Renowned businesswoman Anita Menon’s transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship is fascinating. Today, she is the founder and managing director of four successful ventures in Bahrain: The Butterfly Effect Co., a digital marketing agency; Gatsby Beauty Lounge, a luxury ladies salon; SriSoukya Ayurvedic Centre, an alternative medicine clinic; and MH Consultants, a consulting firm. Woman This Month shares her story.
Anita’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but conventional. “I was born and raised in India and studied to be a mechanical engineer. Afterward, I completed my Master’s in supply chain management,” she explains.
It wasn’t long before she realised that her passion transcended the corporate world. “After a consulting stint of almost a decade, I quit the corporate life to become an entrepreneur. It’s been an incredible journey trying to build these diverse businesses in Bahrain.”
Anita’s first venture was The Butterfly Effect Co., a digital marketing agency she founded in 2014. At that time, social media marketing was still in its infancy, with most businesses focusing on traditional advertising. Over time, The Butterfly Effect grew beyond its digital marketing roots to become a full-suite marketing agency, expanding its footprint beyond borders.
By 2017, she took a step into the beauty industry, opening Gatsby Beauty Lounge. “It felt like a challenge to be a part of a trade that I was completely unfamiliar with,” she admits. Despite the steep learning curve, her experience running a successful business helped her navigate the complexities of managing a luxury salon. “Like someone wise once said – no success can teach you what failures can.”
This laid the foundation for her next venture: SriSoukya Ayurvedic Centre, launched in 2021. The clinic aims to introduce the 5,000-year-old practice of Ayurveda to Bahrain’s health and wellness sector. “There weren’t many alternative medicine brands in the market, and it made sense to open a sophisticated, modern clinic that offered traditional Indian medicine to people in Bahrain,” she explains.
Anita believes that SriSoukya has not only added to Bahrain’s wellness offerings but has also filled a gap in preventive healthcare. “We have made it a mandate to educate and build awareness around Ayurveda, which has proven benefits,” she says.
Having lived in Bahrain since 2010, she now calls the island home. “My professional experience has been encouraging, and I always say that if it wasn’t for Bahrain, I would have never become an entrepreneur,” she reveals. “The Kingdom’s ecosystem is uniquely supportive and robust. Whether it’s Tamkeen’s salary support for locals or the efficiency of the Ministries, there’s a lot an entrepreneur can leverage. That sense of support became particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Like any entrepreneur, Anita has faced her fair share of challenges, but she views them as opportunities for growth. Her resilience and ability to pivot have played a significant role in her success.
Her advice to aspiring female entrepreneurs is simple yet profound: “Go for it.” Bahrain, she believes, is an ideal market for testing new ideas. “However, there are two fundamental points to remember – first, do a feasibility study before embarking on the business, and second, find a gap or need in the market that you can fulfil.”
For Anita, entrepreneurship is not just about financial success. It’s about creating value, solving problems and making a difference in the community.
“There are so many successful women founders in Bahrain and it is an ever-growing tribe,” she concludes. “I can’t wait to see how female entrepreneurship continues to grow on this beautiful island!”
