My
Roots: A Legacy of Resilience
I was born in Nagpur, into a family where resilience
wasn't just valued — it was our way of life. My great-grandfather came to India
during the partition, with nothing but hope and courage. From living in refugee
tents to setting up a flourishing life, every generation in my family carried
forward that spirit. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all became
income tax lawyers and chartered accountants, creating a legacy rooted in hard
work and discipline. Growing up, numbers were everywhere around me — but my
heart was drawn elsewhere. I was the creative one ina family of number
crunchers.
Finding
My Path: Healing Through Fashion and Beauty
My relationship with fashion wasn't just a career
choice; it was deeply personal. As a child struggling with obesity, finding
clothes that fit was a constant battle. Body shaming was rampant, and shopping
for clothes meant countless visits to tailors, not glamorous trips to malls.
Those painful experiences left a mark. I didn't want others to feel the way I
did. Fashion became a language of hope for me — a way to make people feel seen,
beautiful, and confident.
I started my career at Pantaloons as a buyer in the
ethnic wear category. It was a solid beginning, but I craved more. I wanted to
create, build, and design at a global level. That urge led me to London, where
I studied Design Management at the London College of Fashion. Parallel to my
studies, I worked with LVMH's Benefit Cosmetics, learning makeup artistry from
scratch, standing at retail counters for hours, interacting with customers, and
deeply understanding consumer behavior.
Those months were brutal — juggling academics,
grooming standards, sales targets — but they shaped me. Later, when I returned
to India and joined L'Oréal as a Brand Manager, I was armed with real-world
experience. I managed massive marketing budgets, led campaigns, and lived the
"dream corporate life."
A
Shift Within: From the Glamour to Building My Own
As glamorous as my life at L'Oréal was, a gnawing
feeling started to grow. I realized that while I was contributing to something
massive, I wasn't creating anything of my own. The legacy of entrepreneurship
that flowed through my family called out to me.
I made a conscious decision to transition. I took up a
new role that challenged me in different ways and taught me the importance of
building lean, value-driven businesses. The experience was tough, but it
prepared me for the journey ahead.
What many don't know is that my choice to return to
Nagpur wasn't merely professional—it was profoundly emotional. After years
immersed in the fast-paced environment of major cities, I began experiencing a
growing disconnect between my work and my sense of purpose. During this period
of internal questioning, my father's health became a concern, which forced me
to reconsider what truly mattered in life. Being closer to family and
reconnecting with my roots suddenly became not just important, but necessary.
I moved back to Nagpur after years of living
independently across cities and countries. It was not easy adjusting to life
back home — sharing space, dealing with family routines — but with time, it
became a blessing. My father gave me a small office under his, and I finally
had a space to build my dreams.
Nagpur offered something the bustling metropolises
couldn't—a slower, more grounded rhythm that allowed me to follow my intuition.
Away from the constant noise and distraction of city life, I found the clarity
I needed. It was in these quiet moments of reflection that the true vision for
Mintree began to take shape.
The
Birth of Mintree
Starting Mintree wasn't an impulsive decision; it was
meticulously planned. I spent nearly two years on research and development. We
built a small R&D lab, hired a cosmetic chemist with prior experience at
Himalaya, sourced tried-and-tested formulations from reputed labs in the US, and
took no shortcuts. Stability, safety, and quality were non-negotiable for me.
By 2019, Mintree's manufacturing plant was
operational. We launched with a focus on salons, offering products like
pedicure kits, facial masks, and post-wax care — serving the niche needs of
professional salons. Gradually, we built a distribution network across
thousands of salons nationwide.
Today, Mintree is present in 7,000-8,000 salons across
India. We've also entered the Direct-to-Consumer space, launching products for
retail customers, expanding our presence online and through selected salon
partners.
Bigger
Dreams, Bolder Moves
We aren't stopping here. Mintree is in the process of
setting up a brand-new, larger, and more sophisticated manufacturing facility —
designed with better R&D and quality control parameters, aimed at making us
"acquisition-ready." We want to build a brand robust enough to
attract partnerships with global beauty giants. My dream is to see Mintree
products at every duty-free store across international airports — to become a
global name, just like the brands I once worked for.
Participating in Shark Tank gave us a big visibility
boost. While funding and partnerships matter, the biggest gain was credibility.
Today, potential partners, distributors, and customers look at us differently.
It opened new doors and gave us the momentum we needed to chase even bigger
dreams.
The
Heart Behind the Hustle
The entrepreneurial journey is relentless. Work-life
balance is almost non-existent. My days start early, end late, and are filled
with challenges that demand every ounce of my energy. Yet, there are anchors
that keep me grounded.
Spirituality is a big part of my life. I never skip my
morning prayers, I feed stray animals daily — cows, dogs — and I believe this
daily act of service keeps me connected to a deeper purpose. When the stress
gets too much, a long shower with music playing is my little escape.
Family is another anchor. Every night, no matter how
exhausted I am, I spend a few quiet minutes talking to my parents — sharing
moments of the day. That warmth reminds me why I chose this path.
Starting Mintree wasn't just a career move—it marked a
profound personal transformation. Over time, my inner circle has evolved, not
in size but in depth and quality. I've become increasingly conscious about who
I surround myself with—whether close friends who challenge me to grow, mentors
who offer guidance, or family members who provide unwavering support.
Perhaps one of my most significant personal milestones
was embracing solitude and learning to trust my own voice. In a world that
values constant motion and external validation, I chose moments of silence and
self-reflection. This internal shift—from seeking approval from others to
growing through intuition—fundamentally changed how I approach leadership at
Mintree. The brand isn't just a business; it's an expression of who I am
becoming.
When I look back, every step — every struggle with
obesity, every late night at LVMH counters, every high-stakes project at
L'Oréal, every challenging transition — has prepared me for this.
Mintree is not just a brand. It's my story of
resilience, creativity, and purpose.
And this story is just getting started.