“FAILURES TRAIN YOU MORE THAN SUCCESS DOES”

Vinita Jain, Chairman, Biotique, Delhi

DRAPED flawlessly in a beautiful saree, Vinita Jain exudes charm and a sense of calmness as she enters the room. Kolkata-born Jain is the brain behind the billion and a half dollar beauty and wellness brand, Biotique, which makes a range of skin, hair care and food supplements. Growing up in the hills of Darjeeling where her grandfather owned tea plantations, she studied yoga and Sanskrit and trained under the Himalayan masters. “It was the experience and learning during these early years that the seeds of using natural resources for skin and health needs got inculcated in me,” she says.

The beginning

The idea of combining authentic Ayurvedic recipes and modern technology took shape during her college days at the University of Delhi back in 1990. This took her to Switzerland to do independent research in biotechnology, work with dermatologists and study the ancient scriptures of Ayurveda—the Charak Samhita and Bhaghbhat

Nikanthu. But it was only after completing her marketing degree at the Stanford University, US, that she decided to launch the brand in 1992.

Close to nature

“The products are botanical extracts of plants, herbs and trees and ensure that the active ingredients in each of the herbs are monitored carefully,” says Jain. She begins her day with yoga and meditation that helps her stay focussed. And she is as passionate about looking at ways to improve the products now as she was when the brand was launched. “We don’t cover up problems when it comes to skin and hair care. We look at the cure to treat the issues,” she says. With the factory in Himachal Pradesh and a R&D facility in Switzerland, it was not a cakewalk for Jain to take the company where it is today.