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Business Profile: Baly Ambegoaker
Despite The Odds, Entrepreneur And CENTERPOINT Co-CEO Proves That Unrelenting Perseverance Can Lead To Success
Baly Ambegoaker co-founded IDL Solutions, Inc. in 1993. The company initially offered architecture consulting services, in line with her academic background. But the evolution of the Internet meant an opportunity to switch to an IT focus, working with all levels of government and the private sector to provide a variety of services. In 2012, IDL Solutions sold to CACI International, and in March 2014, Baly moved on to co-found CENTERPOINT Inc., a cybersecurity firm.
Baly plays an active role in diversifying the business community and is an advocate for women in business, being both a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Wisconsin Women’s Board of Directors. We got to exchange words with her and talk about her unique experiences in the business world.
Q: You mentioned in your interview with DiverseCEO that you were faced with a glass ceiling for not only being not only a woman but also a woman of colour. How did these experiences shape you as a businessperson?
A: They made me more resilient and determined to succeed. I have always been the type of person that thrives on meeting challenges head-on and achieving goals. In my professional career, I was always reminded that I was “a female in a men’s world.” And, in some instances, I was even reminded that I was a “brown woman in a white men’s world.” Those words gave me two options: I could fall prey to the stereotypes and keep my business small and submissive, or I could continue to stay on my own course of achieving the goals and objectives that I had set for myself. Of course, being a determined and competitive woman, I decided to march forward to grow my business, create jobs and live my dream to make a difference.
Q: Did you face other setbacks?
A: Yes, too many to count with both hands! When you are in business, setbacks are not only part of the equation, but they are key elements to the success of the business. Setbacks show you what you have missed in preparing and positioning your business to succeed, and they show you what you may have done wrong along the way.
As a businessperson of any gender, race, colour, age, et cetera, you need to be prepared for many setbacks — some expected and others completely unexpected. In the end, it is not about not having setbacks that makes you successful; it is about how you deal with those setbacks, recover and learn from them that make you better and stronger.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring South Asian women?
A: When I started my first business, a friend gave me a small quote for my office that read: “Believe in the magic of your dreams.” I took those words as direction for myself, and throughout the years, I have continued to believe in and work on my dreams. In my prior business (IDL Solutions, Inc.) and current business (CENTERPOINT Inc.), I have lived my dreams by helping the U.S. government achieve its mission to serve and protect our citizens. Those government contracts not only grow my business, but they create jobs and deliver services that make a difference in people’s lives.
Undoubtedly, things will get tough in business at times, and it is at those times that I remind myself that my dreams can only become a reality if I successfully navigate through the challenges. Fast-forward 20 years after my friend gave me that quote, and I successfully sold my first information technology business to a large defence contractor in December of 2012. After that deal closed, I looked at the quote in my office and realized that the quote was the single best piece of advice I had received. I made a commitment at that moment to pass it on to others aspiring to succeed in business or life in general. So, my advice to you: Believe in the magic of your dreams and make it a reality by working hard and smart through the good times and the bad times.
Image courtesy of Baly Ambegoaker
Vikram Bettadapura
Author
When he’s not blogging, Vikram Bettadapura works at a busy vet clinic. Born in Bangalore, he grew up in Abu Dhabi and later moved to Ontario, where he earned a BSc from the University of Guelph. Currently based in Toronto, he's an avid reader, passionate about culture, social issues, and ...
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