As we usher in the new year, it’s important to highlight the women leaders making a significant impact across various fields. These pioneers, whether in politics or business, are breaking down barriers and setting the stage for future generations of women. Their leadership, defined by courage, innovation, and empathy, has a global influence. We look forward to their continued achievements and the new milestones they will undoubtedly reach.
Among the Most Influential Women Leaders to Watch in 2023 is Zarine Manchanda, the founder of the Zarine Manchanda Foundation. Despite numerous challenges, her determination and resilience have helped her succeed in both her business and philanthropic endeavors. Her foundation has made a notable impact on society, demonstrating the power of perseverance. Zarine’s commitment to combining luxury with social responsibility has secured her a prominent place among influential women.
A Journey of Adaptability and Vision
Born in Himachal Pradesh to a well-known businessman and state minister, Zarine initially dreamed of becoming a Bollywood actress. However, after facing many rejections in Mumbai, she shifted her focus to politics. Encouraged to start a charitable foundation, she established the Zarine Manchanda Foundation in 2019. The foundation has since conducted nearly 300 donation programs for the underprivileged in Mumbai, earning Zarine the nickname “Princess of the Poor” and significant media attention.
Building on her foundation’s success, Zarine launched the Zarine Manchanda café during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, the café quickly became popular with Bollywood celebrities. Her entrepreneurial spirit continued with the creation of Zarine Manchanda’s Heavenly Flavors, a cloud kitchen food delivery service, and a premium security company. Most recently, she introduced Zarine Manchanda’s Flavors of the Himalayas, bringing the first Himachali cuisine to Mumbai.
Turning Challenges into Triumphs
Zarine’s path to success has been marked by persistence. Initially focused on building a political career, she encountered significant hurdles in Bollywood, testing her resolve. Launching her foundation gave her new purpose and direction, enabling her to positively impact society and gain the support needed for her success.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought additional challenges for Zarine’s foundation and café. Nevertheless, her determination allowed her to overcome these obstacles, resume normal operations, and expand her charitable efforts.
Luxury with a Spiritual Touch
Zarine’s vision integrates luxury with spirituality across her various ventures. Whether in her charity foundation, café, cloud kitchen, or premium security services, each business reflects her unique blend of luxury and spirituality. This approach ensures that her customers experience both opulence and tranquility amidst Mumbai’s hustle and bustle.
Her foundation exemplifies this vision by offering luxury services to the underprivileged, reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a taste of luxury. This distinctive combination has allowed Zarine’s businesses to flourish in a competitive market.
Entrepreneurship in the Post-Pandemic World
Reflecting on the pandemic’s impact on entrepreneurship, Zarine notes that it has led many businesses to reconsider their operating models, with remote work becoming more common. While this shift has created a sense of isolation, it has also heightened the desire for meaningful connections. Zarine views this as an opportunity to foster community and belonging in her businesses, a concept she calls “spiritual charm,” which has contributed to their success in the post-pandemic era.
Looking Forward
Zarine’s perspective on reflection and advice to her younger self is unique. She emphasizes living in the present and looking forward to the future. After the recent loss of both her parents, she values each moment deeply and strives to live life to the fullest. Zarine is content with her life’s direction, believing that everything happens for a reason. She follows God’s will, engages in philanthropy, and runs her businesses with integrity. As a strong, inspiring woman, Zarine encourages others to stay focused on their goals and seize every opportunity. Her advice to her younger self would be to remain true to her values and trust in life’s unfolding journey.
Building Her Own Legacy
Zarine is future-oriented and has ambitious plans. Drawing on her extensive experience in managing successful businesses, she aims to continue her father’s legacy in her unique way. Starting with a foundation to help the needy in Mumbai, she has expanded into a luxurious seven-star café, a cloud kitchen food delivery service, and a high-end security company—all under her name. She plans to take her businesses global, with franchise inquiries coming in from India and abroad. Despite her grand ambitions, Zarine remains committed to her mission of doing good, showing kindness, and helping the less fortunate. She believes her businesses should combine charity, luxury, and spiritual elegance. With her unwavering drive, Zarine Manchanda is making a significant mark in the business world and is determined to continue her positive influence.
Instincts, Hard Work, and Risk-Taking
Zarine believes that while education is important, entrepreneurial success relies more on instincts, hard work, and risk-taking. She credits her success to her parents’ legacy and her own bravery and fearless attitude, which have sharpened her instincts and empowered her as a role model. Zarine’s view highlights that while education provides essential knowledge and skills, personal qualities and determination are crucial in achieving entrepreneurial success. This underscores how courage, persistence, and resilience shape one’s success and life’s journey.
Leading with Compassion
Zarine attributes her values of honesty, purity, and ethics to her mother. Her mother’s reminder that God is always watching has deeply influenced Zarine’s leadership style. For her, true leadership is about empowering her team and ensuring they feel proud to be part of her brand, rather than leading through intimidation or authority. This philosophy has guided Zarine to lead with compassion and a focus on the greater good. She believes the best leaders embody these qualities and strives to live by this standard every day. By prioritizing people and leading with integrity, Zarine has built a respected brand that positively impacts the world.
Exceptional Growth Path
Zarine has experienced extraordinary growth in her ventures. By blending luxury with a spiritual element, she has built a loyal following, establishing herself as a prominent figure in Mumbai and beyond. This impressive growth has caught the attention of the media, leading to numerous opportunities for business and philanthropic expansion on a global scale. Zarine credits her continued success to her unique approach of combining luxury with spiritual appeal, a quality that deeply resonates with her clients and customers. This focus on a specialized niche has generated positive responses within the business community, and her vision for her enterprises is both clear and promising.
Expansion Plans
Zarine is actively exploring new avenues to broaden her services and connect with a global audience. With a diverse portfolio of businesses in Mumbai, including a charity foundation, a café and cloud kitchen, and premium security services—all infused with a luxurious and spiritual touch—she is well-positioned for further growth. Her initial steps toward global expansion include franchising her café and security services. Zarine’s ambitions extend beyond business growth; she also aims to enhance her foundation’s impact by establishing free food canteens, ambulances, mobile medical clinics, and educational and care facilities under her name, thereby making a significant societal contribution.
“Can You Just Imagine”
Zarine’s life has been a remarkable journey filled with numerous achievements and recognitions. If her experiences were to be captured in a book, she believes it would be aptly titled “Can You Just Imagine.” This phrase holds deep meaning for her, as she often uses it to describe the incredible milestones she has reached in global branding and business, even in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her career is adorned with numerous prestigious awards, including two National awards, a Governor’s award, and the Nelson Mandela Peace Award, which conferred upon her an honorary doctorate. Zarine’s media presence has been consistent, and her influence extends beyond business into philanthropy, fashion, and politics. Her success stems from her bold vision and ability to envision and execute innovative, strategic plans for her companies. She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to think creatively and identify their unique selling points.
Words of Wisdom
Zarine offers inspiring advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. Drawing from her own experiences and achievements, she emphasizes the importance of boldness and taking risks. She advises new entrepreneurs to avoid following the crowd and instead discover and confidently pursue their unique selling propositions (USPs).
Her message is clear: success requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone and embracing innovative thinking. According to Zarine, this approach will lead to a more secure and successful journey toward achieving one’s goals.
Today, Zarine stands as a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who has made a significant impact on society. Her path to success has been filled with challenges, but her determination and hard work show that with perseverance, anything is possible. Zarine’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of resilience and the potential to overcome adversity.
