Mamaearth Co-founder Ghazal Alagh Shares 12 Hard-Won Leadership Lessons from 2025 Ahead of 2026
Entrepreneur and Mamaearth Co-founder Ghazal Alagh has shared a reflective and practical post on LinkedIn, outlining 12 leadership lessons she is carrying from 2025 into 2026. The post offers insights drawn from a year she describes as one of “massive shifts” in business, markets, and personal thinking around growth.
Alagh, who also leads brands such as The Derma Co, Dr Sheth’s, Aqualogica, BBlunt, Staze and Luminéve, said the year pushed her to build what she called an “internal compass” rather than chase conventional ideas of scale.
“2025 was a year of massive shifts, in our company, in the market, and in how I think about the word ‘growth’,” she wrote.
A Shift from Perfection to Sustainable Growth
One of the most striking ideas in Alagh’s post is what she calls the “85% Rule”. She argues that chasing perfection daily leads to burnout rather than long-term success.
“Chasing perfect execution every single day is a burnout trap,” she said, adding that consistent 85% effort is “the sustainable speed for a marathon, not a sprint”.
She also urged founders to stop waiting for flawless launches. “Being ready is a myth,” Alagh noted. “Waiting for a perfect product kills momentum.”
AI, D2C, and Rethinking Business Risk
Addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Alagh warned that AI itself is not the biggest threat to businesses.
“The biggest risk to your business isn’t Artificial Intelligence itself,” she wrote. “It is refusing to learn it while your competitors are rebuilding their entire operation around AI-first thinking.”
She also flagged what she termed the “D2C trap”, advising founders not to let future strategy be shaped only by past consumers. According to Alagh, winning brands design for the customer they want tomorrow, not just the one they already have.
Rejection, Purpose, and Brand Identity
Alagh reframed rejection as a strategic input rather than a personal failure. “The ‘No’ from an investor, a consumer, or a departing employee is not a verdict on you,” she said. “It’s a data point.”
She also stressed the importance of defining a brand’s opposition. “Every great brand needs an ‘enemy’,” she wrote, clarifying that this could be a harmful system or mindset rather than a rival company.
Leadership, Motherhood, and Well-being
In a personal note, Alagh described motherhood as a leadership advantage, not a limitation. She said parenting strengthens empathy, decision-making, and crisis management, calling them “boardroom superpowers”.
She also underlined health as a “non-negotiable asset”. “Your body and family are the foundational pillars of your empire,” she wrote.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Alagh concluded by urging founders to build not just businesses, but life strategies. She encouraged leaders to define success beyond job titles and revenue metrics.
“The biggest risk remains not taking the risk at all,” she wrote. “Let’s make 2026 the year of courageous, intentional building.”
The post has resonated widely with founders and professionals, positioning Alagh’s reflections as a timely leadership playbook for the year ahead.
Muskaan Kapoor
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