The 2004 AWIB Entrepreneurial Leadership Award Winner - Hosneara Malik

Syntho Pharmaceuticals, Inc is a pharmaceutical manufacturing company located in Farmingdale, NY. The company produces hormone replacement therapy medications and other similar products. The business has grown 75 percent in the last three years. Revenues for 2003 were 5 million and is expected to reach 20 million by the end of 2004.

Hosneara moved from Bangladesh to the US in 1975 with her two-year old daughter, to join her pharmacist husband.

She started working at her husband's company as a Quality Assurance Inspector in 1980 and soon became supervisor. She then moved to a pharmaceutical manufacturing company as manager of quality control and regulatory affairs where she garnered experience in packaging, selling, marketing, buying and FDA regulations.

Hosneara's dream was to start a business with her family. She encouraged her husband to capitalize on their industry experience and was the driving force behind the founding of Intermax Pharmaceuticals by her husband Muhammed in 1998. Though she was active in the running of the company, she longed for her own - and founded Syntho Pharmaceuticals in 2000. The company manufactures hormone replacement products and steroids for post-menopausal women, urinary anti-sceptics, etc.

Her biggest challenge - cash flow and finding buyers. To solve the former, she developed great relationships with the vendors for her raw materials and supplies. They helped by delaying billing cycles, enabling her to sell the product to her buyers to payback the vendors. Finding buyers was harder, and she was competing against big manufacturers. But Hosneara's persistence would pay off. Anyone returning her calls was extended an invitation to view her manufacturing facilities and test the quality of her product. She received a trickle of orders. This steadily grew as she offered excellent customer service, a quality product and competitive pricing. To keep overheads low, she initially did most of the work herself with help from her husband.

From three employees she now has 25 employees working for her. Daughter Tithi, is mom's Director of Quality Control. This year, till September, Hosneara recorded $16 million in sales and expects to reach $20 million by the end of the year. Her target is to reach $50 million by 2007. Her products have made its way to Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite Aid, Safeway, etc.

Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to have determination and faith in oneself. Work hard, have a plan and stay committed to it.

Hosneara is actively involved in the community. She founded a school, an orphanage and hospital in Bangladesh is actively involved in fundraising for women's and children's causes in the Bangladeshi community. She is also involved with various religious and cultural organizations as a fundraiser and speaker.

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