Amrita Gupta: Breaking Ground, Building Futures

In this insightful conversation, Amrita Gupta, Director of Manglam Group and the recipient of the Women Icon of the Year – Realty award, reflects on a career defined by resilience and architectural vision. With a journey spanning over two decades, Amrita has transitioned from a design-led perspective to overseeing major real estate and hospitality landmarks, including the prestigious Westin Jaipur Resort and Spa.

As the founder of the CREDAI Rajasthan Women’s Wing, she has been instrumental in growing a professional network from a handful of members to nearly 200 women leaders. In the following discussion, she shares her philosophy on inclusive leadership, the importance of sustainable design, and her ongoing mission to ensure women are not just participants, but primary decision-makers in the future of the built environment.

1. How does this recognition reflect your journey and the values driving it?

This recognition as the Women Icon of the Year – Realty is both encouraging and humbling because it reflects a journey that has been built over time through consistency, resilience and a strong sense of purpose. It is especially meaningful in the context of a traditionally male-dominated industry, as it represents not just personal growth but also the evolving role of women in real estate. For me, it is a reminder of how far the industry has come and the responsibility to continue creating space for more women to participate and lead.

For me, the journey has been about gradually taking on larger responsibilities, starting from a design-led perspective and expanding into real estate and hospitality. At Manglam, this has translated into creating thoughtfully designed, sustainable spaces aligned with evolving consumer needs, while also building the Group’s hospitality presence. Stepping into this space and contributing to projects like The Westin Jaipur Resort and Spa has been particularly fulfilling, as it reflects a long-standing aspiration to create experience-led destinations. This recognition, therefore, feels like a culmination of both the journey and the intent behind the work.

2. What challenges did you face as a woman in real estate, and how did those experiences shape your leadership style today?

Real estate has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, and one of the early challenges was establishing credibility in environments where women were not always present in core decision-making roles. The expectation to consistently prove capability can be demanding, but it also builds a deeper understanding of the business. Over time, I realised that the most effective way to navigate this was through consistency, involvement in both planning and execution, and a willingness to learn across functions.

These experiences have shaped my leadership style to be more inclusive, detail-oriented and collaborative. I believe leadership today is not just about scale or growth, but also about how thoughtfully we approach development and how well we understand the needs of people who will ultimately experience these spaces.

3. What initiatives are you leading at Manglam and through the CREDAI Rajasthan Women’s Wing to promote women’s participation and empowerment?

At Manglam, we are consciously working towards creating a more inclusive work environment by encouraging women to take on roles across core functions such as design, planning and operations. The idea is to ensure that women are not just part of the workforce but are actively contributing to decision-making processes.

Through the CREDAI Rajasthan Women’s Wing, which I founded in 2019, the focus has been on creating a structured platform that enables women to connect, learn and grow within the industry. What started as a small group of around 30 women has today grown into a network of over 180 women professionals, reflecting a steady shift in participation and interest. We have been actively driving initiatives such as the Nari Shakti platform, along with regular engagements and collaborations with women professionals and industry influencers to encourage participation and create a stronger support ecosystem.

The effort has been to move beyond representation and towards meaningful participation, where women are not only part of the ecosystem but are actively shaping decisions and contributing to the industry’s growth.

4. What kind of legacy would you like to leave behind in terms of your contribution to society?

I believe that both real estate and hospitality have a larger role to play in shaping how people live and experience their environment. The spaces we create have a long-term impact, and my aspiration is to contribute to developments that reflect a balance of modern design, sustainability and cultural relevance. My design philosophy has always been centred around creating spaces that are contemporary yet responsible, where functionality, environmental consciousness and user experience come together.

At the same time, I would like to see a more inclusive industry where women have equal access to opportunities and leadership roles. If the work we are doing is able to contribute to creating better spaces and also encourage more women to participate and lead, that would be a meaningful legacy.

5. What is your long-term vision for the impact you aspire to create, both as a leader and as a changemaker in the real estate industry?

The long-term vision is to continue building on Manglam’s strengths while expanding into areas like hospitality and tourism-led developments, which are becoming increasingly important in India’s growth story. The focus will remain on creating well-planned, experience-driven developments that align with changing consumer expectations.

As a leader, I would like to contribute to building organisations that are inclusive, forward-looking and focused on long-term value rather than short-term gains. As a changemaker, the aim is to play a role in shaping a more balanced and progressive real estate ecosystem, where both design and inclusivity are seen as essential to growth.