Draft:Dipali Sikand

• Comment: Ridiculously promotional throughout. DoubleGrazing (talk) 08:21, 30 October 2024 (UTC)

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Dipali Sikand

Dipali Sikand (born August 15, 1965) is an Indian entrepreneur, innovator, and the founder of Les Concierges Group, Club Concierge, and MindEscapes®. She is widely recognized as a pioneer in the global corporate concierge industry, transforming concierge services into a dynamic solution for enhancing employee engagement and optimizing work-life balance for companies across multiple countries. Sikand’s ventures have expanded to over 22 international cities, reaching 1.6 million employees and offering services to top global corporations. Beyond her professional achievements, Sikand is a dedicated community developer, committed to uplifting rural communities in India’s Nilgiris district through sustainable, grassroots initiatives.

Early Life and Education

Dipali Sikand was raised in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. From a young age, she was inspired by her family and community, developing a passion for service and a drive to create meaningful change. She attended La Martiniere for Girls in Kolkata, graduating in 1983, and later earned a degree in Economics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, in 1986. Her early career was marked by roles that combined her expertise in economics and her interest in human resources, leading her to a position as Joint General Manager of Human Resources at Essar Group, where she worked from 1990 to 1998.

Career

Les Concierges and Club Concierge

In 1998, Sikand founded Les Concierges, setting out to establish a new profession that combined hospitality, lifestyle management, and corporate services. Today, Les Concierges is one of the world’s largest work-life benefits providers, serving over 600 corporate clients at 1,900 sites globally. The service addresses a range of employee needs, from personal errands and travel planning to home maintenance and event organization, with a mission to boost productivity, retention, and work-life satisfaction.

Les Concierges, under Sikand's leadership, transformed concierge services into a critical employee benefit that supports the personal and professional lives of 1.6 million employees in over 22 global cities. In 2016, Club Concierge, a branch of Les Concierges, was recognized as one of Asia’s Greatest Brands by AsiaOne, an honor reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Club Concierge takes pride in crafting highly personalized, high-impact customer experiences that meet a wide range of client needs, from personal lifestyle management to complex professional requests.

Today, Club Concierge and Les Concierges support a roster of leading global clients, including Samsung, Tata, Godrej, IBM, Accenture, Intel, and Vodafone. They offer an unparalleled range of lifestyle and corporate services delivered by a seasoned team of creative professionals in 23 international cities.

MindEscapes® and Its Ventures

Dipali Sikand founded MindEscapes® with the belief that fostering creativity and collaboration is key to innovation. MindEscapes® is a space designed to inspire and enable thinkers, creators, and innovators through a unique concept of Ideation as a Service. By providing immersive, uninterrupted environments and access to knowledge resources, MindEscapes® empowers individuals and teams to generate transformative ideas and develop future-oriented solutions. Located in the Nilgiris, MindEscapes® also integrates premium hospitality with a creative work environment, offering workshops, collaboration spaces, and resources that cater to organizations and individuals seeking inspiration. MindEscapes has partnered with KPMG as a knowledge partner.

Under the MindEscapes® umbrella, Sikand has launched Xin by MindEscapes®, Celeste by MindEscapes®, and Anma by MindEscapes®, each designed as community-driven culinary spaces in the Nilgiris, blending local influences with global cuisine. These spaces serve as dining destinations and innovation hubs, fostering both community connection and collaborative experiences. Additionally, Hill of Flowers, an environmental initiative by MindEscapes®, is dedicated to promoting biodiversity through the cultivation and celebration of local flora.

IndiaMums™ and Economic Empowerment

IndiaMums™ was created by Sikand as a social and economic empowerment platform focused on supporting "mumspreneurs." IndiaMums™ combines e-commerce with content, promoting products made by small businesses run by mothers. Sikand’s vision for IndiaMums™ centers on sustainable commerce, celebrating the authenticity and provenance of mom-made products while fostering a socially connected community.

Club Social

Club Social was developed to connect members with access to an exclusive network of over 250 private membership clubs worldwide. With memberships spanning 40 Indian cities and 30 international locations, Club Social enables professionals and social leaders to enjoy high-end amenities, connect with like-minded individuals, and experience exceptional benefits at prestigious clubs globally.

