Nikita Khandheria of Ditas Marin: Five Things I Learned As A Twenty-Something Founder

Spreading goodwill and making a positive impact in the world has been a lifelong mission for me and something my father always preached was never optional — so goodness is an idea that has been deeply rooted in my heart since a very young age.

As a part of our series called “My Life as a TwentySomething Founder”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nikita Khandheria.

Nikita Khandheria is the CEO of Ditas Marin. Her accomplishments include conducting health exams for rural women at just 12 years old in India where she grew up, pursuing dependency law and advocacy at 15 and presenting a case by 16, and studying Economics and Math at St. Andrews and then Computer Science at William and Mary in her late teens.

Now at 21, she’s owning and operating her waterfront fine-dining restaurant in California, Ditas Marin, while flying back and forth to Williamsburg to finish her senior year. The Euro-Asian concept is fueled by her business knowledge, love of numbers, and complemented by her stellar culinary team who come from MICHELIN starred and highlight recognized establishments across the US.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! What is your “backstory”?

I was born in Marin County, California, and spent my formative years in India. At the age of 12, I began conducting health exams for women in rural India, complemented by efforts to teach them skills that could then translate into economic independence. I had found my calling and although eventually I had to take a step away when my family moved back to the United States, I felt comfortable knowing that I had left them with two clinics and a team I built and trusted to take the initiative forward until I could return to it. After having moved to California, at 15, I was in awe of a team of panel lawyers I had seen speak at an event. Convinced that advocating for families in dependency law was something I had to do, all that was left to do was to convince the firm to take a high school student for a position they would often staff with a law school graduate. I was very fortunate that the lawyers were willing to take me under their wing and I was even more fortunate when together the client, the firm and the judge on the case gave me the opportunity to help defend one of the most caring and deserving mothers in court. My life took yet another turn when I got into the joint degree programme between St. Andrews and William and Mary. I was going to study Economics, Math and Computer Science across two universities in two different continents working double as hard to finish in the same 4 years as everyone else in my batch. Ahead of taking the flight over to Scotland, my father convinced me to take a trip with him to India. During the trip I spent most of my time in hotel lobbies waiting for dad’s meetings to end so we could spend some time together. After dropping my father off to one of these said meetings, I accidentally stumbled into the right room and had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with an influential and brilliant business tycoon, a member of the Khitan family. This conversation led to the development of a unique business plan and the birth of our Sausalito Ditas’ location, our upscale waterfront dining restaurant. Since the restaurant, I have had access to a whole new vantage point in life and am so very excited for the future of Ditas and all the other projects I hope to soon see come to fruition. I recently turned twenty-one and am currently finishing my senior year whilst flying back to Sausalito weekly.

Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your company? What lessons or takeaways did you take out of that story?

One of the most endearing and amusing stories from my journey involves an unexpected twist when one of the organizations we were working with encouraged me to take a temporary retirement, which, although quite humorous for everyone around me, left me feeling somewhat disappointed.

At the tender age of 18, I penned a letter that ironically declared, “After dedicating myself endless to my career for a great part of my life, I have decided to retire and spend more quality time with my family.”

At the time, I possessed an unparalleled ego and took immense pride in being a 20-year-old CEO and part owner. However, in the blink of an eye, everything changed at least in the credit and profit I was able to take. I had to relinquish ownership to my father as the organization was okay with me running the company just not with me earning any money from it. This experience taught me the value of humility and forced me to understand the importance of putting the business’s well-being first.

Moreover, it forced me to grapple with the perception of nepotism, which was not in alignment with my desire to establish myself independently from my parents. It turned out that much of my journey had been closely associated with their name, which, in its own way, added a unique layer to my story.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

There’s this couple, Dawn and Kent. They are some of the most fun and content people I have ever met. They come to Ditas daily just to sit in each other’s company, engage in conversation with our team, and enjoy some amazingly creative food.

Our charm lies in our genuine desire to build an unspoken club of people like Dawn and Kent that call Ditas their home. It’s not about claiming uniqueness because of our loyal patrons; after all, most restaurants have regulars. Instead, our goal is simple — we want to be a place that feels like home, exudes an irresistible sense of belonging and always challenges your palette to new creations you’d have never imagined.

We find our people and strive to be everything they need. We offer diverse experiences for every occasion, from our casual lounge to our elegant dining room, the cozy bar for a quick bite, or the patio for an evening with your friends, a private dining room for shareholder meetings.

