Divya Aggarwal leads business growth the way a chef leads a kitchen – hands on, curious and always improving the recipe. The chief growth officer of Impresario is busy across multiple divisions spanning marketing, delivery, content, community, programming, digital, CRM and PR across the restaurant chain’s portfolio of brands, including SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, BANNG, BOSS Burger, Aflatoon and Lucknowee. Having associated earlier with Nestle, Jubilant Foodworks, Twitter India and Star Plus, she brings a unique blend of corporate rigour and creative agility. Off the clock, Divya is an avid reader, Yoga practitioner, enthusiastic traveller and also a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. Sharmila Chands chats up with Ms Aggarwal and is impressed by her sheer multi-tasking prowess and passion
for life.

Your philosophy of work
Sincerity first; real connections create real impact.

Your philosophy of life
Stay humble, stay curious, and take moments in.

Your passion in life
Building things that make people feel connected, whether it is a campaign, an experience, or a moment they remember

Your source of inspiration
Conversations, people and energy inside a busy Smoke House Deli on a weekday evening

What helps you maintain calm and peace?
Good matcha, Good content and some quiet times are my favourites to calm me down!

How do you recharge?
Stepping away from screens and spending time with people who remind me of who I am outside of work

What do you like to do in your free time?
I read, explore cafes, paint and catch up on films and series.

What is the mantra behind your success?
Perseverance

A business leader you admire the most
Leaders like Shahrukh Khan, who lead with grace, clarity and an incredible sense of intuition

What do you enjoy the most in life, generally?
Good food, meaningful conversations and moments that feel unhurried

What dreams remain unfulfilled?
Plenty and that is the exciting part. I always want to feel like there is something new to build or learn.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Hopefully still creating, still curious, working on things that bring people together