The Jeff Bezos strategy: Mamaearth CEO Ghazal Alagh keeps an empty chair during meetings

Ghazal Alagh, co-founder and CEO of Mamaearth, has adopted a unique strategy inspired by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to ensure that her company, Honasa Consumer, remains consumer-centric in its decision-making. In strategic meetings, Alagh reserves an empty chair, symbolizing the presence of their consumers, to constantly remind her team to consider consumer perspectives in their decisions.

Details:

Ghazal Alagh recently shared an insightful practice she learned from Jeff Bezos. During important meetings at Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, an empty chair is deliberately left unoccupied. This empty chair serves as a representation of their consumers, encouraging the team to think from the consumer's point of view when making decisions. Alagh emphasized that this approach helps them re-evaluate ideas and ensures decisions are made in the best interest of their customers.

Consumer-Centric Focus:

Alagh highlighted that this technique has significantly enhanced decision-making standards at Honasa, which owns multiple brands including Mamaearth, The Derma Co., Dr. Sheth’s, Aqualogica, Ayuga, BBlunt, and Staze 9to9. She posed a reflective question, asking if decisions would differ if a consumer were physically present in the room, urging a continuous consumer-conscious approach in their operations.

Public Reaction:

The public reaction to this strategy has been mixed. Some netizens expressed skepticism, questioning the efficacy of an empty chair in providing real feedback, and suggesting the inclusion of actual consumers in meetings instead. Others defended the concept, arguing that a real consumer might introduce subjective biases, whereas the symbolic empty chair ensures a broader and more conscience-driven consideration of consumer needs.

Alagh’s implementation of Bezos' technique underscores her commitment to consumer satisfaction and highlights an innovative approach to maintaining a customer-first ethos in corporate decision-making.