Jayanthi Bhagatha: Powering the aerospace industry with JBI Aerospace

(July 26, 2025) It was the year 2011. Just three days into a new role at one of India’s largest business houses, Jayanthi Bhagatha who was then an employee of Tata Advanced Materials, received a tense call that would change the trajectory of her life. On the other end was the General Manager of HAL, furious over delayed deliveries and missing tools that threatened a critical defence program. The credibility of her employer was crumbling. But within a year, not only had Jayanthi salvaged the relationship but she had done it with such efficiency and integrity that HAL awarded her a rare personal commendation: the ‘Best Supplier Award.’

That moment sparked a domino effect. In 2012, Jayanthi secured her company’s first direct defence aircraft contract with Boeing and helped kickstart what would become one of India’s largest Airbus programs. By 2015, after clinching a game-changing aircraft parts deal, Jayanthi felt ready to take flight on her own. And so, in May 2015, her company JBI Aerospace came into existence. It stands as a solution to a fragmented, often unreliable aerospace supply chain. 

Today, JBI Aerospace is a global provider of cutting-edge metallic and non-metallic components to the aerospace, industrial, oil & gas, power generation, and transportation sectors. Headquartered in India with an international footprint spanning the US, UK, and Israel, the company has carved a niche as a trusted ‘single-window’ solution offering rigorous in-house quality control, rapid response, and certified performance that has earned industry-wide respect in one of the most demanding industries in the world.

“What attracted me to aerospace is its unique blend of complexity, innovation, and purpose. Few industries demand such precision, and push technological boundaries so consistently inspiring such a deep sense of wonder,” Jayanthi tells Global Indian adding, “As an entrepreneur, I’m drawn to challenges that have real-world impact, and aerospace offers the opportunity to solve some of humanity’s biggest problems, from sustainable aviation to space-based connectivity and national defence.

A role model for budding entrepreneurs 

As Founder and CEO of JBI Aerospace, Jayanthi Bhagatha, now based in the Greater Chicago Area, has not just challenged norms but overturned them to make a compelling case for the effectiveness of women’s entrepreneurship. She has started young, challenged stereotypes, overcome depression, and stepped into traditional male-dominated areas, becoming a source of inspiration for budding entrepreneurs.

Modest Beginnings

The third daughter in a traditional family, her parents, especially her father, ensured all his daughters grew up to be independent. “My journey is a bit like the Dangal movie, except in our case, my parents finally did have a boy after four girls,” she smiles. Financially, things were challenging as she was growing up, and after her 10th standard, she decided to work and study simultaneously to support her family. “I continued like this throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate studies. In fact, I even wrote my exams while caring for my newborn, with the constant support of my husband. People often wonder how I have so many years of experience at my age. I just smile and say, ‘It’s because my journey started earlier than most,’” she admits.

Jayanthi’s first professional breakthrough came at age 18 with RSP Architects in Bangalore, just as they opened. “At the time, I had no idea what a tech park or curtain wall was, but I soon found myself working on one of the largest and most iconic projects of that era, helping lay the foundation for future commercial landmarks in the city,” she says. By 25, she had moved into a managerial role at a major business group, leading teams, driving projects, and expanding operations.

At 29, Jayanthi made a bold transition from architecture to aerospace and defence driven by a desire to challenge herself, pursue a passion, and seize a growing market opportunity. “I brought a fresh perspective rooted in cross-industry experience, and that helped me approach long-standing problems with unconventional solutions,” she says. In 2009, as VP of a leading aerospace company, she played a key role in launching one of the first private aerospace parks in Karnataka, inaugurated by then Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Chief Minister Yediyurappa. “This helped position not only the park but Karnataka itself as a global aerospace hub,” she remarks.

Taking ownership

While Jayanthi Bhagatha never set out with the goal of becoming an entrepreneur, in hindsight, the signs were always there. “Wherever I worked, I naturally gravitated beyond my role, getting involved across departments and understanding the business as a whole. That curiosity and drive to solve problems holistically pushed me to take on more, learn more, and always seek better ways of doing things, whether it was architecture, engineering, or aerospace and defence manufacturing,” she says.

