Sima Ganwani Ved is the Founder and Chairwoman of the renowned Apparel Group. The multi-billion-dollar company based in the UAE has firmly established itself as one of the largest retailers in the Middle East with an impressive portfolio of 85+ prestigious brands across 2,300+ stores in 14 countries, supported by a dedicated workforce of over 24,000 employees. Over the years, Ved’s achievements garnered numerous professional and personal awards and accolades including The Philanthropreneur of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Great Place to Work, Great Women’s Award, and Emirates Woman of the Year Awards.

Born in Africa, Ved embarked on a remarkable journey that would shape her into the successful entrepreneur she is today. In the 1970s, she relocated to Dubai alongside her self-made entrepreneur father, immersing herself in a world of ambition and opportunity. She later moved to the UK to pursue her education, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree from King’s College London, followed by an MBA in Business Management. At the age of 20, Ved made her foray into the business world as a Department Manager in her father’s shopping mall. This experience laid a solid foundation for her work ethic and reinforced her commitment to sound business principles.

In addition to her remarkable achievements in the business world, Ved is also an active member of various global organizations such as YPO and CEO. Her compassionate nature extends beyond her professional pursuits, leading her to mentor her teenage daughter, Sarisha Ved to launch her own Athleisure brand, F5 Global, where 100% of the profits from the “Tees for Fees” collection go towards children’s education. Simultaneously, Ved also mentored her eldest daughter, Selina Ved, to establish NESSA, a social e-commerce beauty platform.

As a dynamic individual who displays a diverse range of talents and interests, Ved likes to reinvent herself creatively, embracing new ventures and challenges. In the early 2000s, she embarked on a writing journey, contributing a column to a newspaper for two and a half years, and simultaneously won awards for her play acting. In 2000, Ved launched her own TV chat show “Hi Tea with Sima Ved” on Star Plus International.