Introduction
Hi, I am Rali Gouri Prabhani. After my BBA from Andhra University, I pursued roles in business development at Zarah Concept India, alongside internships at Brandix Apparel India as HR in Employee engagement and Employee welfare for Calvin Klein, Walmart and Victoria’s Secret; production, finance and marketing at Honda; and public relations at Ramoji Film City. I’ve always loved uncovering the heritage behind iconic names—but my new chapter began with an unexpected detour.
Day 1: The Detour and the PG Encounter
I missed my first day. My train from Rayagada to Nizamuddin wasn’t confirmed, and by the time I reached Gurgaon, it was already night. I felt sad and anxious, wondering what I had missed. But I chose to trust the process, because sooner or later I would get to know from the faculty or my classmates. But the worry lingered through the long journey.
I arrived at my PG on the evening of 2nd September, exhausted. As my mother and I stepped out of the elevator, a girl called out, “Are you Gouri?” It was Prachi—a stranger who somehow knew my name. I was tired, nervous, and overwhelmed, so I probably just nodded or responded with ‘yes’. But that small moment broke the ice. The fear of being alone in a new city softened.
Prachi introduced me to her friend Abhilasha and their parents. They were warm, explaining the PG’s dinner facilities and filling me in on Day 2. Soon after, my father and younger sister arrived with our luggage. We shared dinner, exchanged contacts, and ended the day calmly. I wasn’t alone anymore. Lying in bed that night, I was nervous for the next day.
Day 2: Early Waking and the Chanakya Mall
I woke up at 7 AM—too early, but too wired to sleep. My heart raced with anticipation. I met Ekempreet and her parents at the PG’s waiting hall, and we headed to college. In class, Rashmi Ma’am welcomed me, explained the schedule, and helped with formalities. Her kindness made me feel seen, even as the latecomer. The highlight was our industry visit to The Chanakya Mall with our CEO Akshay Gupta. The car was silent at first, but Akshay Sir’s humour had us talking. Awkward small talk only; not being able to cope with the silence, he started showing us the famous places throughout the journey.
As we reached Chanakya Mall, Chanel was our first stop. As someone who admires the brand for the Little Black Dress and its tweed jackets, stepping inside felt surreal. The fabric under my fingers, the quiet elegance of the space—it was everything I imagined and more. I met these two beautifully dedicated people, Mr Shivanshu and Mr Aman, the ambassador of Chanel and moi! The experience in Chanel felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.
Next was AMIRI, the LA-founded luxury house. The minimalist store reflected its Californian roots. The team shared details about a 100% yellow silk shirt with black straps. I never knew a different approach like street fashion could be in luxury fashion.
At Messika, Gazala and Gourika shared the brand’s origin story. Hearing how Valérie Messika built an empire through determination inspired me. Passion, consistently, beats constant reinvention. I walked out lighter, as if their story permitted me to trust my own path.
Rolex was our final stop. We met LCBS alumnus Mr Akshay, a senior client manager. A client arrived, so we stepped out quietly, observing luxury service firsthand. On the ride back, our vehicle was again filled with silence, but Akshay sir again tried to make it lively and it somewhat worked I guess!
Day 3: Presentations, Panels, and Turning Points
Day 3 of my college journey was an engaging blend of industry exposure, family milestones, and personal development. The day began with an inspiring panel discussion on AI’s impact on employment, featuring our college founder, Mr Abhay Gupta, alongside professionals Ms Sulakshana Pathak (former Brand Director at BMW and MINI Cooper), Ms Radha Kapoor Khanna (Founder of ISDI), and Mr Devanshu Dutta (Founder of Third Eyesight). Sitting in the front row allowed me a memorable opportunity to interact directly with Ms Sulakshana Pathak.
Having my parents and sister present made the day extra special, especially when my mother gave a recorded interview with Harman Ma’am, and I took a photo with my father by the illuminated LCBS sign.
Later, we delivered five-minute industry-visit presentations to Rashmi Ma’am and Mr Abhay Gupta. Although nerves caused me to forget a few points on stage, I successfully improvised—a valuable learning experience for my Luxury Brand Management course. After all the presentations were completed, Mr. Abhay Gupta Sir introduced us to the college in greater detail and explained more about our course and what we could expect from our academic journey. We wrapped up the day with certificate verification and a fun game of “Two Truths and a Lie” organized by Harman Ma’am, which helped us bond as classmates.
Visiting the Chanakya Mall luxury brands with LCBS
The Chanakya in New Delhi is home to some of India’s best-known luxury boutiques. During the induction, LCBS students visited the Chanakya Mall luxury brands Chanel, Amiri, Messika and Rolex, met their store teams, and presented what they observed the next day. Read more student blogs, or explore the MBA in Luxury Brand Management and its international module at Accademia del Lusso, Milan.
