Shikha Begwani Owner, Ophelia, Cosy Box and Toy Room Shikha Begwani dons several hats with much elan—that of an entrepreneur and restaurateur, and a self-confessed travel enthusiast. She started her journey in the field of hospitality with Ophelia—a renowned Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant cocooned in a five-star hotel in Delhi’s upscale Chanakyapuri. She’s also a proud owner of the Indian master franchises of Toy Room Club in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Her string of achievements don’t end there—she and her husband recently joined hands with Jean Bernard to bring Cosy Box, the official food partner of the Cannes Food Festival, all the way to Delhi. Besides, Begwani has also established Meette—an artisan bakery patisserie and Geode London—a restaurant and bar in London that centres around the fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. For her, luxury goes way beyond material possessions. “It encompasses experiences, time and overall well-being. It can mean having the freedom to pursue one’s passions, enjoying quality time with loved ones and savouring moments of relaxation and self-care,” adds Begwani. She loves her collection of Zimmerman Dresses. “I have bought something from every collection they launched and each piece I have is extremely special to me.” Begwani savours a glass of red wine when she’s at her favourite dining hub, San Gimignano at Imperial New Delhi, and Mamai Cale, Sochi in Russia. However, her most favourite comfort food is “dal rice.” Her all-time favourite cocktail is the classic Margarita. “It has a refreshing tangy flavour which makes it my perennial favourite,” says Begwani. “Luxury to me extends beyond material possessions to encompass experiences, time, and overall well-being.” Shilpa Sharma Creative Entrepreneur - Founder Breakaway, Co- Founder Jaypore and Mustard Restaurant Innovative and goal-oriented, Shilpa Sharma is averse to settling for the status quo. With a background spanning three decades in retail, consulting, and creative enterprises, Sharma has been living her entrepreneurial dreams for over thirteen years. After spending years building the Fabindia retail growth story, she set up a retail advisory practice to consult on strategic business projects in 2010 and worked on diverse assignments across large and small retailers. In 2011, she launched Breakaway, which was an outcome of her passion for travel and her diverse cultural influences. Close on its heels, in 2012 she co-founded Jaypore, an online retail portal for exquisite Indian handmade products and drove the vision of one of India’s most respected arts and crafts e-commerce brands. Giving shape to another aspiration, Sharma ventured into hospitality with Mustard, a concept restaurant in Goa and Mumbai with a close friend Punam Singh. Aside from these, she enjoys her work with FMCG, creative and lifestyle businesses as a consultant, mentor, and advisor. She has mentored Flourish, a global platform that envisions making ‘conscious consumption’ an accessible lifestyle. Sharma is on the board at AIACA and an advisor on the Bain Advisor Network. Her packed professional life does not deter her from maintaining an essential work-life balance. In her time, she is generally found travelling on leisure, mentoring women entrepreneurs and pursuing her creative interests. What’s her favourite luxury travel destination? “Ladakh, it’s always about how being there makes me feel. A luxury stay heightens the experience and is a bit like ‘the icing on the cake’...”. “Luxury is a feeling, an emotion, that is special beyond words… one that stays with you long after the experience of the product, the place and the people.” | 52 | 53
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