Dr. Zarine Manchanda grew up near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, in a family where politics, business and hospitality were part of everyday life. Her father was a politician, minister and businessman, while hospitality was also part of the family environment. The setting exposed her early to people, responsibility, enterprise and the expectations that come with a public-facing life. Fashion, interiors and entertainment also caught her interest, interests that would later find their way into different parts of her professional life. Life around Dharamshala placed her close to a culture where spirituality carried a visible presence. Those influences would eventually surface in her businesses, from the atmosphere of her hospitality ventures to the details she chose to bring into customer experiences. Her first professional ambition, however, took her far from the world of business.