en
India
From the heart of a small community rocked by tragedy to the heights of entrepreneurial success, Dr. Jane Subha’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, vision, and sheer determination. Leaving behind a promising academic career, she transformed personal loss into a mission to protect and empower, founding PestÖTouch —a women-led venture that has defied expectations and shattered industry norms.
Dr. Jane began her professional career as a professor. However, after getting married, she decided to put her academic career on pause to focus on raising her child. During this period, her community was struck by a devastating Chikungunya outbreak, claiming the lives of several close relatives. This became a catalyst for Dr. Jane, sparking a deep commitment to vector control and a fervent desire to protect her community.
With support from her brother (Mr. Simon) who has the pest control industry knowledge, sister (Ms. Mary Sobhana), and husband, Dr. Jane launched PestÖTouch, a pest control service. The venture began with a small team, predominantly women, embodying a mission to empower women in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Starting out was far from easy. The team faced significant resistance, especially from male employees who were uncomfortable taking directions from women. Many doubted their capabilities, questioning how women could manage complex pest control operations. However, their determination was unwavering. Their first client, TVS, offered them a small area in Hosur to manage, a critical opportunity they seized. Another early supporter, Alltech, an animal feed manufacturer, entrusted them with beetle control, and they delivered successfully. Now we grown with 250 employees.
As PestÖTouch expanded, so did their challenges. Some employees attempted to undermine their efforts, trying to poach clients and start their own businesses. Despite these setbacks, they persevered and gradually earned the trust of major clients, including Bangalore International Airport, St. John’s Medical College, Goldman Sachs, Google, Mphasis, Reliance, Flipkart & KPMG -PAN India.
During COVID-19 lockdown we were in the field to help people and during that period we disinfected 9.7 million sft area across India.
Recognition as a women-owned business through WEConnect International has been transformative for PestÖTouch. This global certification opened new doors and provided the credibility to serve major multinational clients through JLL/CBRE. The support from WEConnect International has been instrumental in their expansion and growth. Recently, JLL invited them to start services at the new Boeing site, despite having a different preferred vendor, thanks to Boeing’s commitment to supplier diversity.
In 2022, Brookfield awarded PestÖTouch contracts for 13 tech parks to enhance diversity among their vendor partners. Same goes with Cloudnine hospitals PAN India. Sharing their WEConnect International Women-Owned certificate at a vendor meet garnered appreciation, marking a proud moment in their journey.
The story of PestÖTouch is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of a supportive network. From a small, resource-limited team, they have grown into a trusted service provider for renowned clients, overcoming challenges and reaping incredible rewards.
