Interview Times 
BY- PRISITA DAS
Sekh Abdul Samim is a well-known business figure in the city of Bhubaneswar but what resonates him the most is the kind of work he is initiating to promote entrepreneurship in Odisha selflessly under the banner of BCE (Business Club of Entrepreneurs).BCE was founded by Mr. Samim and Dr. Sanjaya kumar Choudhury, Mr. Bipin Sahoo, Mr. Badri Naryan Samal, all having the same vision to promote entrepreneurship. Over a short span of its inception, BCE has garnered thousands of entrepreneurs together just to keep the ideas to grow & let grow in the business sphere. The credit dues to his kitty for his outstanding contributions in making it floating all around. He has established industries like skill development, petroleum gas distribution, agriculture marketing healthcare & skill assessment of company development. He is the founder of Mascot upgrade Skill and knowledge pvt. ltd (a pan India skill assessment and certification company). He is also the founder of Business Club of Entrepreneur Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Samim is also Lubsam Healthcare’s director and founder. It has earned a reputation in the healthcare sector for offering the greatest medical support in the rural and semi-urban areas of Odisha. For those who reside in an area where access to quality healthcare is still an issue, Lubsam Healthcare offers a one-stop shop. LUBSAM supports initiatives and groups working to improve the lives of the underprivileged, rural, poor, mentally ill, and economically marginalised segments of society.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Samim’s life has been a journey of both failures and successes, and he has become a successful entrepreneur through his determination and hard work. He comes from a lower middle-class Muslim family from a small village named Ahmadpur. Despite being shy and struggling with his studies, Mr. Samim learned the value of money and financial stability from his father’s sacrifices and his mother’s belief in education. Mr. Samim’s life has been one of challenges and successes. Despite coming from a lower middle-class family in a small village, he had the support of his mother who instilled in him the value of education. Mr. Samim and his siblings became the first generation in their family and village to receive formal education, serving as role models for others. Mr. Samim’s eldest brother, Mr. Sekh Abdul Karim, worked hard from a young age to support the family and helped his siblings achieve success. Today, the family has two PhD holders and others excelling in their fields thanks to Mr. Karim’s sacrifices and hard work. Mr. Samim, despite struggling with stammering and personal challenges, was motivated by his mother and eldest brother wife, Mrs. Chinmay Karim to pursue education. Later, Mr. Samim’s another elder brother Dr. Sekh Abdul Nasim played a crucial role in his life, serving as a Chanakya, imparting invaluable knowledge and guidance that helped him shape his future success. Mr. Samim went on to graduate from CET Bhubaneswar and pursue an MBA in Marketing from ITM Warangal. He continued his personal and professional development by pursuing EPBE from ISB Hyderabad and PGCP in Managerial Skill from XIM Bhubaneswar. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. Mr. Samim always believed in his entrepreneurial abilities and established his first company called Bharat Gas Distributor. Thereafter he formed an organization called Sekh Allaudin Memorial Trust devoted to the cause of the destitute, rural poor, mentally challenged, and economically disadvantaged sections of the society. Mr. Samim’s journey from a shy and introverted boy from a lower middle class Muslim family to a successful entrepreneur is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. His mother and eldest brother wife played a crucial role in his success by instilling in him the value of education and always believing in his hidden abilities. Despite personal challenges and limitations, Mr. Samim pursued his education, earning an MBA in Marketing and completing additional programs in personal and professional development. Mr. Samim’s success was not solely due to his own hard work, but also the unwavering support of his family, particularly his wife Lubna Ghazal. Mr. Samim’s journey serves as a reminder that entrepreneurship is not a solo endeavor, and that having a supportive family can make all the difference. Together, they faced countless challenges, but never lost sight of their shared vision for success.
FUTURE OF MASCOT
Mascot Upgrades Skill & Knowledge Private Limited is a skill assessment agency that has assessed over 90,000 candidates across India for various government bodies, schools, and missions. The agency ensures that each candidate’s activities are taken into consideration during the evaluation process to provide the highest level of recognition upon completion. India has a large population of underprivileged and illiterate people who are engaged in physical labor without formal training, which reduces their efficiency and earning capacity. Mascot aims to provide skill certification in different sectors to make these individuals employable and give them a respectable life and social recognition. The agency provides certification in thousands of skill sets and education levels, which play a vital role in acquiring further skills, jobs, appointments, and career needs.
VISION FOR ODISHA
With one of the youngest populations in the world, 27.2 percent of the population in India is between the ages of 15 and 29. India’s multifaceted growth is reflected in its economy, which has grown from 2 trillion dollars in 2014 to 3 trillion dollars in 2019. With the aim of becoming the third largest economy in the world by 2030/2031, it is possible for every individual to contribute to the country’s growth. Odisha is a mineral rich state, and people of this state have very high value and culture. Our Dearest Chief Minister, shri Naveen Pattnaik, has also taken much pain to start the initiative to build an entrepreneur, but most people are afraid of failure, so they refrain from investing and start a start-up. A start-up not only builds entrepreneurs but also generates employment and utilises the state resources. We at BCE provide 24X 7 and 360-degree support through our technology. BCE is a platform for seasoned and aspiring business entrepreneur. My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs — There is no better moment to create than right now.
