Page 22 - Masala Lite Issue 158 | February 2024

22 IN FOCUS

Manish Sethi, social entrepreneur and
co-founder of Rescued Glass, on how

entrepreneurship for him is about
community empowerment, continuous
learning, and giving back. We work with many leading international schools to provide a platform for students to be
involved with social entrepreneurship and create awareness of glass waste. The students
BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES lead their own teams and all the profits that are generated are donated to a charity or
initiative of the students’ choice. As Rescued Glass is a passion project, my role is to support
the students and guide them however I can.

We also try to maximise our impact with our packaging. We made a conscious effort to
alking into the office of Rescued Glass with Manish Sethi, a charming, choose a partner who was sustainable as well. Our amazing partner is called Second
eloquent social entrepreneur with a passion for sustainability and a million Chance Bangkok, and they work with underprivileged women in the slums of Bangkok,
ideas running through his head; my eye is immediately drawn to a painting of who upcycle old clothes into unique and beautiful packaging for us.

a lone man sitting on a bench. Done with a breezy hand in eye-catching colours, it’s at once What challenges have you faced in running a social enterprise, especially one that you
peaceful and evocative: “it reminds me that entrepreneurship can be a challenging path,” started at such a young age? And how have you overcome these challenges?
Manish explains. “Many of us often see the end results and achievements of entrepreneurs,
but we don’t often see the journey, struggles, and process of getting there.” Honestly, when I first started, I thought it’d be easy. After having seen success stories on
social media, I thought, “how hard can it be to lead a team, and to start a social enterprise?”
Despite having only 22 years of life experience under his belt, Manish is clearly someone who I thought we’d grow 10x in a few months. But it’s been a great challenge, which has been
can’t rest on his laurels; his vivacious energy is constantly looking for the next passion project a great learning opportunity.
to sink his teeth into. He walks me through his first one, Rescued Glass, a socially-conscious
business focused on repurposing glass bottles, which was born from a CAS (Community, The biggest challenge was knowing how to get started – we had a mission and vision but
Action and Service) project during his years at NIST International School, and which was we were unsure how to get there initially. We’ve realised that to overcome this is to put
revived during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sustainability and how to make a difference was yourself out there, and to ask for help. It’s also getting over the limiting beliefs, the voice
taught to us a lot in school growing up,” he explains. “From this, you realise how important that asks, “how am I supposed to know what to do?” Another thing I’ve learned in this
it is for businesses to keep sustainability in mind, and not just focus on making profits. This process is to be patient. I’m usually so impatient; I want everything done now. But after
mindset was ingrained in me from my education and my upbringing by my parents, who having done this for almost five years, I’ve realised that it’s a slow and steady process.

always showed me the importance of giving back. Ever since I You mentioned that Rescued Glass is a passion project for you.
was a kid, we’d often visit orphanages and old people homes, Aside from that, you’re a man who wears many hats, and this
which made me realise how important it is for us to give back.” isn’t the first time that you’ve shown your entrepreneurial
side. Can you tell us a little about those?
As I look through the impressive array of repurposed glassware in
their office – a beautiful drinking glass made from the bottom of I think ever since high school, I’ve always been trying to learn,
a Belvedere vodka bottle here, a wine decanter with eye-catching make mistakes, meet new people, and do different things. One
curves there – I notice in pride of place is a poster of quotes, which of the things I noticed was that there’s a gap in VIP bodyguard
Manish tells me are ones that have inspired people in the office. security. I’d met a bouncer at a club and I really liked his mindset;
“Chase the vision not the money, the money will follow you,” his desire to learn and grow. He came to the Rescued Glass office
says one, “Don’t be afraid to start over, you’re not starting from where I’d teach him English, and I learned from him about the
scratch. You’re starting from experience,” another advises. In a security industry. I helped him build a brand called Pom Private
nutshell, this is what they do here, and what Manish clearly has Security, and together, we helped him to develop his skills in
at the forefront of their mind: “Thailand’s home for me,” he says communication, how to get clients, and use social media. It’s
simply. “I wanted to find a way to give back – to students, and to another passion project of mine. I also used to be a personal
others. No matter how small or big the impact is, it’s important trainer, with a handful of clients, and I really enjoyed that. Fitness
to put in that effort, to learn from others and give back. And has been a huge part of my life, and it’s transformed me, in a
that’s what we try to do at Rescued Glass: learn, learn, learn.” sense. Weight lifting really shaped my mindset of ‘resilience,
consistency, and discipline.’
Beyond this passion project, Manish has started a handful of
other businesses, and is also working with a climate tech startup On top of that, I enjoyed hosting parties while back in university
in London, where he’d studied Business Management at King’s in London, and I’d work part-time hosting Bollywood events
College London. He credits his time at the latter with solidifying his mindset of giving back which turned into a full-time events management gig for a while after graduation. But
through community empowerment and sustainable practices, and he tells Masala a little the lifestyle, working till around 5am in the morning, was too crazy for me. [Laughs] One
more about his journey to where he is today. of the craziest weeks we had was when we hosted three Holi events in one week, all while
juggling classes!
You said that university was a formative time for you in developing your current mindset.
Tell us about the ways that you leveraged your university education to change your You’re also working for a climate tech startup in London. Can you tell us a little about
approach to business and entrepreneurship. that, and the work you do there?

So many people focus so much on trying to get the best grades in university. But from my The CEO of my current company was my mentor, helping and guiding me through
experience, what’s also important is making the most of meeting new people, and being creating an impact with Rescued Glass. This start up opportunity came through him.
involved with different projects. I was involved with King’s Business Club, with the Indian We help companies report, reduce, and remove business travel emissions. I’ve been
communities in university, and a lot to do with social entrepreneurship. For example, I was working with them for a year, but I’ve been working remotely since I moved back to
part of a platform called Enactus, a platform for social entrepreneurship with universities Bangkok six months ago. It’s been an exciting learning opportunity to be part of a fast
around the UK, where we shared our struggles, successes, and ideas. What I really got from growing start up helping large corporates around the world to become more sustainable.
university was what I learned from others; the mindset of putting myself out there, meeting We’re trying to educate our clients and big businesses
new people, learning, making mistakes, and getting comfortable with making mistakes, why it’s important to have sustainable business travel.

which I’m still learning to do now. Any advice for those wanting to enter the world of VIEW VIDEO

How do you ensure that every aspect of your Rescued Glass, from production to entrepreneurship?

packaging, maximises social and environmental impact? Not being afraid to ask for help and being vulnerable is so

We are always finding innovative ways to upcycle and repurpose glass bottles that would important. It’s ok to doubt yourself during the journey, but
have end up in landfills. For instance, with a Heineken bottle, we cut the bottom part into what really helped me, and I think will help other aspiring
a drinking glass. However, we were wondering what we could do to make use of the top entrepreneurs, is to ask for help from people who’ve done
part. Something exciting that we’re doing is making trophies out of the top part of the it already or who have more experience in that field. It’s
beer bottles – this is an initiative that our team of students in Bangkok Patana School mostly about community. Our community is already so
have just finished, and our trophies were used in SEASAC (the South East Asia Student strong, but there’s so much more we can learn from each
Activities Conference) for their golf tournament. other, including advice on entrepreneurship, sustainability,
and giving back in general.
MASAL A LITE ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024