Guest: Harsh Mariwala, Founder and Chairman of Marico 

Host: Karthik Reddy, Managing Partner & Co-founder of Blume Ventures

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Harsh Mariwala, the visionary Founder and Chairman of Marico, as he shares his incredible journey from a family business to leading a multinational FMCG powerhouse. Hosted by Karthik Reddy of Blume Ventures, this conversation dives deep into the secrets of building successful brands, the importance of talent management, and strategies for international expansion. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just curious about the FMCG world, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice!

Key Topics:
• Harsh Mariwala’s early years and transition from family business to building Marico
• The journey of converting unbranded commodities to powerful consumer brands
• Importance of talent acquisition and retention in building a successful company
• The strategy of focusing on categories where MNCs were not strong
• Going public early and its impact on corporate governance and growth
• International expansion strategy starting with neighboring countries
• Acquisition approach to enter new markets like Egypt, South Africa, Vietnam
• Transforming Saffola from an edible oil to a health brand
• Advice for D2C brands 
• Creation of ASCENT Foundation to support and mentor entrepreneurs
• Marico Innovation Foundation's work in accelerating innovative startups
• Leadership transition and importance of clear roles after stepping down as CEO
• Hiring practices and key leadership qualities sought in executives
• Advice for entrepreneurs on grit, continuous learning, and creating differentiation

Check out Harsh Mariwala’s memoir of building Marico here: https://www.amazon.in/Harsh-Realities...

PS- Special thanks to Ultrahuman for gifting their cutting-edge rings to our guests and to IDFC First Bank for being our annual partner.