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Tag: Darshana Shah

  • Gender bender agenda breaks bias on brands’ storytelling assembly line

    Gender bender agenda breaks bias on brands’ storytelling assembly line

    MUMBAI: Stirring the pot, not the soup, panel shreds the gender script in adland, Forget ‘pink for girls’ and ‘blue for boys’ at the GoaFest 2025 panel Beyond Pink and Blue, industry leaders dismantled the creative clichés still haunting adland like ghosts of campaigns past. From financial services to fashion, panelists shared both their victories and roadblocks in trying to make marketing more inclusive, authentic, and frankly, less boring.

    Moderated by Megha Tata, the discussion brought together voices from across the spectrum like Aditya Birla Capital CMO Darshana Shah, Neil Patel Digital MD Rubeena Singh, Talented co-founder and CCO P.G. Aditya, and Makemytrip CMO Raj Rishi Singh.

    Darshana Shah laid bare the startling findings of a study supported by UNICEF and the Gina Davis Institute: of over 1,000 TV and digital ads analysed using AI, women appeared as often as men but were largely stuck in kitchens or beauty aisles. Men, unsurprisingly, got to handle the chequebooks and cars.

    Even more worrying was how these stereotypes are being hardcoded into generative AI tools. Shah recalled prompting image generators for a 40-year-old Indian woman, only to be served stocky brown-skinned figures wearing bindis with yoga pants. “Even when you say ‘no saree,’ the AI insists on putting her in one,” she quipped, pointing out how algorithms are learning from outdated media input.

    As she explained, “We’re teaching AI stereotypes faster than we’re unlearning them ourselves.”

    Despite leading marketing in a “quintessentially male-targeted” financial services firm, Shah has spearheaded campaigns like Motherhood on Hold, addressing the rising trend of women delaying childbirth due to financial independence. A staggering 45% of Indian women now make that choice, a reality rarely reflected in advertising.

    Still, progress hits walls. Shah shared how she turned down a bold campaign idea around gender-transition challenges in financial documentation simply because the infrastructure and regulation weren’t ready. “We can’t just talk inclusivity if the backend systems still say ‘no’ to identity updates,” she said candidly.

    P.G. Aditiya offered a refreshingly blunt perspective: “Old tropes are not just sexist, they’re creatively lazy.” Behind Talented’s much-lauded work for brands like Tanishq and Urban Company, he credited not just client bravery, but female creators leading the charge from strategy to direction.

    He urged agencies to reframe inclusivity not just as ‘good business’ but ‘good storytelling’. Referencing the Bechdel Test (which Shawshank Redemption famously flunks), he said creatives should challenge the tired setups: men watching TV while women cook. “If your ad only works with that setup, your idea probably isn’t strong enough,” he said.

    Digital may be dynamic, but it’s not immune to legacy mindsets. Rubeena Singh observed that while Gen Z consumers fluidly reject binary gender norms, media decision-makers largely male and over 45, still cling to archaic assumptions.

    From fertility brands that shy away from including men in IVF discussions, to women’s safety campaigns unwilling to speak to male allies, Singh said, “We’ve won some battles, but most briefs still come in wearing blinders.”

    And when briefs do break bias? “It’s usually the younger teams pushing it,” she said, advocating for greater representation at all levels—especially in client rooms where bold ideas often get neutered.

    Across the board, the panel agreed: change starts with who’s in the room. Shah now insists on reviewing director lists for gender diversity before any campaign shoot. “If we want diverse stories, we need diverse storytellers,” she said.

    The path to gender-conscious creativity may not be smooth, but panels like this prove the appetite for transformation is alive and well. As one speaker put it, “Doing the right thing is also often the more interesting creative path.”

    Now that’s a plot twist adland could use.

