The Nykaa Playbook: Falguni Nayar’s Late-Career Leap & Lessons for Gen Z
- Tikona Capital
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
“It’s never too late to bet on yourself if you back it with clarity, courage, and calculated action.”
A Bold Move at 50
When most people start thinking about winding down their careers, Falguni Nayar hit the reset button. At 50, she walked away from a high-ranking role at Kotak Mahindra Capital, where she had spent decades mastering finance, to launch a beauty e-commerce startup in an industry she had never worked in before. That leap of faith gave birth to Nykaa, a brand that’s now as familiar to Indian households as the word “makeup” itself. But this isn’t just a startup success story. It’s a reminder, especially for Gen Z, that there’s more than one path to building something meaningful. And sometimes, the slower, smarter road wins.
Who is Falguni Nayar?
Falguni wasn’t your typical startup founder. She didn’t come from Silicon Valley or start her journey in a garage. She came from boardrooms, IPO pitches, and a deep understanding of business and numbers. She was known for making other people rich until she decided to back herself. In 2012, she took the plunge. With no prior experience in beauty or retail, she founded Nykaa with a simple belief: Indian women deserved better choices, better experiences, and a brand that didn’t dictate what they should be, but helped them be who they were.
“I wanted to stand for those women who want to be beautiful for themselves, not for men or other women.” — Falguni Nayar
She built Nykaa slowly, carefully, without burning cash or chasing headlines. She played the long game, and it paid off.
What Gen Z Can Learn From Her
Falguni’s journey isn’t loud or flashy. But it’s full of lessons for anyone wondering how to build something of their own, whether that’s a startup, a side hustle, or just a career that feels right.
Here are a few takeaways that hit home:
Know your money. Her finance background wasn’t just a line on her resume; it was her foundation. She understood risk, return, and how to scale smartly.
There’s no deadline on dreams. She launched Nykaa at 50. Your timing doesn’t have to match anyone else’s, just your clarity.
Hype fades, conviction lasts. Nykaa didn’t ride trends. It solved a real problem and did it well. That’s what lasts.
Trust is the real currency. Nykaa didn’t burn millions to grow. It earned loyalty. That’s the kind of growth that sticks.
Don’t outsource your soul. Even with investors involved, Falguni stayed close to her brand. She made sure it stayed true to its roots.
Why Her Story Feels So Relevant Right Now
Let’s be honest, the internet is full of advice telling you to hustle harder, quit your job tomorrow, and chase the next shiny thing.
But Falguni’s story is different. It reminds us that you don’t need to rush, you don’t need to follow the crowd, and you definitely don’t need to burn out just to stand out. Her journey shows that what really matters is clarity, financial sense, and the courage to go your own way even if it takes time.
The Real Takeaway
Falguni Nayar didn’t build Nykaa to prove anything. She built it because she believed in it. And that’s the point. Gen Z doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s timeline. You don’t have to go viral. You just need to go deep and build something that actually matters. It starts with knowing your worth. Then backing it with learning, patience, and action. That’s the real glow-up.
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