Dipali Goenka

Dipali Goenka (born October 13, 1969) is an Indian businesswoman who is serving as the CEO and Managing Director of Welspun Living, one of the largest home textile manufacturers in the world. In 2016, Forbes ranked her as the 16th most powerful woman in Asia and the 4th in India. In 2017, she was the co-chair of the World Economic Forum on India and a speaker at the Harvard India Conference's Inspire Series in 2018.

Early life
Goenka was born in October 13, 1969 in Jaipur, into a Marwari family. She attended Maharani Gayatri Devi Girl’s School and later graduated with a degree in psychology. At the age of 18, she married BK Goenka  and moved to Mumbai in 1987.

Career
In 2002, Goenka joined her husband's textile business, Welspun, where she headed the design studio. She spent time on the shop floor learning about various aspects of the business, including purchasing cotton, manufacturing processes, and machine operations. Welspun initially focused on textile export and later expanded into the domestic retail market with the brand Spaces under Goenka's leadership. In 2004, Welspun City, a textile manufacturing facility, was constructed on a 2500-acre campus in Gujarat.

In 2005, Goenka attended the President Management Program at Harvard Business School. In 2006, she led Welspun's acquisition of Christy, a manufacturer of household linens founded in 1850, for ₹100 crores. In 2010, Goenka was appointed CEO of Welspun's global business, and by 2014, she became its joint managing director.

In 2016, Welspun India faced a major setback when the American retail corporation Target Corp discovered substandard bedsheets sold to them, which accounted for about 10% of Welspun India’s annual revenue. This led to a 54% decline in Welspun India's market capitalization between August 19, 2016, and August 30, 2016. By 2017, Welspun had grown to become a major player in the global home textile market, with a presence in 32 countries, including the US, UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia. The company manufactures towels and bed linen under the Martha Stewart brand for the North American market.

Goenka is also involved in philanthropic initiatives focused on inclusive development. She serves as the Brand Ambassador for WEConnect International, chaired the ASSOCHAM Women's Council, and is a board member of the Consumption platform at the World Economic Forum. In 2023, she was appointed as an Independent Director on the board of NDTV.

Personal life
She married BK Goenka, co-founder and chairman of the Welspun World, in 1987. The couple has two daughters, Radhika and Vanshika.

Recognition

 * Featured in Business Today as the Most Powerful Women in Business in 2021
 * Forbes magazine named her as the 16th most powerful woman in Asia and the 4th in India in 2016
 * CNBC Changemakers in 2024