“Strategic listening is an underrated superpower. Some of the most powerful things are never verbalised.”
If you were to eavesdrop on my conversations with some of the most inspiring women I know, you’d hear stories of courage, conviction, and creativity. You’d hear about the struggles that shaped them, the risks they took, and the moments that redefined their paths. These are women who, through their choices and leadership, have transformed industries, built brands, and inspired countless others—including me.
Lavenderoom was always imagined as more than just a beauty and wellness space. It was meant to be a place where conversations spark change, where collaboration thrives, and where stories are told with authenticity. This Women’s Day, I want to bring you into these conversations—to let you in on the lessons and insights that have stayed with me. If there were a Lavenderoom event, these are the voices I would want you to hear.
I asked them to answer any of these three questions:
What’s one beauty ritual you swear by? One piece of advice to your younger self? Who inspires you the most?
Here’s what they had to say...
Mini Sood Banerjee (Assistant Director & Head of Marketing, Amorepacific India)
The force behind Korean beauty’s presence in India. Mini has played a pivotal role in shaping the K-beauty landscape in India, overseeing brands like Innisfree, Laneige, Etude, and Sulwhasoo. A branding expert with a career spanning 16 years across beauty and advertising, she is also a strong advocate for empowering women.
Her beauty ritual:
“One ritual I really swear by is the double cleansing ritual. Every day, whenever I go back home from work, I cleanse my face with an oil-based cleanser first to remove my makeup, sunscreen, and everything. Then I use a water-based or a gel-based cleanser, and of course, it gives me the fresh and supple skin that I really want.”
Her advice to her younger self:
“One advice I would give to my younger self would be to prioritize authenticity over perfection.”
Her inspiration:
“The woman who taught me strength without shouting, kindness without weakness, and love without limits—of course, I celebrate her every day—it’s my mom.”
Komal Lath (Founder, Tute Consult)
Mastermind behind some of India’s leading beauty brands, including Minimalist. Komal has built one of India’s leading public relations, communications and brand-building advisory. With over two decades of experience, she is an investor, educator, and a fierce advocate for strategic storytelling.
Her advice to her younger self:
“Hi, so the advice I would give my younger self if I had to go back—I hate to admit it—but I would like to be quieter. I would like to listen more, and there is something called strategic listening, which is just absorbing the power of listening to others. I think as young founders, we are just so impatient to be heard; we think that speaking is going to get us noticed, but it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s like noise. So, if I had to advise my younger self, I would say listen more, talk less, because sometimes the most powerful things are not verbalised.”
Naina Ruhail ( Co-CEO, Vanity Wagon)
Championing clean beauty before it was a trend. Naina built Vanity Wagon into India’s most trusted clean beauty platform. A digital opinion leader and beauty influencer, she is redefining how India approaches conscious beauty.
Her advice to her younger self:
“If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be: you are strong, you are enough. There will be moments of doubt where the world tries to tell you who you should be, how you should look, what you should do, but hear me out—your worth isn’t measured by their expectations. So, speak your mind, dream bigger than they say, because you are powerful beyond measure.”
Tanve Gandhi ( CEO | Founder | Producer – House of TeeGee Productions )
ProductionsStoryteller, change-maker, and one of the most powerful women in Bollywood. With over 25 award-winning films to her credit, Tanve has worked on critically acclaimed projects like Mardaani 2, Queen, and Super 30. She continues to push boundaries in Indian cinema and beyond.
Her advice to her younger self:
“So, what’s the advice that I would give to my younger self? To never give up. To always remember that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, that people are actually nice and will step up to help you. And finally, through all of life’s roadblocks, speed breakers, and potholes, always hop, skip, jump—because it will be more fun.”
Kavea Chavali (Anchor & Co-founder, Kalaneca)
An award-winning emcee and a powerful voice in the events industry. Kavea has hosted events for giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon and has moderated discussions with icons like Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar.
Her beauty ritual:
“ The first point that comes to my mind if I have to tell you what’s my favorite beauty ritual, I would say drinking a lot of water. I love staying hydrated for two reasons: one, because it also sort of keeps my vocal cords going, it calms my nerves before I go on stage, and at the same time, it brings a natural glow and makes me happy. That’s my first beauty ritual.”
Her advice to her younger self:
“Hey, you know what, Kavea, you are gonna have a lot of blast in life. You are going to enjoy your life, so look forward to all the highs and all the lows, but enjoy.’ I think that’s what I would say to my younger self.”
Her inspiration:
“And number three, the one person who I really look up to, I would say, and I have said this over and over again, Shereen Bhan, the managing editor of CNBC-TV18. She is the reason I chose to be an anchor; she is the reason I chose to make my voice even more powerful. And with that, Happy Women’s Day to all of you.”
Prachi Bhandari (Co-founder, Aminu)
A scientist at heart, creating skincare that blends nature with research. Prachi has built Aminu into a brand known for its potent, results-driven formulations that prioritize skin health over quick fixes.
Her advice to her younger self:
“I would say take time for yourself, and your glow and sanity will thank you.”
Megha Asher (Co-founder, Juicy Chemistry)
Pioneering India’s first ECOCERT-certified organic skincare brand. Megha’s passion for clean, chemical-free skincare led to the creation of Juicy Chemistry, a brand that has redefined organic beauty in India.
Her beauty ritual:
“I can’t do without my facial oils. It was the first product we launched at Juicy Chemistry, and it’s something that I have been using for the last 10 years for my PCOD acne-prone skin. I swear by them; I think they are fantastic and suit almost all skin types when you choose the right oil. My current go-to has been the cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, which I use every single night post-application of my moisturiser.”
Also Read:
#BeautyInsiderSeries Korean Skincare Routine For Your 40s
5 Life Lessons My Anchor-Turned-Author Journey Has Taught Me
