Isha Ambani

About

From a young age, Isha Ambani turned her home into a haven of learning and inspiration. She often reflects on her grandfather’s dream of building an oil refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat, as a vision that sparked her drive to create and innovate. And while working closely with father Mukesh Ambani and twin brother Akash in building Reliance Jio about 10 years ago, she learnt the value of perseverance and the importance of democratising technologies. Isha calls her mother Nita Ambani a “miracle woman” who taught her “how important it is to empower people, particularly the marginalised”. It is her husband Anand Piramal’s dedication to social entrepreneurship that inspires her to focus on healthcare and rural development. That’s not all. Her greatest teachers these days are her children, thanks to their endless curiosity and overflowing enthusiasm. Their innocence serves as a gentle reminder to stay humble, appreciate life’s simple pleasures, and treasure every fleeting moment. “They motivate me to grow, learn, and evolve as I strive to be the best version of myself,” says Isha. “When you are the granddaughter of the legendary Dhirubhai Ambani, and the daughter of Nita and Mukesh Ambani, you do not have to look beyond your doorstep for inspiration. I have been fortunate to live in the same home, and grow up breathing the same air with my role models,” she adds. Additionally, Isha also oversees the group’s 14 schools nationwide. At Reliance Retail, Isha is investing to innovate across formats and products to serve evolving consumer needs. She has been instrumental in boosting supply chain infrastructure and omni-channel capabilities of the retail entity, as well as building the FMCG business through acquisitions and tie-ups such as Campa Cola, Sosyo, Lotus Chocolate, Hamleys, and Urban Ladder. Currently, she is building a designer label powerhouse by partnering with Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Anamika Khanna and Ritu Kumar, among others. Isha completed 10 years on the board of Reliance Retail last year. When she joined the business in FY15, Reliance Retail had 2,621 stores, which increased to 19,102 stores as of December 2024. The company’s gross revenue rose 17.8% year-on-year to ₹3.07 lakh crore in FY24, while net profit increased 20.9% to ₹11,101 crore. Isha also joined the board of Reliance Industries Ltd along with brothers Akash and Anant in November 2023.