Explore every episode of the podcast MVP - THE MASTERS' VOICE PODCAST - MEDIABRIEF
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajay Kakar, Adani Group - On creative excellence, industry integrity, and branding with purpose | 20 May 2025 | 01:12:51 | |
Ajay Kakar of Adani Group joins Pavan R Chawla for a deep, honest masterclass on brand integrity, storytelling, creativity, and marketing’s future. In this powerful episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com, host Pavan R Chawla sits down with Ajay Kakar, Head of Corporate Branding at the Adani Group, for an honest, nuanced conversation on branding, marketing, and the future of the industry. Ajay brings decades of experience from his impactful stints at Ogilvy, Reliance, and the Aditya Birla Group, and now leads branding at one of India’s most prominent corporate groups. He reflects on his journey from the world of finance into advertising and marketing, offering invaluable insights into how brand custodians must think beyond just campaigns and focus on sustained storytelling and brand purpose. The episode explores the evolution of corporate branding, especially in the context of legacy and infrastructure sectors. Ajay highlights how true brand connect is built not through showmanship, but through relevance, empathy, and integrity — all brought to life through compelling stories like Adani’s Pehle Pankha Phir Bijli campaign. Ajay speaks passionately about GoaFest, describing it as India’s answer to Cannes and a melting pot of creative exchange, collaboration, and recognition. He offers a clear-eyed view on the state of measurement in marketing, calling for a unified, outcome-focused approach that helps marketers prove real business impact. The conversation also delves into the impact of AI in creativity, where Ajay warns against using AI as a substitute for human insight. Instead, he urges professionals to use AI responsibly — as a tool, not a crutch — while keeping human emotion and judgment at the core. Ajay also addresses the fragmentation of the marketing and advertising ecosystem, noting how silos have diluted brand coherence. He underscores the need for unified thinking across media, creative, and digital disciplines to drive true brand impact. For young professionals, Ajay offers sincere advice: enter the industry only if you’re driven by passion, not just paychecks. The industry is demanding but deeply rewarding for those who want to create meaningful change. This episode is a must-listen for brand leaders, creative professionals, marketers, and students alike — a compelling masterclass in brand strategy, creative integrity, and purposeful communication from one of the most respected voices in Indian marketing. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| MVP Podcast | PK Unplugged: From ‘Ashant’ to Adland Leader – Prasanth Kumar’s story, lessons in leadership, and more | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:53:53 | |
This, episode 126 of the award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast from Mediabrief.com, has host Pavan R Chawla speakingwith Prasanth Kumar (PK), CEO of GroupM South Asia. Their chat (shot at GroupM in Mumbai on 7th March) charts PK’s remarkable journey from a spirited young student to becoming one of India’s most influential media leaders. PK also speaks about the key trends shaping India’s dynamic media and advertising ecosystem, and much more. Reflecting on his childhood, PK says he was affectionately dubbed ‘Ashant’ for his mischief in school, yet credits those early years—shaped by his mother (a teacher), his older brother, and close-knit friends—with instilling in him the values of curiosity, effort, discipline, and gratitude. He traces his professional path through early roles at Pepsi, The Hindu, Rediff, and McCann before joining GroupM in 2004, where he’s spent more than two decades contributing to the evolution of India’s media and advertising ecosystem. PK reflects upon values that shaped his life -- from curiosity to gratitude, and how he brought them into his leadership at GroupM. We dive into the latest This Year, Next Year (TYNY) 2025 report from GroupM, which forecasts a 7% growth in India's advertising market, with digital contributing nearly 60% of the ₹1.67 lakh crore ad-ex. PK speaks about digital’s rising dominance and how traditional media—including TV, print, and emerging CTV formats—still play a vital role in India's multi-market structure. On the role of technology, PK shares how AI and Gen AI are transforming marketing through hyper-personalization and data-led decision-making. We also talk about ad fraud and waste, and how GroupM prioritizes integrity and client trust. He explains GroupM's use of AI tools, education, and ongoing monitoring to combat waste. Other key themes include the evolution of retail media and commerce-led strategies, GroupM’s commitment to collaborative growth and learning, the importance of values in building resilient leadership. PK also reflects on his long-standing pride in being part of GroupM: “Definitely, I walk tall... it's been a fantastic journey and it's (been) a collective effort - whatever we were able to do.” This is a deep dive into the philosophies, frameworks, and future-forward thinking of India’s respect advertising leader, Prasanth Kumar, CEO, GroupM, South Asia. And the values and vision that continue to power GroupM’s legacy and relevance. This is Prasanth Kumar - Unplugged! So, a must-listen for ma Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| IIM Raipur's Dr Ram Kumar Kakani - Building purpose-driven Leaders for tomorrow | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:54:46 | |
In this, the 127th episode of the award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, host Pavan R Chawla speaks with Dr. Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur. A globally respected academic and institutional leader, Dr. Ram shares how IIM Raipur is shaping purpose-driven leaders through a future-ready, values-based approach to management education. He reflects on his leadership philosophy — rooted in the long view — with a powerful metaphor: “Treat the decision-making of a higher education institution like nurturing a tree that lives for 300 years.”The conversation explores IIM Raipur’s remarkable evolution — from a new institution in 2010 to a top-ranked IIM today — driven by academic excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Dr. Ram outlines how the institute integrates AI and analytics into the curriculum while championing human judgment, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding, preparing students for leadership in a technology-driven world. He discusses IIM Raipur’s focus on entrepreneurship, building “business owners, not just job seekers,” and highlights how democratic governance, diversity, and ethical reputation management are central to the institute’s DNA. This candid, insightful conversation also reflects Dr. Ram’s humility, as he credits his teams, mentors, and collaborators for IIM Raipur’s progress and promise. A must-listen for anyone passionate about leadership, higher education, and the role of management institutions in shaping society. Thanks for your time. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| EP 125 - Vinay Kumar Swamy on Pearson India - Adding life to learning with a 180-year legacy, AI-led Education, and a future-ready workforce | 26 Mar 2025 | 00:40:11 | |
In this episode of MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast, Vinay Kumar Swamy, Country Head, Pearson India, is in conversation with show host Pavan R Chawla, who is also Founder-Editor of Mediabrief.com. Vinay shares how the global education leader Pearson is reshaping learning in India through digital transformation, skilling, and purpose-led innovation. At Pearson India’s expansive, future-ready Bangalore office, Vinay had a wide-ranging conversation with Pavan. Vinay, who joined Pearson in 2016 as Finance Head, now leads the company’s India business and reflects a culture rooted in integrity, empathy, and teamwork. Pearson, founded in 1844, has evolved from manufacturing and media into one of the most digitally forward education companies. In India, it operates across three key verticals — higher education, English language learning, and enterprise skilling — reaching over 1.3 million learners annually. Vinay discusses the impact of India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which is boosting demand for vocational skilling and employability. With more than 2,000 skilling courses and partnerships with top companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, Pearson is shaping India’s workforce of the future. AI integration is a core focus, with tools that summarise content, personalise learning, and offer chapter-wise self-assessment. Vinay also shares insights from Pearson’s Reclaim the Clock report, which estimates AI could save Indian professionals 51 million hours per week. On the marketing front, Pearson India's Hoga Kaise Nahi' campaign featuring Vicky Kaushal struck an emotional chord with students preparing for exams. Vinay explains that Kaushal’s story — from engineer to actor — mirrors the learner’s journey and makes him the perfect brand ambassador. Vinay also touches on CSR efforts, including free or low-cost content for underserved learners and partnerships with skilling bodies. With its legacy and innovation-led approach, Pearson India continues to be a learning partner for life. Listen to the episode on MediaBrief.com and all major podcast platforms. You can also watch it on YouTube. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Vikas Chawla of Compass Group India on Unlocking Leadership, Innovation in Food Services (MVP Audio and Video Podcasts) | 22 Oct 2024 | 00:57:50 | |
Episode 123 of MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast features Vikas Chawla, MD of Compass Group India. With over two decades of experience, Vikas discusses how the company serves 900,000 meals daily across 45 cities with a 38,000-strong team. In conversation with Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor, Mediabrief.com, Vikas speaks of several things, including his journey through leadership roles at Coca-Cola and his entrepreneurial ventures. He highlights key lessons that shaped his approach to management. He emphasizes a caring work culture and empathy, which he believes are essential for boosting employee engagement and retention. Vikas envisions leveraging tech innovations to enhance food safety and improve overall service delivery at Compass Group. Vikas discusses the food services industry in India, currently valued at 70,000 crores and growing at 15% annually. He shares that Compass Group aims for a 45% revenue increase over three years, focusing on sector expansions and client acquisitions. Also, that it collaborates with initiatives like the Robin Hood Army to combat food wastage and aid underprivileged communities. Vikas highlights solar-powered kitchens and rainwater harvesting as part of Compass Group’s environmental commitments. Technologies like the AI-powered sorting mechanism and the Foodbook app are enhancing Compass Group’s operations. Vikas underscores the role of ongoing employee training in fostering a strong safety culture. He credits his leadership values to the support from his family, emphasizing open communication both at home and work. This insightful episode of MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast offers valuable lessons on leadership, culture, and growth in India’s food service industry. I hope you enjoy the conversation and find it beneficial. We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Ep 122: Angela Scaffidi of SenateSHJ, and Global Chair – PROI, on Communications, Leadership and the evolving PR landscape | 14 Oct 2024 | 01:04:48 | |
In this episode of MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, Angela Scaffidi, Founding Partner & Global Chair of SenateSHJ and Global Chair at PROI Worldwide, discusses strategic communications, leadership, and the evolving PR landscape. She is in conversation with show host Pavan R Chawla. Through SenateSHJ, Angela and her team tackle complex challenges in reputation management, change, and engagement. As PROI Worldwide’s Global Chair, she focuses on uniting entrepreneurial communication agencies to share best practices, ensuring their campaigns remain impactful and market-leading. Angela elaborates on the changing roles of PR professionals, emphasizing the need to address modern challenges like misinformation, cybersecurity, and geopolitical issues. She stresses the importance of fostering strong internal cultures and proactive stakeholder engagement. On the role of AI, Angela advocates for its use in enhancing efficiency while highlighting the ongoing need for human insight and ethical considerations. Collaboration between agencies, especially through PROI, is another key theme. Angela discusses how PROI fosters global partnerships, helping agencies lead in the communications field. She also shares her leadership philosophy, emphasizing humility, curiosity, and collaboration in building resilient agency cultures. Angela names three PR leaders she admires: Madan Bahal, Claire Parsons, and Noel Turnbull, all of whom continue to give back to the profession. Her deep commitment to community service, including supporting children with cancer and missing persons, informs her purpose-driven leadership approach. Angela’s insights on building strong client relationships, resilient cultures, and navigating the fast-paced PR landscape offer valuable guidance for professionals. Tune in for practical advice and inspiration from one of the leading voices in global communications. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Ep 121 MVP Podcast - Bipin R Pandit of The Ad Club Mumbai, on his ‘Khumaar’ salute to Mohd Rafi | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:39:30 | |
From Pavan R Chawla: Our conversation centers around the much-awaited 19th edition of his popular live musical show, Khumaar, which will be held on 21st September at St. Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra, Mumbai, and is an event no music lover can afford to miss. This time round, Khumaar takes on a special significance as Bipin dedicates the show to the memory of one of India’s greatest singers, the late Mohammad Rafi. The tribute comes in anticipation of Rafi Sahab's 100th birth anniversary, which will be celebrated on 24th December 2024. With deep admiration for Rafi Sahab, Bipin shares the emotional and artistic vision behind this tribute in the podcast episode.
