Perspectiv with Parthiv

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, about the journey of building one of Eastern India's most respected business groups.

From starting out in real estate by chance to creating businesses across hospitality, healthcare and education, Mr Neotia shares the defining moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey.

This father-son conversation talks about rebuilding after the sale of the family's cement business, why design is at the heart of every successful business, the importance of customer trust, and the philosophy that has guided him for over four decades. The conversation also explores leadership, legacy, family business, and building institutions that stand the test of time.

All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

04:25 - Decision to Enter the Real Estate Business

08:02 - On Udayan Housing Project and the Padma Shri

14:35 - Sale of Cement Business and Return to Real Estate

21:17 - On Rebuilding a Business at 45

27:17 - The Hotel Business and Collaboration with Taj

34:25 - Advice on Work-Life Balance

37:02 - Insights Into How to Keep Customers Happy

45:55 - On Legacy and Working with His Son

49:58 - Q&A Session with the Audience

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Anamika Khanna, founder and creative director of one of India's most influential luxury fashion houses, about building a global brand from India. 

From accidentally entering the world of fashion to redefining Indian couture on the global stage, Anamika shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey. She talks about why creativity requires courage, the business of luxury fashion, working with over 2,000 artisans, and the challenges of scaling a handcrafted luxury brand. 

The conversation also explores India's rich textile heritage, the future of Indian fashion, the launch of AK|OK, and why staying true to honest design has been the foundation of her success. 

All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:17 Early Days and Paris Fashion Week

09:12 Anamika Khanna’s Design Process

12:14 Experience of Working With Her Sons

15:52 Working with Artisans Across India

18:00 On Bridal Wear and Menswear

21:22 Creating AK|OK and Getting Investors on Board

30:02 On Social Media vs Creativity

32:20 Creative Collaborations with Celebrities

35:22 Taking Indian Textiles to a Global Stage

39:09 Closing Questions

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, about leading one of India's largest and most diversified companies through a period of remarkable transformation.

Sanjiv Puri shares stories from his early years in ITC and how he saw the company become a diversified enterprise spanning FMCG, hotels, agriculture, and more. He discusses the philosophy behind building new businesses, fostering entrepreneurship within a large organization, and creating a culture where innovation thrives.

The conversation also explores ITC's approach to brand building, capital allocation, sustainability, acquisitions, and the leadership principles that have shaped one of India's most enduring companies.

All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Timestamps:

 00:00 Introduction

02:51 Mr Sanjiv Puri’s Early years at ITC

07:13 How ITC Built a Culture of Empowerment

11:38 How to Successfully Diversify a Business

17:12 How ITC’s Hotel Business Started Off

23:43 ITC’s Competitive Advantage in FMCG

30:33 How ITC Makes Smart Acquisitions

36:24  ITC’s Sustainability Strategy

40:26 Mr Sanjiv Puri’s Learnings from his Career

51:52 Why ITC Chose to Stay in Kolkata

55:31 ITC’s Vision for the Future

58:15 Learnings from the Episode

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Varun Chaudhary, Managing Director of CG Corp Global (the company behind Wai Wai Noodles), shares how a boarding school snack became a global FMCG brand present in over 70 countries. 

Varun talks about competing with Maggi without matching its advertising budgets, maintaining the iconic ₹5 price point for over two decades, and how quick commerce is reshaping consumer behaviour across India. 

The conversation also explores family businesses, scaling across volatile markets, managing 200+ companies, discipline in entrepreneurship, and CG Corp’s future IPO ambitions in India. 

All of this, and much more, in episode 6 of Perspectiv with Parthiv. 

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

02:51 – Varun Chaudhary's Family roots: Migration from Rajasthan to Nepal

07:02 – Diversification strategy for CG Corp

10:07 – Varun Chaudhary's early career in Dubai

16:22 – The origin story of Wai Wai

20:55 – Wai Wai competing with Maggi in India

23:20 – India’s instant noodle consumption opportunity

27:24 – The ₹5 FMCG pricing phenomenon

33:22 – CG Corp IPO plans & India’s capital markets

36:10 – Nepal political unrest & personal losses

40:25 – Why India excites global entrepreneurs

45:24 – Varun Chaudhary's advice for young entrepreneurs

47:24 – The truth about third-generation businesses

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia is joined by Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director of Radico Khaitan, to break down the business of alcohol in India. From building brands without traditional advertising to navigating complex regulations, this episode is all about the story behind Radico’s incredible turnaround.

He talks about the shift from mass to premium consumption in India, the complexities of operating in a highly regulated industry, and why distribution and product quality matter more than ever.

