Shining example

When Richa Singh walks into the room, she is as radiant as the diamonds she deals with.

There are no airs about her; she’s direct, articulate and affable. With a career that spans over 19 years, she’s garnered extensive experience in consumer and business marketing, but at heart she’s still an entrepreneur who never wants to settle. From a wide-eyed management graduate to one who builds brands from scratch, Singh has come a long way. In conversation with ELLE India, Singh tells us how she juggled raising two kids while rising up the ranks and facing casual sexism.

ELLE: What was your first job like?

Richa Singh: My first job happened because I just cold-called JWT asking them if they had a role for me. There, I met some industry stalwarts, who believed in me, inspired me and gave me the creative freedom to make decisions. When I heard LOreal was coming to India again, I looked up Yellow Pages and called them to fix up an interview. I think yes, it was these little moments of quick, spontaneous decisions that have brought me so far.

ELLE: How did you tackle the hurdles you faced along the way up?