Khumaar: A musical extravaganza honoring Rafi sahab Khumaar has always been a favorite among advertising, media, and entertainment professionals, offering an evening of nostalgia, joy, and musical splendor. This year’s edition promises to be even more special, as it pays homage to the timeless melodies of Mohammad Rafi, a legend whose voice transcended generations. Bipin explains how Khumaar seeks to evoke the same magic that Rafi Sahab’s songs did, transporting the audience to an era of pure, soulful music.
The show will feature a host of talented singers who will bring Rafi Sahab’s songs to life, adding their unique touch while preserving the essence of his legendary voice. Bipin's goal is to create an unforgettable experience for music lovers, giving them a break from their daily routines to immerse themselves in the magic of Rafi’s classics. We also discuss how the audience can expect to be treated to a variety of Rafi Sahab’s greatest hits, each performed with great reverence and skill. Mohammad Rafi: The Man, The Legend In our conversation, Bipin reflects on the unparalleled greatness of Mohammad Rafi, not just as a singer but as a human being. Rafi Sahab's humility and generosity have left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions, and his voice remains a source of inspiration for artists and fans alike. Bipin shares personal anecdotes and insights into what made Rafi Sahab so extraordinary — his ability to connect wit Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Exclusive | kiran khalap on chlorophyll’s 25-year legacy - building brands with human connection, innovation, creativity (Video & Audio podcast) | 14 Aug 2024 | 01:12:09 | |
In this special Independence Day episode of MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, we are honored to have kiran khalap, co-founder and MD of chlorophyll, as our esteemed guest. In conversation with series host and creator and Founjder-Editor of Mediabrief.com - Pavan R Chawla. This conversation celebrates 25 glorious years since chlorophyll's inception on 14th August 1999, and how the agency has emerged as an independent powerhouse, empowering over 400 Indian and global brands through its unique approach to branding. kiran khalap, a visionary leader known for his gentle wisdom and deep-rooted values, reflects on the journey that has defined chlorophyll's success. From his early days as a teacher inspired by J. Krishnamurti’s philosophies to becoming a leading figure in the advertising world, kiran's story is a testament to the power of staying true to one’s principles while continuously evolving.
This episode delves into the core values that have shaped chlorophyll—equality, humility, and a relentless pursuit of creativity and innovation. kiran shares how these values are embedded in chlorophyll’s DNA and are reflected in the company’s culture, where even the most junior employees are given leadership opportunities to foster responsibility and ownership.
Listeners will also gain insights into the pivotal moments that led to the creation of chlorophyll, including kiran’s decision to leave a successful career at Bates Clarion to co-found an independent agency with Madan Bahal. The episode highlights the collaborative spirit that has driven chlorophyll's growth, with kiran recounting key partnerships and the genius of his co-founders, anand halve and nilesh patil.
The episode explores chlorophyll's innovative approaches through its five unmatched IPs: anthorp, a model that redefines branding beyond product categories; wholon, which emphasizes brand behavior over communication; ideantity, a unique approach to brand identity; litmosi, India’s first corporate brand alignment tool; and the chlorophyll innovation lab, a hub for solving complex business challenges through innovative thinking.
As kiran reflects on the future of branding, he discusses the importance of sustainability and the evolving role of artificial intelligence, hinting at a new era where AI will play a crucial role in shaping brand identities.
This episode is a must-listen for professionals across business levels and sectors, offering valuable insights into the intersection of creativity, business, and human values. Tune in to understand how kiran khalap’s beliefs, actions, and career have defined the essence of th Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Madan Bahal: Building a National Asset like Adfactors PR with Corporate Spirituality | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:46:46 | |
Join us for Episode 119 of the award-winning MVP - The Master's Voice podcast, featuring an enlightening conversation with the peerless PR and Comms leader, Madan Bahal, co-founder and Managing Director of India's largest independent PR and Marketing firm Adfactors PR. This is a rare media appearance by Madan; to our knowledge, his first in the past three years. In this insightful episode, Madan speaks of building a National Asset like Adfactors PR with Corporate Spirituality. And we at Mediabrief believe that the same qualities and culture can certainly empower the beleagured Public Relations industry in India. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Exclusive | Piyush Pandey on Ogilvy's industry-defining 'Jugalbandi' with Pidilite and Fevicol | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:28:08 | |
This, our 118th episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast with advertising genius Piyush Pandey of Ogilvy, just landed into our lap from what was to have been a very short telephonic chat about Ogilvy’s latest ad film entitled Jugalbandi for Pidilite’s powerful brand Fevicol. But transcribing this chat into text to try to capture the wonderful, stirring cadences of his passion for great creatives that could only be reproduced through audio, left us with no option but to convert the conversation into a podcast with Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of Mediabrief.com. Piyush’s ads for Fevicol have always been industry defining, and Ogilvy’s creative output for Fevicol has actually defined Indian Advertising. Their previous big film, Sharmain Ka Sofa for Fevicol, was a global eye catcher, and if there could be another film worthty of the Sharmain Ka Sofa linaege, it has to be this, their latest, Jugalbandi, created by Prasoon, with Piyush guiding and encouraging all along. And yes, I promise you – in fact, Piyush and I do – to bring you a longer and even more rewarding video podcast – Vodcasts, as they are called now – soon. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| The thrill of Supercross: Eeshan Lokhande and Veer Patel of CEAT ISRL on MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:43:22 | |
This, the latest episode (#117) our award-winning series MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, features Eeshan Lokhande and Veer Patel, the innovative co-founders of the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), in conversation with show host and Founder-Editor of MEDIABRIEF.COM, Pavan R Chawla. The discussion dives into the world of Supercross racing and the ambitious journey of CEAT ISRL, highlighting its unique contributions to Indian sports. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Ujaya Shakya, Founder – Outreach Nepal, on on Nepal’s ad industry - trends, challenges, cross-border collaborations, more | 21 May 2024 | 00:35:07 | |
Ujaya Shakya, Founder of Outreach in Nepal and author of Brandsutra, and the first vice president of the Advertising Association of Nepal, is my very special guest on this, the 116th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast. We caught up with Ujaya for this Vodcast and Podcast which is available on both – YouTube, and a set of the top global podcast directories including Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, among others. Ujaya speaks of the size of the advertising market in Nepal, highlighting the growth of digital media and the impact of television content. He also speaks about the evolution of advertising in Nepal over the years, especially with the rise of digital media and changing consumer behaviors. Our conversation explores the role of advertising in Nepal and how Indian advertising has influenced the industry there. Ujaya says talent – the finding and retaining of it – is a major challenge most advertising companies and heads grapple with. He also mentions reputation management in the advertising sector as a critical area for business heads, and emphasizes the importance of creativity, passion and teamwork for young professionals entering the field. He also touches upon the regulation of advertising in Nepal, including the clean feed policy that restricts foreign advertising on Nepalese channels. Ujaya reflects on the impact of social media platforms, internet penetration, and the evolving technology in the advertising space in Nepal. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Deepika Bhan, President - Packaged Products at TCPL: Purpose. Values. Consumer-centricity. Growth | 08 May 2024 | 00:40:31 | |
Our guest on the 115th episode of MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast is Deepika Bhan, President of Packaged Foods at Tata Consumer Products Limited. She shares insights with series host Pavan R Chawla, who is also Founder-Editor of Mediabrief.com. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Karan Taurani, SVP Elara Capital, on Indian M&E industry - Opportunities, challenges, growth | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:37:08 | |
India’s Top ranked Media & Entertainment Analyst (as per Asia Money Brokers Poll 2021-22-23), Karan Taurani, SVP Elara Capital, speaks with Pavan R Chawla, host of MVP The Master’s Voice Podcast, in this, the 112th episode of the award-winning series. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Pankaj Krishna, Founder & CEO, Chrome DM: Big data and beyond – keeping it credibly measured | 02 Apr 2024 | 00:46:19 | |
This, the 111th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, features Pankaj Krishna, Founder & CEO of Chrome DM, whose company and its verticals are helping keep the Media & Marketing space empowered with credible measurements across the spectrum of distribution, OTT, News consumption and more, including the critical role of data-driven insights and ethical content creation practices for sustainable growth and success. Pankaj speaks with Pavan R Chawla, series host and Founder-Editor of Mediabrief.com. Pankaj recounts the journey of Chrome DM from its origins as a distribution analytics firm to its current position as a key player in the media and entertainment sector. With a workforce now totaling 600 employees, Chrome DM has undergone a significant transformation, pivoting from distribution audits to the development and launch of COTT, the digital platform designed to capture consumer data about OTT platforms for content consumption insights. Pankaj touches upon importance of measuring digital consumption in the media industry was underscored, with digital platforms expected to take the lead as primary revenue contributors. The conversation also addressed the rise of connected TVs and the consequent shift in advertising revenue from traditional television to digital platforms. Pankaj speaks of the importance of tailored communication in digital marketing and compares the strengths of linear TV to digital platforms. We explore challenges and opportunities in the industry, including the rise of smart (connected) TVs and the profitability concerns of OTT platforms. Looking to the future, Pankaj speaks of key trends in media and entertainment, content creation influences, and entrepreneurship insights, and emphasizes the role of data-driven research and quality journalism in shaping the industry's trajectory. On the personal side, Pankaj speaks of the value of mentorshi Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Brajesh Singh, President – Arthur D Little India, on powering enterprise with strategy and innovation | 15 Mar 2024 | 00:47:54 | |
Brajesh Singh, President – Arthur D Little India, on powering enterprise with strategy and innovation This, the 110th episode of the award-winning series MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast, features Brajesh Singh, President of Arthur D. Little India, in a dialogue that sheds light on the cutting-edge strategies and digital transformations leading India's growth, the evolution of consulting and Arthur D Little’s unique approach, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and India's Leap Towards Inclusivity, The Role of AI in Shaping the Future, and Leadership Insights from, and the personal passion that propel, Brajesh Singh. And more.
