Leena Nair, a woman from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has become a global inspiration. She is now the CEO of luxury fashion brand Chanel and was recently honoured with the UK’s top civilian award, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), by Prince William.
Leena’s story began in a modest home in Kolhapur. Born on June 11, 1969, in a traditional Malayali family, she grew up facing challenges for basic rights like education. She studied at Holy Cross Convent High School and later earned a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli. In 1992, she completed her MBA in Human Resources from XLRI Jamshedpur, becoming a gold medallist.
To continue her education, Leena agreed to an arranged marriage. She met Kumar Nair on her 23rd birthday and decided to marry him within 30 minutes. They have now been happily married for 30 years and have two sons, Aryan and Sidhant.
Leena started her career as a summer intern at Hindustan Unilever. Over 30 years, she rose to become the company’s first female, Asian, and youngest Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). She made history by becoming the first woman to work night shifts at a Unilever factory.
At Unilever, she pushed for more women in leadership roles and aimed to raise the number of women managers from 38% to 50% by 2030. Her bold vision and dedication to gender equality earned her global recognition.
Today, as the CEO of Chanel, Leena Nair is a role model for millions, proving that hard work and courage can turn dreams into reality — even from the smallest of towns.
Also Read: Chanel CEO Leena Nair Honoured with Prestigious CBE Award by UK Royalty
