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Otara Gunewardene is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur, philanthropist and fashion icon. Founder of Sri Lanka’s premier fashion and lifestyle store Odel, a brand that took Sri Lanka by storm offering designer and high street fashion for men, women and children; home ware, jewelry & accessories; luggage; perfumes & cosmetics; books & music; confectionery and food. More significantly, offering an unparalleled shopping experience that keeps shoppers coming back for more. From being a sole proprietor of one store in 1990, she pioneered a fashion retailing phenomenon and has piloted Odel through two decades of explosive growth and expansion and today over 20 Odel stores are located throughout the island. Otara has the distinction of being the first female entrepreneur to take a company public in Sri Lanka when Odel launched an IPO in July 2010. Following the entry of Parkson Retail Asia in 2012, Otara retained a 29.7 percent stake of Odel PLC. Her entrepreneurship was globally recognized in 2010 when she was named the best female entrepreneur at the seventh US Stevie Awards for Women in Business.She also heads the list of Sri Lanka’s Most Powerful Women compiled by Echelon magazine in 2013 and is featured in the Sri Lanka Rich List, a few of the many achievements of this incredible powerhouse, who has undoubtedly redefined the fashion retail and lifestyle arena in Sri Lanka. On September 11th 2014 Otara disposed of her shares in Odel PLC to the Softlogic Group. Her decision to sell out of the company was based on a personal desire to pursue her childhood passion; to ensure the welfare of animals and the development of the Embark brand which funds such programs. ==Early life and family== Born in the capital Colombo of the emerald isle, Sri Lanka . Otara came from a dynamic family; Norman, Gunewardene her father was one of the best known corporate leaders in the country, a past Chairman of corporate giant – Aitken Spence. Joining as an Executive he worked his way to reach the top of the corporate ladder. Delysia Gunewardene her mother - nurtured the Chitra Lane School for differently-abled children, giving them a new lease of life which started with two students and now second home to over 200; and Ruchi and Ajit – her brothers have etched their own prominent identity in the corporate world. Otara had a remarkable love for animals from a young age and her home was shelter to countless number of squirrels, rabbits and dogs and more. During her teens Otara volunteered at the Dehiwela zoo to learn about as many species of animals as she possibly could. A student of Colombo’s leading girls’ school Ladies College, Otara was involved in extracurricular activities ranging from ballet to athletics. She also excelled in high jump, hurdles and swimming representing the island internationally. With a boundless love for animals as a child, after graduation Otara read for a biology degree at the University of Bowlingreen, Ohio with ambitions to work with animals. While on holiday back home, she dabbled in modelling only to be drawn into it in a professional way – shooting for high profile brands and international apparel catalogues right after completing her graduation. It was during this time that fate had other plans; marking the juncture that was set to redefine Sri Lanka’s fashion retail and lifestyle industry in the very near future. It was the year 1989 that a chance request by an apparel manufacturer to help him dispose an assortment of export surplus garments led her to set up shop in the boot of her trusted car. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Otara Gunewardene」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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