Ancient Indian wisdom has been a blessing to the world. The Medical field, especially the Ayurveda sector and old doctors, have devoted their expertise to the wellbeing of the people of the time. However, after the emergence of modern medicine and Western medicinal culture in India, this science of life has been significantly overshadowed. To restore this important heritage, Indian medical practitioners and leaders have been making immense efforts.

Shibashis Chakraborty, the Founder and Managing Director of Wellness HUB, is at the top of this league. His leadership philosophy, encapsulated in the mantra ‘Do Different to Get Different,’ reflects his innovative approach. Shibashis Chakraborty is a seasoned leader with 22 years of experience, including nine years of international exposure in locations such as Mauritius, Maldives, Dubai, Austria, Moscow, Portugal, and the USA.

In an exclusive interview with CIOLook India, Shibashis shared his wonderful journey. Here are the snippets:

Please brief us about yourself and shed some light on your professional tenure.

I currently serve as the Founder and Managing Director of Wellness HuB 4me and Career Foundation 4me. I am also the Founder and CEO of Ingenious Digitech Pvt Ltd. Previously, I held the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at Indus Valley Ayurvedic Group in India.

Additionally, I served as the Deputy Director at the Institute of Oriental Medicine in Moscow and was a wellbeing consultant for Talise Wellness at the Jumeirah Group in Dubai.

I have been invited as a guest speaker at NIT Nagpur and an international conference in Dublin, both in 2018. I have also contributed articles to various magazines in India, Japan, and Dubai. I have been featured in interviews across multiple TV channels in Dubai, Russia, Lebanon, and India, showcasing his influence in the industry.

Moreover, I have collaborated with prestigious brands like Taj, Hyatt, Jumeirah, IVAC, and PFRU. My professional learning includes programs from Harvard Business School, the Indian Institute of Management (IIMBx), and Franklin Covey in the US. I have successfully managed national operations for a team of over 200 in wellness, healthcare, and hospitality on a global scale, establishing myself as a ‘Brand Builder’ and ‘Leader Producer’ who drives growth and profitability through business transformation.

What was your inspiration behind venturing into this sector as a valuable company?

Our goal is to reform the wellness business within the hospitality industry by cultivating strong leaders dedicated to this vision. We aim to revive and integrate ancient Indian wellness practices that have been overshadowed over time. By doing so, we also seek to give back to society, sharing the positive benefits we’ve received through these traditions. Ultimately, our mission is to create a holistic approach to wellness that honours both the past and the present.

What are the USPs that make you stand out as a treasured company?

USP: Wellness HUB (Established in 2021) is run by hardcore wellness professionals like Shibashis Chakraborty (with a Yoga background) and Dr Abhijit Sinha Roy (with a Homeopathy background). We are launching lost wellness treasures in India for the spa and wellness industry.  

What were the initial challenges after venturing into the field you are in, and what are the challenges now?

Recruitment and training skilled professional therapists is the biggest challenge in this industry, and retaining them is much tougher. We have mastered that art by sourcing therapists through referral sources and retaining them by giving them the best pay package in the industry along with a stress-free working environment.

As an experienced leader, share your opinion on how technology is transforming your sector and what advancements we can expect in the future.

Yes, nowadays, all bookings are made online. Consumers find us online. To cater to this, we had to increase our online presence. We have adopted software-based operations to save time and avoid human errors. In the future, AI will make a big difference in analyzing customers’ choices and preferences in our industry. Moreover, we are now present in five states: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu.

What would be your advice to the aspirants who are willing to venture into your field?

• Be authentic in the product.
• Take care of ground-level colleagues and pay them well.
• Then they shall take care of your customers.

How do you envision scaling the company’s scope and offerings in future?

We shall be present in all forms of wellness business, including Daycare urban centres, Destination wellness centres, resort and hotel spas, and wellness home care products. Moreover, we are working with renowned brands like Radisson, Royal Orchid, Summit group of hotels, and more big brands that are in the pipeline to join hands with us to manage their wellness businesses.

To be designed separately:

For his great work, Shibashis has been rewarded with various awards and accolades. Here are some of his achievements:

• Awarded as an Inspirational leader of the Year 2022 by WCRC INT.
• Year 2021- Business Connect recognized as GURU of People Management.
• National Award for LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE 2020 in the AYUSH sector, by ASSOCHAM, India.
• He was a keynote speaker at “The European Nutrition Conference” in Dublin, Ireland (June 2018).
• His article was published in the European conference journal in 2018.
• He was a keynote speaker at the National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, in 2017.
• He was a speaker at the Times of India event – Health Care Pioneer of the EAST, 2015.
• His interview was published in the Japanese health magazine DANDO, Yoga Life DUBAI, Sori O Swastho Kolkata.
• He has been interviewed by Dubai ONE TV, Physique TV, Russian TV – Moya Planeta, MBC TV of Lebanon, and NEWS TIME TV – Kolkata.
• Under Shibashis’s guidance, ASSOCHAM has been recognized as the most preferred wellness company in India in 2022.