Dubai entrepreneur links business growth with social purpose through Barkat Meal

Gunjan Gangwani, who has more than 12 years of experience in compliance and corporate governance, co-founded KRMA Solutions with her husband, Raman. She said entrepreneurship calls for courage, resilience and independent thinking, and that leadership does not have to be loud or aggressive. For her, responsible decisions, trust and commitment to values matter, and success is measured by more than business growth. Based in Dubai for over 18 years, she said the Barkat Meal initiative began with the belief that home-style food should be affordable and accessible, particularly for the city's blue-collar workforce. The aim, she said, was to build a sustainable model without compromising dignity or quality. On balancing work and family, she said attention shifts between business and home depending on the day, and that letting go of perfection helps. She advised women to pursue causes they believe in while understanding commercial realities, and said ambition and compassion can coexist.