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Tag: Vanaja Pillai

  • 22feet Tribal WW strengthens leadership with appointment of Anvita Arora and Shyam Nair

    22feet Tribal WW strengthens leadership with appointment of Anvita Arora and Shyam Nair

    MUMBAI: 22feet Tribal Worldwide has announced the appointment of Anvita Arora as vice president & head of Mumbai and Shyam Nair as executive creative director. The announcement marks their return to the company after successful stints across top creative networks. Their journey at 22feet Tribal Worldwide comes full circle, now marked by broader perspective and a shared ambition to help shape the next phase of the agency’s growth.

    Anvita and Shyam bring a sharp blend of storytelling, strategic thinking, and brand-building expertise over a combined 3-decade career span. Anvita’s unique experience across digital, content, and strategy at Yahoo, Ogilvy, Supari Studios, Kulfi Collective, and most recently, Creativeland Asia is a big plus. With leadership roles at VML, Lowe, and Creativeland Asia, Shyam has led impactful campaigns for brands like Disney Star, Netflix, and Spotify.

    Commenting on the new leadership appointments, 22feet Tribal Worldwide president Vanaja Pillai said, “Over the past few years, we’ve seen strong growth and had the privilege of working with an ambitious set of brands that push us to raise the bar. Welcoming Anvita and Shyam again is not just about familiar faces returning; it’s about the energy, trust, and shared history they carry with them. Their return is a testament to the work we’re doing, the environment we’ve built, and the exciting road ahead for our clients and teams.”

    Speaking on her new role, Anvita said, “I’ve always had a soft spot for 22feet Tribal WW. The people are sharp, the culture is electric, and the work has always had teeth. My primary goal is straightforward: to grow the business, expand the brands, and build teams that thrive on ideas and collaboration. What sets 22feet apart is its guts. It’s one of the few agencies that has stayed proudly digital while still thinking like a brand builder. I plan to take that legacy and push it further, creating work that doesn’t just land but lingers, work that clients back and audiences actually feel.”

    “At 22feet Tribal WW, I believe we can do more than just making ads. We can craft stories that earn attention, move culture, and live beyond the brief. With the talent, the brands, and the drive to outdo ourselves, we can create work that’s built for the medium, not just the media plan. Because the best advertising doesn’t feel like advertising, it feels like something worth sharing,” added Shyam.

  • Omnicom and Women in Tech India join forces to advance DEI in STEAM

    Omnicom and Women in Tech India join forces to advance DEI in STEAM

    Mumbai: Omnicom India supported the launch of the India chapter of Women in Tech Global. Women In Tech Global is an NGO headquartered in Paris and committed to actively promoting women’s & girl’s empowerment in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). The India Chapter spearheaded by Radhika Iyengar of Credera, a global, boutique technology & consulting firm, aims to empower women & girls through impactful programs, opportunities, and business-building resources in new and emerging technologies as well as in leadership building. WIT Global is designed to connect and empower women talent through a global network spanning six continents, 50 chapters and 9,000 plus members.

    The India chapter was officially launched on 8 March 2024, International Women’s Day, at the French Embassy in New Delhi, under the patronage of Thierry Mathou, French Ambassador to India. The event also welcomed policymakers from the Government of India, DEI leaders from prominent corporations, NGOs and The Omnicom Group of agencies in India, including DDB Mudra Group, Annalect India, Credera have extended support to the initiative.

    WIT Global country director – India Radhika Iyengar shared her thoughts, “The Women In Tech India team is simply overwhelmed by the traction the chapter has gained in a short span. Having soft launched just a few months back, we have grown from three to 500 plus since November 2023. The launch of the India Chapter marks a pivotal moment in the collective effort of Women in Tech Global, towards empowering 5 million women and girls in STEAM by 2030, while also tailoring our local activation outreach and programs to address India pertinent issues. The high dropout rate of girls in STEAM careers, the Gender paradox in India – are all alarming. We know the problem but also see that Global partnerships have helped evolve mediums that can foster women in STEM careers. Pursuing this path, we would want girls and women to traverse the path in Tech, be it in academia, in careers and to decision-making roles, in more empowering yet simpler ways and make their journeys more enriching & enjoyable.”

    DDB Mudra Group head – DEI Vanaja Pillai said, “The Women in Tech India chapter can be a pivotal initiative towards a more inclusive and innovative tech ecosystem. By championing diversity, we not only empower women but also enrich the industry with varied perspectives. The future of technology depends on our collective commitment to breaking barriers and fostering an environment where talent knows no gender. Together, let’s inspire and shape the future of tech in India.”

    French ambassador to India Thierry Mathou also added, “France is strongly committed to promoting women in science. In our international relations, we advance gender equality through our feminist foreign policy, which is translated into action in our bilateral cooperation with India. I would like to cite two instances:  the “Women in Science” programme led by our Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA), and the targeted network initiative of the French Development Agency (AFD), GroW – Greening of Finance by Women, which aims to empower women in India by facilitating their access to the Indian financial system. I am therefore delighted that the Paris-based association, Women in Tech, is launching its actions in India. They can count on our full support.”

  • Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Vanaja Pillai to head of diversity, inclusion and impact at DDB Mudra

    Mumbai: DDB Mudra Group has announced the elevation of Vanaja Pillai as head of diversity, inclusion and impact, underscoring the company’s commitment to embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in its people and business strategy.

    Pillai was the driving force behind the Phyllis India Project, a comprehensive and intense leadership development program to help prepare DDB’s women talent for leadership.

    “Vanaja’s work on the Phyllis India program has been applauded across DDB’s borders and is a brilliant example of senior leadership driving actionable change in advancing DEI within the DDB family,” stated DDB Worldwide chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer Nikki Lamba. “We are excited about her taking on this larger mandate and bringing DEI to the heart of our business, people and product strategies in India.”    

    In her expanded role, she will work closely with CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy and HR head Rita Verma on initiatives to grow a diverse and inclusive workplace, including talent acquisition, retention, training and outreach to talent in underrepresented communities. Pillai will also lead the creation and delivery of effective growth and development opportunities rooted in the company’s purpose and growth strategy, said the statement.

    “To compete in our times, we need to take a critical view of every aspect of our business. Our approach to talent and culture included,” commented Aditya Kanthy. “There is much to do in this area, and Vanaja is just the right person to lead us to success. This work, with the Group’s effort as a global network, will bring in diverse voices to help shape workplace culture and brand communication of the future.”

    “It has been an exhilarating journey, from the intent of creating an India chapter for the Phyllis Project, to having the first batch graduate last week,” Vanaja Pillai said, speaking on her extended role. “The bar has been set high for every challenge we pick up from hereon. Over the next year we will focus on a select set of DEI goals and approach them with the same rigour and passion that made the Phyllis India Project what it is today. From an overall talent perspective, the pandemic made us even more aware of the need for constantly focusing on people and their growth.”