AI's Role in the Future: Singh talks about Artificial Intelligence's (AI) crucial role in shaping business and society. He emphasizes its integration across sectors, posing both challenges and opportunities for job creation, data management, and innovation.
Leadership Wisdom This conversation with Brajesh Singh, President of Arthur D. Little India, offers insights into consulting's future, India's digital transformation, and the essence of leadership. It's a must-listen for entrepreneurs, digital enthusiasts, and those interested in human stories behind corporations. Thanks for listening! Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Unlocking the Heart of Marketing: Insights from PepsiCo’s Saumya Rathor on MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast | 12 Mar 2024 | 00:44:01 | |
This, the 109th episode of our award-winning series Master's Voice Podcast (MVP) on MediaBrief.com features Saumya Rathor, Category Lead for the Potato Chips (Lays) division at PepsiCo India, in conversation with series host and Mediabrief.com Founder-Editor Pavan R Chawla. Saumya sheds light on the intricacies of brand management and marketing strategies and the overall ethos of the vertical she leads at one of the world's leading snack food brands. Isse Kehte Hain Pyaar campaign: On their latest campaign featuring Bollywood celebrities Ranbir Kapoor and Neetu Singh, Saymya says that the aim was to showcase generational love for Lay's, leveraging the emotional connection people have with the brand. The campaign, titled Isse Kehte Hain Pyaar, aimed to portray the snack as a symbol of boundless love, but never sharing you favorite chips! The role of effective communication and consumer insight: Saumya shares how PepsiCo navigates consumer engagement in a digitally dominated world. She emphasizes social listening and responsiveness, outlining PepsiCo's approach to maintaining brand reputation through active engagement and prompt addressing of consumer feedback. Creating comprehensive brand experiences: Further discussing broadcast and narrowcast marketing, Rathor highlights the synergy of traditional media and digital platforms in creating wide-reaching and personalized brand experiences. Sustainability and Social Responsibility: A significant aspect of the discussion revolves around PepsiCo's commitment to social responsibility and sustainable practices. Saumya proudly speaks about empowering the agricultural community, including initiatives to help over 27,000 farmers, emphasizing PepsiCo's belief in giving back more to the world than it takes. As the conversation concludes, it's evident that Soumya Rathor's vision for PepsiCo India's Potato Chips division transcends marketing metrics, aiming to create lasting connections with consumers, foster innovation, and drive the brand towards a more sustainable and socially responsible future. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Podcast | Srinivasan (Sundar) K Swamy on R K Swamy Ltd IPO (4th to 6th March) | 03 Mar 2024 | 00:50:28 | |
Srinivasan K Swamy (popularly known as Sundar), Chairman of R K Swamy Ltd, joins tMVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast series host Pavan R Chawla for a conversation on the cusp of the company's historic milestone: becoming the first Indian integrated marketing conglomerate to go public and list on the Indian Stock Exchange. In the podcast, Sundar discusses R K Swamy's journey, its unique business model encompassing three distinct segments, and its impressive roster of clients. He emphasizes the company's commitment to long-term partnerships and high client retention rates. Sundar also sheds light on the company's growth trajectory over the past three years, its revenue trends, digital operations, geographical expansion, and research endeavors. Additionally, Sundar reflects on the transformative shifts in marketing services and content, navigating through the emergence of digital advertising, OTT platforms, and video-centric mediums. He highlights the company's strategy to increase contributions from new clients across different business segments, including digital revenue growth, and the establishment of a digital video content production studio. Sundar underscores the importance of staying close to customers and adapting to the evolving media landscape. He believes that the podcast episode provides a comprehensive understanding of R K Swamy's strategic evolution and its positioning in the industry. While expressing optimism about the IPO's potential as a good investment, Sundar advises listeners to seek professional investment advice before making any investment decisions. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Ep 107 - Lakshmi Narayanan B, CMO CEAT Ltd: It's not an Everest, it's a Never-Rest! | 13 Feb 2024 | 00:52:57 | |
This, the 107th episode of our award-winning MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, features respected professional Lakshmi Narayanan B, Chief Marketing Officer at CEAT Ltd as our distinguished guest, in conversation with series host Pavan R Chawla. Lakshmi leads marketing for India and globally at CEAT, which is a household name since it was established in 1958. CEAT stands as one of India's leading tyre brands, serving customers across more than 110 countries globally. In this insightful episode, Lakshmi shares his insights and experiences, shedding light on CEAT’s marketing philosophy and strategies. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and customer-centric approaches, shares his pride at being a part of CEAT, and speaks of its commitment to product excellence and customer satisfaction. Lakshmi speaks of CEAT's role as a driving force in the industry. CEAT, he tells me, has earned a reputation as a driver's secret among loyal customers. Lakshmi discusses CEAT's mandate to journey alongside customers, adapting to evolving consumer needs and infrastructural developments in India. We explore CEAT's initiatives to enhance mobility safety and cater to the aspirations of younger generations, such as the Enduro track program. Lakshmi speaks of Reputation Management, some important Digital Marketing trends and CEAT's media mix and marketing channels including their strategies for IPL and digital advertising; the last, with reference to last year’s IPL, and the next edition coming up soon. Lakshmi speaks of CEAT's corporate social responsibility initiatives and their partnership with the Maharashtra government to promote tyre safety awareness. Lakshmi also speaks of a couple of CEAT marketing campaigns, and shares why he swears by CEAT tyres for India, plus some valuable advice with marketing professionals seeking to up their work game at all times. We also discuss CEAT's approach to leveraging celebrities and influencers in marketing campaigns. Reputation Management is never-ending (it’s like a mountain you must keep climbing) – an Everest that’s a never-rest. He says. Creativity brings growth, says the man who uses left brain, right brain, and heart. So, join my conversation with the remarkable Lakshmi Narayanan B (aka Lakshmi), CMO of CEAT Ltd, who speaks with a powerful mix of knowledge and strong, proven experience to give us several valuable insights, on our award-winning series, MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast. Tune in now for the insider’s view to the space of marketing and reputation management, with special and inspiring reference to CEAT's own marketing strategies an Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Ep 106 - Industry captain Samir K Modi, MD of Modi Enterprises, on success, growth, and giving back | 23 Jan 2024 | 00:25:53 | |
In the 106th episode of the award-winning series MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com, Samir K Modi, the dynamic Managing Director of Modi Enterprises and the visionary behind Colorbar Cosmetics, takes center stage with series host Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com. Having celebrated Colorbar's 19th successful year, Modi reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, drawing lessons from experiences that shaped him. From his early days as a restaurant steward in Australia, Modi learned the value of earning his own money. As a manager with a major tobacco player, he advocated for inclusivity and equality by uniting managers and factory floor workers in a common dining room. Modi's marketing skills flourished at Philip Morris, and he eventually embraced the challenge of overseeing multiple companies entrusted to him by his father. Emphasizing continuous learning and collaboration, Modi credits his father's influence, stressing the importance of being a lifelong trainee. Sharing personal experiences, he advocates embracing mistakes for growth and advises young entrepreneurs to focus on the future, learn from the best, and maintain self-belief. Modi highlights women empowerment as a core value at Modi Enterprises, with 50% of the corporate team being women. Discussing Colorbar's journey, he narrates early struggles and the brand's rise as the largest consumer of Italian makeup in India. Looking ahead, Modi reveals plans to enter the Russian market and open multiple stores. Prioritizing growth without compromises, Modi believes in giving back to the earth, focusing on people, purpose, and the planet over profit. The podcast captures a profound conversation with Samir K Modi, offering insights and advice to empower professionals and entrepreneurs at all stages. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Jo Jackson, CEO - D&AD, on empowering by design, with passion, commitment | 15 Jan 2024 | 00:56:16 | |
This, the 105th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, brings you a deep-dive, inspiring, often chuckle-inducing conversation with the remarkable Jo Jackson, CEO of the globally respected D&AD. The discussion delves into the evolution of D&AD awards, exploring trends in award-winning campaigns and the influence of AI on the creative industry. Jo addresses the ownership of intellectual property for AI-generated campaigns. The conversation takes a turn towards the creative industry in India, highlighting powerful campaigns addressing societal issues. Jo emphasizes the role of awards in encouraging innovation and learning experiences, advocating for greater exposure of Indian creativity globally. An insightful point emerges as Jo shares a CEO's perspective on remote work versus in-office, providing valuable insights for leaders across sectors. The podcast concludes with a glimpse into D&AD's exciting future plans, including a website revamp and an anticipated in-person festival in London. Jo unveils D&AD's commitment to a more accessible website, offering masterclasses for professionals at all levels, aligning with the organization's mission as a creative educational charity. The CEO introduces initiatives like Win One Teach One, reflecting D&AD's dedication to fostering a barrier-free community of creative excellence. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| From Vikram Sakhuja of Madison Media - The Year-ender Masterclass for Media and Marketing pros | 02 Jan 2024 | 01:16:15 | |
This, the 104th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, features highly respected and accomplished Industry captain, thought leader and expert Vikram Sakhuja, Equity Partner and Group CEO of Madison Media & OOH, India's largest independent Media Agency. Vikram is in conversation with Pavan R Chawla, series host and Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com. (ii) Industry Consolidation in 2023: 2023 saw significant consolidation in broadcasting and advertising sectors, driven by the pursuit of scale, efficiency, and profitability. Consolidation's impact on media distribution and pricing is discussed, with no immediate effect on the bargaining power of media agencies and advertisers due to a highly fragmented market. So do tune in, and I hope Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Ep 103 of MVP - Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver, with whom cricket meets sustainability and leadership takes centre-stage | 27 Dec 2023 | 00:36:42 | |
