The Woman Redefining Gender Norms in India's Luxury Auto Space

By: Ritika Jatin Ahuja, COO, Big Boy Toyz

Ritika Jatin Ahuja, COO, Big Boy Toyz is a celebrity entrepreneur and a renowned name in India’s luxury auto space. In a candid conversation with team WER, Ritika talks about the Queen’s Drive Club (QDC), her thoughts on empowering women and much more.

Who doesn’t like fast and swanky cars! But there’s a general perception that supercars are better off being driven by men.

This made celebrity entrepreneur, Ritika Jatin Ahuja, ponder, “Why should women only be the ‘passenger-princesses’ and not the ones behind the wheel?’

She thus founded the Queen’s Drive Club (QDC), an all-women supercar club under the Big Boy Toyz banner. The objective was to empower women to take the wheel, not just behind supercars, but also in life.

Recently, Ritika led the 5th edition of the Queen’s Drive Club supercar drive, where over 50 exceptional women piloted some of the world's most exquisite supercars, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren along the Gurgaon - Mumbai Expressway.

But beyond the flamboyance, lies a deeper objective. QDC partnered with Shanti Sahyog, an NGO, to train women in professional commercial driving and in turn create livelihood opportunities & financial independence for women in need.

The Women Entrepreneurs Review team caught up with Ritika to hear her thoughts behind establishing QDC, the larger vision behind the venture, and the unique perspectives that women bring to leadership.

Read the entire conversation to get a glimpse of Ritika’s firebrand personality and profound leadership insights.

As someone leading both Big Boy Toyz and Queens Drive Club, how do you see women redefining their role in the luxury automotive world?

Women are no longer just passengers in the luxury automotive space. Earlier at Big Boy Toys, it was often the husbands making the choices while women were driven by chauffeurs. Today, I’m proud to say women are taking the driver’s seat.

Through Queen’s Drive Club, I’ve seen more and more women walking into showrooms to buy their dream cars, not because someone else wanted it for them, but because they wanted it for themselves. This shift reflects the confidence women now bring to driving. And it goes beyond owning a car—it’s about owning their space, their voice, and their choices.

What inspired you to establish Queens Drive Club? Was the focus meant to be just cars, or was there a deeper vision?  

It was always about empowering women and questioning why they should remain passengers instead of driving their own journeys. Queen’s Drive Club was born during COVID, a time when everyone was facing different kinds of stress while confined at home. For me, driving has always been a passion; it’s simple, uplifting, and with some music, it gives an incredible adrenaline rush. I realized it was underrated as a way to find joy and strength.

Looking around, I saw women from diverse walks of life who shared this passion, and I thought, why not bring them together? I used to see my husband and his friends going for coffee drives and Sunday morning rides, and I felt there was a clear gap for women to experience the same. That’s how the idea occurred, to build a community that celebrates women, breaks stereotypes, and creates a movement around driving.

How has being part of Queen’s Drive Club helped women members gain a shift in perspectives?

I’ve seen incredibly strong women from diverse backgrounds, CEOs, entrepreneurs, mothers, visionaries, still feeling hesitant when it comes to driving a sports car. Through Queen’s Drive Club, that hesitance has transformed into confidence. When one woman saw another take the wheel, it inspired her to think, if she can do it, so can I.

Many of them already owned these cars but never considered driving them themselves. The club gave them the push to embrace that experience.

Today, Queen’s Drive Club has become more than just a community; it’s a platform where passion meets empowerment, and that transformation is truly magical.

How has your leadership at Big Boy Toyz and QDC helped break stereotypes in an industry often seen as male-dominated?

When I walked into car showrooms or boardrooms, I was often the only woman, and many assumed I was there to support, not to lead. That stereotype only fuelled my determination. At Big Boy Toys, every challenge, whether negotiating with brands, collaborating with partners, or building trust in the women’s community—taught me resilience and helped me earn credibility step by step.

With Queen’s Drive Club, the challenge was to prove that a women’s supercar club was not just possible, but powerful. Every no I heard only strengthened my resolve to turn it into a yes.

You’ve spoken about balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. How do these diverse roles give you a unique insight into leading women with empathy and strength?

I believe motherhood and leadership are not very different—it’s about how you manage, balance, and set an example every day. At the end of the day, children don’t follow what you tell them, they follow what you show them. I’ve always believed in leading by example rather than words. My children observe how I conduct myself, and that’s where their real learning comes from.

For instance, I want my daughter to see that being an entrepreneur and leading something meaningful is possible. Sometimes that means bringing my children into my workspace so they see firsthand that life isn’t always easy—you simply have to do what needs to be done. And when they witness that, they respect it even more.

LAST WORD: Advice for Women Who Want to Take the Driver’s Seat in Their Careers

I strongly believe in karma and luck, but also that there are no shortcuts to success. If you give your best and work hard, even if you don’t immediately achieve your goal, persistence will eventually align the universe in your favour. There will always be setbacks and disappointments, but consistency is what matters.

My advice to new-age entrepreneurs is simple: don’t give up. If you’re tired, take a break, but don’t quit. Too often, I see young entrepreneurs getting disheartened or impatient and giving up too easily. Success comes from believing in what you’re doing and showing up with consistency every single day.