"A common mistake is to keep achieving just for the sake of success or being number one. It's important to realize what your work means for others and to make sure you want to better society with your business endeavors."
Jimmy Mistry
Jimmy Mistry is a thought leader with more than two decades of experience in the field of design. Jimmy is the founder, designer, and operator of India’s finest luxury spot, Della Resorts, and creator of ‘experiential hospitality’ with India’s only military-themed Resort – DATA. He is the founder of Della Leaders Club (DLC), the world’s first technology-enabled global business platform. Jimmy is the Chairman & MD of Della Group, a renowned business conglomerate with 5 business verticals. He is a pioneer in world-class extreme adventure destinations in India and developer of luxury villas in the second home segment with Della Villas.
Tell us a little bit about your current projects. What exciting milestone would you like to share with our readers? (Don’t hesitate to delve into your achievements, they will inspire the audience)
Jimmy Mistry: I have always led an incredibly successful business life by ensuring that my projects and deals have a higher purpose: to improve society for all and to make a significant dent in the world at large.
I am the Chairman and Managing Director of Della Group, a forward-thinking Social Entrepreneur, Award-Winning Designer, Real Estate Developer, Hotelier, and now, Founder of Della Leaders Club (DLC). DLC is the world’s first business platform for a Global Community of entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders across 15 Chapter Cities. The Della Leaders Club is a highly curated technology-enabled Global platform. Guided by the experience of my unique career, Della Leaders Club was developed from my desire to create a comprehensive support ecosystem for the modern leader.
Comprised of international chapters and members in 26 business and lifestyle domains, Della Leaders Club members are eager to contribute, share with others and give back to society. Having designed for some of the World’s most successful entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, celebrities, and socialites during the last 25 years, I realized that leaders are hungry for business knowledge and wish to stay ahead of the curve.
Many also wanted to contribute and help others, which mirrored my life of Social Entrepreneurship. The DLC Global Community is a conglomerate of leaders who want to share their experiences, knowledge, and domain expertise. Della Leaders Club has over 2,200 Global Honorary Committee Members across 15 cities globally. Cities include New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and nine cities in India during Phase 1. With a registered company in Delaware and an office in New York, DLC aims to expand operations to seven more chapter cities in the U.S., 120 Hon. Committee Members, 7-8 full-time staff, and a small studio in each chapter city. The expansion plan includes 10 additional chapter cities each in 2022 & 2023.
The DLC concept has already gone viral. DLC has been able to successfully onboard men and women of prominence like IVY league alumni, unicorn start-up founders, YPO members, Forbes listers, Grammy Award Winners, top Government Attorneys, and UN members. The organization lives by an ethos of diversity and equality that encompasses all nationalities, faiths, genders, and ages, and areas tied together by the spirit of entrepreneurship.
Was there somebody in your life that inspired you to take that specific journey with your business?
Jimmy Mistry: My parents instilled in me the importance of hard work and dedication to creating new things that help others.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Jimmy Mistry: A common mistake is to keep achieving just for the sake of success or being number one. It’s important to realize what your work means for others and to make sure you want to better society with your business endeavors.
Resilience is critical in critical times like the ones we are going through now. How would you define resilience?
Jimmy Mistry: Resilience is the ability to narrow your focus on achieving success and changing paths and/or methods when hit with acts of God or unlucky breaks that put obstacles in your way.
In your opinion, what makes your company stand out from the competition?
Jimmy Mistry: The DLC Global Community was created for members who are all keen to share their experiences, knowledge, and domain expertise to enrich the lives of members and create transformative leaders. Della Leaders Club defines a transformative leader as someone who will reinvigorate a company, reinvent an industry, and reboot society. It is not concerned with competition but with collaboration among leaders.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?
Jimmy Mistry: Empathy, Determination, Curiosity.
Being a CEO of the company, do you think that your personal brand reflects your company’s values?
Jimmy Mistry: Whatever businesses we are into must improve the experiences and the lives of as many people as possible. This is the ethos of my brand. Our businesses must be validated by our conscience on the ecological implications and must add a new dimension to design.”
When designing for some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, celebrities, and socialites over the course of the last 25 years, this was the guiding message I told my team as the Founder and CEO of real estate and hospitality company, the Della Group. Throughout my career, I have aimed to create and have developed new standards in design, architecture and development. Della Resorts, Adventure Park & Villas fulfilled my desire for modern functional design married with the greatest that luxury can offer.
How would you define “leadership”?
Jimmy Mistry: I firmly believe that entrepreneurs aren’t truly successful leaders until they challenge the status quo towards the betterment of society.
What advice would you give to our younger readers that want to become entrepreneurs?
Jimmy Mistry: Be determined and restless and realize that the best entrepreneurs change the way things are done in society. A sharp business acumen combined with a strong commitment to social betterment is what makes one businessperson better and more adept at the job.
What’s your favorite “business” quote and how has it affected your business decisions?
Jimmy Mistry: Inspired by JRD Tata, “Whatever businesses we are into must improve the lives of as many people as possible. No success or achievement in material terms is worthwhile unless and until it serves the needs of the Community and its Country and is achieved by fair and honest means.”
My successful businesses are a testament to this saying.
This interview was originally published on ValiantCEO.
