BW MIW: Mira Kulkarni - A Savvy Entrepreneur
Her grandmother once told her, “iI does not matter how small or large the task, you must try to be the best in what you do”, and this stayed with Mira Kulkarni, Chairperson of Forest Essentials, which is a skincare brand that has its foundation in Ayurveda. To date, Kulkarni follows her grandmother’s advice. We, at BW Businessworld, caught up with this savvy leader to talk about gender equality, leadership and more.
About gender equality, Kulkarni says “A diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment establishes a sense of belonging among employees.” She adds that while they respect the unique needs, perspectives and potential that all team members bring to the table, they have a high percentage of women employees at every level. She believes good leaders create new leaders. “If I had to narrow down to three traits of an effective leader, I think integrity, empathy and decision-making would be my priorities.”
When asked about a professional challenge she had to overcome, she said, moving away from the lure of rapid growth by stocking her products in pharmacies and other stores, she chose to build her brand gradually, and decided to have company-owned stores in prestigious locations. “This came at a price because we started with one or two stores a year, for at least seven to eight years. However, in retrospect, it was a wise decision because it actually helped build a credible brand with no marketing, just word of mouth and real customer testimonials.”