Our menu is a fusion of flavors from across Asia and Europe, ensuring that each dish carries a unique and distinct taste. You can return day after day without ever feeling like you’re stuck in a culinary rut. It’s this combination of familiar faces, diverse flavors, and the feeling of being right where you belong that allows us to create a culture of cherished repeat guests and what we hope to have our company stand out for.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Absolutely, I’m profoundly grateful to Ayush Gupta, the CEO of cocktails and dreams, who played a pivotal role in my journey. His consistent presence and multifaceted mentorship were invaluable. Ayush pushed me relentlessly, he struck a remarkable balance between being tough and fair, emphasizing my need to commit to fairness and loyalty even in a world as volatile as the hospitality industry.

Although it is hard to choose just one story, one of the most memorable pieces of advice I got from Ayush was when I called him exhausted complaining about how the weight of the world and the restaurant was too much for someone that was only 20 years old. He let me rant for a minute and then responded, “No, Nikita. You asked for a seat at the table, and at the business table, everyone is the same age.” The realization that I was not trying to just be ‘doing well for a 20 year old’ but doing well for a business person was a great motivator I have since kept in my back pocket.

Are you working on any exciting projects now?

I find myself in a world where every turn leads to a whole new opportunity and industry I would love to make my mark in. Alas, despite my many attempts to fight the limitations of time, I am having to pick the ones I am most passionate about and put the rest in my manifestation diary to circle back to when the time is right. Currently, I am in process of expanding the Ditas brand with a second location in the United States, developing a solution based SAAS program And keep an eye out for my upcoming article in Marin Magazine; it’s my first leap into the world of writing, and I can’t wait to share it with you all!

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Spreading goodwill and making a positive impact in the world has been a lifelong mission for me and something my father always preached was never optional — so goodness is an idea that has been deeply rooted in my heart since a very young age.

At Ditas, our commitment to giving back extends far and wide. We’ve contributed to causes that are dear to our hearts, such as supporting the SF Zoo, theater companies, and aiding the local school district. It’s not just about running a business; it’s about using our platform to help give back to the community that made us capable of doing and having all that we had. I hope to devote more time this next year to trying to make a meaningful difference in our community and beyond.

Do you have a favorite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?

“Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “Taking People with You” arrived in my life at a pivotal moment. Beforehand, I had a tendency to handle everything myself, reluctant to delegate. However, these books shifted my perspective, one emphasized the importance of granting capable individuals autonomy in their areas of expertise for your business to succeed and the other about finding operators so you can build your assets and do what you were born to do, build.

The combined repetition of empowering my operator and two reasons why — the business and myself left me no choice but to face what I already knew. My Director of Operations, Andrew Fuentes, who excelled in day-to-day operations, knew exactly what needed to happen for the restaurant to succeed, it needed more autonomy. I allowed him greater freedom, and immediately saw the benefits to not only my personal life but the business as a whole. The books forced me to appreciate the value of teamwork, where each member contributes their unique strengths to achieve collective success.

Can you share 5 of the most difficult and most rewarding parts of being a “TwentySomething founder”.

1 . Building relationships — As a young founder your experiences with relationships are different from what other more tenured CEOs might be familiar with. In college you build equal relationships; so I brought this way of thinking to my company. I was really friendly and treated everyone as if they were family. I didn’t know how to be a boss or what that relationship looked like since I had no previous experience to pull from. I had never seen anyone be a boss or a CEO let alone had any experience being one in this corporate and organized style, it was a whole different style of leadership and hierarchy then when I led a team to open clinics or dependency law. It took me some time to learn how to draw lines and find a balance between being a boss and being there for my team. However, once I found this balance I was amazed at this very niche combination of mentorship and respect I received from my team and am very grateful to have built these types of relationships because had I done things the normal way I would have never built these same lifelong bonds.

2 .The learning curve –When I first stepped into Ditas, I was a complete novice. Learning everything from scratch felt like swimming with my arms tied. From construction plans to hiring and restaurant jargon, it was a steep learning curve filled with embarrassing moments. My dad humorously likened it to a fast-track MBA as I diligently researched and absorbed information. I remember quietly jotting down unfamiliar words during conversations at the restaurant, then going home to study them and returning with a plan the next day. I would look up a word and then wouldn’t know half the jargon used to define it, so I was in an endless loop of “What does this mean? “Adding to the challenge was my undying urge to know everything about everything.

However, along the way, I realized that my commitment to learning was not only about acquiring expertise in different areas but also about being okay with not being an expert in everything. I didn’t need to be a structural engineer to fix our roof, and I didn’t need to be a lawyer to have the best lease possible. The people in those industries were not looking for me to be professionals at their job, just for me to be a professional in mine and tell them what the company needed. It was an incredible lesson for me to learn professionally and for myself, personally.

