IndiaRetailing brings you a series in which we highlight the brand icons in India’s thriving fashion and lifestyle industry. Today, the spotlight is on Manish Vikram Asthana
New Delhi: No business can survive for long without a vision; even if it does, it would be susceptible to every disruption and upheaval that generally comes in its business cycle. It needs a leader who has the capacity to translate, create that vision, or make it clearer and turn it into reality. The very essence of leadership is having a vision in the first place. Moreover, as you can’t blow an uncertain trumpet, it should be clearly articulated so that they can manage and lead people. A team led by a visionary leader with a clear direction knows what it can achieve and how far it can go.
In this special feature, IndiaRetailing highlights the brand icons in India’s thriving fashion and lifestyle industry. Today, the spotlight is on…
Manish Vikram Asthana
COO, Business Head
Education
MBA (Marketing)
Career history and experience
20 +years of retail experience
Role and responsibilities
Heading the business and responsible for the growth and P&L of the business.
Strengths:
• Motivated and a good motivator
• Innovative strategist
• Relentless
Weaknesses:
• Impatient
• Hijacking the agenda
• Failing to set clear expectations
Aspiration
Open New U stores internationally.
Game changing retail technologies
• Digital Data Analytics
• Endless Isle (omnichannel)
• Retail Video Analytics
Skills that helped you succeed in this industry
• Big- picture oriented/clear, strong vision
• Eye for details
• Team player
Lessons and learning over the years
• Focus on Customers/Power of Consumer
• Need for speed and agility
• Omnichannel
• Digital transformation
• Data analytics
• Invest/Upgrade supply chain
Your take on the future of industry
Speed, convenience, personalization will be key. Also besides being omnichannel, the retailers need to give the consumer an omni experience.
Any role model in the industry
Falguni Nayar
If you had to pen down your top 3 learnings from your career
• Be data- driven
• Learn to adapt quickly as the business is evolving so
quickly and dramatically.
• Build relationships by remembering details.
Life mantra
“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road..” (Stewart Brand)
This article first appeared in IMAGES Group’s Business of Fashion Magazine March 2023 issue.