Welcome to episode 103 of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, in which I am delighted to bring you a conversation with cricket, business and sustainability luminary Phil Oliver, CEO of Desert Vipers from the DP International T20 League, where Phil and his excellent franchise are using the passion of Cricket to drive awareness about, and the impact of, sustainability for the greater good. Join us as we explore the fascinating journey of Desert Vipers, the cricket franchise that not only aims for excellence on the field but also stands as a beacon for sustainability in the sports industry. Phil is on conversation with me, Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com, and host of MVP The Master's Voice Podcast. Phil boasts over 15 years of experience in the cricketing world which includes having steered Desert Vipers to prominence as runner-up in the inaugural season of the DP International T20 League in the UAE. What sets the CEO and his franchise apart is not just cricketing prowess but an unwavering commitment to sustainability. As Phil takes center-stage in this episode, he shares valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by new entrants in cricket, all while emphasizing the pivotal importance sustainability has, and the crucial role it plays, in shaping their brand mission, strategy and growth. MediaBrief recommends: We urge our listeners to go, get their hands on Desert Vipers’ excellent report entitled Corporate Sustainability Strategy Framework 2023/24, here.
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| Ep 102 - Shashi Kumar on his mission to transform farming with the organic milk power of India’s #1, Akshayakalpa Organic | 18 Dec 2023 | 00:39:41 | |
In this, the 102nd episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, Shashi Kumar, Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, discusses with host and MediaBrief Founder-Editor Pavan R Chawla , his mission to prepare farmers for economic empowerment and society with healthy food habits through the consumption of organic dairy and other products. Pavan had visited the excellent Akshayakalpa Organi farm in Tiptur 150 km from Bengaluru to record this episode. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Sheena Kapoor, the young leader inspiring Marketing, CSR and Comms at ICICI Lombard | 08 Dec 2023 | 00:51:30 | |
My distinguished guest on this episode of our award-winning series MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast features Sheena Kapoor, Head Of Marketing, Corporate Communications and CSR at ICICI Lombard, the leading private general insurer in India. Sheena's journey through the finance industry, coupled with her marketing prowess across all kinds of media platforms and her strong focus on CSR, has not only made her a valuable asset to ICICI Lombard but also source of inspiration for professionals, both within and outside ICICI Lombard. The role Sheena and her team have been playing along with the other committed professionals at ICICI Lombard has been instrumental in steering the company towards success and social impact and the respect these bring. Sheena joined ICICI Lombard in January 2022, from Edelweiss Financial Services, Edelweiss Wealth Management, and after 11 years at the Times of India Group. Sheena, who has always pursued continuous learning and sought fresh challenges, ventured into heading innovations for the Times of India, where she acquitted herself with distinction across an 11-year period. Her thirst for deeper insights into the business and a desire to work with a market leader in the BFSI space led her to ICICI Lombard. Apart from the fact that it is a great, purpose-driven brand, what helped Sheena come to ICICI was the allure of the additional CSR mandate, which is something close to her heart. Sheena emphasizes the importance of proactivity, self-initiation of ideas, and a relentless pursuit of opportunities—principles that have propelled her career forward. Sheena speaks at length about the important CSR initiatives and campaigns that ICICI Lombard has rolled out, and her eyes light up when she speaks of some memorable initiatives like the employee volunteering program Caring Hands, and ICICI Lombard's involvement with the ICSF Foundation. Notable programs such as Ride to Safety and Niranjali showcase the company's commitment to making a positive impact on society. Sheena also sheds important light on what helps create and drive the kind of great agency-client relationship that can help deliver such memorable campaigns. Sheena Kapoor's journey should also inspire aspiring professionals and exerpienced veterans alike. So tune in to this episode of MVP The Master’s Voice Podcast , to Sheena Kapoor, Head Of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Csr at ICICI Lombard. This is an insightful conversation with a young leader who embodies the spirit of transformative leadership, great business-building marketing, and responsible social responsibility to help her company Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Episode 100 | The Master's Voice Podcast (MVP) with Leigh Dey, Global CMO of Red Hat - the world's biggest open source tech giant | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:27:52 | |
Delighted that in this, our landmark 100th episode of our award-winning series MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, our distinguished guest is *Leigh Dey* , SVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer of global tech giant Red Hat, which is also the world's largest open-source software company. In this very special episode, Leigh discusses open development, impact, diversity, authenticity in marketing, and much more. She speaks with the show host Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of MEDIABRIEF.COM. Open source software solutions enable collaboration, innovation, and value creation for the customers, partners, and communities of Red Hat, the pioneer in the space, and Leigh speaks of her experience of leading the global marketing team and driving brand awareness and demand generation for the company. Leigh shares insights on how Red Hat leverages open development, which is a way of working that involves collaboration, feedback, and iteration among diverse stakeholders. She explains how open development enables Red Hat to deliver solutions that are more secure, reliable, and scalable, about fostering creativity and problem-solving. Besides delivering value to customers, Red Hat also strives to make a positive difference in the world through its diversity and CSR initiatives. Leigh emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in Red Hat's culture and values, and how the company promotes a sense of belonging and respect for everyone. She also highlights some of the programs and activities that Red Hat supports to foster diversity and inclusion, and to empower women pursuing a career in tech. We discuss Leigh's impact on the Red Hat Summit, and marketing success, and she gives us a peep into her daily routine and the delicate balance between work and wellness. We explore Leadership skills and the empowerment of team members, before delving into the introduction of Red Hat and its role in powering infrastructure for leading industries. Leigh highlights Red Hat's purpose-driven approach and corporate social responsibility initiatives, along with the marketing philosophy, emphasizing authenticity and customer value. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Exclusive | Creative druid Josy Paul, Chairman & CCO – BBDO India, in a heart-to-heart, on unlocking creative wisdom | 25 Oct 2023 | 00:42:35 | |
This, the 99th episode of the award-winning series MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, features Josy Paul, the acclaimed advertising and marketing leader, Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer at BBDO India. Josy's remarkable insights and unique perspective shine through his heart-to-heart conversation with show host Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com. Josy embodies rare humility, values learning from failure, and champions free creative spirits. Josy's belief in the significance of context, emphasizing that "context is your pulse on the world," is truly enlightening. He likens a great agency-client relationship to love, where giving is paramount. Josy shares how his years of trail, experience, failure and success have stood him in great stead as he keep moving forward in true seeker fashion. Little wonder, then, that he is a global advertising and creative icon. Josy's preference for a circular approach over a pyramidal one, and his focus on the authority of the idea, not the other way around, reveal his innovative mindset. He candidly recalls a favorite car-back-seat creation and rediscovers a lost mission statement from his youth; a statement that reflects his enduring positivity. Josy passionately speaks about empathy and imagination, addressing the yearning of young creatives for self-expression over approval. He acknowledges his own journey marked by failures, rejections, and embarrassment, which ultimately led to his resounding success. Josy underscores the importance of generosity and its reciprocal rewards. His leadership at BBDO India revolves around making soul-stirring connections for client brands in a simple and self-effacing manner. Josy's succinct response to 'Why BBDO India for brands?' encapsulates the mission and promise of the creative powerhouse he leads. In a world where few listen, Josy values sensitivity and empowers his teams to think freely, avoiding clichés while nourishing their core energy center. His words are a source of wisdom and actionable insights for professionals, experts, promoters, and students alike. Josy Paul, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer at BBDO India, is the inspiring guest on the 99th episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast. Thank you for your time. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| MASTER'S VOICE PODCAST | Anuj Singhal - Nifty magician who has powered CNBC Awaaz to pre-eminence | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:57:44 | |
In our 98th episode of the award-winning MVP - The Master’s Voice Podcast, Anuj Singhal - Managing Editor of CNBC-AWAAZ is in conversation with MediaBrief Founder-Editor Pavan R Chawla. Anuj is a highly regarded stock market anchor known for his wealth of experience and expertise in the world of stock markets and investments. Anuj's journey at CNBC-TV18 and Network 18 began in 2003 when he joined as a research analyst. Over the past 21 years, he has achieved significant milestones, culminating in his role as the Managing Editor of CNBC-Awaaz in September 2022. He played a pivotal role in establishing CNBC Awaaz's leadership position in both linear television and digital media. Under Anuj's leadership, CNBC Awaaz has become a trusted and brand-safe platform for responsible businesses. He is also a prominent figure in the finance sector on social media, with over 250,000 followers. Anuj's accurate market predictions have earned him the nickname 'Nifty Magician.' In this episode, Anuj shares his recommendations for 10 stocks suitable for medium to long-term investments, emphasizing the importance of seeking advice from SEBI-registered investment advisors. He also addresses the issue of 'finfluencer' misinformation, discussing how individuals can protect themselves from false financial information disseminated by influencers who may inadvertently share misinformation due to ignorance or, in some cases, disinformation driven by vested interests. Anuj sheds light on how CNBC Awaaz upholds its editorial credibility through rigorous fact-checking processes to ensure a brand-safe environment for advertisers focused on brand safety. He provides an overview of CNBC Awaaz's journey, highlighting its growth in viewership, ratings, and strong credibility. Anuj delves into the channel's content policy, emphasizing the values and strategies that drive their approach to informing, educating, inspiring, and engaging viewers in the business world. He also discusses significant content initiatives and their impact, including positive policy changes they've triggered. Shifting focus to the media industry, Anuj shares his insights on its growth across various platforms and identifies opportunities for the nation and economy. He underscores the continuous learning and development efforts in place for CNBC Awaaz's employees and teams. Anuj's beliefs are deeply influenced by the wisdom of the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, a renowned investor. To discover the impactful words Jhunjhunwala shared with Anuj, tune in to this episode to benefit from Anuj's insightful views and guidance. We hope you enjoy the conversation and find it usefuland Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| MVP - Krishnarao Buddha of Parle Products - Powering marketing with autonomy, empathy, partnership and purpose | 10 Oct 2023 | 00:57:47 | |