  • Day 2 of Goafest 2024 delivers strategies for adaptation and innovation

    Day 2 of Goafest 2024 delivers strategies for adaptation and innovation

    Mumbai: Setting a powerful tone yet again, Day 2 of Goafest 2024 began with the first session hosted by Adhikari Brothers Networks – Dhamaal presents a Knowledge Seminar with Knowledge Partner IAA in collaboration with UNICEF called Gender-Sensitive Marketing: Navigating The New Consumer Landscape. Among the distinguished speakers were Chandni Shah, Chief Operating Officer of FCB Kinnect; Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience at Aditya Birla Capital; Kailashnath Adhikari, Business Head of Sri Adhikari Brothers & Managing Director of GovernanceNow; Rajdeepak Das, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe South Asia & Chairman of Leo Burnett South Asia; and Ram Madhvani, Filmmaker, Producer, and Founder of Equinox Films and Ram Madhvani Films. Guiding the discussion was Kranti Gada, Management Committee Member of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association and Founder of NeOwn.in.

    This thought-provoking session delved into the nuanced realm of gender-sensitive marketing, exploring strategies to navigate the ever-evolving consumer landscape. Chandni delved into the core issues within the education system and how the portrayal of men and women contributes to the lack of women in leadership roles. “Women can nurture women,” she emphasised, highlighting subconscious biases and the fact that men are often the primary decision-makers in households. She also advocated for conscious choices to address these issues. Subsequently, In answer to Kranti’s question on depiction, Ram discussed the Bechdel test, which measures the representation of women in film and other fiction. He mentions how important representation of women in fiction is also very poignant, “It’s rare to see women discussing anything other than men in many series and movies.”
    Rajdeepak, in his turn, spoke about the dramatic increase in female education rates, from 8.9 per cent in 1951 to 64 per cent in 2011 to 92.5 per cent in 2021! “What didn’t change in five to six decades has transformed in just one,” he remarked, suggesting that education and the creative industry could impact, accelerate, and enable women. Kailashnath, thereafter, pointed out the economic impact of gender inequality, stating, “According to a published report, several low to middle-income countries have lost over a trillion dollars because women weren’t empowered.” He also noted that 37 per cent of women globally lack internet access, adding, “Men have more facilities at their disposal than women, and that needs to change.”

    With a focus on inclusivity and understanding diverse perspectives, the speakers shed light on how brands can effectively connect with consumers in a way that respects and reflects their identities. Through insightful anecdotes and practical insights, the seminar provided a roadmap for brands to authentically engage with audiences, fostering deeper connections and driving meaningful impact in the marketplace.
    Thereafter, in a keynote address, Snap Inc. India managing director Pulkit Trivedi revealed how Snapchat emerged as the preferred platform for young India. Trivedi highlighted the platform’s unique features and engaging content, illustrating its resonance with the youthful demographic and its pivotal role in shaping digital culture. Pulkit revealed Snapchat’s approach to building a safe and creative space for its predominantly GenZ user base. With 75 per cent of its users hailing from this demographic, the app prioritised authenticity and fun, reflecting the generation’s carefree attitude towards online sharing. As the saying goes, “GenZ don’t feel the pressure of being judged.”

    Looking to the future, Snapchat will be investing in advanced engagement tools and will also look at the camera’s potential for advertisers while maintaining its commitment to user privacy and security. By deleting content by default and omitting likes and comments, the platform empowers users and safeguards their experiences. As the company declared through Pulkit, “We try giving power to our users.” By doing so, Snapchat cemented its position as a leader in the social media landscape, prioritising creativity, authenticity, and user well-being.

    Following this, the next session was presented by Sports18 & JioCinema, titled Media Agencies Panel – The Changing Expectations from a Media Client Leader, and the Challenges in Getting There, comprising prominent industry leaders. The esteemed panellists included Ajay Gupte, CEO of Wavemaker South Asia; Anita Kotwani, CEO of Media South Asia at Dentsu; Tanmay Mohanty, CEO of Publicis Media Services India; and Vaishali Verma, CEO of Initiative India. Guiding the discussion was Vikram Sakuja, Partner & Group CEO of Media & Out-of-Home at Madison Communications.

    In this revelationary session, the panel explored the evolving expectations placed on media client leaders and the challenges they face in meeting these demands. Through this conversation, key requisites for an effective client leader were explored, where Vaishali stressed that the requirements for a good client leader vary with each category and client. She emphasised the importance of identifying the nature of the business and then positioning a client leader whose skills and experience would be an asset to both the client and the brand. To this, Anita added, “A client leader needs to be obsessed with winning for the client and their profitability.” Moreover, Ajay brought attention to whether the client leader needs to be a single point of contact (SPOC). While acknowledging that much has changed in the industry, he noted that some fundamentals remain the same, such as the importance of understanding the client’s needs. He pointed out that change is a constant, and a client leader must evolve with market shifts and the information available, maintaining a client-centric approach.

