STEPPING boldly into the hospitality sector while remaining anchored in their values, the daughters of Nitin Shah are making their mark. Their father, the former chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, built a legacy as a successful banker and hotelier that Mili and Simi now advance in their own ways.
Carrying forward her father's vision at Imperial Investments Group Inc., the elder sister Mili combines her expertise as a professional banker and attorney specializing in hospitality. Meanwhile, Harvard University graduate Simi leads as CEO of South Asian Trailblazers, a media company that spotlights the South Asian community across the U.S.
While speaking with the Women of Color Power List 2025, the Shah sisters shared insights on being powerful in the male-dominated hospitality sector while remaining deeply rooted in their Indian heritage.
Mili, based in Atlanta, GA, graduated from New York University and earned her jurist doctorate and MBA at the University of Tennessee. This veteran in finance and law supports both her father's business and her husband's ventures.
The family's cornerstone business, Imperial Investments Group, stands as a titan in the hospitality landscape. Managing over 1,000 rooms across its portfolio, the company has cultivated partnerships with the industry's most prestigious brands – a testament to the Shah family's unwavering commitment to excellence. Under Mili's guidance, the company has expanded its comprehensive service offerings beyond traditional hotel management.
The company's integrated approach includes real estate acquisition, identifying properties with untapped potential; hotel operations, where the Shah expertise truly shines; comprehensive renovation services that breathe new life into aging properties; and ground-up development projects that bring fresh concepts to the market.
What truly distinguishes Imperial Investments from competitors is its centralized accounting and project management divisions. These specialized teams allow them to maintain tight control over finances and timelines.
This holistic approach – handling everything from acquisition to daily operations – has become the company's signature in an industry where specialized expertise is increasingly valuable.
Beyond family support, the 37-year-old has built her own success in the hotel industry, specializing in legal and finance. Through her law firm, Shah Firm LLC, she assists clients with funding and legal matters. Her experience as an attorney led her to banking, where she served as the U.S. Small Business Administration's lending director at a Texas bank. Mili skillfully balances three career aspects, helping businesses grow through her legal, banking, and business-ownership expertise. She's a lawyer who thinks like a businesswoman.
Simi, a vibrant 26-year-old, founded South Asian Trailblazers, an award-winning media platform that elevates leading South Asians and creates community networking opportunities.
To boost her platform and podcast, Simi has interviewed prominent Asian Americans, including Emmy-nominated artist Raja Kumari; Nikhil Saboo, the first South Asian to play Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen; and Amol Shah of OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT.
Simi approaches life colorfully while sharing Indian values with her sister. "While our parents learned to survive, we take it forward to thrive in successful careers," she says.
What could be more formative than growing up in the hospitality industry? Mili spent her childhood in her parents' Georgia hotel.
"I stayed in a hotel on the third floor for 10 years while my parents handled the front desk," Mili recalls. "The housekeepers were my friends. I learned to ride a bike in the parking lot and learned to swim in the hotel's pool."
While Mili experienced hotel life firsthand, Simi remembers her father's struggles with discrimination. "My father shares this experience laughingly, but when people would drive through the hotel driveway, they left after seeing the receptionist's – my mother's – skin color in 1970s Georgia."
Mili tells tthat being a woman brings unique challenges. "The hospitality industry is male dominated, whether it's owning the hotel or running it. But my inspiration is my mother, who managed everything alongside my father." This early exposure to her parents' work ethic significantly shaped her career path.
She views leadership unconventionally: "Leadership is not gender oriented. If you have the knowledge, it gives you the power and, hence, the leadership."
When asked about personal experiences of discrimination, Mili remembers being called out for her skin color. She witnessed many Indian Americans concealing their identity to avoid bullying. These experiences, she says, strengthened her personality.
Simi points out subtler discrimination in finance, such as "being invited to parties but not included in the conversations." She has faced a lack of mentorship and didn't feel empowered after gaining access to rooms of influence. She notes three challenges: "1. Being a woman, 2. being a person of color and 3. being a woman of color."
Mili believes in specialized expertise within a broader business understanding. "You can be good at one or two things, but you should know your business," she advises.
During COVID-19, she successfully helped hoteliers navigate the crisis using her expertise in business management and federal financial programs. Her confidence stems from knowledge: "I am so confident that, because of my knowledge, I can start a business from scratch."
"My father always taught me that life is a series of ups and downs," she recalls. "In business, we have seen many cycles over the past 20 years. The only solution is to ride out the bad times and just keep going. Eventually, you will come out of the fire and overcome the difficulties." This philosophy proved crucial during the pandemic, helping her remain hopeful and guide others through challenges.
Mili's greatest achievement isn't material but personal growth. "Ten years ago, I was dependent on my forefathers or my father, but today I am independent," she states. Her journey blends traditional values with modern business acumen, shaped by her cultural heritage and disciplined upbringing.
She proudly embraces Indian values, believing discipline and unity are essential for business success and life. Her parents instilled discipline through small chores at home and in the hotel.
They never pressured her to join the family business, emphasizing education first.
To women of color entering hospitality, Mili advises: "Never be afraid to raise your hand if you have questions. Asking questions helps resolve most problems. Choose the correct mentors and seek their guidance."
She rarely faced discrimination challenges because her parents provided a foundation that allowed her to rise above racism. Honored for her contributions to the Indian American community, Mili continues building her legacy.
Simi defines leadership as "being a good listener; being aware of your actions; and being a person whom people look up to." She draws leadership lessons from her parents and sister, thriving on "impact to change life for people" and making a difference.
Simi considers her sister a mentor, saying they share values despite different approaches to life.
With a multicultural friend group who embrace their ethnicities, Simi loves celebrating Navratri, one of India's biggest festivals, which has shaped her Indian-value orientation.
She defines power as "being comfortable in your own skin, feeling empowered" and "walking into a room and owning it, being confident." She adds that women of color must put in twice the effort of men to achieve success.
Because of her parents' trailblazing, she says, "I am my ancestors' wildest dreams."
Her goals for South Asian Trailblazers include connecting people through storytelling, amplifying South Asian voices in America.
Despite their 10-year age gap and different upbringings, Mili and Simi share a strong belief in knowledge and education as the foundation of success.
These driven women aspire to stay connected to their community while making a tangible impact on American society as proud Indian Americans.
