Leaders

Planning and execution are the key aspects for the success of any company. Adept at both these qualities and much more, Gunjan Agnihotri has proved it all through her professional journey leading Amila Group. Gunjan spearheads various functions, from marketing to facilitating sales, and handles admin as well as HR roles at the company. Relying on sound business advice she ensures to take the right decisions that contribute towards the benefit of Amila Group. Despite giving her best, she ensures to improve herself each day.

Gunjan's success as a business leader is built on a sound educational background. She pursued commerce from the Delhi University and simultaneously joined a finishing school. After completing graduation, she went to Singapore for two years and completed MBA in marketing. Upon her return to India, she worked at an interior design firm for a year and gathered experience about people management. She then started her venture, Amila Finishing Lounge, before foraying into the real estate sector and launching Amila Hills, a real estate project situated in Shimla.

The Women Entrepreneur team had a conversation with Gunjan, where she speaks about her professional journey, views on leadership and much more. Here are choice excerpts from the conversation.

Tell us about the philosophy behind Amila group. What aspects do you find most challenging as the director and how do you overcome these challenges?

It has been 15 years since the company was founded but the name Amila Group came into existence just 4-5 years back. We are a group of diligent workers and want to repay the community with what we have taken in the process of growing up and this is what Amila means (trustworthy and diligent worker). My father always wanted to reward the earth and India in the best possible way.

I am a damage controller, as I can deal with any problem that comes along the decision making process, at the right time. I also believe in growing my team and keeping everyone content and happy, by investing in them. If the team flourishes, the company will benefit from it.

We are a medium level company with a small team. In such cases, one has to participate in every decision-making process. Therefore, I am part of the major decisions that are taken at our company apart from planning. I try to give my best every single day and like to create ideal situations. With my journey, I am learning to focus on the areas in which I need to improve.

What are the most significant achievements or milestones that you have achieved so far?

Initially at Amila Group, my father did not assign me any work for one year. I utilised those days to start online learning and also worked with a couple of NGOs. That was the time, when I made my whole business plan for Amila Finishing Lounge. Today, when I look back, I realise how much I have struggled along with my team, to bring the company to a level at which it is currently.

We are planning to come up with a 60-acre development project in Shimla. Amila Hills is an initiative through which we want to provide luxurious fields and simultaneously increase the beauty quotient of Indian hills.

Today, I carry every responsibility of the industry for which I feel immensely proud. I also have the potential to adjust according to the situation and do not have a static personality. I am a process and protocol-oriented woman.

“I am a damage controller, as i can deal with any problem that comes along the decision making process, at the right time”

Being in such a highly demanding position, how you have balanced your professional and personal life? Are there any hobbies/activities that you involve in?

Despite having an all-consuming nature of my job, I manage to strike a balance. I feel, there is a difference between hard work and smart work. If you are doing justice with your work, then 9-10 hours at the office is more than sufficient. If you are organised, know the agenda of work beforehand and have aligned your week according to a schedule, then you can manage all the facets of your life.

My husband is very understanding and all the credit goes to him, when it comes to my professional life balance. As he is ambitious himself, he understands both responsibility and accountability.

Though many women have already explored the real estate sector, it is still a male-dominated field. In your opinion what is the state of women in the Indian real estate sector? What challenges do women face in this sector? What can be done to improve women's representation in the industry?

Real estate in India is male-dominated because it is an unorganised sector. In India, the setup is wrong, there are no right rules and the processes are carried out inefficiently. It will be easier for women to be a part of the real estate sector once it becomes assembled. Currently, women are shouldering very respectable positions in the real estate sector. To increase women's representation in the indistry, the system needs to get aligned. Also, security is a major challenge for women in this field, as you have to deal with various kinds of people.

What would be your advice to the young women and girls who aspire to foray into the field of real-estate and entrepreneurship?

There are certain industries where people expect you to behave in a certain way. But in my opinion, one should not change according to someone else's needs. A woman should give time to herself and should assess the reason for being in a particular position. She should not leave her ethics and the moral values which she has gathered all along her journey.

Gunjan Agnihotri, Director, Amila Group

Gunjan pursued commerce from the Delhi University and simultaneously joined a finishing school. After completing graduation, she went to Singapore for two years and completed MBA in marketing. Upon her return to India, she worked at an interior design firm for a year and gathered experience about people management. She then started her venture, Amila Finishing Lounge, before foraying into the real estate sector and launching Amila Hills, a real estate project situated in Shimla.