Born in the United States to Guyanese parents, Joshua Ramdehol is a naturalized Guyanese who gained his citizenship in 2010. The twenty-seven-year-old attended Marian Academy, School of the Nations, and is currently a third-year student at the University of Guyana pursuing a degree in Economics.
As a child, Ramdehol had dreams of becoming a cricketer or a businessman. His family, proprietors of Rose Ramdehol Auto Spares, no doubt bestowed on him the spirit of entrepreneurship. Proving it to be his nature at the age of fourteen Ramdehol pursued his first business venture by taking a loan from his mother to purchase mobile phones to sell. He would buy the phones during family vacations and later also began selling car alarms all as a way of earning his own money.
At age sixteen, Ramdehol began working with the family business in sales and maintenance. Today, he is the Manager of Rose Ramdehol Auto Spares and the secretary of the Auto Dealer’s Association. He also is the distributor of Mazzini tires, as well as the franchise holder of Hero Motorcycles with exclusive distribution for the English Caribbean and Suriname.
It was a visit to Panama that motivated Ramdehol to become owner of the Hero Motorcycle franchise. While in Panama, he was told that he could be supplied by shipping from Panama to Guyana, but when it was evaluated, it would not be a feasible investment. Proving that where there is a will, there is always a way, Ramdehol decided to go to the source of Hero Motorcycles in India. He learned that no one was doing distribution for the English Caribbean and secured the franchise.
In November 2018, Ramdehol launched Hero Motorcycles in Trinidad. He plans to have operations in four other countries within the next five years. The plan is also to have retail car operations in Trinidad.
Being an entrepreneur for Ramdehol has been more learning than challenging. Learning sales was the key for him. Though he has seen great success so far, he believes that he is in the foundation stage of his journey as an entrepreneur. He has not only proven that he is a visionary by expanding the family business, but his dreams extend beyond the world of auto-sales.
Ramdehol is currently in the process of forming a financial company called Stellar Financial. He is working with investors to raise funding. The company will be involved in retail lending and small businesses. Ramdehol realizes that there is a need for a middle ground in Guyana between the banks and the loan sharks. Stellar Financial will be the first of its kind in Guyana.
There is no limit to what one can accomplish with determination and support.
Without the support of family, Ramdehol believes that many dreams are lost. When a person is young, he believes that family support is especially critical. Regardless of one’s aspirations their family needs to listen to and hear their ideas, offer critiques and provide mentorship. Ramdehol is also passionate about seeing policy changes in Guyana. Having visited countries such as Japan and seen the success, he believes that with policy changes, Guyana can be on the road to creating more entrepreneurs to compete on the world market. It concerns him that, for example, in many countries entrepreneurs are given tax breaks when they start their businesses, but it is not so in Guyana where the taxes are also some of the highest in the world. Ramdehol also believes that Guyanese need protection of their industries from foreigners especially because of internet. He believes that Guyana can be transformed if we go through an Industrial Revolution. If electricity became inexpensive, he believes we could accomplish that. Many factories can emerge and thousands of entrepreneurs, through manufacturing. Young people can become billionaires, which will move Guyana forward. He cited China which has many young billionaires under the age 30. Ramdehol is also impressed with the example of Japan which is the largest exporter of cars in the world. He is inspired by their relaxed policies and their investments in their citizens. The fact that the banks in Guyana do not lend on ideas, but collateral is also a hindrance to the business community, concerns Ramdehol. “The private sector would grow, and we have the potential for billion dollars companies if the system was less aggressive.” Though Ramdehol is satisfied with the success he has had so far, if he were to do it all again, he would focus more on cricket. He is a part of a cricket team, The Cardinals, but still wishes he could have been an international cricketer. Nevertheless, being in business has been rewarding. He is satisfied with his achievements so far and happy with the direction his life is heading. Though he is so deeply engrossed in the business and has plans for expansion, he remains modest. Food, clothes, home, car to drive and cricket are the ingredients for his happiness. His advice to other young people is to believe in themselves, and he emphasizes that the foundation is very important for success. “If the best ideas, best dreams are not fostered, they wouldn’t go anywhere.” How did you arrive at the idea for your business? What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? What is your greatest challenge being an entrepreneur? What has been your most satisfying moment in business? What piece of advice would you give to other young people who want to become entrepreneurs? How do you define success? Who has been your greatest inspiration?
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Questions
The business idea(s) are a constant flow late at nights or a lightbulb moment throughout the day that comes from constant analyses of economic situations and the general business environment to determine where the wants/needs that are not being met and where the possibility of filling that gap may be. Hero was arrived at through this with the market having just very cheap, low-quality Chinese motorcycles and very expensive Japanese brands. There was no middle ground where affordability meets quality assurance. Stellar Financial also came from this method, with the current market having the banking system with a difficult approval process (low interest) and with loan shark unlicensed loan agencies (high interest) with easy approval. There is limited access capital that is both affordable and easily approved.
My key driving force as a teenager was the euphoric feeling I got when I created a small business of cellular phones at the age of 14 through importations and resale. I still remember vividly the first phone I sold and the name of the buyer.
The feeling and the taste of business was like a high I couldn’t get enough of. I still continue to thrive on this feeling. As I get older the notion and ideas of success and also the ability to pass the baton, along with helping others in life, are starting to take precedence even though I have many more years of entrepreneurship and business ventures to come.
There hasn’t been anyone great challenge but much rather several every aspect of creating a new business will be faced with banking, licensing marketing and supply chain, etc. However, for my ventures, the most difficult has been securing the necessary human and financial capital.
The best feeling was the sale of that first cellular phone in 2005, however, there have been many rewarding moments throughout the years. Acquiring the Hero franchise, along with being the youngest global dealer, were quite satisfying. I am certain the best moments are yet to come.
I would advise young people that the successful path of business will have many failures, but it is the natural process and transition of any successful entrepreneur or individual. Stay humble and hungry for knowledge, have the awareness that you can always improve your ideas and business, and to never give up on your dreams.
Success for me can only truly be defined as the understanding and willingness to give back to earth and mankind what we have benefited from them. Positively affecting change in the lives of others and restoring earth through the knowledge, connections and wealth we have obtained in our lives. Passing the baton, inspiring the youth of tomorrow, lending a helping hand. These are my ultimate goals as I grow older and become more successful as an entrepreneur.
I would say my mother has been my greatest inspiration through her dedication to ensuring all of her children were educated and teaching us all the valuable life lessons she has learnt throughout her life. Her humility, her dedication, her patience, I remind myself of these characteristics when faced with challenges.
