In this special series, we present to you the professional journeys of women leaders at ABFRL to recognize the impact that they have created and become role models in their own right.
Every journey of women in leadership, whether personal or professional, has the power to inspire several individuals to chase their dreams and work towards being the best version of themselves. These journeys serve as a constant reminder that, come what may, when a woman decides to make something happen, she will. Suffice it to say, the power to bring about a positive change truly resides in each one of them. As we ready ourselves to celebrate the perpetual victory of good energy this festive season, let us take a few moments to celebrate the victories of the power women at ABFRL!
1. Radically empowering the fashion industry
Through her unique take on fashion, Masaba Gupta, a highly celebrated Indian fashion designer, has time and again grabbed eyeballs. She believes in the supremacy of creative expression and aims to create pieces that reflect a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. A student of P.V. Polytechnic of SNDT University, her love for fashion drove her to pursue a career as a fashion designer and eventually become an entrepreneur. She brings an abundance of creativity to the table and aspires to revolutionize the fashion industry. Her brand “House of Masaba” designs pieces that represent the modern woman. She celebrates her freedom of expression by launching quirky brands such as LoveChild, a mix of boldness with a hint of nostalgia. Under her guidance, her team flourishes and continues to bring to life, styles, prints, and colors that are both timeless and inspiring.
2. Creatively crafting impactful narratives
Janet Arole, AVP and Head of Corporate Communications at ABFRL, identifies herself as a creative thinker. Her determination to champion the communication strategy for brands led her to take up pivotal roles throughout her career. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in management in PR and advertising. She further pursued her MBA at Universitas 21, Singapore. In her 25-year journey at ABG, she donned several roles under corporate and business verticals in the retail sector. Apart from Corporate Communications, she has contributed towards brand building programs, CSR initiatives, reputation management and developing thought leadership. She was featured in the ‘Top 100 Influential Game Changers’ by Exchange4Media in 2021 & 2020. She was adjudged ‘2018 Professional of the Year’ Fulcrum Award for contributions in Communications and PR.
Under her guidance, her team has managed to boost the legacy of India’s most loved apparel brands and retail formats. Her ability to appreciate business complexities along with her tenacity to make things happen has played an instrumental role in launching insightful organic digital campaigns and newsletters. Currently, she heads media relations, manages media crises, drives digital channels, and spearheads communication strategies for ABFRL and its brands.
3. Making luxury and fashion accessible
Shuchita Chopra, Chief Business Head at Shantanu & Nikhil, believes in passion and perseverance. In her career spanning two decades, she has achieved innumerable milestones with several small and big success stories. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Delhi University, her penchant for different facets of the retail and fashion industry led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Apparel Design from NIFT. Apart from opening one S&N store after another country-wide, she has taken time to simultaneously complete courses on Strategic Management (Luxury and Lifestyle businesses) from IIM Bangalore and Digital Marketing: Strategies and Frameworks from the National University of Singapore.
Shuchita, has worked with more than 30 global brands across markets in the US, UK, and Europe in both mono and multi-brand environments. Over the last nine years at ABFRL, her result-driven performance, has laid strong foundation for sustained growth and expansion across the business verticals she has worked at – The Collective, followed by International Monobrands. She played lead role in launch of Ralph Lauren and Fred Perry in India, as well as contributed actively in formative years for brands American Eagle Ted Baker & Hackett.
In her current role as Chief Business Head, she is rapidly expanding the retail footprint of S&N by Shantanu and Nikhil. The newly launched Prêt Label is showing promising growth of more than 3x with over 15 S&N store launch trajectories planned under her leadership and guidance over the last two years. Shuchita is a team player who is constantly egging her team on with her persevering spirit to reach higher goals together.
Sunanda Sahoo, HR Head, Sabyasachi, ABFRL, is a woman who leads byexample to drive change by advocating for causes that make an impact in the workplace. She pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and HR from the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. Throughout her career spanning over 12 years, she has worked in several industries including manufacturing, financial services, consulting, and retail. In her current role as HR Head at Sabyasachi, she is committed and passionate towards work, inspiring her team members to dream big and to use their voices to influence positive and meaningful outcomes.
The women of today are defying all odds to chase their dreams. Not only have they achieved immense success in their chosen fields, but through their professional journeys, they have inspired many others to venture into newer arenas. The modern woman has an attitude to take risks, be bold and venture into the unknown with fierceness, and we, at ABFRL, salute their grit and determination.
