Founding partners, Emmay Entertainment

As one of the founding partners of Emmay Entertainment, Monisha Advani’s key responsibility is to lead the company’s overall business strategy and growth. She also mentors the succession planning at Emmay, handpicking future leaders and their career development. Since its inception in 2011, Emmay Entertainment has grown to be among India’s top 5 production houses, serving over 20,000 direct and indirect hires annually, and audiences across theatrical and web platforms.

Prior to Emmay Entertainment, Advani served as Managing Director Randstad India (2005-2009). Her foray into HR commenced when she co-founded EmmayHR in 1996, which grew into a leading recruitment and staffing services company, which was acquired by Randstad Holdings NV. Notably, this was the Dutch giant’s first Asian acquisition.

Advani is also credited to support and mentor entrepreneurship and her achievements in this area include angel investments and board appointments in companies like India Food Network, BoomLive, Decision Fuel, Jombay, to name a few. She has also been part of MyFirstCheque, a consortium of like-minded early stage investors that backed companies like OfferGrid and PoshVine.

She is a regular speaker at leading international platforms such as the graduating MBA class of Darden Business School, ISB, IITB among others. Her pet subjects are centered around understanding the current business landscape in India, evolving consumerism, effective management and most recently, the soft power of the entertainment industry.

Her recent list of industry recognitions include Outlook Business Woman of the Year (2018) and Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur by BusinessWorld (2019).

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Advani credits her success to being a voracious reader. She is also a proficient cook and has developed a deep interest in food technology as a way of sustaining workforces. To this end, she is an advisor and mentor to the founders of the award winning restaurant Masque and Sage & Saffron.