    Through insightful dialogue and shared experiences, the discussion delved into the dynamic landscape of media agencies, offering perspectives on how leaders navigate industry shifts while striving for excellence. From adapting to emerging technologies to addressing changing consumer behaviours to having a client-centric attitude to display ownership and accountability, the session provided valuable insights into the strategies and approaches required to succeed in today’s fast-paced media environment.

    The third Knowledge Seminar titled, Trust or Bust: Thriving in the Digital World, was presented by Malayala Manorama with Knowledge Partner – ASCI, which brought together a distinguished panel of experts. Among them were Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer at Britannia; Falguni Vasavada, Professor at MICA and Digital Creator; Paras Sharma, Director of Global Partnerships at Meta; and Sharan Hegde, Finance Content Creator and Co-founder and CEO of 1 per cent Club. Steering the conversation was Manisha Kapoor, CEO & secretary general of ASCI.

    In this informative and interesting session, the panel offered insights into navigating the idea of trust through the complexities of the digital landscape. Amit began by stating, “Trust between a consumer and a brand is now a two-way street.” He also emphasised the exponential importance of listening to the conversations in which a brand is involved. Additionally, in response to Manisha, Sharan stated that finance content creators play a crucial role in demystifying complex financial topics and offering accessible advice to consumers. He noted that financial scams have existed for ages and believes that the realm of content creation and digital following has only begun to address financial awareness. “Building trust is relatively easy, but once it’s lost, it can be gone forever due to one bad move or piece of news. Therefore, the focus should be on maintaining and nurturing that trust consistently,” he added.

    With discussions ranging from building trust in online platforms to leveraging digital innovations for business success, the session provided invaluable perspectives on how organisations can thrive amidst the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. Through shared experiences and expert analysis, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of trust and authenticity in the digital realm.

    The Fireside Chat by Viacom18 featured industry veterans, including Ankit Kapoor, Head of Marketing & International Business at Parle Agro; Mahesh Shetty, National Sales Head at Viacom18, and Navin Khemka, CEO of South Asia of Essence Mediacom. Conducting the conversation was Shibani Gharat, an accomplished Anchor and Associate Executive Producer. Mahesh discussed the evolution of Bigg Boss, highlighting how the show has expanded to include digital creators, thereby increasing its relevance. He emphasised the importance of catering to a diverse set of consumers and noted that the core principle of creating mass content remains unchanged. Over the past year, Mahesh’s team has merged television and digital divisions to better achieve their goal of reaching a broad audience.

    In response to a question about creating widespread brand love, Ankit underscored the necessity for marketing teams and brand managers to have a clear understanding of the role each medium plays. He pointed out that only with this clarity can brands successfully cultivate and maintain strong brand loyalty, saying, “Only through clarity are brands able to achieve what they set out to in terms of brand love.” In this insightful session, the panellists engaged in a candid discussion on navigating the evolving landscape of marketing and media, wherein consumers and the touchpoint – Television and Digital – are concerned.

    Day 2 of Goafest 2024 also kicked off with an enriching masterclass by WhatsApp on Agency Exclusive: Drive growth across the customer journey with WhatsApp, presented by Riddhika Sand. The session threw light on the WhatsApp Business platform and its features. Riddhika spoke about how Whatsapp Business is designed to supercharge customer journeys. “Today around 1 billion people are using messaging business and 90.4% of online adults in India message with business at least once a week”, said Riddhika Sand.

    Thereafter, Ujaya Shakya enlightened the attendees with an intriguing masterclass on Unlocking Market Potential: Open your eyes to Nepal, presented by Outreach Nepal. Shakya began by asking the audience, “What does Nepal mean to you?” Through this, he highlighted the features of today’s Nepal – a vibrant, heterogeneous country, with famous personalities such as fashion designer Prabal Gurung. He said, “Today’s Nepal shows promising signs of growth, with immense market potential. Out of a population of 30 million, 72% are of working age, indicating a rise in the middle-income bracket. Major companies like Hyundai, Samsung, and all major Indian FMCGs are all investing in Nepal.”

