Ragini Kayal: Redefining Eastern India's Real Estate With Branding, Retail And Social Impact
Ragini Kayal
Project Manager
With a vision to celebrate Northeast India’s cultural richness, Ragini is actively working towards shaping Galaxy City into the ‘Pride of the Seven Sisters’, a development that continues to evolve, integrating regional heritage with modern urban aspirations. Through large-scale mixed-use developments, she is continuously facilitating the refinement of urban living in Eastern India, focusing on integrated spaces that bring together commerce, culture, and community. With a strong storytelling approach, Ragini is actively involved in branding, marketing, sales, and curating the retail experience for one of Eastern India’s most ambitious commercial developments, an evolving project that continues to take shape.
Engaging in an immersive interaction with CEO Insights magazine, Ragini shares her strategies, leadership guidelines, and much more. Let's delve into it.
What key lesson or experience from UCL has had the greatest impact on your professional mindset and approach?
I had a life-changing experience at University College London, especially at the Institute for Global Prosperity. I studied innovation, entrepreneurship,
and prosperity which helped me understand prosperity as a holistic concept that differs among people and communities and goes beyond mere financial success.
Everyday challenges in business and real estate require the ability to take a step back, evaluate the situation holistically, and make well-informed decisions. At UCL, I learned the significance of responding rather than reacting. This lesson has affected my ability to manage projects, lead teams, and make difficult decisions.
In what ways have your academic and extra curricular experiences at UCL influenced your leadership as COO of Galaxy’s real estate ventures?
At UCL, while attending the Institute for Global Prosperity, I learned the value of taking a holistic approach to problems and was exposed to various perspectives. I gained a profound sense of respect and empathy from interacting with people from various back grounds.
For me, education is about developing both intellectually and emotionally, not just acquiring knowledge. I understand the value of emotional intelligence and ensure that people feel heard and seen. I am always open to new ideas and strive to adapt to the dynamic world of real estate.
How did faculty accessibility at UCL shape your educational experience and contribute to your growth?
We had friendly, approachable, and helpful faculty members which fostered a welcoming and stimulating learning atmosphere. One of my favorite memories is of my first day when I unintentionally entered a faculty-only office and was greeted with open arms and given a tour instead of being turned away. We always felt like a part of the community and this aided me in developing both personally and professionally in addition to academically.
Is there a defining moment from your time at UCL that significantly influenced your career path?
Everyday challenges in business and real estate require the ability to take a step back, evaluate the situation holistically, and make well-informed decisions. At UCL, I learned the significance of responding rather than reacting. This lesson has affected my ability to manage projects, lead teams, and make difficult decisions.
For me, education is not just about acquiring knowledge but about growing both intel-lectually and emotionally, learning to think critically, adapt, and connect with the world in a meaningful way
In what ways have your academic and extra curricular experiences at UCL influenced your leadership as COO of Galaxy’s real estate ventures?
At UCL, while attending the Institute for Global Prosperity, I learned the value of taking a holistic approach to problems and was exposed to various perspectives. I gained a profound sense of respect and empathy from interacting with people from various back grounds.
For me, education is about developing both intellectually and emotionally, not just acquiring knowledge. I understand the value of emotional intelligence and ensure that people feel heard and seen. I am always open to new ideas and strive to adapt to the dynamic world of real estate.
How did faculty accessibility at UCL shape your educational experience and contribute to your growth?
We had friendly, approachable, and helpful faculty members which fostered a welcoming and stimulating learning atmosphere. One of my favorite memories is of my first day when I unintentionally entered a faculty-only office and was greeted with open arms and given a tour instead of being turned away. We always felt like a part of the community and this aided me in developing both personally and professionally in addition to academically.
Is there a defining moment from your time at UCL that significantly influenced your career path?
My failure on my first assignment was one of the highlights of my time at UCL. It was unexpected for someone who had always done well in school. The assignment was for an elective taught by Dr Onya, and while I knew I hadn’t done justice to it, I didn’t expect such a low score.
What was noteworthy, though, was the way my professors handled it. She gently pointed out my errors without any judgment and adviced me on how to improve the structure of my work.
This experience has altered my perspective on failures and now influences the way I lead my team. It helped me understand that growth comes from making mistakes and therefore, I try to be approachable so that my team members can feel free to ask questions.
Where do you see your career heading in the long run, particularly in real estate, social impact or other areas of interest?
Being involved in retail strategy, brand positioning, and large-scale mixed-use developments in my roles as COO of Galaxy Amogha and Project Manager for Galaxy City has made me realize the dynamism of this industry. Every day presents itself with fresh opportunities for learning, new challenges, and new people.
I have always had a passion for story telling and used to actively participate in writing, debating, and the performing arts during my schooling. In my opinion, branding is a potent storytelling tool, and I want to learn more about it.
Beyond real estate, I am committed to incorporating social impact into my work, whether by supporting regional artisans, integrating sustainable practices, or developing projects that hold both cultural and economic significance. I firmly believe that doing good and creating impact do not require effort but a shift in perspective. I am currently exploring ways to scale this vision into a structured initiative that creates meaningful change.
Ragini Kayal, Project Manager, Galaxy City
Ragini Kayal is a dynamic leader and her journey entails branding, retail strategy, team building and designing spaces that spark joy. As the Project Manager for Galaxy City and COO of Galaxy Amogha, she is actively driving the development of ambitious projects that integrate commerce, community, and sustainability.
What was noteworthy, though, was the way my professors handled it. She gently pointed out my errors without any judgment and adviced me on how to improve the structure of my work.
This experience has altered my perspective on failures and now influences the way I lead my team. It helped me understand that growth comes from making mistakes and therefore, I try to be approachable so that my team members can feel free to ask questions.
Where do you see your career heading in the long run, particularly in real estate, social impact or other areas of interest?
Being involved in retail strategy, brand positioning, and large-scale mixed-use developments in my roles as COO of Galaxy Amogha and Project Manager for Galaxy City has made me realize the dynamism of this industry. Every day presents itself with fresh opportunities for learning, new challenges, and new people.
I have always had a passion for story telling and used to actively participate in writing, debating, and the performing arts during my schooling. In my opinion, branding is a potent storytelling tool, and I want to learn more about it.
Beyond real estate, I am committed to incorporating social impact into my work, whether by supporting regional artisans, integrating sustainable practices, or developing projects that hold both cultural and economic significance. I firmly believe that doing good and creating impact do not require effort but a shift in perspective. I am currently exploring ways to scale this vision into a structured initiative that creates meaningful change.
Ragini Kayal, Project Manager, Galaxy City
Ragini Kayal is a dynamic leader and her journey entails branding, retail strategy, team building and designing spaces that spark joy. As the Project Manager for Galaxy City and COO of Galaxy Amogha, she is actively driving the development of ambitious projects that integrate commerce, community, and sustainability.