Women's leadership is increasingly becoming more visible and recognized in various fields and industries. Women are breaking through traditional gender roles and stereotypes, and are being given opportunities to lead at higher levels than ever before.
Some studies suggest that women tend to exhibit more inclusive leadership styles and are more likely to foster collaboration and consensus-building within teams. They are also often viewed as more empathetic and better at handling interpersonal relationships.
The beauty industry has traditionally been a space dominated by women, and this trend has continued in the realm of women entrepreneurship. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global female cosmetic market size was valued at USD 445.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2021 to 2028.
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Women's Entrepreneurship 2018/2019 Report, women entrepreneurs are starting and running businesses at record levels worldwide. The report found that, on average, 40% of all entrepreneurs in 27 economies surveyed were women.
Many women entrepreneurs have successfully launched and running small businesses in the beauty industry, including hair salons, nail salons, and spas. Women's entrepreneurship in the beauty industry has played a significant role in driving innovation, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and contributing to the overall growth of the industry.
There are many women leaders in the organic beauty industry who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the industry. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in the Indian beauty industry. This trend has been driven by factors such as changing social attitudes, increasing access to education and training opportunities, and the growth of the middle class.
We bring 7 brands which are led by business-women and have acquired success too.
Forest Essentials- Mira Kulkarni
Forest Essentials is a luxury Ayurvedic skincare and wellness brand based in India. The brand was founded in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni to revive traditional Ayurvedic beauty treatments and ingredients. This brand offers a wide range of cosmetic products that are formulated using organic ingredients, such as herbs, flowers, and essential oils. Their products are inspired by traditional Ayurvedic recipes and are free from parabens, sulphates, and synthetic fragrances.
The brand has also expanded its retail presence, with over 70 standalone stores across India, as well as a presence in select luxury department stores. Forest Essentials products are also available for purchase online. In recent years, this brand has also expanded internationally, with a presence in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom.
About Mira:
Mira Kulkarni is the founder as well as the managing director of Forest Essentials. She is born and brought up in Kolkata, India. Mira has always had a keen interest in traditional Ayurvedic remedies and natural ingredients. After completing her education in the United Kingdom, Mira started working in the cosmetics industry, where she noticed a gap in the market for natural and Ayurvedic skincare products.
In recognition of her contribution to the cosmetics industry and her efforts to promote Ayurvedic skincare, Mira has been honoured with several awards, including the FICCI Ladies Organization Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Business Today Most Powerful Women in Business Award.
The Nature's Co.- Natasha Shah
The Nature's Co. is a natural and eco-friendly beauty and wellness brand. The brand was founded by Natasha Shah in 2003 to offer vegan products that are both effective and sustainable. This brand’s product line includes skincare, haircare, body care, and wellness products. The brand uses plant-based ingredients and avoids the use of harsh chemicals synthetic fragrances. Its products are packaged in environmental-friendly materials like recycled paper.
The Nature's Co. also has a recycling program, which allows customers to return their empty product containers to the company for recycling. The Nature's Co. has also expanded internationally, with stores in the United Arab Emirates and Nepal. The Nature's Co. has also teamed up with Indian hotels and resorts to provide its products to visitors.
About Natasha:
The Nature's Co.'s founder is Natasha Shah. In 2003, she began working for Amar Remedies Ltd. (ARL), a company that produces ayurvedic goods like toothpaste, ointments, balms, medicines, and cosmetic items. She oversaw the export section of Amar Remedies Ltd. and handled established markets like Dubai and Africa while also paving the way for future markets like South America.
She used natural homemade treatments for beauty maintenance as a youngster, which led to a natural interest in the topic. Since 2003, Natasha has been studying natural products, essential oils, and their advantages.
Ruby's Organics- Rubina Singh
To provide premium beauty products manufactured with natural and organic components, Rubina Singh launched the company in 2014. Cosmetic products are among the offerings from Ruby's Organics. The company makes its cosmetics with plant-based oils, butters, and waxes as well as mineral pigments. Ruby's Organics is renowned for devoiding of harsh chemicals. Ruby's Organics is the market leader in India for natural and organic cosmetics.
Since its founding, Ruby's Organics has expanded significantly. Ruby's Organics' dedication to utilizing solely natural and organic foods is one of the main factors influencing its success. Consumers who are concerned about the environment frequently choose the brand's products because they are vegan, cruelty-free, and devoid of dangerous chemicals. Since its founding, Ruby's Organics has generally had stable growth in its client base, earnings, and market share.
About Rubina
Rubina Singh is the founder and CEO of the organization. Rubina started her career as a makeup artist and was inspired to create a clean beauty brand that is free from harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. She has a background in fashion and beauty, and has studied at the London College of Fashion where she gained knowledge and skills in fashion and makeup., and has worked as a fashion stylist and a makeup artist. She founded her brand with a vision to provide clean and safe beauty products to Indian consumers.
