HARMIN KAUR
Ceo/co-founder, STELLAIRE
In 2022, Harmin Kaur co-founded the non-profit Women Venture Asia which sought to empower female entrepreneurs by providing them with access to networks and a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. Together with the board of directors, she helped design initiatives that would build an inclusive economy where women can reach their full potential because, as Harmin reasons, “when women thrive, economies and societies thrive”.
“I value loyalty. It’s all about long-term relationships. I’m tapping on years of relationships with the artisans we work with; it is about valuing these relationships, that’s why I’m passionate about sharing their story.”
Harmin has since founded a private enterprise that may look far removed from the non-profit – but only from a distance. Stellaire organises events and when it does it draws from disparate sources for inspiration. What they eventually deliver to the clients and their guests are elevated and immersive experiences that amplify whatever message needs to be disseminated. At its core, Stellaire, much like Women Venture Asia, hinges on Harmin’s innate abilities to bring people together for shared and transformative experiences. She is, at her core, a people mover. Once she finds a worthy cause, she will rally people around it.
A former banker with Goldman Sachs, Harmin has a network of UHNWIS from which she derives an understanding of the ‘intimate access’ that they prefer, particularly in art and cultural experiences. “I’ve always had the curiosity to profile artisanal legacy,” she says. “I’ve also spent a lot of time engaging and meeting with renowned restaurateurs and winemakers. What inspires me is their journey. I want to profile them and their journey, and share these with my guests as part of the whole experience of their products and services.” For its first event Stellaire held a private preview of an immersive Van Gogh exhibition which also featured an exclusive dinner created by Michelin-starred Chef Jonathan Zandbergen and a musical accompaniment by the jazz artist Alemay Fernandez.
Harmin views her entire journey as an entrepreneur as something very different from what she has done in the past. “I’ve always worked for MNCS, but I’m growing my own business now. It’s a very humbling experience. The lows are lower, but the highs are higher. The learning curve has been steep and without the resources that I was used to. I had to really believe in myself and my vision.”
Challenges notwithstanding, the business has given Harmin the freedom to build and create experiences for her community. “Our vision takes on a new dimension through exceptional encounters and specially curated moments, such as those that give exclusive access to culinary masters, legendary artists and performers, musical prodigies, high-fashion creatives, and innovators.
“It is not about profit ahead of relationships,” Harmin says. “It’s the other way around. Profitability will come eventually — for our clients, the artisans with whom we work, and our partners.”