How Nita Ambani Has Emerged As A Mentor, Role Model And Catalyst

Nita Ambani’s role in Reliance empire is becoming more prominent now as the group is going more customer-facing. As it is evident from her key involvement in the creation and launch of Jio as a more powerful brand with an identity that is different from the long established Reliance tag, her soft touch is going to be will be an imperative element for many of the group’s future ventures that need a mass appeal. The profile of Nita, who debuted in the Forbes list of Asia’s most powerful businesswoman in 2015 at the top spot, is currently on the rise both inside Reliance empire and outside.

Naming her the most powerful women business leaders in Asia, Forbes also said, “In a country where billionaire wives tend to remain in the shadow of their husbands, Nita’s rising profile in the Reliance empire is unusual.” Perhaps, it is the positive influence that she could make in the critical business decisions at Reliance, as described as “power near the throne” by Forbes that helped her gaining this new reputation.

Nita Ambani, though occupies a director’s post on the Board of Reliance Industries Ltd, along with an equity ownership that is almost equal to her husband and chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, doesn’t have any formal operational role in the oil and gas exploration giant at present. But, as chairperson of the group’s not-for-profit body Reliance Foundation, and as head of the company’s sports ventures, she juggles multiple roles.

Reliance Foundation currently runs a number of social impact projects, including a large chain of educational and healthcare institutions. While, the sports ventures include the Mumbai Indians cricket team and a joint venture with sports management firm IMG. Besides, she also sits on the board of EIH, the company that owns the Oberoi luxury hotel chain in which Reliance owns 18 per cent equity.

According to insiders, Nita has significantly broadened her interests in the group over the years and has already evolved to become an anchor figure in the key management, especially after the business split between the brothers a decade ago.

Certainly, her most important role behind the marketing and branding strategy for Jio was clearly seen at the soft launch celebration of Reliance Jio Infocomm, the new telecom entity of the group, in December. The grant ceremony, which was attended by more than a lakh people including onsite and offsite, and anchored by Bollywood celebrity and the brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan, fully organised and orchestrated by Nita Ambani.

When quizzed by media about absence of the well recognised Reliance name and logo at the Jio launch, Nita Ambani responded saying "This is a brave new world for us, so we decided, after much debate, to break away from the old."

And, wife Nita’s rising prominence in the group’s customer facing businesses is also duly endorsed by Mukesh Ambani. "I am particularly proud of her continuing contribution to sharpening our focus in our consumer businesses, whether it is retail or Jio. She brings together talented people, weaves them into a team and works with a missionary spirit to achieve her goals," he told in a media interview recently.