A Sense of discomfort was nagging Rahul Gautam, the softspoken managing director of Sheela Foams, all through his chat with Dan Smetana, chairman of Joyce Corporation, an Australian company he was acquiring. The cause of Gautam’s worry was a question that Smetana posed while they were discussing the details of the deal. “Will you rename the (Australian) company as Sheela Foams after the acquisition?” he asked. It was only when Smetana told him that in Australian slang the word ‘Sheila’ is sometimes used to describe a woman with loose character, that Gautam couldn’t help but laugh. He later explained to Smetana that in India ‘Sheel’ means just the reverse • chaste or pure. And ‘Sheela’, refers to the pure or unsullied one.
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FICCI women's arm set to add more chapters

THE FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), which turned 20 this year, proposes to add more chapters. It currently has five chapters - in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Coimbatore. "We are looking at setting up a chapter in Gujarat soon," said Ms Namita Gautam, FLO President and Director of Sheela group (manufacturers of Sleepwell brand products).

Speaking to Business Line, Ms Gautam said that apart from increasing the number of regional chapters, the organisation is also focusing on young entrepreneurs.
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