TheGlitz Super Woman Malvika Jain, Founder, Sereko

In our special ‘Firsts & Fearless’ TheGlitz Super Women’s Day edition, we celebrate women who step into the unknown, challenge conventions, and create powerful “firsts” that change the narrative. Few embody this spirit more compellingly than Malvika Jain, the visionary founder of SEREKO, India’s first psychodermatology-backed skincare and nutraceutical brand.

A former lawyer who once navigated the demanding corridors of the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court, Malvika chose to reinvent her path with courage and conviction, stepping into the world of wellness to pioneer a bold new idea: that true skincare begins with the mind. In doing so, she transformed uncertainty into opportunity, building a brand that challenges the traditional beauty playbook by addressing stress as a root cause of skin concerns.

Malvika’s journey is a testament to fearless reinvention and purpose-driven leadership. With intellect, empathy, and relentless determination, she has not only built a rapidly growing brand but also sparked a new conversation around holistic beauty and mental wellbeing. Her story perfectly captures the essence of Firsts & Fearless… a woman who dared to begin again, lead with quiet strength, and build something extraordinary where none existed before.

At TheGlitz, we celebrate Malvika Jain as a TheGlitz Super Woman… a trailblazer whose fearless first continues to inspire a new generation of women to dream bigger, break boundaries, and create their own path forward.

“Probably the largest leap of faith I’ve ever made was quitting my job as a litigation lawyer to create a wellness business. I found structure and certainty in law, but entrepreneurship is practically the reverse; there are no set norms and you have to continually navigate the unknown.”

– Malvika Jain, Founder, SEREKO

‘Firsts & Fearless’

Over To Malvika Jain, Founder, SEREKO

When was the last time you did something for the first time — and how did it shift your perspective?

Malvika Jain – I didn’t really do anything for the first time until I made the decision to run my first marathon. Although endurance sports have always piqued my interest, I felt as though I was entering uncharted ground when I signed up. I learned something during my training that is unexpectedly applicable to entrepreneurship: advancement is often made quietly via perseverance rather than dramatically.

My appreciation of patience has changed significantly since I started running. Just as you can’t rush real growth in a brand or in life, you can’t push your body into endurance. It made me appreciate the process much more instead of continuously pursuing results.

What is one truth about being a woman in your industry that deserves more honest conversation?

Malvika Jain – The fact that female founders are frequently need to demonstrate their credentials a bit more before being fully taken seriously is one reality that we don’t discuss enough. Sometimes it’s subtle, but it’s there, whether it’s in early business discussions, boardrooms, or negotiations.

Over time, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most effective thing you can do is to remain firmly committed to your beliefs. People’s perceptions of you gradually shift when you are confident in your subject, goal, and the value you are generating. More open discussions about this, in my opinion, will enable women to enter settings without feeling pressured to overcompensate.

Tell us about a challenge that tested you deeply — and what rebuilding taught you about yourself.

Malvika Jain – Probably the largest leap of faith I’ve ever made was quitting my job as a litigation lawyer to create a wellness business. I found structure and certainty in law, but entrepreneurship is practically the reverse; there are no set norms, and you have to continually navigate the unknown.

There were times throughout the early stages of SEREKO’s development when things didn’t go quite as expected; deadlines changed, concepts changed, and several decisions had to be made with scant knowledge. Rebuilding through those experiences taught me that resilience is more about moving on in spite of doubt than it is about never experiencing it. It also helped me recognize that one of a founder’s most underappreciated assets is adaptability.

What does power mean to you today, and how has that definition evolved over time?

Malvika Jain – I think that in the past, I connected power with accomplishment, including titles, milestones, and the outward success indicators that are frequently discussed.

My perception of power is now much more subdued and inward-looking. Power, in my opinion, is the capacity to uphold your principles while doing something worthwhile. It’s being able to make choices that are true to your beliefs, even if they don’t always follow the most traditional course.

True power, in my opinion, arises when your work, purpose, and personal values start to align.

Beyond titles and milestones, what change do you hope your journey inspires for the next generation of women?

Malvika Jain – If there’s one thing I want my journey to inspire, it’s for women to have the confidence in their curiosity to pursue unusual avenues. In my case, it was law, psychology, and skincare, but often the most profound insights come from making connections across disparate fields.

It’s not always necessary to fit into a predetermined box in order to create something significant. I believe that far more creative and considerate companies will arise if more women feel free to incorporate their diverse interests, experiences, and viewpoints into their work.

In the end, everyone gains from that kind of diversity of thought.

Rapid-Fire: “Her Firsts.”

– First bold risk you took: “Left my law career to start my own brand.”

– First time you chose yourself without guilt: “I started dedicating the first hour of my day to self-improvement. Mornings are for working out and contemplation.”
– First failure that became a lesson: “Early during the building SEREKO, we assumed that presenting the science behind psychodermatology would be enough for people to understand the value of what we were doing. It wasn’t. Consumers don’t just connect with data — they connect with stories and relevance. That experience taught me that even the strongest science needs to be communicated with empathy and clarity.”
– First big win that felt surreal: “My first big entrepreneurship award – Solopreneur of the year.”

-First time you felt fearless: “When I decided I had to go ahead and build SEREKO. There was no clear blueprint and plenty of skepticism about whether consumers would understand the idea.”
– First woman who shaped your ambition: “My mother is my rock, and I’m nothing without her.”