Cracking the generational code

The ambition of the corporate world and the artistry of the creative environment may seem like polar opposites. And even if that’s the case in the Mody household, Zia, managing partner of AZB & Partners, and her daughter Anjali, founder of Josmo Studios, continue influencing each other.

Looking back, Zia acknowledges that her demanding career may have left young Anjali feeling like she didn’t get enough time. “Today, she is also a working mother and realises the pulls and pushes of juggling a family and career. And I think at some level, she is understanding and perhaps a bit proud of me,” Zia says.

Anjali doesn’t shy away from the emotional complexity of that experience. “I was pretty angry about that as a young girl,” she admits, “and that lingered into adulthood.”

But things changed when she became a mother herself. “I finally understood the weight of the decisions she had to make — daily, difficult, and often thankless. That perspective has softened me. I see her now with more empathy and respect,” she adds. Anjali also admires her mother for being unapologetically honest about her priorities. “Her work — her legal practice, her values and her professional integrity — always comes first, even when it sometimes meant sacrificing time with family or her own well-being. There’s something deeply admirable about that clarity and conviction,” she adds.
Zia, meanwhile, admires how Anjali goes through her day, sporting a smile. “She is well-rounded, generous, caring, a person who attracts people to herself in a very positive way,” Zia says.

Threads that bind

Yash & Anita Dongre

Growing up, Yash Dongre had a front row seat to the House of Anita Dongre, built by his mother, Anita. Eventually joining the family business seemed to be a no-brainer. “It happened so organically, he started as an intern and grew into his current role as COO quite seamlessly over the years,” Anita recalls. “Now that he is such an integral part [of the company], I enjoy the process of building the business together.”

What makes their partnership so special, Anita says, is the fact that they bring different strengths to the table. “He is very logical and thorough, while I can be impatient and impulsive at times. Working with Yash has made me a lot calmer and we complement each other quite well in the workplace.”

Yash agrees. “There’s always so much to learn and absorb. It’s really exciting, being able to take what she has built to the next level,” he says. And since they were always a family business, he adds, “The ways of working together smoothly as a family were already set in place well before I joined.”

To ensure that things stay on track, the Dongre household has one rule: Sundays are absolutely a no-work zone. “It allows us to truly bond as a family outside the office,” Anita explains.