Karuna Veerapen-Goinden is the managing director of Mauritian clothing brand Kotpiale. As a child, she learned about the fundamentals and realities of entrepreneurship by supporting the family business. However, growing up she was quite uncertain about her future career path. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in Textile Technology at the University of Mauritius, she worked as a product developer for a key textile company in Mauritius. In 2014, she completed her master's degree in Marketing Management at the University of Mauritius, and applied her new marketing skills and business acumen to found Kotpiale with her sister in 2015. The brand has since become known among Mauritians for its resolutely local feel and designs. Karuna strongly believes that each individual has unique capacity, and with the right combination of determination and support, can achieve anything. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she plans to apply her new skills and networks to enhance the scale and impact of her brand.