00:00 – Trailer
01:07 – Introduction
02:07 – How things changed after moving from COO to CEO
03:45 – Why designation matters more than people think
06:19 – How K Raheja Group was founded
11:36 – Managing relationships in business
15:26 – Early age learnings
17:54 – How commercial buildings should be designed
20:12 – Why the group only does lease projects
22:33 – Parameters for lease projects
24:08 – The hospitality model process
30:23 – Pros and cons of the hospitality business
34:49 – How returns are monitored in the hotel business
38:29 – How brand partnerships work in hotel management
41:06 – Managing cash flow for such developments
44:14 – The Covid phase for the hotel industry
45:49 – The hiring process
51:34 – What is a tracker
53:35 – Vision for the next 10 years
54:45 – How important is education
57:55 – Hobbies
59:40 – Rapid fire round
1:01:48 – One piece of advice for next-gen developers
1:03:00 – Conclusion
This episode was with Vijayta Raheja from K Raheja Group, and the conversation gave a very interesting look into the thinking behind one of the most established names in Indian real estate.
We started with her transition from COO to CEO and what actually changes when you move into a different leadership role. We spoke about designations, responsibility, and whether a title really matters when you are building and managing a business.
We then went back to the beginning and spoke about how K Raheja was founded, the early learnings that shaped the business, and the importance of relationships in real estate. What stood out was how much of the industry is still built around trust, long-term relationships, and the ability to manage people effectively.
A big part of the conversation was around commercial real estate and why K Raheja has historically focused on lease projects. Vijayata explained the parameters that go into evaluating these developments and how the thinking differs when you are building an asset for long-term income rather than an outright sale.
The conversation then moved into hospitality, where we went deep into how the business model works, its advantages and challenges, how returns are monitored, and how partnerships with international hotel brands actually work. We also discussed the less visible side of large developments—managing cash flows, planning investments, and navigating periods like COVID when the hospitality industry faced one of its biggest disruptions.
Beyond real estate, we spoke about hiring, the importance of systems and trackers, and how structured processes can help businesses scale. Towards the end, Vijayata shared her vision for the next ten years, her thoughts on the role of education in shaping a career, and what she enjoys outside of work.
We wrapped up with a rapid-fire round and one final question: what is the one piece of advice she would give to the next generation of developers?
A conversation about leadership, commercial real estate, hospitality, relationships and what it takes to build a business with a long-term view.
Instagram:
Personal Id: https://www.instagram.com/vijaytaraheja.official/
Company Id: https://www.instagram.com/krg.india/