Krishnarao Buddha - Senior Category Head at Parle Products Pvt Ltd, needs no introduction as a fine marketing leader who empowers Marketing and, indeed, the entire professional ecosystem, with autonomy, empathy, and partnership with a sense of purpose. We are delighted that he is our distinguished guest on this, the 97th episode of MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast. Krishna, as he is fondly called, has more than 30 years of rich experience across different FMCG brands, as varied as Maxwell Apparels, Uncle Chips, and a brief stint with the Dabur-Nestle company, Excelsia Foods (all in his pre-Parle days). Thereafter, he has spent his last 22 years with the respected legacy group, Parle. We dive into Krishna's extensive experience in FMCG industry and his role in driving category growth, marketing strategies, and new product launches at Parle. We discuss his early years, including his education and marketing experience with Maxwell Apparels and Uncle Chips. He also shares his learnings from each company he has worked with so far. Krishna shares his insights and experiences from his time at Uncle Chips, where he learned the art of negotiation and executing sales promotions. He shares why it is important to value the role of strategic business-growth consultants, including strategic business-growth and comms partner-vendors, and shares how, thanks to the culture and thinking at Parle, his pre-Parle days' learning of 'nichord lo' (squeeze as much as you can out of your vendor or supplier) has shifted towards an empathy-driven, active willingness to negotiate on costs with vendors in a way that would help build mutually beneficial relationships. Because a happy vendor is a solidly committed partner, and that kind of support is crucial to success. Krishna shares the lessons he learned from each company, including, among other things, how the approach of prioritizing the top line while still considering the bottom line creates a win-win situation for the company and its trade partners. Krishna explains Parle's strategy of utilizing a mix of traditional and digital media to reach their target audience. He discusses their partnership with sports events like the IPL and the ICC Cricket World Cup, which is currently ongoing. He also discusses the Television vs. Digital space and the potential of Connected TV (CTV) in India and the opportunities it presents for marketers. We also delve into the values that drive Parle's marketing strategies. Krishna also speaks of the importance of empathy, a shared vision, and the significance of the correct 'attitude' in potential candidates. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Audio & Video podcast |Shyam Motwani, Business Head of Godrej Locks, on the brand's commitment to world-class security | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:53:06 | |
This, the 96th episode of our award-winning and popular podcast series MVP – The Master’s Voice, is an audio and video podcast, and features another distinguished master of his very significant and strategic crafts of marketing, sales, brand building and business leadership - Shyam Motwani, Business Head of Godrej Locks and Architectural Fittings & Systems. In conversation with Pavan R Chawla. The Godrej Locks brand has been growing and building the category of locks and locking systems and architectural fittings and solutions for more than a century now. Godrej Locks has been safeguarding millions of homes and offices, and the premises of prestigious institutions like the Reserve Bank of India, the Taj Mahal and other important organizations, with industry-leading products and services that began with the timeless Navtal lock, and have consistently evolved to high-end holistic safety solutions. Shyam shares his professional background and highlights Godrej Locks' commitment to innovation and safety by remaining consistently and completely invested in the adoption of innovation and digitization. Shyam discusses the introduction of the iconic Navtal padlock and the company's continued focus on padlocks with evolving technologies. We also explore their expansion into architectural fittings and their vision of investing in digital technology for integrated solutions. We discuss Godrej Locks’ initiatives to promote home safety and awareness, including campaigns and the launch of digital locks, and address the issue of crimes against elderly people, and the comprehensive safety solutions offered by Godrej Locks, and also, the free home safety check-up campaign to assess the adequacy of locks and suggest any upgrades that might be required. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Ep 95 - Rajiv Shah, President & CEO of DBS at Happiest Minds Technologies, on adaptability, innovation, and a culture of happiness | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:52:21 | |
Delighted to share that the 95th episode of our award-winning MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast features visionary tech thought- and industry leader Rajiv Shah, President and CEO of Digital Business Services at Happiest Minds Technologies. In conversation with series host Pavan R Chawla. Discover Rajiv’s impressive three-decade-long career journey across diverse industries, from Electronic Data Systems to Wipro Technologies, IBS Software Services, and MU Sigma. His role as the CEO of IBS Software Services stands out as a testament to his transformative leadership. Rajiv unravels the journey of Happiest Minds Technologies, the IT organization that prioritizes happiness and mindfulness at its core. Their focus on fostering a culture of happiness has resulted in satisfied employees, delighted customers, and fulfilled shareholders. Specializing in digital services, Happiest Minds Technologies empowers global enterprises in their digital transformation. Rajiv emphasizes the importance of driving outcomes for clients, enabling revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion. Rajiv underscores the pivotal role of change management and organizational culture in adapting to new technologies and processes, as well as the need for mutual learning, transparency, and the significance of taking ‘baby steps’ to drive transformation effectively. Rajiv's leadership style revolves around creating the right environment for the success of his teams, which number 5000-plus across the world. He champions asking the right questions over being prescriptive, and also nurturing an environment built on trust and collaboration. So here’s Rajiv Shah, offering an engaging account of the journey of Happiest Minds Technologies, emphasizing happiness, mindfulness, and the crucial role that leadership must always play in achieving success. Here’s profound inspiration for professionals and thought leaders across industries – Rajiv Shah, President and CEO of Digital Business Services at Happiest Minds Technologies, championing adaptability, innovation, and a culture of happiness. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Inspiration from Ramesh Narayan – A&M enabler, trailblazer; the single most awarded professional in the space across India | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:52:53 | |
Our award-winning series, MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, features respected industry experts especially invited to share their knowledge, insights and learnings from their experience and achievements, and I am delighted that our 94th episode features Ramesh Narayan, the singularly exceptional and respected Advertising and Marketing leader and enabler, and the most awarded professional across the A&M space in India, Ramesh Narayan. The warm and self-effacing thought leader discusses his early career as a journalist, starting an agency, building great, long-lasting and rewarding professional relationships that turn into mutually respectful friendships and also shares other personal gems. Ramesh also speaks discusses the importance of, and his love for, sustainability, equality and inclusiveness, the great impact of advertising and its ability to not just hep position the best brands as what they demonstrably are, today, but also to help empower society by weeding out terrible diseases like polio and evil social practices. Ramesh also shares his views about the latest feature in his feathers-studded cap – the Honorary Lifetime Membership AAFA very recently conferred upon the doyen for his wonderful service. He lauds the several A&M industry initiatives for measurement, like BARC, and also speaks of the need and room for improvement in measurement for other areas like FM Radio, and for the yet-unmeasured OTT space in India. And much more. This is Ramesh Narayan, the diminutive yet towering thought leader in straight-speak avatar, which is the only one I’ve ever seen him in. And this time round, there’s a bucket load of insights and inspiration for the younger professionals. Doubtless, his peers and everyone else across the spectrum will benefit too. So go ahead. Listen. Reap. Revel. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ramesh Narayan on this, the 94th episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com. Thank you for your time
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| MVP Podcast | Arwa Husain, Director at Adfactors PR - First Lady of BFSI comms in India; creator of Asia's largest BFSI practice | 23 Jul 2023 | 00:40:46 | |
Arwa, who has been a part of the leadership team that has grown Adfactors PR over the years, speaks about several important things, including company growth, diversification, the response to COVID-19, the ever-ongoing focus at Adfactors PR on global and India trends and learning, her mentors and inspiration, and her brief assessment of the DNA of Adfactors PR which has always kept it growing over the years. The disarmingly easy-spoken but ever incisive and strategic Arwa favours us with some inspiring insights from her personal life too. She expresses her gratitude to several mentors over her work journey across multiple work spaces. She raises a grateful toast to India’s top PR leaders Madan Bahal and Rajesh Chaturvedi, and to Adfactors PR CEO Nijay Nair and to that peerless BFSI and Strategic Communications druid Dr Pradeep Raje. As, also, to two other professional luminaries, Anjali Patil (‘amazing lady, who was my boss in my previous job, and is now my client’, as she tells me), and Ajay Kakar, who also became her client and is someone who has inspired her, and who, we know, does some amazing work for the entire Advertising and Marketing fraternity. Of course, it’s an endless list, Arwa says graciously. So here’s Arwa, sharing insights from the phenomenal consistent growth and resonance of Adfactors PR -- in the growth of which she has been a strong and trusted ally and partner with the rest of the leadership team.