The conversation also explores India’s evolving drinking culture and the rise of premium and luxury spirits. All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

02:33 - The Origins of Radico Khaitan

08:23 - India’s Alcohol Industry and Trends

13:17 - The Premium Alcohol Wave

17:27 - Collaboration with Shahrukh Khan

18:40 - India’s Tequila Trend

23:28 - Gen-Z Drinking Patterns and Western Influence

26:02 - Radico Khaitan’s Growth and Positioning

31:03 - Navigating Through Regulations

36:45 - Expansion into International Markets

41:57 - Advice for Newcomers in the Alcohol Industry

45:48 - Top 5 Takeaways

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Sudhir Agarwal, Managing Director of DB Corp, about the evolution of media in India and the future of print as a medium.

Sudhir Agarwal talks about Dainik Bhaskar’s unique growth story and how he converted an IT Raid into an accounting lesson for his company. He shares his views on AI in journalism, fake news, and the importance of credibility in a fast-changing media landscape. The two also discuss how India’s understanding of ‘family business’ is changing, and about the importance of media ethics.

All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Chapters: 

00:00 Intro

02:02 Origins of Dainik Bhaskar

08:04 Is Print a Sunset Industry?

12:34 AI in Journalism

17:07 Dependence on Government Advertising

20:23 Publishing in the English Language

24:32 When 100 IT Officers Came Knocking

26:32 Accurate Predictions of 2024 Elections

30:58 Views on Independent Journalists

35:29 On TV News’s Coverage of Operation Sindoor

41:38 On Next Generation and Succession Planning

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Sunil Vachani, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Dixon Technologies, about building one of India’s most important electronics manufacturing companies.

Sunil breaks down what it takes to build at a global scale in India. He also discusses the role of Private Equity and PLI Schemes in helping Indian manufacturing grow. He also talks about why no customer has ever left Dixon, and how manufacturing can reshape India’s economic trajectory. 

 All of this, and much more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:07 Before Dixon: The Weston Years

04:42 Starting Own Business

08:48 Views on Family Business

12:20 Running a Brand vs Manufacturing

18:05 Challenges of Manufacturing in India

25:35 The Importance of Private Equity 

29:51 Massive Leap in Dixon’s Revenues

34:52 Setbacks That Shaped Dixon’s Journey

40:16 Boosting Manufacturing with PLIs

47:02 What India can Learn from China

55:43 5 Lessons from Sunil Vachani

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Puneet Chhatwal, CEO & MD of IHCL, about his eight-year transformation of the Taj group and the Indian hospitality sector. 

Puneet speaks about reimagining one of India's oldest and most beloved hospitality brands and scaling Taj from 150 to 700 hotels. He talks about the philosophy behind empowering 40,000 employees, the economics of developing hotel properties in India, and the company's diverse brand strategy from luxury Taj to budget Ginger.

All of this, and a lot more, in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv!  

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

3:06 Return to India and Past Experience

7:42 The TAJ Ethos

11:02 Securing Taj Mansingh 

14:24 Navigating the COVID crisis

19:36 Taj’s International Expansion Plans

20:13 Favorite Hotels Across the World

22:14 Are Hotels a Viable Business?

25:13 Taj vs Oyo

28:40 IHCL Brand Architecture

32:58 The ‘Accelerate 2030’ Vision

36:10 Role of a GM

37:54 Favorite Taj Hotel

41:04 Taj vs Oberoi

45:05 Top 3 Takeaways

In this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv, Parthiv Neotia speaks with Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman of the RPSG Group on leadership across business and sports. Dr. Goenka also discusses his IPL ownership experience, and the leadership lessons he has learnt from the sport. The episode also takes a closer look at his Bollywood plans, and why the Dharma deal fell through. All of this, and a lot more in this episode of Perspectiv with Parthiv! 

About Parthiv: Parthiv Neotia is the Joint Managing Director of the Healthcare Division at Ambuja Neotia Group. He also serves as Senior Vice President of the Executive Committee at the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). 

Chapters 

0:00 Introduction   
05:25 The Hustle Years  
11:03 From Builder to Leader  
14:33 Business Philosophy, Future Plans   
18:14 Buying Smart   
19:49 Heart vs Head in Business   
21:17 The Deal that Didn’t Happen   
23:59 Why Fashion, Why Now?   
26:58 Corporate Culture and Leadership 
29:15 Becoming a Sportsepreneur 
34:29 What Success Truly Means  
43:02 Final Thoughts 

Introducing Perspectiv with Parthiv: A long-form conversation series hosted by Parthiv Neotia.

The show features thoughtful, idea-led discussions with senior business leaders and founders on leadership, strategy, and the decisions that shape institutions and industries. Make sure to subscribe to the channel to get regular updates!