For Devika Ahluwalia, Art Director at Scribbles Designs, success was never about chasing a title. It grew organically from a love for design, years of trusting her instincts and the courage to keep showing up. Her journey is one of creativity, resilience and the belief that meaningful work must always come from the heart.
What made you believe you could build and lead a business of your own?
I never set out to become a “CEO”. I was a designer and artist at heart. After moving to Chandigarh, I taught at the College of Art, but soon realised a classroom wasn’t where I belonged. Freelancing gave me the hands-on relationship with work and clients I enjoyed. Scribble began in my mother’s spare room, with my son just born. I followed the work I loved, one project at a time; belief came later.
As a woman CEO, what has been your biggest learning about leadership?
One of the loveliest surprises was how warmly clients accepted and trusted me as a woman. My biggest learning has been self-reliance: a woman must know her worth and stand on her own feet, known for who she is, not who she is related to. Leadership taught me that we can genuinely do anything we dream of; the limits are the ones we place on ourselves.
Was there ever a moment when you had to choose between being liked and being a strong leader?
I don’t see the two as opposing choices. Being liked and being a strong leader go hand in hand. When people respect you, and you respect them back, they listen — that’s when real leadership happens. A strong leader leads by example, not authority alone. I work alongside my team and understand where they’re coming from rather than lead from a distance. That closeness has strengthened my leadership.
What does being a woman at the helm of Scribble mean to you personally?
It comes down to responsibility. When a brand trusts me with its business, I feel it’s my duty to treat it with love and care and give it my best. I learn every day because standards don’t stay still. This work can’t be treated as a 9-to-5 job. It needs your heart and soul. Know your craft inside out, but bring warmth and hand-holding to every relationship too — that sets you apart.
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