Redirecting.work

moment to pause, reflect, and reassess what she truly wanted next. She embraced cocooning—a concept of stepping away from the grind, reconnecting with family, and realigning with personal values before making the next big move.

​

During this time, she realized she didn’t want to re-enter the toxicity of large corporations. She tested the waters with a mid-sized Bay Area manufacturing firm, joining as Chief of Operations. But within a week, she knew she had stepped into an even more toxic environment than the one she had left.

​

It was time for a new direction.

​

Rewriting the Recipe: Entering the Restaurant Business

 

Reena’s husband had always been an entrepreneur. After leaving Cisco decades earlier, he had built a successful restaurant group. Over the years, he expanded into a Michelin-starred fine dining destination, creating Rasa, a celebrated restaurant that redefined how Indian cuisine was perceived in the U.S.

​

Reena had always been a silent partner, balancing her tech career while supporting his ventures. But with her recent experiences, she saw an opportunity to take a more active role. Their restaurants had always been about more than food—they were about elevating hospitality. She realized they could expand and refine that vision.

​

The result? Amara, a brand-new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that brings together flavors from Europe to North Africa, capturing the spirit of long, leisurely meals and heartfelt hospitality. The couple built Amara from the ground up, pouring a year into design, construction, and curation to craft an experience that embodies abundance, warmth, and connection.

 

Simultaneously, they made a bold move: reviving Rasa. After years of operating under the Michelin spotlight, they had stepped away, rebranding their first restaurant as Saffron to escape the pressure of expectations and anonymous critiques. But something was missing. In October 2023, they relaunched Rasa as Rasa 2.0—a better, more intentional version of itself, shaped by everything they had learned over the years.

​

A Philosophy Rooted in Hospitality

 

Through this process, Reena found her true calling—not just in running restaurants, but in redefining hospitality.

For years, she and her husband had built restaurants based on great food, great service, and great culture. But only recently did they find the words to describe what they were really doing: building hospitality-first experiences.

​

She credits a UK-based travel journalist for helping her articulate what had always been in her heart: a restaurant should feel like an extension of your home. When guests walk in, they should feel like a family returning for a meal, not just customers placing an order.

Now, she and her team have fully embraced this hospitality-first mindset—not just in Rasa and Amara, but across every aspect of their operations. Employees are trained in more than just service; they are trained in welcoming, in connection, in creating moments that matter.

 

“I get goosebumps just talking about it,” she says. “If your team doesn’t believe in the vision, what can you do? But when they do, it changes everything.”

​

Advice for Corporate Professionals Eyeing Entrepreneurship

 

Reena’s journey from corporate tech sales to full-time restaurateur has taught her invaluable lessons about making a bold pivot. She offers this advice:

​

• Focus on the big picture. A career pivot is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be financial strains and setbacks, but staying committed to long-term goals is key.

• Manage your energy, not just your tasks. Rather than daily to-do lists, Reena sets weekly priorities, allowing room for flexibility while keeping her focus on moving towards long-term objectives.

• Build a new network. Old contacts may not fully understand your new path. Surround yourself with mentors, industry peers, and people who can support your transition.

• Lead with optimism. If you let stress and doubt take over, your team will feel it. Even in challenging times, projecting confidence and a problem-solving mindset is crucial.

• Embrace collaboration. Working with competitors or peers sparks innovation and creativity. "You can compete and collaborate at the same time," she says.

 

What’s Next: A Legacy of Mentorship in Hospitality

 

Now that Amara has launched and Rasa is thriving, Reena is looking beyond restaurant operations. Her next mission? Bringing mentorship into hospitality.

​

She wants to guide young professionals in the industry—helping them develop their skills, understand career pathways, and access the resources they need to grow.

​

“Many of them see this as just a temporary job,” she explains. “I want to help them find their passion, whether that’s moving up in hospitality or exploring other careers. I want them to have the tools, networks, and guidance to build something meaningful.”

She envisions creating a mentorship circle, bringing together experienced professionals and young talent for career conversations, training, and industry insights.

​

“I’ve been incredibly lucky,” she reflects. “Now, I want to give back—to create a community where we support each other, push each other, and elevate the industry together.”

​

Final Thoughts

 

Reena Miglani’s journey from corporate sales to hospitality entrepreneur is a masterclass in reinvention. She didn’t just change industries—she redefined how she works, how she leads, and what success means to her.

​

For those considering a similar leap, her story is proof that the right pivot isn’t about leaving behind what you’ve built—it’s about bringing your skills, values, and vision into something new.

​

And for Reena, this is just the beginning. The best chapters are still to come.