Nikita Kohli

Nikita Kohli

Young and pretty entrepreneur

                                                               - by Ganapathy .R

How do you describe youth, the golden period in one’s life?

Young blood, ardent fervour, a refreshing mindset, a go-getter attitude both in thoughts and in action, graduating out of college with bold new ideas and plans and a compelling desire to achieve all and rule the world. This youthful vigour is marked by a strong willingness to spare no efforts coupled with diligent hard work to realize these dreams.

But a step into the real world will make one realize that reaching these ideals and goals are beset with numerous challenges, at times involving war-like efforts to overcome them.  Yet, it is these challenges and efforts, which strengthen their resolve and bolster the self-confidence to bring out the youthful talent in full measure and ensure unparalleled success.

Miss. Nikita Kohli, born and brought up in Kuwait, epitomises all that is said above. Nikita is the Hospitality and Marketing Manager of Al-Sabah and Kohli Group’s Dawat and Taal Restaurants in Kuwait. Nikita is the second daughter of Mr.Ravi Kohli one of the important and experienced businessmen in Kuwait.

Nikita has a penchant for food industry right from her childhood. Even during school days, she used to barge into her moth’s kitchen to try out new dishes and recipes. After completing her schooling from British School of Kuwait in 2007, Nikita took off to Switzerland to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Marketing from Glion Institute of Higher Education.

During her college internship, she gained invaluable experience in Food & Beverage and the Front Office in the prestigious Taj Hotel in Mumbai in India, as well as Marketing at The Royal Pukat Yacht Club in Phuket, Thailand. After completing her degree in 2010, she returned to Switzerland and learnt the French language for 3 months.  Knowledge of French is an important enabler for the food industry. That apart, Nikita considered that knowledge of a highly popular foreign language would be highly beneficial in business.

Dawat Restaurant was started by Mr. Ravi Kohli in 1992 in Sharq area in Kuwait. Even though Kohli is a leading businessman in Kuwait having multiple interests for a long time, Restaurant business was a dream he always cherished. Due to his unstinting efforts, Dawat is now a chain of four Restaurants with the other three branches at Abu Halifa, Jahra and Farwaniya. Six year ago,   Mr. Kohli started Taal Restaurant in Kuwait as a different concept in fine dining and this restaurant is also now running very successfully

In June 2011, Nikita assumed charge at the Hospitality and Marketing Manager at Taal Restaurant. She spent the first 3 months in observing and understanding each section of the restaurant and coming up with new ideas to improve the functioning of each aspect of the business. She considers herself lucky to be the daughter of the restaurant owner as it made her talk quite easy. There was immediate acceptance of her ideas from the staff. 

There are two pathways in any business. One is to set up a new Greenfield venture and grow the business. Another is to take up an already established business and instil further growth. Both the paths have their own set of challenges. Nikita has never tried to leverage her position as the owner’s daughter. Her relationship with her colleagues and staff has always been cordial and friendly.  She believes in giving freedom and space to the workers to try out new ideas. This ensures their involvement in all her endeavours.  As a consequence, the staff does not consider their work as a chore but as a joyful and fulfilling experience, which ensures the success of the venture.

Apart from handling activities like Marketing, Promotions, Advertising etc., Nikita also involves herself in training the staff. She proudly proclaims that “I have always loved food. My knowledge of my father restaurant business since early childhood kindled my interest in this business. I had always wanted to partner my father in this business and that is why I willingly chose this industry as my career option

By nature Nikita is simple, jovial and highly talented. Wealth, education, position etc. have not made her egotistic.  She is down to earth in her relationship with everyone. As a marketing professional, she focuses a lot on social media like Facebook, Twitter, websites.. etc.

Dawat and Taal are restaurants belonging to different genres. Dawat is a casual dining experience mainly aimed at homely neighbourhood population. It is like a second home kitchen. On the other hand Taal is an upmarket luxury branch with focus on high net worth local and foreign customers.  Both need different management styles and approaches. The Group has successfully handled both these genres. In all, the Group employs 163 staff in the restaurant division.

Nikita’s elder sister Richa obtained her degree in Event Management from Switzerland. She is married and has settled down in Mumbai. Her younger sister Anjalika is pursuing a degree in Psychology from Thailand. .

Nikita is strong willed, bold in approach and has an ability to face any circumstance. She does not believe in interfering in each and every small matter in relation to running the business. Only when the occasion warrants she goes and deals with the issues directly. She confronts erroneous and careless employees with a cool demeanour and counsels them. However, if the mistakes persist, she does not hesitate to be strict with the employees and ‘orders’ them for the benefit of the customers and business.

Is it possible for Nikita to run the business set up by her father entirely as per her ideas and plans? “No” says Nikita. “Not 100%”. “In the beginning I had numerous ideas and I had an ardent fervour to implement all of them in a short time. But as I gained more and more experience, the stark reality dawned on me.  I may have bright new and different ideas.  But they can be made to work only if the circumstances and resources are supportive. We cannot change things per force and all of a sudden.  Change needs to be brought gradually and this is the best lesson I have learnt from my father” says Nikita beaming with pride.

“Every day is a new learning experience for me to adjust with circumstances and people. My father is my role model.  He is my friend, philosopher and guide. I have had innumerable discussions and friendly arguments with him. Every day, we will spend time in the office in planning. Once we are in the office, there is no father-daughter relationship. He will be the owner and I an employee. “

With a gleam in her eyes, Nikita says “ I love my father. I love this job and am thankful to him for this. I also l owe a lot to my mother, who has always been very encouraging and has guided me throughout my life”.

Nikita’s goal is to pursue her Masters degree in International Marketing and franchise their restaurant brand globally to carve out a market share in the global restaurant business.

Our best wishes to Nikita to fly more..&more..!

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IFL  - Kuwait 2024