"Everything I am is because of you," says Isha Ambani to her father, Mukesh Ambani, while accepting a special award at the Lokmat Maharashtrian Of The Year 2024

In her heartfelt acceptance speech at the prestigious Lokmat Maharashtrian Of The Year 2024 awards ceremony, Isha Ambani, the accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist, took a moment to express her profound gratitude to her father, Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries Limited. In her address, Isha attributed her success to her parents and fondly recalled the invaluable teachings of her grandfather, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, who encouraged her to dare to dream and strive for excellence. Concluding her speech, Isha expressed her gratitude to her father by saying, "Thank you, Pappu...everything I am is because of you," recognizing his pivotal role in her journey. Mukesh Ambani, seated among the audience, watched his daughter with a mixture of pride and affection, deeply moved by her words that resonated with everyone present. Isha dedicated the award to the entire Reliance family and extended her thanks to the Darda family for the esteemed recognition.

“Thank you for this huge honour. Lokmat, as the name itself suggests, has been the people’s voice in Maharashtra. Lokmat has played a pivotal role in enlightening and empowering our society over decades," Isha Ambani said in her speech.

“I’m truly, truly honored. This recognition is very special to me because my mother, Nita Mukesh Ambani, who is my biggest role model and inspiration, won this award in 2016. For our family, Maharashtra is more than just our home. It is our karma bhoomi," she added

Isha Ambani, Director of Reliance Retail, was awarded the prestigious 'Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year' special award, recognizing her outstanding achievements in various fields. She has, at her command, a business valued at more than Rs 8.4 lakh crore, 18000 stores (and counting), country’s biggest luxury mall Jio World Plaza and some of the most durable brands in Indian retail. Isha Ambani, the 31-year old director of Reliance Retail, India’s largest retail business, is pushing for growth and expansion of the company. She has truly carved out her own identity since her father introduced her as the new leader for the retail business. Guided by Isha’s vision, Reliance Retail now has presence in food, consumer electronics, and fashion retail. She also spearheaded the expansion of the digital footprint for Reliance Retail and launched new formats such Ajio and the online beauty platform Tira. Named in the TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next list of rising stars from industries around the world, Isha also spearheaded multiple Diversity  and Inclusivity initiatives at Reliance.

An avid art enthusiast, Isha is closely involved in the launch and operations of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural in March 2023. She is also on the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, JIO MAMI, and the DIA Art Foundation. She has been entrusted with the responsibility of the Nita Ambani Junior School, which will be a model school. She leads the flagship retail business of Reliance Industries. Lokmat Group awards her the Maharashtrian of the Year in recognition of her as the future of the industrial world, wishing her a successful life.

Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year aims to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals who have left an indelible mark on Maharashtra and beyond. Over the years, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, Sushil Kumar Shinde, and Nita Ambani have been a part of the jury panel. The selection process for the LMOTY awards involves editorial meetings, public voting, and evaluation by a jury.In addition to the main awards, LMOTY also gives special honors on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society. Past recipients include Pratibha Patil, Amitabh Bachchan, and Aamir Khan, among others, whose exemplary achievements have inspired millions.