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| Podcast: Mehernosh Pithawalla of Godrej & Boyce on fostering a culture of trust, loyalty, freedom and innovation | 19 Jul 2023 | 00:41:48 | |
My distinguished guest on this, the 92nd episode of our award-winning MVP, the Master's Voice podcast, is Mehernosh Pithawalla, Senior Vice President and Head of Brand and Strategic Insights at Godrej & Boyce. In this episode, which is available as a video on YouTube and also as an audio podcast across the top podcast directories in India and across the world, Mehernosh shares his journey from starting as a salesperson in Godrej locks to his current position and highlights the challenges and growth he has experienced along the way. Mehernosh discusses his role at Godrej, overseeing brand and marketing, consumer insights, and corporate communications and PR. Despite the complexity of his role, Mehernosh encourages independent thinking and originality within his team. He emphasizes the importance of trust, loyalty, and freedom, allowing room for mistakes. We discuss the culture at Godrej, which values openness, inclusivity, mutual respect, and equality. Leadership plays a crucial role in creating this culture and developing future leaders. Godrej's purpose is to pioneer progress for generations, focusing on sustainability, business performance, and innovation. The core Godrej values are integrity, trust, respect, and consumer-centricity, environment-stewardship, and entrepreneurship. Mehernosh speaks at length about the marketing strategies employed by Godrej, and the importance of digital marketing including digital platforms, using AR, VR, programmatic advertising, and virtual tours to enhance the customer experience. He highlight the need for a balanced approach, incorporating physical interactions with customers. Also, addressing challenges such as ad fraud and brand-unsafe environments in programmatic advertising. Mehernosh shares that they conduct test marketing and analyse audience profiles to determine the best audience for programmatic advertising. They work with both in-house digital experts and an agency for programmatic advertising. They emphasize the importance of micro-segmentation, ethnographic studies, and understanding the consumer journey. Sustainability is a core value for Godrej, and they have initiatives focused on protecting people, the planet, and creating shareholder-value. They drive initiatives for greener operations, developing green products, and imparting digital skills to youth. COVID has led to changes in consumer habits, with increased adoption of digital. Customization and personalization are essential aspects of their strategy. So, my conversation with the charming, gracious and generous Mehernosh, who is equ Want to pitch someone to be featured?
Connecting socially is something we believe in and advocate. So go ahead. Reach out. We're happy, social souls. | |||
| Partha Sinha (Times of India Group President): Pied Piper of Print, Passion, and Empowerment in the A&M Industry | 14 Jul 2023 | 01:07:15 | |
Partha Sinha, President - Times of India Group, speaks with Pavan R Chawla on Print, Digital, measurements, the A&M industry, knowledge, passion, impact, empowerment, and more. Hailing from esteemed institutions such as IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad, Partha's illustrious career spans over three decades, encompassing roles as diverse as a nuclear design engineer, banker, strategy and marketing head, and advertising strategist. His journey into the world of advertising was ignited by the late Ranjan Kapoor, who recognized Partha's potential and urged him to pursue it. Curiosity led Partha to ask Kapoor, "What do you (people) do in advertising?" Partha always ardently advocates for the power of print and the empowerment of young professionals in the A&M space. Known for his candid and forthright demeanor, Partha's straight-speak resonates with industry professionals and friends alike. His logical arguments, devoid of pretense, make a lasting impact. Apologetic but unbothered by the absence of PR-consciousness, Partha's words emanate from the depths of his heart. As he states in the episode, "I say whatever I do because I mean it; it comes straight from the heart." Beyond his expertise in the industry, Partha's dedication to knowledge dissemination and empowering younger professionals shines through. Troubled by the lack of depth and quality in industry conversations, he strives to provide young professionals with insights from formal programs of professional education. Partha's love for music, especially Hindustani Classical and Karnatak music, permeates the conversation. He speaks passionately about his deep friendship with fellow musical soulmate Prasoon Joshi and the enduring purity found in classical compositions. Moreover, Partha fondly reminisces about his time at IIT, where he discovered new music genres, delved into literature, and shaped his holistic growth. The 91st episode of MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast with Partha Sinha, President of Times of India Group, encapsulates delightful insights and thought-provoking ideas. As a testament to its significance, this episode, says presenter Pavan R Chawla, "undoubtedly ranks among my top three favorites from the 91 episodes published thus far." Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| MVP PODCAST | HrishiKay, RJ extraordinaire, brings you a Radio Masterclass from the heart | 03 Jul 2023 | 01:12:03 | |
My distinguished guest on this, the 90th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast, is the iconic Radio RJ and creative content professional, Hrishikesh Kannan, popularly known as HrishiKay, Producer and Presenter on Radio One India's flagship daily morning show Good Morning Mumbai, on 94.3 Radio One. Hrishi brings distinguished radio presentation skills and strategic content-creation abilities to the table from decades of experience. To my knowledge, Hrishi is one of the very few radio presenters to have worked with distinction on all formats of radio broadcast, including linear, satellite, and digital. And in my book, HrishiKay is one of the most accomplished -- and perhaps the single most experienced -- RJ when it comes to all the platforms he has worked with. Add to his phenomenal talent the crucial quality of toil - Hrishi ideates on and helps define the personality and content of every episode of his wonderful marathon 5-hour, Good Morning Mumbai show every day. Hrishi is also National Brand Head for Radio One India and manages and oversees content creation and execution, both on-air and digitally, for the entire network. A brilliant radio presenter and content creator at heart, Hrishi is an equally incisive sales-conscious professional who has helped enable company sales by creating and introducing the most useful and relevant content after overcoming external narrow misconceptions, and over the years, has pioneered the introduction and growth of several genres of content on FM Radio that are as popular with listeners as they are with marketers. Hrishi has also been National Training Director – Radio Hosts and Producers at Radio One, and is one of the best mentors to the RJ community and other young professionals. That’s a long enough intro to one of the best creative professionals and RJs across FM radio in India, so we'll let you get into this episode with HrishiKay. It's a free-flowing conversation which showcases Hrishi's passion, great talent, and proven deliveries for FM radio, and moves from the personal to the professional aspects of life, career, industry, and more, with great ease. Suffice it to say that HrishiKay towers above most on the first fold of my own mental homepage of the top radio and audio presenters. Hrishi is strapping tall, of course, but a physical minnow when you compare his physical height with that of his work and its quality, class, and impact. Now those? Another level, entirely. Peerless. So go ahead, listen in to the man with the superb voice that hits you in the solar as much as his words, thinking, warmth and d Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Keshav Maheshwari, MD - Allen Overseas: The next-gen heart and science of growing a leading family-run business | 21 Jun 2023 | 00:48:03 | |
This, the 89th episode of our award-winning series, MVP - The Master's Voice podcast, is very special, because it marks the publication of our audio podcast with a separate video version too (on YouTube). My distinguished guest on this episode is young Keshav Maheshwari, Managing Director of Allen Overseas. We had a captivating conversation about Allen Overseas' strong growth through international expansion, and the remarkable potential of digital technology in the education industry. Disarmingly self-effacing and passionate, Keshav spoke of his dedication to innovation and the invaluable guidance he receives from his family and the LinkedIn community. Keshav, who loves to sing and strums the guitar too, revealed that his family's musical talent runs deep, with an interest in music and singing being a cherished tradition. (We got him to sing a favourite Arijit Singh song too. Allen Overseas' unwavering commitment to providing quality While he is excited about the potential of AI and ChatGPT to revolutionize the learning experience, Keshav also emphasises the importance of human intervention to maintain the quality of education, and cautions against over-reliance on AI-generated content All this, and much more, in my chat with Keshav Maheshwari, MD of Allen Overseas. For me, it was an enriching peep into a young leader’s mind, and I hope you too find this an engaging and rewarding conversation. Thank you for your time. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Nachiket Deole, India Sales Head, DoubleVerify, on building trust in digital advertisingisode | 16 Jun 2023 | 00:49:21 | |
Nachiket Deole, the Head of Sales for India at DoubleVerify, a digital media measurement company that offers transparency and security in the advertising industry, speaks with series host Pavan R Chawla, who is Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| MVP PODCAST | Puneet Das, President Tata Consumer Products Ltd’s packaged Beverages, on driving Profit with Purpose, Value And Delight | 31 May 2023 | 00:44:31 | |
