Growing up in a small town and always participating in essay contests, debates, dance shows, and art competitions, she continues to build an astounding career as a global sourcing leader. In early childhood, she was fascinated with fashion; anything she set eyes on in the magazines or movies inspired her to dream of creating something herself and putting it on.
No member of her family had ever been on an airplane and she promised herself that she would one day be on an airplane. Her parents, although conservative in origin and not having a big budget, wanted her to pursue this fire.
She should not allow the circumstances to define her future even though money was always tight. She worked late nights drawing up designs, learned everything she could to get good grades and pushed against the bullies who attempted to undermine her self-esteem. In 1993, she was further tested with a life-threatening illness. It was a long and painful process but it made her learn the meaning of patience and perseverance and it helped her appreciate each and every day.
Upon completion of high school, she got a light of hope in the form of mentors, who prompted her to relocate to Delhi and pursue a degree in the form of Fashion Design. She put all her energy into her studies, as she had nothing to fall back on. According to Steve Jobs, to do great work, one must love what he/she is doing and she loved it at all times.
She got her first career opportunity at Modelama Exports in the years 2002 and 2004. She learned the fundamentals of product development, production, and manufacturing, but more importantly, she learned the value of human relationships and teamwork. Mr. Gulati, a key figure in her early career, not only gave her that first break but also mentored her with generosity and insight, helping her lay the foundation for everything that followed.
Between 2004 and 2021 she moved up the hierarchy at Triburg, learning about global sourcing cost bidding, TNA negotiations, risk management, and leading technology and quality control teams. In 2005 the daydream of that little girl sitting on an airplane came true because she was on her first international flight, to New York city. Triburg was more than a workplace; it was where she could not only receive professional achievements but mark personal ones as well; she married her partner in 2008 and had a child in 2011.
Among her notable work will be the development of a lasting pleated dress for a major US brand, which was worn by Meghan Markle. That is what she always thought: when product research, supply chain accuracy, and clarity come into symbiosis, you not only produce garments but also memories.
In 2021, she entered the world of Newtimes Group, which is one of the largest global sourcing companies. The last four years have quite literally been a blur of challenges and opportunities across a variety of brands and the driving development of innovative merchandising tools that simplified things and resulted in growth.
Newtimes has enabled her to get wings—not just exposure worldwide but also leaders who guide with empathy and with trust.
Their principle of product before profit appeals directly to her idea of values, and it keeps her going each and every day and engaging in the life of the company. Through this experience, she understands that she could not have done any of it without the wonderful people she has been able to work with. Their passion, vision, and common goal were able to transform problems into opportunities and concepts into achievements.
She owes a lot to these people who worked with her over a long or a short period of time and shared their intelligence, insights and devotion. Today, India stands at an inflection point in global sourcing as brands look beyond China. This is the country’s chance to lead—by championing locally sourced fabrics and trims, investing in vendors for technology upgrades, driving innovation in yarn and fabric R&D, and establishing incubation centers to fast-track material breakthroughs. If India acts with purpose and vision, it can position itself as a true sustainable sourcing hub.
Meanwhile, the industry is being changed by AI and automation. It is estimated that by 2025 up to 85 million jobs will be displaced, so professionals will be required to adopt such tools proactively. Technology does not measure the ability to put people out of work but expects to enhance the prospects, eliminate redundancies and transform what can be achieved. It is not about competing with machines, it is about working alongside the machines making jobs future-proof and opening up new areas of productivity and creativity.
To the new generation that is entering this field her message is simple there are no shortcuts. Be determined, be disciplined and be able to put every day a day of purpose and you will be able to do your best in the career you love. Muhammad Ali said: Do not take a count of the days; make the days count.
When you love what you are doing and are driven by passion, Monday mornings are like a candy store-invigorating, sweet and chock full of potential.
