Liliane Bettencourt, the heiress to L’Oréal, was, when she died, the richest woman in the world and the 14th richest person in the rest of the world. While fashion and cosmetics were the center of Liliane’s world, there was a lot more to her than just looking chic and pretty. Everything about Liliane’s life has been under public scrutiny and everything she did, helped her push L’Oréal to an unforeseen and unprecedented level. While the rest of the world remembers for her very public and ugly feud with her daughter, we would like to remember her for the way she built the Company up!
1. Her dedication to business
Picture credits: theguardian.com
From companies like Sun Pharma, to Foxconn and to L’Oréal, all major family run businesses have one thing in common: dedication to the business. With Liliane Bettencourt, the addiction and the conviction to the business was so strong, it was almost infectious. In fact, she said exactly that in a statement shortly before her death, “My life is L’Oréal. I have always been involved in the development of the company, and I will protect it to the end.” At another time, during the early days of Liliane’s role as a CEO Of L’Oréal, someone suggested using Isabella Rossellini as the brand ambassador. The moment Liliane heard the news, her response was. “But, ambassador of L’Oréal, it’s me!” Sticking true to her dedication to the Company, Liliane always thought of her business first, then anything else.
2. Family and stability always go hand in hand
Picture credits; livemint.com
Despite having a very public war with her daughter, over property and money, among other disagreements, Liliane always believed that family comes first. Further, one of her other concerns came from the fact, she wanted the control of the business within the family. In fact, when Nestlé bought a majority stake from L’Oreal, Liliane ensured that at least 30 % of the shares were within the Company and not sold. This helped make sure, no matter what, as long as Liliane was alive, one third of the control was going to be in the family! If family and stability was not the center of Liliane’s growth strategy, then L’Oreal wouldn’t be what it is even after her death!
3. Keep expanding and growing
Picture credits: lovealusa.com
When L’Oréal started, it was a small cosmetics chain where most of the products were sold domestically. With every product sold and every sale made, the profits L’Oréal earned through the years, propelled it to the top! Growing from having almost nothing, to earning € 26 billion as revenue in 2016, L’Oréal grew exponentially. Further, the shares which Bettencourt sold back to Nestlé before she died, increased the value of L’Oréal by at least a 100 times, making the Company one of the richest ones in the world! Liliane Bettencourt led an eventful life. With a journey full of ups and downs, she made sure, no matter what she did, her business was always her focal point. A journey rooted deep in family and values, Liliane Bettencourt’s life stopped short at the ripe old of 94. A woman who fought tooth and nail to make a mark, she most certainly has left a strong legacy behind.
Larry Page is a visionary technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Google, one of the world’s most influential companies. Born in 1973 in Michigan, Page grew up surrounded by computer technology, which inspired his passion for innovation from an early age. He studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan and later pursued his PhD at Stanford University, where he developed the revolutionary PageRank algorithm with Sergey Brin. This technology fundamentally changed the way search engines rank websites, making Google the most accurate and popular search engine globally.
The journey of Larry Page and Google began in 1998 when they officially launched the search engine from a small garage. Leveraging their unique algorithm, Google quickly surpassed competitors due to its ability to deliver highly relevant search results, transforming internet search forever. Under Larry Page’s leadership as CEO, Google expanded beyond search to launch groundbreaking products including YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps, turning it into a global tech powerhouse that shapes how we access and interact with information online.
Larry Page later became the CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., driving innovation and investment in next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare solutions. His visionary leadership and commitment to technological advancement have cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. Today, Larry Page remains a key influencer in shaping the future of technology and digital innovation worldwide.
Bharti Airtel has launched the innovative “Airtel-Perplexity Blueprint,” partnering with Perplexity to provide over 360 million customers free access to Perplexity Pro for a year—a benefit valued at ₹17,000 ($200). This collaboration enables Airtel users across mobile, broadband, and digital TV to harness advanced capabilities in generative AI, including leading AI models like GPT 4.1, Claude, and Gemini, along with up to 300 Pro searches daily, image generation, document analysis, and personalized planning services. The move is seen as a milestone for telecom innovation and the democratization of AI in India, making powerful research and productivity tools accessible to a massive user base.
This strategic partnership positions Airtel as an “AI-first” telecom provider, allowing it to gain key insights into user interactions with artificial intelligence and adapt its networks for growing digital demands. For Perplexity, the tie-up grants exclusive access to India’s vast telecom audience, rapidly propelling the app to the No. 1 spot on the Indian App Store, surpassing global competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Airtel customers can activate their complimentary subscription seamlessly through the Airtel Thanks App, under the Rewards and OTTs section, reinforcing Airtel’s commitment to digital customer empowerment.
The broader Indian startup ecosystem reflects both breakthrough innovation and hard-earned lessons, illustrated by the recent shutdown of Ohm Mobility, an EV financing startup. Despite multiple pivots and industry-leading investors, Ohm Mobility struggled to achieve a sustainable business model—a reminder of the challenges in market fit and adaptability. As AI adoption accelerates and startup realities evolve, industry leaders like Airtel and Perplexity are setting new standards, while others, like Ohm Mobility, offer valuable insights on resilience and the importance of business model flexibility in India’s dynamic tech landscape.
Tesla has ramped up its India expansion by leasing a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai’s Kurla West. The five-year lease, registered on May 16, 2025, involves a total rent of over ₹24 crore, starting at ₹37.53 lakh per month with a 5% annual escalation. The facility includes two ground-floor units and 20 parking spots, with rent payments commencing June 1, 2025.
This warehouse will function as a key service center and garage for Tesla’s India operations, excluding bodywork and spray painting. The move supports Tesla’s preparations for its official market debut, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
Tesla’s India rollout includes offices in Pune, flagship showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Delhi-NCR, and co-working spaces in Mumbai. The new warehouse lease highlights Tesla’s commitment to building a robust infrastructure for sales, service, and delivery of electric vehicles and energy products across India.
While manufacturing plans are not yet confirmed, Tesla is reportedly exploring sites in Maharashtra for a potential assembly unit. The Mumbai warehouse lease marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.