3 . Proving yourself — One of the most challenging aspects of being a “TwentySomething founder” was facing the struggle to be taken seriously, especially as a young woman. I constantly found myself in situations where people assumed my success was solely a result of personal connections rather than merit. For instance, after delivering a speech at an award ceremony, I overheard whispers speculating about my family’s potential influence or who I might be dating to have achieved my position. This led to a constant need to justify my presence, with it being the first word out of my mouth when saying hello, before they would have a chance to imagine why I must have been in the room, because their thought on why was an idea I would not want in a person’s mind.

It was exhausting waking up every day and feeling like, in addition to doing my job, I had to fight to explain to people why I had it. The turning point came when I built a team that respected me and understood why I deserved to be in the room. When a guest would make a comment about how young the CEO is, my Director of Operations would chime in, saying, “She is one of the most brilliant people I have worked with.” My chef would express excitement about what he could learn from me, and the mixologist praised my strong work ethic. Slowly, the questions people began to ask me shifted. They began asking how I earned this respect and why I deserved it. Eventually, the questions evolved into what they should have always been — questions about how I wanted to change the world, and how I ran my business.

4 . Everyone has something to teach you — Embracing my role as a “TwentySomething founder” introduced me to a world of opportunities for growth and learning. My youth, while a disadvantage in many ways, had one key remarkable advantage, everyone had something to teach you. Individuals like Molly Westpaul, who generously offered a safe and educated soundboard, and Michael Rosinski, my unwavering cheerleader, became instrumental in my journey. Janelle Kellman, who is running now for lieutenant governor took time out of her demanding campaigning schedule to help broaden my perspective with her diverse knowledge, while Matt Estes tirelessly pushed me toward the right answers, Gulraj Shahpuri, taught me essential leadership skills. Their collective wisdom and support not only accelerated my learning curve but also reaffirmed the value of mentorship and collaboration in the business world. It was the greatest ‘housewarming’ into the business world I could have asked for, and these teaching relationships will forever be the most rewarding part of my journey at 20 years old.

5 . Humility — Transitioning from the structured classroom to the real world has revealed the remarkable accomplishments of those around me, often triggering imposter syndrome. In rooms filled with industry titans, individuals I deeply admire, I sometimes wonder if I’m merely lucky to be there. Although these moments challenge my sense of belonging among the best of the best right now, they give me a goal — to be absolutely certain that I deserve to be in the room. That’s what I’m working tirelessly towards. My aim is to excel in everything I do, to strive for excellence and become the best I can be, just like all these remarkable individuals.

What are the main takeaways that you would advise a twenty year old who is looking to found a business?

Surround yourself with good people, show them that you have value and build trust with them. Develop the strategy and have someone who knows the industry inside-out with experience help you decide how to make it happen. I was lucky enough to find my director of operations, Andrew Fuentes and he really helped take the concept to the next level by working through things with me that he was an expert on. Trusting others and listening to those with experience even if you are set out to change everything I think is the most important part of being a founder.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. :-)

Steven Bartlett — My friends all say my ‘biggest red flag’ is that I listen to a podcast while I run and lift! Instead of music I listen to the Diary of a CEO . Growing up I always wanted to know everything about everything but the minute I was old enough to register how many books there were in a library I understood that was impossible. But Steven creates a close second, he brings on such an amazing array of guests that you really feel like you are getting a taste of everything and if that was not enough he then proceeds to ask them just the right questions to save you the reading because the expert will you tell the start, the middle, the ending and all those small details as to why things happen they way they do, so you truly understand all the breadth of knowledge and you remember.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

Ditas.marin — instagram, nikitalyssa — my instagram

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

About the Interviewer: Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA was born nearly blind, crippled with club feet, partially deaf, and left-handed. He overcame all of these obstacles to become a successful civil trial lawyer. In 2000, he abandoned his law practice to become a peacemaker. His calling is to serve humanity, and he executes his calling at many levels. He is an award-winning author, teacher, and trainer. He is a highly experienced mediator. Doug’s work carries him from international work to helping people resolve deep interpersonal and ideological conflicts. Doug teaches his innovative de-escalation skill that calms any angry person in 90 seconds or less. With Laurel Kaufer, Doug founded Prison of Peace in 2009. The Prison of Peace project trains life and long terms incarcerated people to be powerful peacemakers and mediators. He has been deeply moved by inmates who have learned and applied deep, empathic listening skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving skills to reduce violence in their prison communities. Their dedication to learning, improving, and serving their communities motivates him to expand the principles of Prison of Peace so that every human wanting to learn the skills of peace may do so. Doug’s awards include California Lawyer Magazine Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Purpose Prize Fellow, International Academy of Mediators Syd Leezak Award of Excellence, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Neutral of the Year. His four books have won a number of awards and commendations. Doug’s podcast, Listen With Leaders, is now accepting guests. Click on this link to learn more and apply.