Shirin Kumaana-Wadia was recently selected as the 2014 Outstanding Young Zarathushti Entrepreneur/Professional by the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce.
The award was presented to her at the Global Annual General Meeting of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai, UAE on December 18th, 2014.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chief Guest on the occasion presented the award to Shirin.
Below is the complete text of Shirin’s acceptance speech.
Hi Everyone! I am so excited and nervous at the same time… It’s an incredible feeling to be here…:-)
It is indeed an honour to receive this award from Lord Karan Billimoria. You, Sir are an inspiration.
I would like to thank WZCC, its chairman and board of directors, and the esteemed jury for selecting me for this award.
I would also like to thank Edul Davar and Sheroo Vispi Kanga for nominating me.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
There’s one very special lady in the audience –my mother –Ratu Kumana – whose constant support and encouragement has made all the difference in the world. Please join me in giving her a hand. She should be up here receiving this award with me!
As an architect and interior designer I strive to bring about creative excellence that enhances and transforms everyday experiences, be it a small home, a large palace, restaurants and hotels and even individual pieces of furniture or fabric, everything is designed with the same rigor and focus.
I truly believe that the power of design creates better homes, communities, neighborhoods, societies, cities, nations and ultimately a better world. It’s a better world that I strive to create, be it through my design work, my dance, photography or my spirituality.
Everything I do is with complete respect for another mother – Mother Earth. Let’s work together to make every year henceforth more sustainable. Let’s join together to respect this beautiful planet that gives us so much abundance.
Many of you also know that I run the Facebook blog – Shirrin ~ Love & Miracles. I started it as a way of sharing the words and images that inspire me and keep me on the wavelength of success on every level – mind, body and soul. I invite you all to check it out. I would love to be connected to you.
Success in my work has been so much sweeter because I have a strong personal network of friends and family who I work hard to cultivate and are the bedrock on which I stand. You know who you all are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I leave you with this quote. It’s one of my favorites.
“Outside of the Oneness, there cannot be true fulfillment and our energies will always be limited. However, when we merge with the Oneness, we become the Oneness, we align and synchronize with the creative matrix and our energies become unlimited. Only the energy of the Oneness is infinite and omnipotent because this is the energy of Life itself.”
I can’t wait to explore Dubai! Hope you guys are having a good time! Am sure you all agree that the Zarathushtis of Dubai have put up a fantastic show and I look forward to the next few days of Enterprise Dubai 2014!
Thank you. Dadar Hormazd