Mira Kulkarni Chairperson, Forest Essentials Mira Kulkarni’s knowledge of natural ingredients, time-tested formulas and her passion to create high quality Indian products with Ayurvedic properties, led to the formation of Forest Essentials. It was nothing short of a revolution for the Indian beauty industry, where luxury Ayurveda was previously unheard of. Kulkarni worked for many years with Ayurvedic doctors or vaids and Vedic scholars to curate a wide range of products, sourced from fresh, pure herbs, hand pressed oils, medicinal roots, precious flowers, and their infusions. These were prepared according to ancient formulations with exacting standards, and are now known as some of the finest, and award-winning products for natural, sustainable beauty. Since its inception in 2000, Forest Essentials has grown to have the largest network, with over 150 companyowned Ayurvedic beauty stores in India. It is also the first Indian brand in its category to have gone global with international stores in London, Dubai and Kuwait. That’s not all. It is the only Indian brand which is involved in the conception, formulation, manufacturing, bottling and sale of products through its own boutique stores. Forest Essentials is also the leading supplier to a majority of luxury hotels and spas in India including the legendary Taj and Oberoi Group of Hotels. Kulkarni’s successful journey as an entrepreneur and visionary leader has been honoured with prestigious awards, including Fortune India’s ‘Most powerful women in Business’ for 10 consecutive years and the prestigious ET Prime Women Leadership Awards for ‘Businesswoman of the Year’. “The most important ability that you have is not needing to conform to what everyone else Is doing.” Monica Chadha Founder and Interior Designer, Design Deconstruct The world of interior design is crowded with many names—however, Monica Chadha, the founder of Design Deconstruct has carved her niche by turning her attention to both aesthetics and functionality. Her journey began way back in 2005 with Genesis Architects, after pursuing a formal course in Interior Design from Apeejay School of Design in 2004. Prior to that, she graduated in English from Delhi University’s Hansraj College. Chadha was in her early 20s when she founded Beyond Spaces, which was later renamed Design Deconstruct in 2015 after Rishabh Kapoor joined the firm. What sets her apart from others is her skill and attention to detail. Her approach to any creation begins with comprehending the specific furniture requirements of the consumer, delving deep into their lifestyle and working collectively to build their dream space. For her, vision and design execution are pieces to the same puzzle. This is what led her to establish Furniture Crew in 2020, a vertical under the parent firm that creates bespoke and luxury furniture with utmost precision. Chadha takes inspiration from her travels, training, work and family life—which she eventually pours into her creations to bring out timeless designs. “Travel inspires me a lot! People who are very confident in their own skin,which is a rarity, yes, and a certain George Clooney.” | 37 | 36
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