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Samyukta's first entrepreneurial venture in 2015 was Dandelion, a design sensitive sleepwear label. Following this, she launched two Indian restaurants, the fine-dine Michelin starred Jamavar in 2016, and more recently the hip and buzzing Bombay Bustle in 2017, in the UK— thereby bringing a taste of Indian hospitality to London. Born out of her love for luxury and fine design, next came Clove, a highly curated boutique in Bombay that features some of the sharpest upcoming designers and brands from India. In this exclusive interview with BeBadass, Samyukta shares what she’s learnt on this ambitiously successful journey so far.
What did your first venture (Dandelion) teach you as an entrepreneur?
Dandelion taught me to be entrepreneurial - it helped me understand the process of designing, launching and running a business but that’s a given when you start something new of your own. An invaluable lesson in the process has been to always be guided by instinct and to remember why you started when the going gets tough, take a break and come back but never stop.
There was a one-year gap between your first and second business. When and how did you know it’s a good time to begin something new?
I owe a lot to serendipity when It comes to my career choices. Believing that now is a good time as ever to start something new just made it easier to springboard when the opportunity presented itself. Moreover, I feel blessed that I was brave enough to believe and step up to it when it came along.
Between Clove, Jamavar and Dandelion, which one requires most of your attention and time?
When it comes to Dandelion and Clove I feel like I am still learning about the business and consumer buying patterns in a diverse and competitive market like India whereas with Jamavar and Bombay Bustle I am certain of my frame of reference and work largely on instinct. Be it the food or fashion when one engages in such varied businesses I don’t think you ever have the luxury to ever take your eye off the ball.
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Which business of yours is the most outside your comfort zone?
My work with The Leela focused largely on design development and operations. However, prior to our foray into hospitality, my family was in the garment export industry. Growing up I was privy to much dinner time chatter about International fashion and retail businesses. Hence, all my businesses stem from my childhood influences. They are extensions of my personality and what I am incredibly passionate about. Although given my love for all things food it’s hard not to veer towards the world of hospitality a tad more.
All your ventures are different from each other. What aspect unites them?
All of it stems from a place of passion - my love for food, design and fashion. It’s what I was surrounded with as a child and coming from a close-knit family my parents introduced this world to me early on. As luck could have it I took to it by choice and increasingly seem to enjoy it a great deal.
What’s the best and worst thing about owning multiple businesses?
It can sometimes get a little stressful and overwhelming but the beauty is that the lessons all feed into one another. On the whole, you’re always in a state of learning and that’s incredibly exciting for someone like me.
Define a Badass woman.
One who isn’t willing to give up on her dreams but doesn’t forget to be kind along the way.
Name a few badass women who inspire you.
My mother, Madhu, is on the top of my list. I am also blessed with a close-knit set of girlfriends who are successful, ambitious, kind and never fail to inspire me on a daily basis.
Your words of wisdom to someone who is too scared to leave the comfort zone?
If you don’t try you will never know and old doors won’t open new ways.
Samyukta's first entrepreneurial venture in 2015 was Dandelion, a design sensitive sleepwear label. Following this, she launched two Indian restaurants, the fine-dine Michelin starred Jamavar in 2016, and more recently the hip and buzzing Bombay Bustle in 2017, in the UK— thereby bringing a taste of Indian hospitality to London. Born out of her love for luxury and fine design, next came Clove, a highly curated boutique in Bombay that features some of the sharpest upcoming designers and brands from India. In this exclusive interview with BeBadass, Samyukta shares what she’s learnt on this ambitiously successful journey so far.
What did your first venture (Dandelion) teach you as an entrepreneur?
Dandelion taught me to be entrepreneurial - it helped me understand the process of designing, launching and running a business but that’s a given when you start something new of your own. An invaluable lesson in the process has been to always be guided by instinct and to remember why you started when the going gets tough, take a break and come back but never stop.
There was a one-year gap between your first and second business. When and how did you know it’s a good time to begin something new?
I owe a lot to serendipity when It comes to my career choices. Believing that now is a good time as ever to start something new just made it easier to springboard when the opportunity presented itself. Moreover, I feel blessed that I was brave enough to believe and step up to it when it came along.
Between Clove, Jamavar and Dandelion, which one requires most of your attention and time?
When it comes to Dandelion and Clove I feel like I am still learning about the business and consumer buying patterns in a diverse and competitive market like India whereas with Jamavar and Bombay Bustle I am certain of my frame of reference and work largely on instinct. Be it the food or fashion when one engages in such varied businesses I don’t think you ever have the luxury to ever take your eye off the ball.
Which business of yours is the most outside your comfort zone?
My work with The Leela focused largely on design development and operations. However, prior to our foray into hospitality, my family was in the garment export industry. Growing up I was privy to much dinner time chatter about International fashion and retail businesses. Hence, all my businesses stem from my childhood influences. They are extensions of my personality and what I am incredibly passionate about. Although given my love for all things food it’s hard not to veer towards the world of hospitality a tad more.
All your ventures are different from each other. What aspect unites them?
All of it stems from a place of passion - my love for food, design and fashion. It’s what I was surrounded with as a child and coming from a close-knit family my parents introduced this world to me early on. As luck could have it I took to it by choice and increasingly seem to enjoy it a great deal.
What’s the best and worst thing about owning multiple businesses?
It can sometimes get a little stressful and overwhelming but the beauty is that the lessons all feed into one another. On the whole, you’re always in a state of learning and that’s incredibly exciting for someone like me.
Define a Badass woman.
One who isn’t willing to give up on her dreams but doesn’t forget to be kind along the way.
Name a few badass women who inspire you.
My mother, Madhu, is on the top of my list. I am also blessed with a close-knit set of girlfriends who are successful, ambitious, kind and never fail to inspire me on a daily basis.
Your words of wisdom to someone who is too scared to leave the comfort zone?
If you don’t try you will never know and old doors won’t open new ways.
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