Random Acts of Kindness (#RAOK)

Sikand established #RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness) as a non-profit initiative, aimed at enhancing quality of life and creating self-sustaining communities in the Nilgiris district. The goal of RAOK is to uplift 58 villages and towns in the region by 2025 through sustainable business practices, training, and resource sharing. Sikand’s work with RAOK reflects her philosophy of "compassionate strategy," combining empathy with forward-thinking solutions to create lasting impact.

FC Bisons

As a passionate supporter of youth empowerment, Sikand founded FC Bisons, a division football club that won the District Championship in 2019-2020. FC Bisons offers young players from underprivileged backgrounds an opportunity to pursue their dreams in sports, fostering discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

Registered Marks and Patents

Dipali Sikand’s ventures have contributed to numerous registered marks that reflect the scope of her innovations and achievements in the concierge and lifestyle management fields. Some of the registered marks associated with her initiatives include:

• Concierge
• Les Concierges
• Club Concierge
• IndiaMums
• Club Social
• MindEscapes
• The Doggy Bakery
• Miracles
• FC Bisons

These marks highlight the breadth of Sikand’s influence across multiple industries, from lifestyle management to community-focused enterprises.

Achievements and Awards

Dipali Sikand’s contributions to corporate and lifestyle concierge services have earned her numerous accolades:

• Asia-Pacific Most Enterprising Entrepreneur Award (2018-2019) by APEA.
• India’s 25 Fastest Growing Women Entrepreneurs (2017) by CEO Magazine.
• Asia’s Greatest Leaders (2016) and Asia’s Greatest Brands (2016) for Club Concierge, awarded by AsiaOne.
• Best Places to Work for 2019 Award by Business Connect Magazine.
• Best Channel Loyalty Program Award (2019) at the 12th Customer Loyalty Summit.
• Recognized in the Top 5 small-sized organizations in Great People Managers Study 2019).

Personal Life

Dipali Sikand is married to Rajeev Kumar and is the mother of two children, Aditya (29) and Diya (20). She is the granddaughter of Bahadur Chand Chhabra, the famed India epigraphist. She is the sister of Arjun Malhotra, founding member of HCLTech, an Indian multinational information technology (IT) consulting company.

Legacy and Influence

Dipali Sikand has redefined the concept of concierge services, elevating them to an essential corporate and lifestyle solution that enhances personal fulfillment and workplace productivity. Her ventures have set new standards in concierge services, creating a foundation for modern-day corporate engagement strategies. Through her work, Sikand has inspired a generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers who view business as a tool for personal growth and community development.

Sikand’s legacy extends to her philanthropic efforts in the Nilgiris, where her initiatives empower local communities to achieve self-sufficiency and economic growth. Her contributions reflect a profound understanding of the synergy between empathy and business strategy, establishing her as a transformative figure in both corporate and social domains.

References

1. Corporate Women: https://thecorporatewomen.com/interviews/shattering-boundaries-unveiling-the-extraordinary-journey-of-dipali-sikand-founder-of-les-concierges-group/
2. CEO Insights: https://www.ceoinsightsindia.com/vendor/dipali-sikand-a-passionate-leader-helping-corporates-to-build-loyal-customers-happy-employees--cid-387.html
3. Punching Back: https://www.theweek.in/webworld/features/bounce/dipali-sikands-success-story.html
4. Economic Times: https://m.economictimes.com/biz-entrepreneurship/women-who-created-successful-businesses-on-sheer-grit-and-tenacity/dipali-sikand-chairperson-les-concierges/slideshow/18858322.cms
5. The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/a-retreat-in-udhagamandalam-aims-to-spark-creativity/article66489027.ece
6. Women Entrepreneurs : https://www.womenentrepreneursreview.com/leader/dipali-sikand-a-prominent-industry-stalwart-delivering-promising-results-across-creative-engagement-solutions-domain-vid-711.html
7. Femina: https://www.femina.in/women/women-like-you/dipali-sikand-on-the-business-she-started-with-20k_-139.html
8. Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/a-pair-of-ducks-sure/story-0V3yNnEjU1ovDsbBEOzIhJ.html
9. Deccan Chronicle: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/150722/exploring-the-picturesque-nilgiris.html
10. SME Forum: https://indiasmeforum.org/wef/dipali-sikand.html

External Links

1. Les Concierges: https://www.lesconcierges.co.in
2. Club Concierge: https://clubconcierge.in
3. MindEscapes: https://www.mindescapes.in