My distinguished guest in this episode of our award-winning series, MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast, is the young veteran, Puneet Das, President - Packaged Beverages, (India & South Asia), Tata Consumer Products Limited. Puneet is a passionate driver of profit, purpose, delight, and value for the business. Puneet, who joined Tata Consumer Products Ltd in November 2017, was appointed President – Packaged Beverages (India & South Asia) in April 2021. Prior to that, he held the position of Senior Vice President – Packaged Beverages, India, and played an important role in strengthening the core Tata Tea brand and its sub-brands. Recently, on Mother's Day, TCPL (Tata Consumer Products Ltd) introduced pioneering packaging innovations and ran a category-first, personalized campaign. They deployed a mix of emotionally connecting packaging with hyper-personalization across an unprecedented range of customized tea packs, each uniquely adorned with personalized messages and photos dedicated to mothers. This innovative packaging reflects the brand's core values of "care" and "personalization," which have consistently been showcased throughout their past campaigns. Some excellent takeaways from Puneet Das on this episode: · It’s all about continuous innovation, and having a mindset that keeps apace with the world that is changing every day. · It is about the willingness and hunger to learn. And crucially, to listen and learn, and absorb. · Have great curiosity. Don’t just be aware of what happened. Ask the ‘Why’ question. People often stop at facts and don’t proceed to the Why · At all times, a brand must be and sound authentic, and not just clamber aboard a bandwagon because others are doing the same · Also, marketers must be aware of the need to target consumers wherever they are in their digital journey Puneet is a strong believer in the power of communities and considers community-building an important duty of every marketer. He emphasizes the need to engage in community-building for participation, conversations, and engagements. This includes occasional influencer networks, but more importantly, building organic influencer networks. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Podcast | Srinivasan K Swamy and Ramesh Narayan on Goafest23 - celebrating the creative brilliance and power of Indian Advertising | 21 May 2023 | 00:39:42 | |
The 86th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master's Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com features two eminent advertising-world leaders, Srinivasan K Swamy and Ramesh Narayan, speaking with passion about the promise of the upcoming Goafest 2023. They speak with Pavan R Chawla. GoaFest 23 will celebrate creativity, campaigns, and cocktails as India's biggest advertising festival from the 24th of May to the 26th of May this year, in Goa, of course. It's hosted by the Advertising Agency's Association of India, the 3As of I, and the Advertising Club of course, TAC. Why Goafest?It's much better than even Cannes... the opportunities that the industry gets in India, to my mind, are significantly more than what you get in any other part of the world... There is nothing as grand as this (Goafest); nothing as well-executed as this. And I think it's something that we as Indians can be very proud of: Srinivasan K SwamyI
They are excited about the response to Goafest 2023, which will see a larger number of agencies participating and provide sharp and precise answers to the question: Why Goafest? Mr. Swamy is all praise for the CM of Goa, who was open and generous in helping the advertising industry hold its biggest fiesta in Goa. Over the years, close to 50,000 professionals have attended the fests across all its editions, thereby giving an impetus to Goa tourism. Regarding the future of Goafest, Ramesh is confident that it will continue to grow each year. "My one hope is that one day I will see the ABBY Awards as an Indian award that is aspirational across the world," he says. Amen to that. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Ajit Thakur, Co-Founder & Director of aha, on racing ahead on the power of local, regional content, and more | 07 May 2023 | 00:39:21 | |
This, the 85th episode of our award-winning MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast from features the feisty Media & Entertainment leader who is as much of a content-expert as he is business leadership-adept -- Ajit Thakur, Co-Founder, Director, and CEO of aha, in conversation with Pavan R Chawla. Sixteen of the most recent years from Ajit’s 26 years’ work experience have been in the media industry, working with companies like UTV (where he started in 2007) Sony Entertainment Television, Star India, and Eros. Ajit was instrumental in taking Sony Entertainment Television to new heights without relying on soap operas. He also launched Life OK.
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| Podcast: Leena Jaisani, Head- FICCI Entertainment Division, on FICCI Frames 23 and empowering the M&E sector of India | 01 May 2023 | 00:32:41 | |
Our distinguished guest on this, the 84th published episode of our award-winning MVP The Master's Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com, is the peerless Leena Jaisani, Assistant Secretary General and Head of FICCI Entertainment Division, FMCG, Retail, and E-Commerce. Leena is is at the helm of organizing and rolling out the Maha Kumbh for Indian and global M&E professionals and industry - FICCI Frames, and right now, she and her team all set for this year's edition of Frames, the FICCI Frames 2023, which will once again roll out the red carpet for knowledge, networking, and the collective empowerment of the M&E Industry in India as the Nation strives to bounce back from COVID. On this episode, Leena speaks about FICCI Frames 23, the industry, some favorite milestones of FICCI Frames' achievements for the M&E industry over the years, how FICCI and its M&E wing have empowered the industry, MSMEs, content producers, and the overall creative content economy of India. She also talks about the economic growth of the country through the awareness-driven consumption that only M&E can spur, which is a particularly strong and urgent need as India seeks to build infra for overall growth and prosperity. Leena shares why students must attend FICCI Frames 2023 and the kind of concessions it has embedded into the registration costs for students. She also speaks of how FICCI has been extremely focused on the skilling of youngsters for the M&E industry. She also speaks of her own journey with FICCI and particularly FICCI Frames over the years, right from the day Dr. Mitra decided to infuse new, young blood into his team and handpicked her to be part of his team. It was her first job, which she is still in, has made her own, and through which she has been truly empowering the M&E industry for more than two rewarding, results-driven decades now. Leena speaks gratefully of the leaders who have inspired her, recalling including Dr Amit Mitra, and the role and support to FICCI of other stalwarts like Amit Khanna and the late Yash Chopra. She pays tribute to Uday Shankar who she says has been a mentor to her, as he has been to much of the industry, and expresses her gratitude for all the support that Jyoti Deshpande, current Chair at FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee (and CEO at Viacom 18 India and President Media & Content Business, Reliance Industries Ltd) has provided to FICCI, Leena, and her team. Leena also thanks the government, the MIB, and all allied leaders across govt bodies and the overall dispensation to the multiple causes of the M&E industry. Listen in. Thanks - Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Podcast: Yash Srivastava, MD Apac - Coda Payments, the Unicorn empowering game publishers, digital content providers | 09 Apr 2023 | 00:46:53 | |
On the 83rd episode of our award-winning MVP, the Master's Voice Podcast, Yash Sheel Srivastava, Managing Director Asia-Pacific at Coda Payments, joins Pavan R Chawla for an in-depth discussion. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Rajeev Singh, MD India & South Asia at BenQ: Excellence on Display | 29 Mar 2023 | 01:05:31 | |
This episode of our award-winning MVP - The Master’s Voice Podcast features Rajeev Singh, Managing Director of BenQ India and South Asia, in conversation with Pavan R Chawla. BenQ is a USD25+ billion company with almost 20 independent companies operating in over 30 countries, employing over 100,000 people. As a technocrat and thought leader, Rajeev shares interesting insights into the world of tech consumer brands and diverse kinds of devices and functions. He speaks about BenQ’s origins, growth, and major product lines, which include computer monitors, projectors, and interactive flat-panel displays. Rajeev also discusses BenQ India’s shift towards a more balanced perspective, focusing on B2C and various product lines. Regarding the Make In India initiative, Rajeev explains how BenQ plans to manufacture interactive flat panels in Gujarat, with a target of selling over 15,000 units in the first year. He also sheds light on BenQ's popular gaming monitors and high-speed response gaming mice. Moreover, Rajeev assures customers of a consistent buying experience across more than 10,000 retail outlets in India, with similar pricing regardless of the retailer. Overall, Rajeev’s insights provide a glimpse into the world of tech consumer brands, their evolution, and the diverse range of devices and functions they offer. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| The mind of a visionary - Bikky Khosla, Founder of India's largest online B2B marketplace, TradeIndia.com | 15 Mar 2023 | 00:43:39 | |
Episode 81 of our award-winning MVP - The Master's Voice Podcast, features the visionary Bikky Khosla, Founder of India's largest online B2B marketplace, TradeIndia.com, in conversation with me, Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of MediaBrief.com. TradeIndia.com is the complete solution for SMEs. Bikky has been empowering almost every SME and MSME across the length and breadth of India for more than a quarter century -- 27 years now, to be exact, actually. I flew up to Delhi to record with Bikky, and the experience of recording across the table with the peerless industry veteran, venture capitalist and mentor of entrepreneurs was truly memorable. Bikky was grace personified as he shared insights and wisdom in a truly engaging, forthcoming manner. In this episode, Bikky walks down memory, reminiscing about how and where he first thought, way back in the mid-Eighties as he walked down LA streets, of a solution for the small and medium entrepreneurs of India. We traverse TradeIndia's journey from the very early days of the internet, when Bikky was using traditional media to spread the word about his internet offering that has been created to empower SMEs. Over the years, today, TradeIndia has more than 10 million registered MSMEs who, through its web and mobile app platforms, continue to remain in business and are empowered to grow and thrive and contribute to the amazing Make in India mission and story. Bikky speaks of the challenges he faced in the early stage of getting the portal up and running. Initial challenges? Well, he has a disarmingly simple reply: "Challenges will be there and facing them is a lot of fun. And today I feel happy that I've been able to create 2,500 jobs." But Bikky does also speak of the hard work entailed by the creation of a huge category of an internet-based business marketplace. Bikky tells me that when the portals, the internet arrived, "the only way you could educate people was through one-to-one meetings... So we spent a lot of money on people, feet on the street -- an executive would go and meet a person and explain to him, because 30 years ago, you couldn't just put out an ad to explain what the internet was. So it had to be one-to-one education of the SMEs about TradeIndia.com and what it could do for them." Bikky, along with his large team helmed by Sandip Chhettri, CEO, continuously works to further strengthen the three pillars TradeIndia.com rests on - Marketing, Finance, and Software As A Service. And Bikky has a Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Khushnooma Kapadia - Sr Area Director, Marketing & Communication, South Asia - Marriott Intl Inc | 05 Mar 2023 | 00:52:52 | |
This, the 80th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast from MediaBrief.com, features an accomplished marketing leader with a global powerhouse in hospitality – Khushnooma Kapadia, Senior Area Director of Marketing, South Asia – Marriott International Inc.
