Leaders

A legacy isn’t just a story passed down, it’s the invisible thread that weaves itself into a person’s dreams, decisions, and direction. For many, family legacy becomes both a compass and a catalyst, shaping not only what they strive for but how they strive. Similarly, Rohini Manian was born into a legacy of enterprise and impact.

Raised in a family that ran one of South India's largest infrastructure businesses, covering airport runways to mining, Rohini’s early years were steeped in boardroom talk and balance sheets. Her entrepreneurial spirit was ignited around the dinner table, where conversations about strategy, numbers, and growth were the norm.

On the other side, her mother, Dr Ranjini Manian, founded Global Adjustments at a time when “relocation” only meant moving goods, not people. The company began its journey by helping Ford Motor Company settle into India, marking a turning point in the relocation industry.

Carrying this dual legacy forward, Rohini now leads Global Adjustments with a unique mix of business acumen and deep emotional commitment. Her leadership is not just strategic, it's deeply personal. Whether it's going back to work two weeks after childbirth or treating her 150+ employees like family, Rohini’s life is a testament to impactful leadership.

Tell us about your professional journey before turning into an entrepreneur.

I was raised to be independent, to think out of the box, and to work hard. Growing up around two very successful parents made me feel that I had to find success in whatever I chose to do. I studied business leadership in Boston, lived on my own, worked in Finance, and that time away from the family business gave me clarity.

When I returned to India, I initially joined my father and brother in real estate, but quickly realized that I wanted to work for myself.

My mother wanted to step away from the for profit business. She founded a nonprofit firm, Global Adjustments Foundation, which empowers women through financial literacy and emotional intelligence. We support over a 100 young women a year as Shakti Scholars, helping them become professionals, doctors, lawyers, and engineers.

That was the perfect moment for me to step into Global Adjustments, which at the time focused only on relocation. With my passion for real estate, I expanded our services to include property consulting and brokerage across India, then into the booming Dubai market, and more recently into land development and plotting.

Why was Global Adjustments established? What’s the underlying idea and vision behind the venture?

Global Adjustments started with a clear purpose: to help expats transition smoothly into India. But as we grew, I realized there was a bigger gap closer home. Indian families needed a real estate partner they could trust, someone offering transparency, intelligence, and real value.

That’s when we evolved into a premium real estate consultancy serving both global citizens and Indian clients. Today, we are actively building our brand in India and Dubai, offering curated property solutions that go far beyond just transactions.

My vision is clear. I want Global Adjustments to be one of the leading real estate firms in South India and eventually beyond. I am also deeply passionate about growing our plotting business. I believe land is the most valuable resource, because it’s finite, and helping people own the right piece of it and build communities around that is something I take great pride in.

What key responsibilities do you shoulder as the CEO of Global Adjustments? What are your current focus areas in terms of driving growth for the company?

As CEO, I lead with both vision and speed. I drive strategy, mentor talent, and build scalable verticals. I am responsible for growth, profit and loss, finance, team building, and I also play a very hands-on role in marketing, which is a real passion of mine. I truly believe that if you take care of your team, they will take care of your clients, so building a positive, happy work culture is a big priority for me.

I focus on expanding our real estate market share across South India, launching plotted developments in hill stations, and positioning Global Adjustments as the go-to name in luxury real estate transitions. Look­ing ahead, we are eyeing growth beyond South India, especially in metro cities like Mumbai and Bangalore. We have already entered plotting in Kodaikanal, and I am also exploring development along key corridors like Chennai’s East Coast Road. These are the focus ar­eas for our next phase of growth.

Looking back, which key milestones standout to you? What has been your success mantra?

Being appointed as an independent director for two major companies meant a lot to me. It proved that I earned it, and I didn’t inherit it. Taking our company international and succeeding in Dubai has been another huge milestone for me, and with 40–50 percent year-on-year growth, I am proud of how we have scaled sustainably.

My success mantra is to be kind, bold, and undeniable, and most importantly, to always be myself. Leadership, to me, is not about titles. It’s about holding onto your vision, even when no one else sees it, and having the courage to make tough decisions.

What is your vision for Global Adjustments? Which impactful industry trends are you aligning the company to?

I want to position Global Adjustments as one of the leading real estate and relocation firms in South India and eventually across the country. In Tamil Nadu alone, we already hold around 70 percent market share, and my goal is to push that to 80 percent.

We are now focusing on expanding our presence in Bangalore and Hyderabad, and within Tamil Nadu, I see a big opportunity in plotting, especially in hill stations, which are still largely untapped.

We are staying aligned with emerging trends like luxury second homes, which became especially relevant post-COVID, and even though not a huge fan of tech, I am embracing digital-first realty and integrating AI into our processes without compromising on the human touch.

Rohini Manian, CEO, Global Adjustments

Rohini Manian is the dynamic CEO of Global Adjustments, a pioneering real estate and relocation firm with a strong presence across India and Dubai. Raised on a foundation of independence, ambition, and business acumen, she studied Business Leadership in Boston. A second-generation entrepreneur, she expanded the company from a relocation-focused service to a full-fledged premium real estate consultancy.