Monisha Advani is one of the founding partners of Emmay Entertainment, where she leads the company’s overall business strategy and growth. She also mentors emerging leaders within the organization, overseeing career development and succession planning. Since its inception in 2011, Emmay Entertainment has become one of India’s top five production houses, employing over 20,000 people directly and indirectly each year, and captivating audiences across film and digital platforms. The company’s acclaimed productions include theatrical hits such as Airlift, Batla House, and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, along with web successes like Rocket Boys, Mumbai Diaries, and Freedom at Midnight.
Before co-founding Emmay Entertainment, Advani served as Managing Director of Randstad India from 2005 to 2009. Her journey in human resources began when she co-founded EmmayHR in 1996, which grew into a leading recruitment and staffing firm before being acquired by Randstad Holdings NV — the Dutch multinational’s first Asian acquisition.
Beyond entertainment, Advani is deeply engaged in entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. She has supported and mentored several startups through angel investments and board roles in ventures such as India Food Network, BoomLive, Decision Fuel, and Jombay. As part of the MyFirstCheque investor consortium, she also backed early ventures including OfferGrid and PoshVine.
A sought-after speaker, Advani regularly addresses business schools and global forums including Darden Business School, ISB, and IIT Bombay. She speaks on topics such as India’s evolving business landscape, consumer behavior, management effectiveness, and the soft power of entertainment. Recently, she represented India’s creative economy at the Indian Global Forum’s NXT25 Summit in Mumbai and the Arab Media Summit in Dubai.
Her contributions have earned her multiple honors, including Outlook Business Woman of the Year (2018), Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur by Business World (2019), and recognition in Jombay’s 1000 Women Leaders Program (2023–2025).
A native of Mumbai, Advani attributes her success to her love of reading and her curiosity for innovation. A passionate cook with a growing interest in food technology and workforce well-being, she also advises and mentors the founders of award-winning restaurants including Masque, Sage & Saffron, and Coffee by Di Bella.
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