    Shakya further added that from the perspective of marketing, the Nepali youth is a major target. The reason for the success of several Nepali brands today was the right positioning and marketing towards the youth. By displaying several examples, Shakya spoke of the most successful strategies used: achieving Nepalisation, using Nepali actors, creating relatable stories, and using cultural connections. Brands such as Mountain Dew, Centerfruit, Coca-Cola, Ncell, and Pepsi have all benefited from these strategies. Shakya concluded by asking the audience, “What does Nepal mean to all of you after this session?” The responses displayed that this masterclass effectively enlightened them on Nepal’s burgeoning market potential.

    Thereafter, the D&AD masterclass, presented by Lisa Evans and Paul Drake titled Unlocking Award Winning Ideas, gave valuable insights into the art of visualising innovative ideas. Drake discussed the importance of nurturing new talent through initiatives like D&AD New Blood and D&AD Shift, which provide opportunities for self-taught creatives. He also mentioned the Creative Leaders Program, partnering with companies like Adidas and Heinz to foster innovation. He noted, “The aim is to open doors for new talent and help them shine in the creative industry.”

    On crafting excellence, Lisa Evans explained the idea-execution-relevance triad for impactful work and introduced the unique categorization of creative work using the D&AD pencils (Wood, Graphite, Yellow, White, and Black) for categorising creative excellence. She outlined a hierarchy from destructive to legendary work. The case studies presented by them showcased brands such as ‘We Are Warriors’, ‘Jersey Pay’, ‘Proudly Second Best (IKEA)’ as fresh, innovative and contagious ideas. Evans and Drake also highlighted the Five P’s approach—understanding the problem, generating possibilities, choosing what to push, building a prototype, and making a pitch which was exemplified through a brainstorming session with Heinz and subsequent team presentations.

    Next, Amazon miniTV held a masterclass on Brand Integration. Vijay Iyer, Director, Amazon Ads India and Amogh Dusad, Head of Content, Amazon miniTV led the session. The masterclass highlighted the growth in free video viewership in India and the effectiveness of brand integrations on video streaming services like miniTV in driving advertising impact. It provided an overview of various integration formats, amplification approaches, and performance metrics, which make miniTV a suitable proposition for marketers looking to reach and engage Indian consumers through relevant video content.

    The first half of Goafest 2024 Day 2 was wrapped up with an informative masterclass on Hall of Flame – The Olympics Masterclass by Sports18 and JioCinema, presented by Chandan Roy. The masterclass provided a unique perspective on the world of the Olympics and sports. Chandan shed light on the birth of the Olympics, its viewership, and its broader significance. He explained that the Olympics reflect the political and economic strength of a country and serve as a source of national pride, with people desiring their country to win regardless of the sport. Chandan emphasised, ‘The Olympics is a force for good’. He also discussed India’s aspiration to host the Olympics in the future. Chandan mentioned that as a platform, they are striving to bring the Olympics to a larger audience. To support this effort, they have created a show called ‘Get Set Goal’, hosted by Dinesh Karthik. Given that the majority of India’s sports audience consists of cricket lovers, the vision behind this show is to leverage cricket to spread awareness about the Olympics.

     

  • Aditya Birla Health Insurance collaborates with Platinum Outdoor

    Aditya Birla Health Insurance collaborates with Platinum Outdoor

    Mumbai: Through a strategic media mix and a carefully planned approach, Platinum Outdoor executed a high-impact outdoor campaign for Aditya Birla Health Insurance. The campaign covered 21 markets over three weeks. The entire campaign was supported by innovations, meticulously planned media and regional OOH creatives for the local connect.

    A key element of the campaign was the execution of anamorphic innovations in Mumbai and an immersive CGI Video.

    Right from stage entry of ActivOne logo to the message transition, the anamorphic storytelling successfully captivated the audience and communicated an exciting brand story which aimed at positioning Aditya Birla Health Insurance as a health insurance partner that puts health first.

    Platinum Outdoor also came up with an immersive CGI video for the launch of Aditya Birla Health Insurance’s ActivOne product, with a compelling and visually engaging approach. The shoot location for CGI specifically was on a beach with people engaging in similar exercises as TVC adding relevancy, thus reinforcing the message of a healthy and active lifestyle.

