Rizwana Eathally Jmari is the general manager of Clic Publishing Ltd, an independent publishing company based in Mauritius. Clic Publishing manages koobbook.org, an online platform for creating personalized books from photos. Rizwana aims to expand this service worldwide and support entrepreneurs through funding and acquisition of new projects. She hopes to start her own life and business coaching practice to support and encourage women professionally. Rizwana is also an occasional entrepreneur, making handmade gift boxes and candles. She cites her diverse work experience in media, teaching, banking and marketing as shaping her identity and strengths.

1. Rizwana Eathally Jmari
3 - 9 APRIL 2015 | N° 977 | PAGE 28
WOMEN
Shaffick HAMUTH
“Step sideways and
design your own path”
Clic Publishing Ltd is an intellectually and financially independent, family-owned
publisher headquartered in Mauritius. Incorporated in 2013 by Philippe Batier, the
company is currently under his and Rizwana Eathally Jmari’s general management.
Clic Publishing Ltd is an innovative and forward-think-
ing company which manages koobbook.org – a very
simple, ‘home made’ online editing interface to create
your own personalised books. With koobbook.org, you
turn your photos you love into books and preserve your
most favourite memories. Koobbook.org is firmly root-
ed in school yearbooks, prioritising your kids’ souvenirs.
This service is currently offered in France and Clic Pub-
lishing Ltd wishes to expand it worldwide in the months
to come. It has an active interest in the acquisition and
launch of new projects like koobbook.org while abiding
to its eco-friendly practices – books created in a country
are printed in the same country and not in Mauritius in
order to save energy for the delivery. Clic Publishing Ltd
can also financially sponsor entrepreneurs/micro entre-
preneurs if their projects are good.
HER ASPIRATIONS IN LIFE
“I believe that career success now has a different
meaning for many young professionals of my generation.
Instead of trying to climb the corporate ladder from one
titletoanother,theystepsidewaysandtrytodesigntheir
own paths. I have only recently realised that, for me, this
really means having my own practice. In my mind, being
self-employed is the more ambitious route. Success isn’t
having the top title in the biggest company but about
how much control you have and the much creative,
social, cognitive and lifestyle benefits that come
from building your own kit career. With this
said, God willing, I would like to successfully
have my business and life coaching practice
for women. Wearing the Islamic scarf, I know
how difficult it can sometimes be in the cor-
porate world. I would like to support, moti-
vate and encourage women to step forward
in their personal and professional lives with
confidence. While preparing myself to be a
certified coach from a Canadian school
and my mentor, I genuinely stay fo-
cused in my current position. I am
passionate about all things related
to marketing, communications,
digital and social media and my
jobisaboutitallatClicPublish-
ing Ltd,” she tells us.
BEING A WOMAN
ENTREPRENEUR
I may say I become an
entrepreneur occasion-
ally… I get creative and
make brides’ and bride-
grooms’ gift boxes for
the traditional gifts ex-
change in weddings. My
clients reach me via the
Facebook page Zwena
Wedding Touch which I
manage. All boxes are
uniqueastheyarehandmade.IalsomakeHennadesigns
on candles and canvas which can be personalised and
used for decoration purposes.
CHALLENGES
Women face many challenges as an entrepreneur.
“There have been many studies which revealed
common challenges as Finance and the lack
of business skills. During my research for
my MBA thesis, I found out that there are
serious communication issues at many
levels as well. For example, communica-
tion between entrepreneurs and bank
officials; the dissonance between what
entrepreneurs want and what banks
are able to offer. There are many fa-
cilities which are offered to entrepre-
neurs but they are unaware because
the information simply does not
reach them properly. Institutions
which offer facilities should
as well communicate to each
other so that there
is clarity for entre-
preneurs. Many of
them do get confused
from which institution
they should ask support
to,” Rizwana explains.
HER PASSION
AND INTERESTS
Rizwana says she has
always been mesmerised
by the power of authentic
communication in all of its
forms, both at the individual
level and on a larger scale. “I am a
word lover since I started reading my
father’s writings and poems during
my childhood. I love writing and am working hard on
writing a book. As someone who loves communications,
I’m fascinated and re-energised by the new demands in
today’s market place, but I also know that the basic prin-
ciples of communication remain the same. I know how to
integratenewandemergingmediaseamlesslywithmore
traditional marketing methods.” She has volunteered
her marketing and communication skills as a member
for Soroptimist International - Port Louis, a world-wide
volunteer service organisation for business and profes-
sional women who work to improve the lives of women
and girls in local communities. She also volunteers for
T1Diams, an association supporting and educating those
with Type 1 Diabetes. Her other interests are reading,
studying, writing, cooking and photography.
ABOUT RIZWANA
The happy wife of Merouane Jmari, a Moroccan na-
tive, and mother of two boys Rayn Ismail and Rakan
Azize, Rizwana Eathally-Jmari holds an MBA and BSc in
Communication Studies. She has a background in media/
broadcast journalism, in teaching, banking, video pro-
duction, communication, volunteer, new media, sales
and marketing. She began her career as a telemarketing
agent of Rogers Outsourcing Ltd just after her HSC at the
Mahatma Gandhi Institute so as to sponsor her tertiary
education. She is passionate in whatever she undertakes
and the result of having worn different ‘hats’ in her ca-
reer is the unique ability she has acquired, to manage
multi-disciplinary projects and navigate intricate chal-
lenges. Rizwana’s past experiences shaped her identity,
her weaknesses and her strengths. “All my experiences
made of me the person I am today,” she says. She is
passionate about people and about life. She discovered
that she can always keep learning and that best way to
learn is through other people and their life experienc-
es. Maintaining a positive spiritual mindset is her key to
achievements. She believes that consistent growth and
perseverance are essential ingredients of success: “There
is nothing for man except what he strives for.”