Brands
International Women’s Day special: Meet the ladies who created new inroads to success
Mumbai: As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are recognising the multitude of women around us who have truly moved mountains with their inspirational work. These women have redefined success, created new inroads and found a new and innovative path to succeed. Their names are stamped on the wall of fame even as these women create history in never-seen-before territories. Here are some remarkable women who have won us over with their success stories.
Falguni Nayar
Falguni Nayar launched Nykaa, a cosmetic and wellness products e-commerce website in 2012. Even she wouldn’t have imagined that ten years down the line the company will re-script history with a fabulous opening when the company launched IPO. She worked as an investment banker for many decades before the entrepreneurial bug hit her and she truly created an unparallel brand. Nykaa offers more than 1000 than brands and now has 35 physical stores in malls. Under their aegis Nykaa Fashion and Nykaa Men were also launched to cater to men’s grooming category as well. She has received many coveted awards and her work is now recognized as one the best in the industry.
Clelia Cecilia Angelon
She founded Surya Brasil, a vegan, natural organic multinational brand that provides alternatives to harsh chemical dyes. She founded this global brand in 1995 with a presence in two of the biggest pharmacy chains in Brazil. She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey from a small shop owner at a gallery in London’s Oxford Street, and is the epitome of the woman who can achieve everything she sets her eyes to. Over the years the brand has forayed into different geographies. A trip to Kerala led to this idea of starting a haircare brand, offering the goodness of Henna for hair. These products mixed with Brazilian and Ayurvedic herbs can result in red, burgundy, brown, copper, chocolate and natural black hair, without the impact of harsh chemicals.
Komal Agarwal
Komal Agarwal is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the circuit. She is the co-founder of Pebble, India’s leading smartwatch brand. Pebble has been named as one the fastest-growing Indian smartwatch brands by IDC. They also have Tiger Shroff as their brand ambassador. Under Komal’s able leadership, the brand has gone stronger and is leading the category. Their consumer-centric smartwatches, with affordable price points, have always won the hearts of the buyers for their utility factors. Recently they tied up with Hollywood studio Warner Bros to launch special edition GoT-inspired smartwatches. The smartwatches in collaboration with Pepe Jeans London are redefining denim for the wrist.
Karunya Sampath
The co-founder and CEO of Payoda Inc is not just acing the business aspects but also breaking the notion that women cannot deal with technology. She has put this tech-based company on a global pedestal and still soaring higher. The Computer Software Engineer from PSG College of Technology has truly made her alma mater proud. She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey only after gaining ample experience at global brands in the IT and service industry. Being highly skilled in Sales Management, Operations Management, Organizational Development, Business Development etc, she certainly knows how to hold the fort. And if this isn’t enough, she is also on the board at HealthViewX, AppViewX and Elyments.
Sanamdeep Chadha
As the director at Genesis Global School, Noida, this educationist has brought about a marked change in the K12 educational spectrum. The school provides world-class amenities which has made it a preferred institution for those seeking holistic education along with a sound foundation in their life. The force behind the school, Sanamdeep Chadha’s proactive attitude and unique ability inspires and fosters an environment that is conducive for students and educators to thrive together. She brings fresh ideas and dynamism to the education style of the country, her constant effort is to provide the latest ideas, technology and pedagogy. Working relentlessly for the past 14 years, she has evolved GGS into one of the best International Day cum residential schools in the region.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
