“A true service mindset emerges when the ego dissolves.”

Namita Thapar
(Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals)

Just like the majority of industries in India, the pharmaceutical industry has been a male-dominated industry for far too long. Among a few women in the pharmaceutical industry, one of the popular and prominent icons that emerges is Namita Thapar. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, she is known for her strategic thinking and strong leadership skills.

Namita started her journey at Emcure as Chief Financial Officer after her six-year stint at Guidant Corporation, USA. She is passionate about improving women’s health in India and promoting youth entrepreneurship. During the pandemic, she launched a YouTube talk show based on Women’s health called ‘Uncondition Yourself with Namita Thapar’. It is a public awareness initiative on Women’s Health. The platform provides authentic information and breaks stigmas and taboos associated with women’s health. Furthermore, Namita leads Incredible Ventures Ltd, an education company that teaches entrepreneurship to 11-18-year-olds. The company is operational in six Indian cities– Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and Ahmedabad. She is also the Board Member of Fuqua School of Business on the India Regional Advisory

When Namita Joined Emcure Pharmaceuticals

Namita grew up in a business household. Her father, Satish Ramanlal Mehta, founded Emcure Pharmaceuticals in 1981. After completing her schooling in Pune, she pursued her Chartered Accountant degree from the ICAI Institute in India. She did her MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

She finally started her career in the United States Bay Area where she worked for six years in marketing and finance. After returning to India, Namita joined her father’s business, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, as a Chief Financial Officer in 2007. Today, as an Executive Director, she oversees over 3,000 medical representatives across India, contributing over $1 billion in sales.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company that aims to develop, manufacture, and market a wide range of pharmaceutical products worldwide. The company has over 350+ brands, five R&D centres, and 13 manufacturing facilities established in pan-India. Emcure has cemented strategic global partnerships with local and multinational companies, and these companies are leaders in key therapeutic areas.

Role As A Shark Tank Judge

Namita has added another feather to her cap by becoming a judge in the show Shark Tank India. She has invested strategically in many startups like Skippi Ice Pops, Menstrupedia, Thinkerbell Labs, Brainwired, Rare Planet, Nomad Food Project, Your Foot Doctor, JhaJi Store, Farda, AAS Vidyalaya, COCOFIT, Auli Lifestyle, Sunfox Technologies, Kabaddi Adda, and Beyond Water, to name a few.

Namita also believes that even though she might be advising budding entrepreneurs, she ends up learning something or the other from them.

Namita is involved in a lot of CSR Activities. Under her leadership, Emcure has actively engaged in various programs and initiatives. From educational sponsorships and fellowships to diabetes detection initiatives in collaboration with N-DOC, and environmental support through clean-up drives, Emcure’s CSR efforts extend across diverse domains. The 12*12 Initiative for anemia detection, the Village Adoption Program, and the ‘Joy of Giving’ week highlight her dedication to the health and well-being of society.

Encountering Failures And Hurdles

With more than 17 years of experience serving in Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Namita states that she has faced several failures in the past but all the setbacks have provided learning opportunities and have made her stronger.

She also believes that it’s all right to give in to emotions. She states that she is a human and does get emotional after facing failures and setbacks. Anyone goes through denial, regret, and self-pity but she feels lucky as she is inherently a very positive person and always manages to pick herself up in all challenging situations. With the right amount of self-talk and support from family and colleagues, she gets back on track.

Advice For Budding Entrepreneurs

Namita advises young entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, that women shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. However, they should recognise the fine line between asking for help and permission.

Namita Thapar has written a book– ‘The Dolphin and The Shark.’ The book offers tips to entrepreneurs on building teams and brands and attracting the right kind of investors for their businesses. The book is organised into fifteen chapters, each centring around different business principles. Through personal narratives and anecdotes detailing Emcure’s journey and lessons from influential entrepreneurs, Namita shares a candid perspective. Additionally, “The Dolphin and the Shark” references pitches from Season 1 of Shark Tank India and delivers authentic and heartfelt advice that aims to inspire and motivate readers to push their boundaries to achieve success in life.