Commonwealth Day & International Women’s Day Celebrations

On her Christmas day broadcast in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II, the head of the Commonwealth envisioned the Organisation as an association that celebrates the highest qualities of the Spirit of Man – friendship, loyalty and the desire for freedom and peace. Connected through their use of the English language and historical ties, Commonwealth States share values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

With over 53 sovereign states coming together with shared values, a $13 trillion economy and population of over 2.4 billion people, let us celebrate the Commonwealth and its work to protect the environment, boost trade, support democracy and develop society with its young peoples.

Today, we at the Commonwealth Tea Company bring you stories from inspiring women who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship, leadership, values and hard work. Women who have been pathbreaking in their fields and who continue to inspire us with their continued achievements.

The Queen

Ascending the throne at the tender age of 26, this remarkable lady has been a source of inspiration for millions of people worldwide for many reasons. Chief amongst them is her oft repeated statement, one doesn’t abdicate, one doesn’t quit, one doesn’t retire.

Going through so many events, personal crises and tragedies, one would tend to forgive if someone had been at their job for even 30 years and wished to take a break. Not the beloved Queen of Great Britain though. She’s been going strong for nearly 70 years now and was even one of the first people to get a vaccine to prove it was safe!

Imagine going through a life of public service that you did not apply for but were born into, imagine working selflessly through nearly 70 years in an everchanging world, imagine holding together not just one nation but being seen as an inspiration to 53 nations…and all this without having taken even a rare step wrong.

The Commonwealth Tea Company salutes this truly self-restrained lady who goes about her work quietly in an increasingly loud world. Oh, and one last thing, rumour has it that The Queen enjoys a wonderful Earl Grey every morning, without milk or sugar, just as we like it, neat.

Karen Anand

Anchor of the first food and travel show in India way back in 1996, Karen is considered something of a “food guru”. From being a food critic to helping set up some iconic restaurants (heard of @Dishoom in London?) this multifaceted personality on the food scene is a much loved and respected figure.

Just being a critic or consultant wasn’t enough for Karen and her passion for sustainably grown organic produce led her to put her money where her mouth is. Starting off with a single location in Pune, Markets by Karen Anand is now present in eight cities across India sourcing ethically grown natural foods, lifestyle and wellness products. Just being a good guru or entrepreneur wasn’t still enough though; Karen has been a judge at Vin Italy and now started “Culinary tours to Italy”.

Food guru, entrepreneur, blogger, traveller, mother. The Commonwealth Tea Company salutes this amazing Darjeeling tea loving superwoman.

Dr. Crystal Ruff

For most of us, completing a PhD itself is a great achievement. Working on and researching life changing technologies such as stem cell research and brain regeneration just takes it that one level further. But for Dr. Crystal Ruff that wasn’t enough at all. This industrious Canadian then went on to study at the world-famous London Business School and added an MBA to her lapel.

Including her day job working on the Life Sciences team of a global management consulting firm, Crystal is also on the Boards of non-profits to provide her experience and expertise to subjects from stem cell research to rare disease.

She created Europe’s first $300 million Genomics Accelerator and is a regular writer and speaker on forums such as TEDx on subjects ranging from perinatal neuroscience, regenerative medicine, genomics, artificial intelligence and leadership.

Oh, and did we forget to mention this white tea loving lady is a new mother to twins? We, at the Commonwealth Tea Company raise a toast to this wonderful superwoman.

Aurora Zorila

Brought up in socialist times with an economy coming off a strong austerity programme, as her native Romania became more capitalist and democratic, there stood one lady surveying the chaos around her and decided to take advantage of the coming freedoms and growth that her country could offer. A strong personality who stood shoulder to shoulder with men in the business world, Aura slowly but surely created a nationally recognised brand of bakeries and food products in Romania.

Never tiring, never stopping, she sometimes slept on a small sofa in her factory to fulfil production schedules but didn’t give up her indomitable spirit and ambition to build something big. That all came down with a bang with the biggest economic crisis the world had seen since the Great Depression. Factories gone, customers bankrupt, suppliers to pay would have broken any person’s spirit. Not this iron-willed lady. She
dusted herself, picked herself up and went back to doing what she does best. Being a baker and entrepreneur.

With humble beginnings in her second innings, she started with a small outlet and in less than a decade has again built a business with 3 bakeries and continues to expand and grow in her field. What’s more, even the global pandemic and a brush with the notorious virus didn’t stop her as she spends her days at her business and evenings experimenting with ever exotic cakes and creations.

The Commonwealth Tea Company salutes this young at heart lady with her never say die attitude and raises a cup of her favourite infusion tea!

Vidya Kumar

There are people who inspire us with their diverse interests, some inspire us with their creativity and entrepreneurship and then there are others who inspire us with consistent hard work, determination and an endless amount of energy to go on and on for years.

One amongst them is banker Vidya. A basketball enthusiast, netball captain for India at 16 and Chartered Accountant at 22 (amongst the youngest in India), she stepped into her career in banking 23 years ago and hasn’t looked back since! Having worked inthree different countries with widely diverse sets of colleagues, seeing the financial world and its regulations change at close quarters, this lady embodies the spirit of ‘keep calm and carry on’.

One of the first women to become a CFO in Nepal, she works with the only foreign bank in the country and has taken a brave step in her career balancing home and work life admirably.

Being brought up by a single mother has been her biggest source of inspiration and her mother’s values passed on to her whom she looks up to every day. Interested in ancient Indian texts, Vidya is a deeply spiritual person and continues to pass on her strong values of hard work, determination and thriving in an ever-turbulent world to her daughter.

Oh, and one last thing, this yoga practitioner loves her tea Indian style, Chai with milk and jaggery.