Nirupa Shankar

JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR, BRIGADE ENTERPRISES LTD

As the Joint Managing Director of the Brigade Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers, Nirupa Shankar has spent the past 13 years of her career overseeing the company’s hotel, office and retail portfolios. With the serial entrepreneurial bug in her, she has successfully conceptualised multiple award-winning F&B outlets such as HIGH Ultra Lounge and Glass Kitchen & Bar in Bangalore. She set up Asia’s first real estate accelerator called Brigade Real Estate Accelerator Program (Brigade REAP) in 2016, an initiative to mentor high-tech start-ups in real estate. She also conceptualised and launched Brigade’s flexible workspaces brand called BuzzWorks in 2019. Prior to joining Brigade, Shankar worked as a Senior Business Analyst with Ernst & Young LLP in the New York and North Carolina offices.
With a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University, she is passionate about writing, a two-time TEDx speaker and a trained Six Sigma Black Belt.

Success Mantras:
“Every few months, I ask myself where I can add most value to the organisation. I personally look at my role as ‘Chief Problem Solver’. It is important to observe which are the biggest challenges the organisation is facing, and then determine what needs to be done in order to resolve them. I firmly believe there are solutions to every problem and we need to think out of the box to resolve the tough ones.
“Few softer factors that have helped is working with sincerity and the right intentions. This means working with the best interest of the end customer or client in mind, and looking at the product or experience from their perspective.
“Success cannot be had in isolation. Surrounding ourselves with capable and competent people who also adhere to the core values of the organization is key. Lastly, one has to enjoy the journey, as there is no final destination.”