    Both these tech-led digital content focused on creating a high buzz and talkability. Overall, the ActivOne ‘ABHIKaro’ OOH campaign successfully leveraged anamorphic and CGI storytelling to convey its message in a visually appealing and engaging manner.

    Speaking on the campaign, Aditya Birla Capital head of marketing & customer experience Darshana Shah commented, “With Vikrant Massey as our brand ambassador, outdoor campaign was strategically designed to reach a wide audience across various cities, both metros and non-metros. The campaign effectively communicated the value proposition of ActivOne by highlighting ‘health-first’ belief of Aditya Birla Health Insurance. Aditya Birla Capital is a digital forward organization and the same resonated with tech led outdoors. The use of 3D DOOH, Anamorphic and CGI added a unique touch to the campaign, breaking the clutter”.

    Platinum Outdoor & MRP CEO Dipankar Sanyal also commented, “After all the meticulous planning, strategy and innovative approach, we at Platinum Outdoor are absolutely delighted with the campaign’s result. With Aditya Birla Health Insurance being the ideal partner, we are thrilled to have worked on their first anamorphic adventure and look forward to many more such tech-led innovation-based outdoor campaigns together”.

    Platinum Outdoor is a part of Madison World, India’s largest homegrown communication agency established in 1988, that operates several brands in OOH including MOMS Outdoor, Activation specialist – Madison TURNT, Rural specialist – Anugrah Madison and Retail Specialist – MRP. Platinum Outdoor handles marquee clients like Tata Motors, Vi, Parle Agro, Campus Shoes, Square Yards, Zee5, L&T Housing and Havells amongst many others. Madison World through its 11 Units served last year, as many as 500 Advertisers.

  • Aditya Birla Finance & Dentsu Creative’s business-changing campaign

    Aditya Birla Finance & Dentsu Creative’s business-changing campaign

    Mumbai: Aditya Birla Finance Ltd. (ABFL) and Dentsu Creative India have launched a new campaign for Udyog Plus – a one-stop digital platform that caters to the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. The integrated campaign, titled ‘Tareeka Badlo, Business Badlega’, aims to position Udyog Plus as an innovative solution that enables MSMEs to avail of working capital loans, merchant loans and business loans in just two minutes, without any paperwork.

    Udyog Plus is an open marketplace that can be accessed through the financing section of the Aditya Birla Capital website by both existing and new customers of ABFL. It offers business loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to MSMEs through a completely paperless and digital journey. The platform also provides a host of other services such as insurance, investment, accounting, taxation and value-added services to help MSMEs manage and grow their businesses.

    The film showcases the stories of countless individuals who pursue their business dreams, and the Udyog Plus platform supports them in this journey. Whether it is a skilled technician who wants to upgrade their workshop or a boutique owner who seeks a stylish makeover, the campaign resonates with those who aspire for growth. It emphasizes the role of digital transformation, allowing customers to access multiple services on a single platform. Such initiatives enable entrepreneurs to modernize their businesses and increase their efficiency.

    The campaign is live on social, digital media, print and television. The main goal of the film is to reach a diverse audience and highlight the affordable and innovative solutions offered by the Udyog Plus platform.

    Aditya Birla Capital head – marketing and customer experience Darshana Shah said, “The campaign serves to inspire countless entrepreneurs to change their approach to business and embark on a digital journey through the Udyog Plus platform. Hence, the tagline ‘Tareeka Badlo, Business Badlega’. Every small step towards progress is a giant leap for these individuals, and our campaign is a testament to their unwavering spirit and determination.”

    Dentsu Creative India group executive creative director – West  Ajeet Shukla said, “There are very few opportunities where you get to uplift the true potential of Real India and the ‘Udyog Plus’ initiative is one of them. The brief clearly called out to capture the MSME emotions when it comes to the impact that a holistic finance and business solutions partner makes on their success and our film does that very well. The product too stands by what this sector really needs. The Creative proposition ‘Tareeka Badlo, Business Badlega’ sends out a strong message to India’s MSME sector that business loans and other solutions are not only easy but also just two minutes away.”