Women leaders bring unique blend of empathy & pragmatism to the workplace: Nisha Khatri

Adgully has consistently celebrated and acknowledged the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and leaders in various sectors. One of our notable initiatives, W-SUITE, focuses on highlighting extraordinary women achievers in the Media & Entertainment, Advertising, Marketing, PR, and Communications industry. In this updated series, we aim to explore how women leaders adeptly manage their teams and overcome challenges in the dynamic landscape of their respective industries.

In the world of fashion, where trends come and go, Libas stands out with its timeless philosophy of personal style, comfort, and storytelling. With over 35 years of presence in the market, Libas is a global online fashion retailer that offers a wide range of women’s clothing, from sarees and lehengas to suits and contemporary Indo-western outfits.

As Head of Marketing at Libas, Nisha Khatri is shaping the brand’s narrative and ensuring that every collection continues to resonate with the modern, empowered woman. She is an accomplished professional with 10 years of experience in digital commerce and marketing. Khatri’s expertise lies in leveraging a larger share of voice for brands on digital media and marketplaces, with a particular focus on social and live commerce to optimize sales. Her strategic approach in crafting targeted marketing campaigns has consistently driven revenue growth. Before joining Libas, Khatri had held key roles at Publicis Groupe as Associate Vice President and at Campus Activewear as Senior Marketing Manager.

In conversation with Adgully, Nisha Khatri, Head of Marketing, Libas, speaks about her work experiences that have shaped her leadership style, building long-term brand equity and customer loyalty, importance of empathy and pragmatism to the workplace, and more.

What key experiences from your previous roles at Publicis Groupe, Campus Activewear, Besiva, and the India Today Group have shaped your approach to your current role at Libas?

After a year in the industry, I returned to the ground level as an intern at Harper’s Bazaar (part of the India Today Group) because I lacked a formal fashion degree. After three intense months, my Editor-in-Chief recognized my dedication and offered me the role of Fashion Producer. At just 22, I was independently managing international shoots, which honed my confidence and resourcefulness. This thriftiness proved invaluable at Besiva, a startup where I juggled multiple roles with limited resources.

Reporting simultaneously to the CSO and CMO  during Campus’ IPO journey taught me to navigate exponential growth, which later benefited my role at Campus, especially during the challenging Covid years. It was here that I spearheaded the digital transformation pivotal to the 2020s.

At Publicis, I took on a leadership role with significant P&L responsibilities, establishing a new vertical for the group from scratch. This included hiring and training a young team, marking my first true entrepreneurial experience. These diverse experiences have equipped me with a broad perspective, enabling me to manage multiple departments effectively and engage in active problem-solving.

As the Head of Marketing at Libas, what are your main responsibilities and how do you prioritize your tasks?

I get to have a lot of fun with my current role at Libas. The main objective remains to strengthen the brand’s image and positioning, the goal is to create a lot of disruption in the category with our ever-evolving content and product offerings. While innovation is at the forefront of all undertakings, fostering a collaborative work environment for the team with empathetic leadership remains a priority in both everyday execution and delegation of tasks.

Strong outlining of marketing objectives and KPIs to measure success drive all initiatives. Focus remains on building long-term brand equity and customer loyalty, strengthened by data to prioritize tasks that promise the highest ROI.

As a prominent female leader in the industry, how have your experiences shaped your leadership style, and what unique strengths do you believe women bring to leadership roles?

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors and bosses throughout my career. Some were tough taskmasters, while others were more nurturing. Both styles significantly shaped my leadership approach, teaching me invaluable lessons on what to do – and what not to do – as a leader.

Bill Gates once said, ‘Empathy is the biggest skill we are all yet to acquire.’ This resonates deeply, especially when discussing women in leadership. Whether due to biology or inherent qualities, women leaders often bring a unique blend of empathy and pragmatism to the workplace. This approach not only fosters a more inclusive environment, but also nurtures both the personal and professional growth of their teams. With women at the helm, workplaces become more dynamic, innovative, and supportive.

What is your mantra for maintaining a successful work-life balance in the new normal?

There is no book written on work-life balance, this has to be figured out by all of us individually. You cannot have it all, at least not at the same time. Sleep is sacred for me, so I focus on clocking in my 7-8 hours on weekdays. Catching up with friends virtually, reading at least 10 pages of a book and every alternate day workout keeps me both energised and motivated. 

According to you, what makes women the best in crisis management?

The natural state of empathy and high self-awareness makes women careful listeners, which is crucial in crisis situations for gathering accurate information and addressing concerns.

Also Read: How women entrepreneurs in MENA are crafting an impressive growth story