Vandana Aggarwal has always known that real estate is about more than buildings — it’s about the people and communities they bring together. As Vice President of Operations at Aggarwal Real Estate (ARE), she helps lead her family’s commercial real estate business that owns and manages more than 4 million square feet of property across the Southeast. Based in Gwinnett and concentrated in Georgia, the company currently specializes in retail shopping centers that are designed to bring lasting value to the communities they serve.
ARE’s mission — building communities as a community — defines the way they work. “We view our purchases as long-term investments; we’re not here to flip properties or simply make a quick profit,” says Aggarwal. “When we purchase a shopping center, we consider how a family could come and enjoy this space in addition to finding the businesses they want. For example, we’ve built playgrounds on some of our properties so people can come shop and play.”
That focus on community continues throughout ARE’s day-to-day operations. “We manage all of our properties in-house and create a personal connection with everyone involved, from tenants and brokers to vendors and contractors,” she says. “These relationships are one of the reasons that many of our tenants have been with us a decade or more.”
Extending a Family Legacy
Aggarwal grew up in real estate and remembers visiting her father’s first property in Chamblee when she was just three. Over the years, she worked in hotels the family owned and was mentored by her father, absorbing the fundamentals of business and property management firsthand. After graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in business and marketing, she joined the family business, but soon stepped into the world of corporate consultancy, where she advised Fortune 100 and 500 companies on organizational design and operational strategy. That experience shaped her perspective and prepared her to later guide ARE through a rapid phase of growth.
While ARE has grown steadily over four decades, the last ten years have brought accelerated expansion, and with it, the need for next-level structure and efficiency. Aggarwal returned to the family business to implement the systems and processes that now enable ARE to scale efficiently, while maintaining the people-first focus. “No matter how big we grow, we will always put people at the center of our work,” says Aggarwal.
Investing in Gwinnett’s Business Community
Aggarwal brings the same relationship-driven philosophy to her engagement with the Gwinnett Chamber and the Chairman’s Club. “The Chamber events are structured well for intentional conversations and are a great place to create connections with the community around you,” she says. “I always approach conversations through the lens of seeing how I can help others in their businesses. What services can I offer? What mentorship or advice can I give? That’s the growth mindset in this group.”
One of the aspects that Aggarwal particularly appreciates about the Gwinnett Chamber is that she has connected with a broad group of women leaders from different industries. “I’ve met so many women who are in leadership roles or own businesses. It’s empowering — especially when working in a male-dominated industry like commercial real estate — to find a strong group of women succeeding in their fields.”
Aggarwal remains bullish on Gwinnett’s future. A longtime resident of the area, she’s witnessed firsthand Gwinnett’s evolution into a thriving hub for business and family life. “I have seen this beautiful transformation of Gwinnett County,” she says. “You no longer have to drive to Atlanta to find specialty dining, shopping or entertainment. Gwinnett is becoming a place where people can truly live, work and play, and we’re proud to be part of that growth.”