Conversations with Ashutosh Valani, Co-Founder & CEO, Renée Cosmetics

Tell us about your best and worst days at work

Ashutosh: The best day at work is when I’m super busy in meetings with the team to plan and implement new ideas and projects. The worst days are those where there isn’t a lot of input required from me and the team has already figured out what needs to be done. While this is a great thing, it ends up being a slow day for me. 

What do you do when you are not at work? 

Ashutosh: Even when I’m not at work, I’m at work. As an entrepreneur, I’m always thinking about work. Even when I binge-watch content or exercise, I’m trying to find inputs for my business.

What is unique about your business? 

We are constantly innovating products, both the products themselves and more importantly, in how they are used. Also, we are not afraid to fail. With the low cost of failure and high risk-taking ability, we have managed to scale in a very short span and hope to continue doing so well into the future.

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be? 

Ashutosh: If you are absolutely confident in starting something, have done your research, have your data, can establish the right product-market fit, then just go for it. Don’t think twice. 

How do you define success?

Ashutosh: Success is more about perception. What is success to me may not be so for somebody else. I define success as the state of mind which makes me happy and where I feel I have achieved something in my life.

What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

Ashutosh: The constant hustle, trying to do something different, trying to grow faster than the competition and innovating in business are some of my favourite aspects of being an entrepreneur

If you had the chance to start your career all over again, what would you do differently? 

Ashutosh: I don’t think I would have changed much. I’m at peace with where I am in life and what I want to do in the future. I wish I would have accumulated more knowledge early on so I could have implemented more ideas early on. 

Where do you see yourself and your business in the next 5-10 years? 

Ashutosh: All entrepreneurs have the dream to be the winner in their industry. I dream of creating a billion-dollar, leading cosmetics brand and on the journey to becoming number one, I hope to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and startups in India. 

Share a story when the impact Renée had on someone brought a smile to your face 

Ashutosh: Some time back, I was talking to a couple of acquaintances who did not know about my involvement in Renée started talking about one of our products, the Fab 5 stick, and how the product eliminated their need to carry multiple lipsticks while traveling. The joy of the customer using your product instils confidence and encourages me to go further every day.