectives.

Interesting propositions included one team highlighting the digital acumen of GenNow when Leslie Quadros (Canterbury Castles) instantly shared a Live shot video of team member Shona Prabhu Cutinha (NutrifyMyDiet) to the GenNow WhatsApp group that had all the makings of viral media! On the other hand, Luvena Rangel (The Curvy Yogi) engaged the team with another idea of initiating Public Commitment by facilitating the ‘KE GenNow I Do’ – a brainchild of the table she was ideating at – to which every table made various commitments ranging from social causes to inviting more members.

On a sweet note, Elizabeth Yorke (Saving Grains) added a wholesome touch to the event with beautifully wrapped brownies made of healthy Saving Grain ‘Good Flour’ and healthier date sugar! She added KE spirit by engaging the services of Jenifer Joshua, an artisan home baker (Lush at Jenny’s) from the extended community. Furthermore, Ranjeeta Chatterjee (Greta’s Essentials) not only added to the prizes with her delicious granola bars, but also extended a 25% discount off her products to all KE GenNow members!

The energy of KE GenNow was buzzing with excitement throughout the evening with many moments of good humour, laughter and lighthearted banter and, well managed on-the-spot course corrections and many new connections. The diligently timed 2-hour event ended promptly at 9pm with Eugene extending the vote of thanks and many attendees staying behind for more camaraderie and connections over dinner.

If there is one thing, you can look forward to, it is the upward trajectory of KE GenNow, spurred by the renewed hope of mutual support, collaboration and an inherent sense of giving back to the community as well as deepening a sense of ownership and belonging towards the group – moving from ‘Me and My Business’ towards Us and OURS. Watch this space for more!

Many thanks to the generosity of our sponsors:

Anoop Sequeira – Lucky draw prize –Business Coaching session worth Rs 10K.

Elizabeth Yorke – Saving Grains – brownies

Ranjeeta Chatterjee - Greta's Essential – Granola bars

Vilina Sequeira - Docens Training & HR Consulting Pvt. Ltd. – Notepads and pens

Special thanks to the team and staff of Catholic Club for the ambience, venue, and refreshments.