How We Build 100 Stores Across India from 0 | GKB
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In this episode of Trending Diary, host Priya Sushteva interviews Priyanka Gupta, Director at JKB (GKB), a premium eyewear brand with nearly 100 company-owned stores across India. Priyanka shares her journey from a spiritually curious young woman to a leader in a legacy business, emphasizing the unique challenges of evolving a family-founded brand while maintaining relevance for modern consumers. She discusses how her Buddhist practices—particularly daily chanting and the principle of stakeholder well-being—inform her leadership, focusing on profit, people, and planet. The conversation delves into the transformation of the eyewear industry from functional medical devices to fashion statements and experiential retail, with insights on brands like Gentle Monster, Sabriya Sachi, and Disney as pioneers of immersive experiences. Priyanka also reflects on being a woman in a male-dominated industry, the power of servant leadership, and the importance of authenticity and emotional connection in branding. She concludes with a message of perseverance, urging young entrepreneurs not to overthink but to start and adapt along the way.
Legacy businesses face unique challenges in evolving with modern values and audiences, requiring both external innovation and internal mindset shifts.
Integrating personal values like spirituality and stakeholder well-being can drive authentic, sustainable leadership in business.
The eyewear industry is shifting from function to fashion and experience, with consumers valuing self-expression and brand storytelling over mere product utility.
Servant leadership—leading from behind, empowering teams, and making them feel ownership—creates deeper engagement and loyalty.
Experiential retail, as seen in brands like Gentle Monster and Sabriya Sachi, is redefining how consumers connect with brands beyond transactions.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Legacy Challenge: Leading a Family Business in Modern India
“I think legacy business is definitely a very different kind of expectation and struggle. It is as demanding as the number of hours are, as a startup is.”
From Tibet to Tokyo: Spiritual Roots and Global Mindset
“I look at Japan more from a real, it's a very evolved race. So I think a lot of the things Japan did in the 1960s and 70s is what like, it's an economic boom. They had it a lot before anyone in the world did.”
Buddhism in Business: The Power of Chanting and Stakeholder Theory
“I believe there are three things businesses should achieve. It's just profit, people and planet. It's not just profit because if it's just profit, you're having a very myopic mindset.”
The Evolution of Eyewear: From Medical Device to Fashion Statement
“The perceived value of eyewear is evolving a lot more and it's becoming like a very big element of self-expression like people really want to wear glasses to stand out nowadays.”
Leadership Lessons: Servant Style, Authenticity, and Empowerment
Priyanka discusses her leadership philosophy rooted in servant leadership—leading from behind, empowering teams, and making employees feel ownership. She shares how this approach builds loyalty, especially in a male-dominated industry.
“I believe there are three things businesses should achieve. It's just profit, people and planet. It's not just profit because if it's just profit, you're having a very myopic mindset.”
“I want them to know is that I've done what I've done being as human as you have. So, you can do it too.”
“You can do it too.”
Host
Guest
JKB
brand
Priyanka Gupta
person
Buddhism
other
Japan
place
Gentle Monster
brand
Sabriya Sachi
brand
Disney
brand
Nammyoho Renge Kyo
other
Calcutta
place
Tibet
place
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