Meet the dynamic entrepreneur Harsha Agrawal breaking the mould of traditional career paths and embracing her versatility as a Renaissance Soul. From studying media and communications to launching successful business conferences, and now leading the business of modular kitchens and wardrobes, she shares her unique journey and insights on career, creativity, and the power of following your instincts.
As we start our conversation, Harsha delves straight into the philosophy of Renaissance Souls stating, “Unlike the popular myth that we must all identify and pursue one single profession, there have historically been people like Leonardo DaVinci who have been many things- painter, sculptor, creator of the first design of a working airplane and more. The reason I share this is I have struggled all my life to be one thing until I discovered the concept of Renaissance Souls- people who are inclined and probably good at multiple interests and professions!”
Having given this context she continues, “I was always a straight-A student, but I never felt the need to stick to one path. I shifted from Science to get a graduate degree in media and communications while pursuing multiple side hustles as a voice-over artist, Latin American dance teacher, corporate event emcee, and more. I moved again from media to management when I pursued an MBA with a specialization in HR. I had stints in Infosys and an executive search firm but never really felt fulfilled. It wasn’t until I started working as a freelance content writer for a Dubai-based event management company that I found my calling. Together with the founder, we launched some of the most sought-after business conferences in Dubai and across the world. I flourished when I was given the autonomy to run the show like an entrepreneur.”
Through these dynamic years, what stayed consistent was Harsha’s drive to keep learning and upskilling. She pursued courses in marketing and leadership from Copenhagen Business School which became a milestone in broadening her perspective. A firm believer in constantly keeping up with changing times, she pursued a brief course in Digital Marketing from IIM- Bangalore which became instrumental in helping her shape the brand narratives.
As she looks back, she thinks all these years were a serendipitous preparation for the job she would end up in- Communications & Marketing Director at Collins Wardrobes and Kitchens. She lights up as she shares the prestigious history of Collins, “My father, Anil Agarwal, along with his brother Sunil Agrawal co-founded Collins, a hardware business, in 1986, and expanded it across 25 countries. They were dreamers, risk-takers, and achievers who changed the face of the hardware industry in India. Five years ago, they decided to diversify into modular kitchens and wardrobes which was being led by the second generation, primarily by my brother until I got a call from my father. He simply stated I had spent enough time working outside and it was time to return home. That was that and as I wrapped my tenure as the Event Director, I parallely joined Collins Kitchens and Wardrobes in June 2023.”
Bubbling with visible pride and enthusiasm she says, “I lead the Collins Kitchens and Wardrobes vertical along with my brother. We have a massive experience center in Mumbai and channel partners across Jodhpur, Chennai, and Hyderabad. We are a family-owned business and our vision is to serve families that associate with us in any capacity!”
Elaborating on how they back this vision, she explains, “Furniture is not just about how it looks on the outside. What makes for exceptional furniture, like any great design, is the engineering that backs it. We take phenomenal pleasure in exporting only the best-in-class specs across the world which are then customised completely in our 120,000 sq ft factory. It’s like combining the best of Europe with a diverse Indian palette. We don’t stop there- we prototype every design and run stringent quality checks before any design is approved for market use. These internal processes may not be visible to an architect or an end customer but it’s this obsession that allows us to deliver a great product and a seamless installation experience.”
On probing how she contributes to the business, she exclaims, “One of my key roles is to bring some method to the madness. To set up simple systems and processes that allow us to scale at the speed that we want to. Besides that, my brother and I have a 5-year game plan that looks as exciting as it’s challenging. We are pushing the envelope on design, we are collaborating with tech to find solutions to massive challenges commonly faced by the design community, we are onboarding architects with whom we have natural synergy and we are collaborating with the right kind of entrepreneurs in strategic markets to achieve our ambitious goals.”
When asked about the difficulties she has faced so far, she says, “I have changed so many industries that I have become comfortable with having the mindset of a beginner. I am excited about learning the technical details, the functioning of a new industry, and the challenge of creating a meaningful community in a different space. Besides, while every industry may have specifics, some principles transcend life- eventually, it’s all about finding the right people, fostering a sense of community towards a common goal, and having great fun along the way.”
In her concluding remarks, she says, “The world is shifting from needing experts to needing “jack of all trades.” It’s an exciting time for personalities with different interests to flourish. I believe that exposure to different industries allows me to bring divergent thinking to the table and an innate comfort in trusting my gut. Both of which are important to take calculative risks and unconventional paths.”
When asked for advice, she circles back to philosophy, “I think our greatest inheritance is not this business. But the courage to dream. The willingness to look at life as a long-term journey that is bound to have speedbumps but they are just that. A little punctuation in a long story that we get to write! So have faith- in yourself and the universe. Find people that fuel life with purpose and joy. And then go on one hell of an adventure.”
