Eight years ago, Srijana Thapa was handed the management of Photo Concern Pvt. Ltd, situated next to the celebrated Pipal Bot on New Road, by her grandfather and the founder of the company, Dambar Bahadur (DB) Thapa.
One of the pioneers in the “foto” business, PC was set up in the 1960s by DB Thapa, a photographer himself, and his wife Shanti Thapa, to whom Srijana credits all her inspiration.
“Although she belonged to the women of that generation, she actively took part in the business,” Srijana says of her grandmother.
Started in a two-storey building with a handful of staff, the company has now extended to a nine-level building with more than 100 employees. Beside a photo studio and lab, PC is also the official distributor of Kodak products and Noritsu, the Japanese digital machines, for Nepal.
“When I was in grade nine, I worked as a staff at the counter and did the billings for two months,” shares the present director of the company on her first work experience at PC. Growing up in a family that was involved in the photography business, she picked up her lessons early.
“I was never interested in being a doctor or an engineer,” Srijana adds,” By the age of 13 or 14, I was already prepared to look after the family business.”
Thus, after completing her graduation in business, Srijana worked under the senior Thapa for about two years without taking any official position in the company.
“I accompanied him to meetings, saw him deal with the staffs and customers, and listened to his speeches,” recalls the young entrepreneur. “He’s one man with patience.”
Despite her preparations, taking over the company’s responsibilities was not a piece of cake.
“Even though it’s a family business, one just can’t take over and be the boss,” she says. “One has to gain the confidence and understanding of the staff,” she adds.
“There were staffs who had been working from the time the company was established. So it was difficult for them to accept a girl, that too a young one, as their head,” she says.
According to Srijana, it took her more than a year to prove her capability. Under her supervision, PC has now been divided into Production and Sales Departments, which have been further sub-divided.
“Because my granddad is a very family-oriented person, he ran the company in like manner,” she adds, “Everybody had a direct link with the chairperson, so everyone depended on him, which made his work stressful.”
Now, decision-making and communication is much easier because everyone has a department head. “The company now functions in a family environment with professionalism in it,” says Srijana.
Along with the change in authority, the company has also seen many alterations in the use of technology and services. “It was all analogs during granddad’s time, but the current era is digital,” she remarks.
With adjustment to updates and technology, the company also offers such services as photo bookings and home services.
“Instead of visiting our studio, people can ask our photographers to visit them at home and click their family portraits in homely environment,” says Srijana.
Amongst all these developments with the change of guards at PC, senior Thapa is still an active member of the venture he started five decades ago. Now 75 years old, the chairman still manages to drop by the office every morning for a couple of hours.
“His visit adds energy to the working environment, and is helpful for us,” says his 31-years-old executive granddaughter.
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