Leaders

What key areas of expertise have you developed over the years? How did your education at USC Marshall and Harvard shape your skills as a business leader?

Firstly, business development and relationship building are the most crucial aspects because identifying opportunities, forging partnerships, and creating win-win collaborations are important in any field. Another key area for me is innovation and creative problem-solving.

When I started my first venture, BookMyPresents, a sustainable gifting business, I had to learn to adapt quickly and come up with practical, forward-looking solutions.

My education at Harvard also shaped me with skills in project management and operations, such as budgeting, resource allocation, and streamlining workflows. Finally, the significance of storytelling and brand building is significant in today’s social media-driven world. Storytelling is powerful because, at the end of the day, people connect to your story, not just your product.

What was the underlying idea and vision behind establishing GreenCove?

The key idea behind GreenCove was to change the way people work in India, by blending productivity with purpose. I wanted to break away from the sterile image of traditional offices, those black-and-white rented tables and chairs, and create something more inspiring.

Through GreenCove, I wanted to prove that one can run a modern, profitable business while also caring for the planet.GreenCove is built with eco-friendly materials like jute, bamboo, and terracotta, and rooted in a culture of recycling and sustainability.

A big focus was also on empowering women artisans and promoting Made in India products, so that our growth directly supports local communities. This ties in beautifully with the government’s Make in India initiative, which highlights India’s ability to innovate and manufacture locally, and in its own way, GreenCove reflects that vision.

Highlight the challenges you face in building a sustainable co-working ecosystem? How do you navigate through them successfully?

One of the biggest challenges was sourcing sustainable materials. Eco-friendly options like bamboo or recycled wood are not always easy to find in good quality, so I had to experiment with placing small orders, testing products, and building trust with local artisans and suppliers.

Another challenge was changing mindsets, because several people still see sustainability as optional. At GreenCove, we have made it part of everyday life, right from the interiors and furniture to recycling drives and awareness workshops. Over time, people experience the benefits of a healthier environment and naturally become advocates themselves.

The third challenge was creating awareness, since sustainable co-working is still a new concept in India. We address this by hosting events, collaborating with NGOs and schools, and showcasing our practices. Lastly, in our daily operations, we avoid plastic as much as possible and try to keep sustainability at the core of everything we do.

Looking back at your multi-dimensional journey, what key milestones stand out? What is your ‘success mantra’?

Launching my first venture, BookMyPresents, a sustainable gifting business, was very special because it marked the start of my entrepreneurial journey. At GreenCove, hosting Professor Chetan Solanki, the ‘Solar Man of India,’ was incredibly impactful, both for us and the community. Achieving a 90 percent retention rate at our co-working space has also been a huge milestone, and recognition from platforms like Advaita Awards and IndiaPreneur has given me the motivation to keep pushing forward.

I strongly believe in the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese philosophy that means finding your life’s driving purpose. It’s about finding the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Once you discover that, your work feels more meaningful and grounded.

How do you see India’s co-working and green business sector evolving?

Co-working spaces have experienced a boom after the pandemic, largely because work-life balance has emerged as a priority. The traditional nine-to-five is giving way to hybrid models.

Flexible workspaces are no longer just a trend; they represent a real structural shift. Stats say that over 36 percent of Indian employees now work in hybrid models, and co-working spaces here are projected to grow at a 20.6 percent CAGR until 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally. People are also becoming more health-conscious, seeking work environments that are natural, authentic, and supportive of their well-being.

India, in particular, is at an exciting phase with governance support and a young population leaning towards flexibility and sustainability.

Anuradha Jalan, Founder, Greencove

Anuradha Jalan, founder of GreenCove, Calcutta’s first sustainable co-working space, with the vision of redefining work environments in India. A graduate of the University of Southern California and Harvard, she is an entrepreneur who blends creativity, sustainability, and purpose in her ventures. Moving away from the sterile image of traditional offices, she built a space rooted in eco-friendly design using materials like bamboo, jute, and recycled wood while also empowering local women artisans and promoting Made in India products.