So, Khushnooma is a professional who, across her 19 years with Marriott International, has lived by the belief that it is important to learn, not jump jobs for a hike, to help grow — and to grow with – your organization. That really is also Khushnooma’s simple but very valuable advice for every young professional seeking a career in marketing – balance your needs, and more than other things, keep two: job satisfaction and learning and development, front and center. We speak of the legacy of the Marriott brand and how it has deployed its best global practices to carve its own space amongst Indian patrons.
Khushnooma tells me also of what helped Marriott become the number one global hospitality brand in India and speaks of the important pillars of any hotel operations, including the crucial ‘hygiene’ pillar of the room division, and Food & Beverage – that great aggregator of positive perception and an excellent reputation from all the restaurant outlets and banquet facilities, and other top priorities going ahead. The hospitality industry that was flat-lined by the near-death blow it received during COVID, is now up and running, and Khushnooma and her team are working to spread the good word about Marriott International Inc’s responsible, experiential, benefits- and satisfaction-filled hospitality and holiday services that, she says, are today considered an essential, and not viewed as a burdensome cost by individuals and corporates alike. Khushnooma tells me about the marketing strategies and beliefs of Marriott International and emphasizes the importance and responsibility of every professional across the spectrum to co Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Sean Donovan, President Asia, TBWA: Driving a disruption collective with talent, culture, science and gut | 26 Feb 2023 | 00:45:20 | |
Delighted to welcome, to the 79th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast series, a respected leader from global advertising, marketing and more - Sean Donovan, President Asia of Tbwa, which, as ‘the Disruption company’, prides itself on developing disruptive brand ideas that change culture and drive impact. Sean brings a rich and powerful combination of experience, knowledge, strategy, delivery and thought-leadership to TBWA. One word spread across five tenets of leadership: From the get go, Sean’s off with a clincher of a reply to my first question of what he brings to the TBWA table from a rich, rewarding and proven career: Culture, he says, which he believes is something that's underestimated quite a lot. Sean believes in agility, versatility, and not only embracing change, but embracing it quickly. TBWA – The Disruption Company: Sean speaks about how 'disruption thinking' and delivery is a 30-year-old commitment for TBWA. He tells me how disruption fits into a landscape where the industry seems increasingly commoditized. Sean also speaks of the TBWA pillars, brands and more, and how TBWA’s India operation fits into the collective’s global strategy. He is excited about the infusion of senior talent at TBWA India, with K Russel having joined TBWA Delhi as Chief Creative Experience Officer, or CCEO rather than CCO, as also Ranjeev Vij having joined them as COO to lead operations in Delhi. Sean also speaks about how brands seem to be moving to scale back on ad spends in tough times. He shares his views on awards shows and their relevance, and speaks about his favourite Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Podcast | Avinash Pandey, CEO ABP Network - Driving a great legacy network for the greater good | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:56:59 | |
My distinguished guest on this, the 78th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, is the soft-spoken knowledge-driven media captain and expert across the entire News spectrum in India, Avinash Pandey - Chief Executive Officer, ABP Network, and President of the NBDA (News Broadcasters And Digital Association), and the India Chapter of the IAA (International Advertising Association). Truly a thought-leader-statesman for the News space in India, Avinash has kept Purpose front and centre as he drives the modern-day network from a great, century-old legacy news leader parent for the greater good. Avinash is a young veteran who has more than a quarter of a century of experience, and along with being the thought-leader he is, a wonderful thing about him is his desire to -- and advocacy of the need to -- empower the younger professionals in Indian Media & Entertainment so that the industry, the various sub-sectors and sectors and the Nation, all can grow together. That, I can safely say, is something always on a front burner for him, like a veritable mission of his life, and I know that from my multiple offline conversations with him. And not just wanting to blood young professionals in the multiple, organizational, ‘body’ eco-systems all around, the commitment to, and support of, the ABP Network to all important industry associations by partnering with and supporting the better events that are knowledge-driven and industry enhancing, is a set of the best spaces the ABP Network is regularly seen in, and supporting. I think the last time I met him was at the Subhash Ghoshal memorial lecture where the ABP network supported the major annual address by the original amazing news industry captain, Arun Poorie. So here, on MVP, The Master’s Voice Podcast, is Avinash Pandey, CEO – ABP Network, speaking about everything important, no questions ducked, speaking like a stalwart and custodian of the news space, and proud of his network and the wonderful team that has helped him keep it to its stated true North of commitment for the people and the enterprises that power news networks to deploy the might of media for the greater good. We begin our conversation with the wonderful, second edition of the Ideas of India Summit from ABP Network. The Ideas of India Summit 2023 edition begins just two days from today, ie on the 24th of March, and will see a constellation of around 60 speaks across two days till the 25th of March. I describe this IP from ABP as one with EP – Emotional Purpose, because, as Avinash tells me, the entire summit will steer clear of ('inflammatory' – our wo Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Podcast | Ep 77 - Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor, CNN-News18: Upholding a great news legacy | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:50:39 | |
In this, the 77th episode of our award-winning MVP -The Master’s Voice Podcast, we bring you a chat with a young pioneer from News broadcasting and now, of course, digital too - Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor of one of India’s best English News channels, CNN-News18. Zakka speaks with Pavan R Chawla, show host and Founder-Editor of Mediabrief. Com. Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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| Podcast | Achille Forler, Founder - SyncMama, says 'It's the cure for Royalty pirates like Epidemic' | 05 Feb 2023 | 01:00:24 | |
My very special guest on this, the 76th episode of our award-winning series MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, is Achille Forler, Founder & Executive Director - SyncMama, and a distinguished expert and thought leader who brings enormous experience and learnings wide and deep from across the spectrum of radio, audio, music and more. Achille is like an audio guru -- one of the wisest, and a most experienced, deeply knowledgeable and sagacious professional who has worked for the best interests of audio in India across creative, technology, broadcast, digital, industry bodies and associations and more, and is now championing the bringing together of creators and licensors of great audio tracks through his amazing new offering SyncMama.com that's completely blown me away. Achille has 35 years of experience in the creative industries, 10 years of experience in cultural management followed by 5 years as a public servant reporting to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on film, broadcasting and music industries. In 1994, he left the foreign service to create Silk Road Communications, a strategy consultancy company. Achille, who founded Deep Emotions Publishing, India's first music publishing company in 1996 (which was later acquired by Universal Music Publishing in 2012), founded Music Rights India in 2017, which became a permanent advisor to the Indian Performing and Mechanical Rights Society. Achille speaks about ‘Royalty Pirates’ like Epidemic Sound, and is working on advocacy to protect the rights and interests of the smaller composers and their ilk. Achille tells me why he believes the music industry is weighted against artists, with even successful music artists seeing pitiful returns from streaming. And that is where SyncMama comes in. It's a subscription-led library and music licensing platform for user-generated content creators, and has identified music to have huge potential. Achille tells me about SyncMama, his perspective about the video industry in brief, and a slightly larger perspective on the audio industry in India, and the woes of audio composers who are struggling against the royalty-free platforms. What does Syncmama offer the content creator? Syncmama provides music at, as it says, the power of AI. It allows content creators to ‘add that Hollywood sound to your videos’. Syncmama’s content bouquet includes copyright-cleared music created by award-winning composers, premium sound effects, with new music every week – powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) that helps creators find the right track. It provides new music every week, and the user of its musi Want to pitch someone to be featured?
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