Sejal Nagjee, founder and creative director of Milestone Dubai, credits her 17-year career as a champion table tennis player representing India for shaping her entrepreneurial approach and leadership style. Throughout her athletic career, during which she won 138 medals, Nagjee honed discipline, preparation, and resilience—qualities she now applies to the business world. She likens her decision-making process to monitoring a scoreboard during a match, using financial statements and performance metrics to guide strategic moves at Milestone. This emphasis on precision and speed forms the foundation of the company’s "Perfect 10" philosophy.
Nagjee relocated to Dubai in 2003 and faced the challenge of establishing credibility in the predominantly male construction and project execution industry. She tackled these obstacles by building deep technical knowledge and demonstrating results, drawing on lessons from sports that respect is earned through performance. Over time, Milestone’s portfolio of successful projects and trusted client relationships became its strongest credentials.
Milestone’s growth from a floral business to a comprehensive luxury design and build firm reflects a stepwise expansion into related fields. Initially focused on flowers, plants, bonsai, and indoor gardens, the company diversified by accepting various opportunities as Dubai’s residential landscape rapidly developed. Between 2005 and 2008, client requests expanded Milestone’s services to include interior design, landscaping, swimming pools, and an in-house carpentry workshop. The firm now employs an 80-member team and has completed more than 1,000 projects, offering integrated turnkey solutions from concept to completion. Recognition from industry bodies includes the Best Luxury Residential Interior Design Studio award at the 2025 Luxury Lifestyle Awards and inclusion in the 2026 Luxury Lifestyle Awards Top 100 for Interior Design.
Nagjee’s artistic sensibilities are influenced by her experiences in competitive sport as well as disciplines like Ikebana and bonsai. As a Certified Master Teacher of the Ohara School of Ikebana, she emphasizes balance, restraint, and harmony in her design philosophy. She views luxury not as ostentation but as creating spaces that serve and reflect their occupants, with carefully composed landscaping, natural light, and natural elements taking precedence over elaboration.
Looking ahead, Milestone is adapting to evolving homeowner expectations that prioritize lifestyle integration over standard aesthetics. The company’s approach starts with understanding the unique needs of each individual or family, enabling flexible, personalized environments. This has driven an integrated strategy combining architecture, interiors, landscaping, and bespoke craftsmanship.
Milestone is also expanding geographically, establishing a design studio in Mumbai, Nagjee’s hometown, to bring two decades of Dubai experience to the Indian market. Additionally, Galleria Exclusive, the company’s art and sculpture atelier, will grow its presence there, providing bespoke decorative pieces tailored to each home. Despite this expansion, Dubai remains the company’s foundational market.
Nagjee offers advice to women exploring career changes or entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of recognizing transferable strengths such as discipline, communication, resilience, and problem-solving. She highlights the need for effective leadership through listening, team building, and accountability. Encouraging preparation and confidence, she advises aspiring entrepreneurs not to wait for perfect conditions but to trust their abilities and begin their ventures proactively.