---

I am a seasoned marketing and eCommerce professional with over a decade of hands-on experience in lifestyle and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. What sets me apart is my passion for products and storytelling. I love all aspects of product development, inventory planning, go-to-market strategy, and, most importantly, merchandising.

From the very beginning of my career, honing my communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills has been essential for both my professional and personal development. This journey has been both challenging and enriching, shaped by my experiences in various parts of the world.

Early Childhood

My childhood and early adult life were spent in the bustling and traditional cities of Chennai and Mumbai, India. I then expanded my footprint to Dubai (U.A.E), Milan, Italy, and finally, to the USA.

Growing up in India felt like living in a musical. There is always something happening—a festival to celebrate, gatherings to attend, a song for every occasion, and a dance number for every season! Food was always my favorite part…and so was dance. I’m a trained classical dancer. I started to learn Bharathnatyam (a classical dance form from Southern India) at the young age of 4 and then trained in Kathak (a classical dance form from Northern India). In-between these classical dance trainings, there were fun, up-beat, not-so-popular, seasonal workshops of Indian folk dances that added variety to my skills.

The transition from being a dance student to a performer was somewhat indistinct. What began at an early age of 5 in a school auditorium, continued through highschool, under-grad years, and early professional life. I attribute my confidence to speak, present, interact, and engage with groups of strangers, peers, clients, and executives was heavily influenced by her early dance performances.

As much as I embraced my creative side, I never lost the sight of my professional goal- leading a CPG or a Lifestyle company.

Being an eldest daughter, it felt like breaking a glass ceiling back then.

Early professional Life

The first step in my journey was moving to Mumbai, the economic capital of India. After earning a diploma from a competitive school (St. Xavier’s), my first job at Ogilvy and Mather was nothing short of a crash course in project management, client management, account management, and time management—all at once.

While a good education is important, there really is no better teacher than real-life experience.

My experiences as an account manager exposed me to unexpected opportunities in boardrooms, recording studios, and advertising shoot sets, pitching ideas to major companies like Unilever and Cisco, and successfully securing business for Mentos Confetti and Radio City. I had the unique chance to work across various advertising mediums, including print, TV ads, digital advertising, website marketing, and billboards.

Mid-career transition

After working in Mumbai and Dubai for a few years, I had an insatiable appetite to dive deeper into some of the most fascinating industries – Fashion and Lifestyle. But here is the kicker. I was not a designer. As much as I admired good design (in clothes to furniture and beyond), it was way out of my wheelhouse. Instead, I wanted to learn how to manage a fashion and lifestyle label. What does it take to create, run, and sustain a business in fashion and lifestyle?

Months of networking and researching lead me toa B-School in Milan- SDA Bocconi School Of Business. This school was known for its MBA and Masters in Fashion, Experience and Design Management course. There! That’s what I needed. A focused curriculum on how to manage creativity with data and strategy. My time in Milan as a student of fashion, design, and luxury management was incredible. It’s not just the education; it’s the lifestyle and culture that Milan offers which shaped me to who I’m today.

The transition continues

….more to come.