House of Anita Dongre

Last Friday at #ANDweRISE , I found myself simply listening - something I don’t always get to do at our own events. Watching my mother, Anita Dongre, in conversation with Nirupa Shankar felt both familiar and surprisingly new at the same time. One, a first-generation entrepreneur who has spent over four decades building in fashion. The other, a second-generation entrepreneur shaping a large, evolving real estate and hospitality business. Very different journeys, but many shared truths. What made it even more special was the room itself - filled with self-made women across industries - as we celebrated one of AND’s most successful stores at Orion Mall, Bengaluru. A few things stayed with me: •Customer at the centre• I’ve grown up watching this first-hand - from my mother’s early focus on comfort and size inclusivity for Indian women. Hearing Nirupa speak about building “experience-first” in real estate felt like a natural extension of the same philosophy, in a different context. •Turning rejection into resilience• I’ve heard the stories of store rejections at home, but they land differently in a room like this. And hearing Nirupa speak about investor rejections - a reminder that resilience is constant, no matter the scale. •Women building with women• From my mother building alongside her sister, to Nirupa reflecting on her own journey with hers - it reinforced something I’ve seen up close: the strength that comes from women supporting and challenging each other through every stage. •Sustainability and long-term thinking• From conscious fashion to rethinking real estate with technology - a shared lens on building for the long term, not just the immediate. #ANDweRISE , at its core, is about sisterhood and community - a space where women come together across industries to share, reflect, and learn. A reminder that when women support women, ideas expand, confidence deepens, and ambition grows collectively. What stayed with me most was not just what they’ve built, but how they’ve built it - with intention, resilience, and community at the centre.

I’m happy to share that I’m beginning an exciting new journey as Retail President at Taffykids. Eager to collaborate with the team and help shape the next phase of the brand’s retail growth.

Thank you for the warm welcome and trust. I’m thrilled to join Taffykids as Retail President and contribute to the brand’s exciting growth story. Looking forward to collaborating with the team to build strong momentum and take our retail journey to the next level.