Nisaba Godrej: Driving Growth

Nisaba Adi ‘Nisa’ Godrej is credited with taking Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) where it is today. Project Leapfrog, initiated by her in 2007, put GCPL on the road to organic growth through innovation and consolidation, while also making it a more global company by investing in emerging markets outside India.

The youngest daughter of Adi Godrej, Chairman of the diversified Godrej Group, Nisaba also helped turn around Godrej Agrovet in 2008, when she appointed Mark Kahn (her classmate at Harvard) Executive Vice President at Godrej Agrovet, which would open the doors for foreign hires in leadership positions in Godrej. Nisaba is passionate about identifying and developing the talent required for the Godrej Group’s future growth. By overseeing the Group HR function for Godrej Industries and associate companies, she has made Godrej a meritocratic and highly performance-driven organisation, while keeping the group’s values at the forefront.

Passionate about her work, Nisaba believes in consistently challenging herself. Barely a month after her son was born, she resumed work, often taking the toddler to work. She was appointed Executive Chairperson of GCPL in 2017 becoming at the time the youngest chairperson of a company whose consolidated revenue was Rs 9,600 crore.

Nisaba has also been handling the corporate strategy for Godrej Industries and its sister companies, transforming while being inclusive and consistently engaging with the employees. Some of the innovative and popular products like Re 1 mosquito repellent for Good knight Fast Card and a Hit Anti-Roach Gel were launched by GCPL under her supervision. GCPL also entered the salon business with the company reportedly investing 30 per cent in BBlunt, a salon chain owned by Adhuna Bhabani and Osh Bhabani. They have also launched an exclusive range of hair care products under the brand name BBlunt.

Nisaba has also put her heart into social work. Currently she is on the boards of GCPL, Godrej Agrovet and Teach for India, providing education in low-income schools and recruiting college graduates and working professionals as full-time teachers for two years. She’s also driving the Godrej Group’s ‘Good & Green’ CSR initiative and heads the operations of the Godrej Family Council. Though her entry into the family business may have come a little late, she has more than made up with her dedication, commitment and effective transformation of GCPL.

Passionate about her work, Nisaba believes in consistently challenging herself. Barely a month after her son was born, she resumed work, often taking the toddler to work