INTRODUCTION:
Sreelakshmi Suresh is the Youngest Girl Web Designer and Youngest CEO in the World, designed and developed the official website of her school, www.presentationhss.com Presentation Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode, Kerala, when she was only 8 years old. She has got more than 40 National and International Awards and Honours for her excellence in web designing.
The Association of American Webmasters honoured her by giving their membership along with their highest award for excellence in web designing, the Gold Web Award. She is the only member of the Association of American Webmasters, ever, under the age of 18. She is the recipient of National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement 2008, the highest award in India for Children instituted by Govt. of India. She is appointed as the Brand Ambassador of InfoGroup — group of companies and Director of YGlobes Technologies. Now she has started her own web designing company eDesign (www.edesign.co.in), wherein she is the CEO, the youngest CEO in the World.
Now Sreelakshmi Suresh started another firm, Online Pixel Traders in association with Cybrosys Techno Solutions Pvt Ltd wherein she along with Mr. Sainul Abideen (world famous for his invention of Rainbow Technology) are the Managing Partners.
Sreelakshmi Suresh is the daughter of Adv. Suresh Menon and Mrs. Viju Suresh. Now she is studying in 7th class at Presentation Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode.
Our correspondent Lewitt Somarajan got an opportunity to interview Sreelakshmi Suresh; read on.
Being awarded as the youngest web designer, please tell us what motivated or inspired you to generate interest in web-designing?
My father permitted me to use computer from my early childhood. I learned English alphabets by typing it in notepad. I used to draw pictures in MS Paint even before joining LKG. So computer is my intimate friend.
When I was six years old, my father showed me a website designed by a young boy and told me that if I am interested I can also do it. Then I tried it by using MS Word and then in MS Front Page. I designed my first website, the one for my school www.presentationhss.com while I was 8 years old. Now I am using Dreamweaver for developing sites.
Tell us something about your first venture- Tinylogo
Tinylogo is a logo based search engine. I am very much interested in collecting logos and just to collect beautiful logos, I started the site. But my dad told me that taking the logos from the sites of other companies without their permission is against the law. So I thought of legally collecting the logos. During that period, I met Mr. Sainul Abideen (Cybrosys Technosolutions), who is world famous for his rainbow technology, and discussed the matter with him. The idea of a logo based search engine came out from that discussion and I executed it in association with Cybrosys Technosolutions.
How do you handle the pressure of being called as the Youngest CEO of the world & the expectations associated with it?
When I was doing my first site, nobody knew me, so I was free without any tension. But, now I am much tensed when designing a site because I have to ensure the quality and standard of my sites. Now I am spending more time to study more on web designing including various languages such as php, asp etc in order to rise up to the expectations of my well wishers.
Being a young entrepreneur, I am getting more exposure. I am getting more opportunities to learn and interact with many efficient personalities. I can make use of my income for my studies and other expenses. At the same time, in the eyes of many, I am something beyond their reach. They hesitate to mingle freely with me. Apart from this, they are expecting more and more from me.
The existing IT scenario is very bad. So as a young entrepreneur what are your plans to turn the tide and also what are the current projects you are working on?
The IT scenario is bad only for those who are solely depending on foreign market for their products. I am not doing any big projects for foreign companies but doing small projects for small customers. The necessity for having a website is increasing day by day, even for individuals. So the number of my target group is increasing every day. If I am competent to offer efficient service, I am sure, I will get maximum orders. So I don’t have to worry about the future of my company.
Currently I am working on the project of designing a web portal www.stateofkerala.in with all the details about Kerala to attract visitors from all over the world.
What are the skills, according to you, which need to be enhanced for the sustainability & scalability of your company?
I have to be the master in my field. I have to work hard and study more and more to achieve this.
How do you manage your studies & your passion for web-designing side by side?
It’s a matter of time management. My school time is 8.30 to 2.45. So I can spend 2 to 3 hrs a day without affecting my school studies. Usually after completing all my homework, I am doing designing works.
Any specific resolution for you in life?
I would like to become a software engineer. My dream is to develop an operating system which is more user-friendly and with more facilities than any OS available at present.
Your message for budding talents of this nation who aspires to be like you…
Don’t think that something is impossible for Children. We can achieve whatever elders can do, if we have the will.
‘Keep moving, Don’t Quit” is my slogan.
The change you want to see in our country…
I think, at present I am too young to think about all those aspects.
The interviewer is a senior correspondent at Youth Ki Awaaz and also the author of On The Ninth Cloud.