The defining moment came during her time in a senior leadership role at a struggling company. It was a loss-making venture, unable at one point to even pay salaries to over 500 employees, including contract workers. “I took it upon myself to turn things around, working around the clock with a young daughter at home. I missed birthdays, milestones, and precious family time, but we succeeded. I led the turnaround, secured long-term contracts, and restored financial stability. Some of the deals we signed became national achievements,” she recollects.

However, despite this, she had to deal with an unexpected blow. When it was time to appoint the next CEO, she was overlooked. The reasons were hard to ignore. “I was a woman, a mother, and the only woman at the management level. Despite everything I had delivered, those were the deciding factors. That moment was painful but also liberating. I realised that if I had the capability to revive a failing business and lead it with vision and resilience, then I could absolutely build something of my own. That was the true beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, a decision to lead on my own terms and to create a company that reflects the values I believe in,” she says.

Reaching for the sky

JBI Aerospace, marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey in 2015. Since then, they have expanded globally with a footprint in the US, UK, and Israel. In March 2020, amidst a global pandemic, they diversified into healthcare with the launch of JBI Healthcare, bringing the same precision, resilience, and innovation to a new domain. 

Positioning Indian aerospace manufacturing on the global stage is one of her core missions of JBI Aerospace. India already has tremendous potential—cost-effective engineering, a skilled workforce, and proven capabilities through organisations like ISRO, HAL, and DRDO, believes Jayanthi. “But to gain sustained international recognition, we need to shift from being seen as outsourcing partners to innovation leaders. I am actively working on three fronts: promoting Indigenous innovation, international collaboration, and representation at global forums,” she informs.

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry like aerospace has had its challenges, but it has also been an opportunity to lead with a different perspective for Jayanthi Bhagatha. “I have had to prove myself in rooms where I was often the only woman, but I let results speak louder than bias. Over time, that builds trust and breaks barriers,” says the entrepreneur.

Building a career and a company in aerospace has meant facing several challenges, both technical and personal. “One of the biggest early hurdles was credibility. As a relatively young entrepreneur and a woman, I had to work harder to earn the trust of industry veterans, clients, and even suppliers. On the technical front, navigating the complexity of certifications, defence procurement processes, and international compliance was tough. But by building a strong team and investing in quality systems from day one, we were able to meet global standards and position ourselves competitively,” the entrepreneur avers.

Inspirations and support

Jayanthi got married when she was just 22 and admits that her husband is not just a life partner but a true mentor. “My husband has been my rock; his unwavering belief in me has been foundational to my success. They say behind every successful man is a woman; for me, it’s the reverse. Another guiding light has been Vijay Baburao Pusalkar. His entrepreneurial journey inspired me deeply. When I shared the news of starting my own company, his words stayed with me: ‘most entrepreneurs start digging a tunnel hoping to see light. Many give up halfway and retreat. But those who persist through the darkness are the ones who make it and find the light.’ In 2018, she faced one of the darkest chapters of my life. A silent depression nearly consumed her. But she pulled herself out of it with help of her doctor. “He didn’t just heal me; he redefined my understanding of health and balance,” Jayanthi mentions.

Today, her greatest inspiration is her daughter. “A gifted artist and a final-year medical student, she began painting when she was two-and-half and continues to amaze me with her resilience. No matter how tough things get, she looks at me and says, ‘This too shall pass’, and moves on. Her strength, at such a young age, is something I deeply admire,” adds the proud mother.

As a woman, Jayanthi Bhagatha has learnt that resilience speaks louder than resistance. “Don’t wait for a seat at the table – build your own, and lift others as you rise. Stay focused, stay fearless, and never apologise for ambition,” she adds. Her future roadmap includes tapping both civil and defence segments by offering dual-use technologies and forging strategic partnerships with governments, space agencies, and commercial aerospace leaders. “I plan to invest heavily in innovation that solves real-world problems in aerospace. But beyond profitability, my focus is on building a brand rooted in trust, quality, and meaningful impact. I want JBI to be known not just for what we do but why we exist—anchored in strong values and genuine customer-centricity,” she signs off.

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