Mamaearth Co-Founder Ghazal Alagh Opens Up About Facing Sexism; Read Her Post

According to the 35-year-old, women have battled for equal rights and opportunities for generations, and their current fight for paid time off could jeopardize their hard-won equality.

File Photo

New Delhi: Ghazal Alagh, co-founder of the popular beauty brand Mamaearth, recently shared her experience of encountering sexism as a woman entrepreneur. In a candid post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, she recounted an incident from last year that left her feeling disregarded.

What Was The Incident?

During a series of meetings with potential investors ahead of Mamaearth's IPO, Alagh and her husband, Varun Alagh, faced a disheartening encounter. ()

One investor posed a question to Varun, asking if he would have hired Ghazal if she hadn't been his wife. The insensitive query was made in Ghazal's presence, adding to the discomfort of the situation. ()

Last year before our IPO, we met 100s of investors during our roadshows. While most of the conversations were very valuable and enriching, a few conversations left a bitter taste. I learned the best and harshest of lessons as a woman entrepreneur.

An investor asked Varun:… pic.twitter.com/UWeFXOZdMw

— Ghazal Alagh (@GhazalAlagh) February 28, 2024

Alagh Expression

Reflecting on the incident, Alagh expressed that it took her two days to recover from the feeling of being sidelined. Despite the setback, she found support from her husband and Mamaearth's CFO, Ramanpreet Sohi, who helped her view the situation differently.

They reassured her that such instances reveal the individuals not suited for the journey of building their company.

Words Of Wisdom

In her post, Alagh shared a valuable lesson she learned from the experience. She emphasized that no matter where one is in their entrepreneurial journey, there will always be skeptics.

However, she advised other women to ignore the noise created by those who doubt their capabilities.

Users Reaction

Alagh's post quickly gained traction online, garnering over 37,000 views on X and prompting numerous comments from internet users. Many resonated with her message and expressed solidarity with her struggle against sexism in the business world.

Take a look at the reactions:

Yes. As a founder - male or female, early or late stage - u meet investors who belittle others.

Luckily they are a few.
I remember 3 such VCs in our 25-30 odd pitches & 50 odd that I met.

But as founder we just move on. No time to waste on creeps.

— Atul Mehra | AI Co-Pilots (@MehraAtul123) February 28, 2024

Your resilience is inspiring. Upholding your worth in the face of adversity showcases true strength. Keep leading and paving the way for others in the entrepreneurial world.

— Abhinav.Amarapuram (@AbhinavAmarapu1) February 28, 2024

Your strength inspires us, Ghazal ma'am. At Sunfox Technologies, we are committed to supporting women entrepreneurs like you. Keep shining despite the doubters. Proud to be associated with you.

— Sunfox Technologies (@SunfoxTech) February 29, 2024

Apke Products se Sir par baal aajate hai>???/

— श्रावक CA  (अविवाहित) (@ShravakC) February 28, 2024

Ghazal Alag isliye hain

— The Dessert Meme (@TheDessertMeme) February 28, 2024