When Mamaearth's Ghazal Alagh became boss at 20, many employees resigned. Years later, why did they again rejoin?

When Ghazal Alagh, co-founder of Mamaearth and now a familiar face from Shark Tank India, first stepped into her leadership shoes, she wasn’t just navigating the challenges of running a business—she was also adjusting to life as a new mother. In her early 20s, juggling diapers and deadlines, she found herself at the center of skepticism and quiet pushback.

In a candid Instagram post, Alagh recently reflected on those early days. She recalled how several employees left the company simply because they didn’t want to report to a young woman with no fixed office hours. “Too young,” “No experience,” and “Not inspiring”—these were just some of the whispers that echoed around her. And yes, they hurt. They made her question herself: Did she belong in that role? Was she good enough?

But rather than let the doubt defeat her, she doubled down on her determination. “I worked harder. I learned everything I could. I showed up with confidence, even when I didn’t feel it,” she wrote. Alagh embraced her identity—not just as a founder, but as a mother and a leader—and slowly began to grow into the role she had been judged for.

And in a full-circle moment, some of the very people who had quit returned years later—this time, without hesitation. Their change of heart wasn’t just about her—it was a sign of the transformation she had gone through as a leader.


Alagh’s post resonated deeply with many, especially women in leadership. “Being a woman in leadership means people watch you more. They expect you to mess up. That’s okay. Let them watch,” she wrote. Her advice to other women? Don’t shrink yourself to fit in. Learn, persist, and keep showing up.

In her own words: “I wasn’t perfect, just persistent. And that made all the difference.”

For Alagh, what once felt like failure now reads as growth. And her journey is not just a personal win—it’s a nudge of encouragement for the next generation of women leaders learning to trust their voice and own their space.