Spinning a success story
In conversation with Dipali Goenka, CEO and MD, Welspun Living – an astute businesswoman and beacon of gender diversity
Dipali Goenka is the CEO and MD, Welspun Living (formerly known as Welspun India), one of the largest home textile brands in India with a turnover of $ one billion. Her focus on customer centricity, innovation and sustainability has helped the brand become a global leader in home textiles. She believes in celebrating every milestone and learning from every roadblock. “Everything that concerns my business is my responsibility. I manage the operations of the various businesses and products we have under Welspun Living. I also manage partnerships with our retail brands across the world. I am involved in meeting our sustainability targets for every year, and in the development of new and innovative products for consumers. I work towards ensuring the well-being and productivity of our 25,000+ employees. I truly believe a leader is as good as their team,” emphasises Goenka.
With the launch of her domestic brand Spaces and acquisition of global brand Christy which manufactures towels for the Wimbledon tournament, she turned the venture into a global leader in home textiles. Today, Welspun Living works with top global retailers and hospitality partners with a presence in over 50 countries. Welspun Living is the biggest supplier to the US with a revenue of $ one billion.
The page called life
Coming from a traditional Marwari family in Jaipur, she completed her schooling from Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School in Jaipur but a majority of her learning came from her mother Asha Golcha. “My mother instilled a sense of discipline in me and taught me the importance of work commitment. I try to imbibe her values in every aspect of my life and my success is a result of that,” she emphasises.
After spending a protected childhood in Jaipur, she came to Mumbai after her marriage to BK Goenka of the Welspun Group at the age of 18. As a dutiful daughter-in-law, she managed the family and home and mothered two daughters—trying to find a firm ground to balance it all—with a desire to learn and grow in life. When her daughters turned 10 and 7, Goenka decided to embark on her journey into the professional world. In 2002, she stepped into the family business Welspun Living. She was given the charge of the design studio but her husband was clear that she would not receive any special treatment in the office.
Armed with more passion than expertise, Goenka ventured on the shop floors to bridge the knowledge gap, took consumer insights, met distributors and worked on strengthening the design language. “I would commute to the factory every week, determined to grasp the intricacies of the business, all the while tending to my home and caring for my two young daughters,” she quips. Her perspective as a homemaker helped her bring in a different approach to business and move towards success. Within a year, she was ready to launch Spaces, a premium bed and bath brand under the parent company.
CEO with a soul
Goenka’s focus on providing top quality products that fulfil the needs of their end consumers helped transform the organisation into a leading textile giant. “Being in touch with what our core consumers, mainly women, desired in their home textiles was a game-changer. I would be the only woman in those
board meetings, passionately advocating
for the consumer’s viewpoint, which happened to be mine as well,” states Goenka. Her pioneering work and affection for people often led people to call her as the ‘CEO with a soul’. “Growing up, the importance of helping others was deeply ingrained in me. So, it felt natural to make a positive impact on society in the form of social initiatives like Wel-Netrutva, Wel-Krishi, and WelShiksha.
We have managed to touch almost five lakh lives in rural areas around the country. It is a way of life that brings me great satisfaction.”
A perfect partnership
Dipali Goenka believes that her marriage with her business magnate husband BK Goenka has been a partnership in the truest sense. “Even though we work as equals, it hasn’t stopped me from learning from him. I have always been thankful to him for giving me the opportunity to contribute to Welspun,” she says.
Goenka also looks up to Babuji (father-in-law) as her mentor in her professional journey. “To many, he was the visionary behind our company, but to me, he was a father figure and a teacher in the truest sense. Despite being my father-in-law, he wholeheartedly embraced me as his daughter. His guidance and unwavering support were instrumental in my development. He not only encouraged my educational pursuits, including my time at Harvard, but also fuelled my passion for personal and professional growth. His leadership was nothing short of exemplary, and I aspire to follow in his footsteps, hoping one day to embody his remarkable qualities.”
A rewarding journey
Managing the pitfalls on home ground, meeting the challenges in the US and gaining from the experiences along the way, Goenka’s professional journey has been exciting and rewarding. “My experience has taught me that crises are the best opportunities to innovate and reinvent. While focusing on employees and communities during a crisis is the right thing to do, an added bonus is that it also translates to good business.”
Besides managing textiles, she spends her day by dedicating herself to exercising regularly, and maintaining her physical and mental well-being. “I am also very passionate about dance—being a trained classical dancer, it is my way of letting loose. Reading is another hobby that helps me destress while also opening me up to new insights and perspectives. Unwinding with Tara, my pet, is my favourite part of the day. Spending quality time with my family is also something I hold very dear. We love catching up and sharing stories about our day, and travelling together. Exploring new places and experiencing different cultures and meeting new people from all walks of life add a wonderful dimension to my life,” concludes the CEO with a heart and soul.