Ilana Organics- Sheena Jain
In 2016, Sheena Jain launched the Indian cosmetics and skincare company Ilana Organics. This brand’s products are manufactured using natural and organic components including cold-pressed oils and plant extracts. The emphasis Ilana Organics places on Ayurveda is one of its distinctive features. The company develops skincare products that are powerful but kind to the skin by fusing Ayurveda principles with contemporary technology.
Ilana Organics has had a tremendous rise in popularity in the Indian beauty industry since its founding in 2016. The company is known for creating solutions that are soft and safe for the skin while still being efficient in treating a variety of skin issues. To interact with its customers and foster a sense of community around its products, the company has made use of influencer marketing and user-generated content. Ilana Organics has won praise for its goods from media and industry authorities. The company has received several honours, including Best Clean Beauty Brand at the 2020 Elle India Beauty Awards.
About Sheena:
Prior to founding Ilana Organics, Sheena worked in the corporate sector and has a background in finance. As she started having skin problems as a result of using chemical-based treatments, she became interested in natural and organic skincare products. This prompted her to investigate and test out natural components and Ayurvedic principles, which eventually gave rise to the idea of Ilana Organics. Sheena won the Elle India Beauty Awards for Best Clean Beauty Brand in 2020 as a reward for her efforts in the beauty industry.
Vedaearth- Priya Varma
The natural and organic cosmetics company ‘Vedaearth’ was established in India by Priya and Anurag Varma. Products from Vedaearth are well-known for their nourishing and restorative qualities. The company has received recognition for its goods by receiving honours including Best New Brand at the Nykaa Beauty Awards in 2018.
Since its launch in 2017, Vedaearth has accomplished several significant milestones. In the Nykaa Beauty Awards in 2018 and the Vogue Beauty Awards in 2020, Vedaearth won Best New Brand and Best Face Oil, respectively. The company uses compostable and biodegradable packaging for its products, which is environmentally beneficial.
About Priya:
Priya Varma is the co-founder of Vedaearth, an Indian natural and organic beauty brand. She founded the company in 2017 with the help of her husband, Anurag Varma, intending to offer inexpensive, all-natural cosmetic products devoid of dangerous chemicals. Priya spent more than ten years working in the IT sector before starting Vedaearth. She also finished a course in Ayurvedic beauty care, which gave her the idea to launch a firm in the natural beauty industry. Priya received recognition for her efforts in the cosmetics sector when she took home the Best Women Entrepreneur prize at the Startup Excellence Awards in 2018. She has also been highlighted in several media sites, such as Vogue India and Elle India.
Daughter Earth- Nidhima Kohli
Nidhima Kohli started the organic and eco-friendly cosmetics company ‘Daughter Earth’ in India in 2018. The brand's goal is to provide eco-friendly, effective skincare products that don't include any dangerous ingredients. The company offers a variety of products to address various skin issues, including acne-prone skin, ageing skin, and sensitive skin.
Since its launch in 2018, Daughter Earth has accomplished some significant milestones. The Good Buying Directory in the UK has given Daughter Earth the Ethical Certification for their ethical and environmental-friendly company operations. The brand has been discussed in many media venues, including The Hindu, Elle India, Cosmopolitan India, and Vogue India. Also, the brand has been highlighted in foreign periodicals including Tatler and Harper's Bazaar. Daughter Earth's product line has increased, and it is now accessible in several nations, including the US, Singapore, and the UK.
About Nidhima:
Nidhima Kohli has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the University of Mumbai and a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD Business School in France. Prior to founding Daughter Earth, Nidhima worked as an investment banker in London and Hong Kong for over a decade. She also worked at a private equity firm before launching her skincare brand. Nidhima's experience in finance and business has helped her in running Daughter Earth as a successful business. Her background in engineering has also helped her in formulating effective skincare products using natural and organic ingredients. In 2020, Nidhima Kohli won the Women Entrepreneur Award at the Global Green Beauty Awards for her contribution to the beauty industry.
Vilvah- Kruthika Kumaran
Vilvah is an Indian organic skincare and haircare brand that was founded by Kruthika Kumaran in 2017. All of Vilvah's goods are tested on people rather than animals and are cruelty-free. The company sources its components from regional farmers and employs eco-friendly packaging materials.
Vilvah has won several awards for its products, including the Best Hair Care Brand Award at the Nykaa Femina Beauty Awards in 2020. The brand has also been featured in various media outlets, including Vogue India, Elle India, and Harper's Bazaar India. In terms of competition, Vilvah operates in a crowded market with several other organic skincare and haircare brands. However, the brand has been able to differentiate itself through its focus on sustainability, use of locally sourced organic ingredients, and handmade products.
About Kruthika:
Kruthika Kumaran holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Anna University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Indian School of Business. Before starting Vilvah, Kruthika worked in the technology industry for over 10 years, primarily in product management roles. She has worked for companies like Amazon and Microsoft in India and the United States. Kruthika comes from a family of farmers in Tamil Nadu, India, and has always been interested in natural and organic farming practices. She decided to combine her passion for organic farming and skincare to start Vilvah. Kruthika is married and has two children. She balances her role as a mother with her responsibilities as the founder of Vilvah.
