As I shared my journey, I realized how certain people have been my constants - showing up time and time again at every critical juncture, in ways both big and small.
Hussein Kanji of Hoxton Ventures opened my door to the world of startups and venture. As my first board member at POPxo, he was (and remains) my first call when things get really hard - from tough negotiations at 2 AM to brutally honest feedback when I needed it most. The one who started it all, who essentially set off my POPxo journey, and even today, he is the one I reach out to.
Then there's Rajan Anandan whom I met through his remarkable wife Radhika Chopra (founder of No. 3 Clive Road - India's finest tea brand). Those early POPxo days, exchanging insights over Sunday tuition classes while our kids studied - him walking me through term sheets and growth metrics. He became an early investor and guide to the startup scene in India, championing us in key rooms where we weren't present. Even today, no one matches his optimism and enthusiasm as a sounding board.
Vani Kola - a force of nature, as we all know. My first investor, mentor, and friend who cuts through noise with crystal clarity. From building POPxo to scaling Good Glamm Group to joining Kalaari as venture partner - she's been there through every evolution, through all the ups and downs. That year as venture partner taught me so much. Early morning on a beach in Sri Lanka during the Kalaari offsite, when I tentatively shared my dream of building again, her immediate response was trademark Vani: clear, encouraging and empowering. She was my first call when I wanted to take the leap back to building.
And Manan Jain - from junior analyst at POPxo to our Chief Growth Officer at Good Glamm. From 11 PM calls through endless fundraising pitches and team drama, to everything inbetween - we've truly built together. It's impossible to tell my story without him weaving through every chapter.
While countless others have supported this journey with their guidance and belief, these four have been my true north. Sometimes it takes a quiet coffee chat to remind you of your anchors.
As I begin the Coluxe | Conscious Luxury journey now, it is from a place of deep gratitude for the support I have been privileged to enjoy. It gives me confidence that while the path ahead might be interesting - we have the goodwill and backing of so many. The best kind of foundation to build upon.
Who have been your constants?
This post was originally shared by on Linkedin.