Brands
Weekend Unwind with: Designer Jewellery founder Dishi Somani
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have DishiS Designer Jewellery founder Dishi Somani.
Without further ado, here it goes…
1. Your mantra for life
Ans: – Embrace the journey, with all its ups and downs, is a fulfilling way to approach life. It’s about finding meaning and growth in every experience, no matter how challenging or unexpected it may be.
2. A book you are currently reading or plan to read
Ans: – Recently, I read the book “The Maid” by Nita Prose, which is a gripping thriller centered on a maid working in a luxurious hotel who finds herself engaged in a murder case. It provides an exciting blend of suspense and mystery that I was excited to explore.
3. Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Ans: – In my fitness journey, I live by the mantra of strength over excuses. Every workout not only transforms my body but also fortifies my mind and determination. On my way to optimal health and strength, I welcome the challenge, push my past limits, and celebrate every small victory.
4. Your comfort food
Ans: – Indian cuisine, with its rich and diverse tastes, is my go-to comfort food, offering pleasure and emotion in every bite.
5. A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
Ans: – The philosophy that keeps me going when the chips are down is that “This too shall pass”. It’s a reminder that tough times are temporary, and with resilience and perseverance, I can manage every situation.
6. Your guilty pleasure
Ans: – Having creamy chocolate ice cream is my guiltiest pleasure, which offers a sweet escape from the stress of the day.
7. The last time you tried something new
Ans: -I recently began on a journey of following a healthy diet, a completely new experience for me, where I’m consciously making healthier food choices.
8. A life lesson you learned the hard way
Ans: -A lesson that I learned the hard way is that treating ourselves with kindness, understanding, and acceptance is important for building resilience and emotional well-being.
9. What gets you excited about life?
Ans: Life ignites my enthusiasm through the channels of creativity, continual learning, and the promise of personal growth.
10. What’s on top of your bucket list?
Ans: At the peak of my bucket list is contributing to groundbreaking innovations in AI and technology, which will help me to drive positive change in both my business and society.
11. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Ans: The advice that I would like to share with my younger self is to embrace setbacks as chances to learn and grow. Every mistake is a lesson, shaping you into a stronger individual. Adapt, persevere, and rise above challenges with determination.
12. One thing you would most like to change about the world
Ans: If I could get the chance to change one thing in the world, it would be to encourage greater empathy and understanding among every individual. Through empathy, we can bridge gaps, foster compassion, and collaborate to create a more harmonious and peaceful world.
13. An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
Ans: Yoga is my source of strength during tough times, recharging my motivation and energy. Its regular practice brings balance, clarity, and autonomy, guiding me through life’s challenges with strength and serenity.
14. What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Ans: – When life gets tough, the presence of friends, family, and as well as the excitement of travel uplift my spirits. Their companionship, support, and new experiences bring joy and renewal, helping me to overcome difficult times.
15. Your go-to stress buster
Ans: – Dance is my ultimate stress buster. It’s not just a hobby but it works as a therapy for me, lifting my mood and freeing my mind. Moving to the rhythm helps me shake off tension and find joy, no matter how bad the situation is.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
